By Richard Lee - 30/04/2008

What makes a good goalkeeper

Goalkeeping is something that I’ve grown up with and a subject I have some strong beliefs in.

I’m the first to hold my hands up and say I’d find it tough to spot an outfield player with talent as I’m not educated in that department - but if you were to give me a keeper to watch I believe I could evaluate their game to the finest detail in a short space of time.

For me the finest goalkeeper ever seen would need the following attributes: height, agility, flexibility, solid technique, rapid footwork, great hand-eye co-ordination, accurate distribution, powerful movements, a dominant character, mentally very strong and a desire to learn.

Height is obviously important although only when combined with speed of feet and agility around the goal.  In my opinion a 6ft 8in keeper with poor footwork would be no better than a 5ft 4in keeper with incredibly quick feet and good spring; unfortunately this isn’t the thought of many managers around the country.

It is widely believed that an increase in height means an increase in presence but again a large keeper who spends the game on his line with his mouth shut is of little use to a team.  A keeper that is advanced in his positioning and communicating to his defence and sending out useful information is a massive asset to a team. Much of a goalkeeper's work can’t be seen on TV!

It took me a long time to realise this. As a youngster it was all about saving shots, that was the reason I wanted to be a keeper. I’d see my idols flying horizontally through the air and to me that was what a keeper was all about.

It’s only with age and knowledge I can see through what many see as ‘great saves’ which, with some better footwork, would have been a comfortable save and many situations where a brighter keeper could have stopped a situation occurring at source with good communication or better reading of the game.

The toughest part of goalkeeping is arguably collecting crosses. This is an area where you’ll see many keepers ‘hide’ and allow the defence to deal with the situation but you ask any defender and they’ll tell you there’s nothing better than seeing your keeper come charging  out and dominating his area. It disheartens opponents and fills a team with confidence. Collecting a cross can often give a team a lift just as much as a great save.

Another big part of the modern keeper’s game is the ability to distribute. Once a cross has been collected an accurate piece of distribution can turn defence into attack in an instant. To be able to throw the ball long distances ‘Schmeichelesque’ style is a fantastic addition to an armoury - or a punched half-volley kick into the channels for the wingers to chase can also be very effective.

Perhaps the most modern addition to goalkeeper’s distribution is the ‘side volley’. Initially a foreign concept, it has now become a technique that most youngsters practise as their main piece of distribution from their hands. The trajectory of the ball is slightly flatter than that of a straight volley from your hands which is easier for the striker to deal with and thus more likely to help a team keep possession than a high punt which, in truth, is a lottery.

Gone are the days when a goalkeeper's role is purely to keep the ball out of the net. With good positioning a keeper can act as a sweeper when needed and, with good distribution, he really can be an offensive weapon for a team.

To finish this piece I guess it’s only right that I give my opinion on who’s the best currently.

I feel privileged that I got to work with Brad Friedel as I think he’s been the most consistent in the last few years. I also think that Ben Foster has all the attributes listed above and has every chance of becoming a great but, for me right now, I have to look abroad and say Iker Cassillas of Real Madrid.

There’s some keepers I enjoy watching and he’s one of them; he looks comfortable with what he’s doing and to have performed at the level he has since the age of 17 takes some doing. But the reason above all others for me is the consistency he shows - to have played in as many games as he has and to have maintained the level of performance he's done is inspirational to me.