“Highlights” v Arsenal youth team

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Why have you screen grabbed him from well after he enters the frame? Screenshot the first frame he’s visible in and then we’ll talk about his position

[Long slender neck]

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Yep, that’s where I’ve got him, more or less.

The fact that he’s coming from the right side at all is damning. Positionally he should only ever be marginally to the left or the right of the centre circle while play is in the oppositions defensive third, specifically to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the pitch.

What’s this WUM about? You have to admit it’s not going well if I’m putting you right about football

[Hoover Attack]

Close the angle? He's trying to get across as the man with the ball is heading that way. Whatever. What else could he have done?

Had a starting position 20 yards further to the left? Somewhere central on the pitch, ish?

[Hoover Attack]

I've not mentioned how far forward he is, that's all wrong but isn't the main issue here.

[Hoover Attack]

Goalkeeping is the one bit of football I’m pretty good at.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Player of the tournament at this years Chaos Cup, I’ll have you know

[Long slender neck]

Close the angle? He's trying to get across as the man with the ball is heading that way. Whatever. What else could he have done?

Had a starting position 20 yards further to the left? Somewhere central on the pitch, ish?

He was already central, as evidenced in the screengrabs.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

As evidenced in the screen grabs showing him right of centre, running diagonally towards the centre at a sprint?

[Hoover Attack]

If you genuinely think Howlers positioning is anywhere near adequate, there isn't much more to be said.

He should have been central as the ball was cleared from the edge of their box. Then, as it became clear the ball was going down the channel left of centre, he should have moved left. At the point we see him sprinting, he should already have been in front of play.

He's too far forward as well. As soon as it became the clear the ball was falling to the two outfield players on the halfway line to battle it out, he should have retreated to the edge of his box. He no longer has any need to be that far forward.

[Adz]

I'm not sure you guys understand the way keepers are expected to play these days. They need to assume a position to receive a pass from their team-mates. It's changed from when we played years ago when the only job was to patrol the six yard box.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

He was wrongly positioned for that, unless you think that the modern keeper is actually a pacy right winger

[Adz]

I wasn't at the game so I can't fully judge his positioning, but the first time he's on screen he is about 5 yards right of centre it hardly screams wildly out of position. To me it looks like he was slow reacting to the change of situation when Currie makes the mistake, but his initial position (if it was just right of centre) seems correct for the role he is playing.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Five yards right of centre when he enters at a sprint, a sprint which presumably (if he was paying attention) started a few seconds earlier when the ball was played forward, which means that he wasn’t adjusting his position based on where the ball was. When supporting an attack - which I totally agree keepers can do now - adopting a central position is usually the best way to offer an option for a backwards pass, as well as the best way to ensure not getting caught out.

I’d also speculate that the through ball wouldn’t have been played the way it was if the keeper wasn’t as out of position, but I’d have to see more of the pitch for that

[The Reverend]

We also seem to be missing all important context. Howlers is always out of position, or flapping at easy balls, or parrying routine saves back into areas of danger, or punting the ball to the opposition or getting bullied and outmuscled in his own box.

He’s cack. He belongs in the conference. This isn’t the case of an otherwise decent GK getting caught out by an another players mistake.

It’s a rubbish goalie getting caught completely out of position meaning that he is unable to dig his teammate out of a hole.

Honestly, I hope he is binned off asap. A truly bizarre signing which wasnt such an issue last season when we had at least an alright first team GK in Brynn. Now we find ourselves in a position where having a semi-decent backup goalie might have got out out of a sticky situation with the calamity signing that is hemming but instead we find ourselves in a position where the backup goalie is so far off it we’ve had to waste another signing bringing in some other kid on loan. Utterly ludicrous situation all around and shows the lasting impact of poor player recruitment.

[Hoover Attack]

I'm not sure you guys understand the way keepers are expected to play these days. They need to assume a position to receive a pass from their team-mates. It's changed from when we played years ago when the only job was to patrol the six yard box.

I get what you’re saying but this isn’t that.

The defender never had the situation under control enough for Howlers to move wide to receive the back pass. Even if Howlers had made a conscious decision to move wide to take the pass - which he hadn’t, he had just switched off after clearing the ball - then he’s at fault for making a wrong call. He has to position himself between the players contesting the ball and the goal.

I don’t blame him, he’s not a L1 keeper and he’s not played much football, but he’s made 2 bad mistakes in this game.

[Adz]

We also seem to be missing all important context. Howlers is always out of position, or flapping at easy balls, or parrying routine saves back into areas of danger, or punting the ball to the opposition or getting bullied and outmuscled in his own box.

He’s cack. He belongs in the conference. This isn’t the case of an otherwise decent GK getting caught out by an another players mistake.

It’s a rubbish goalie getting caught completely out of position meaning that he is unable to dig his teammate out of a hole.

Honestly, I hope he is binned off asap. A truly bizarre signing which wasnt such an issue last season when we had at least an alright first team GK in Brynn. Now we find ourselves in a position where having a semi-decent backup goalie might have got out out of a sticky situation with the calamity signing that is hemming but instead we find ourselves in a position where the backup goalie is so far off it we’ve had to waste another signing bringing in some other kid on loan. Utterly ludicrous situation all around and shows the lasting impact of poor player recruitment.

As a whole, I don't disagree, the goalkeeper signings have been very disappointing, we might as give our own youngsters a chance. I've seen plenty of rubbish down the years at the Orient that have made a successful career elsewhere though, Stuart Nelson instantly springs to mind.