Goalkeeping: the key points!

The goalkeeper is a key member of a football team.
This is a fact, everybody agrees on that (if not, please leave a comment, and explain...).
No good team without a good goalkeeper! Take all the champion's league winners, you will always find a world class keeper.
At a lower level, take the champion in your country's league: Always a good or very good goalkeeper.

The goalies role have dramatically changed since 20 to 30 years. The keeper is not only somebody that can stop the ball, but he is also the first one to launch an attack sometimes, he is also the one that will replace his defence when the opponent team counter attacks... So many roles...

 Here are some key "features", key characteristics that a good goalkeeper should have:

1. Mental characteristics
   
   • Determination
   • Courage
   • Leadership (on the field)
     
   • Concentration
   • Reliability
   • Solitary
   • Responsible
2. Physical characteristics
   
   • Stamina
     
   • Strength/Power-stroke
   • Vivacity/sharpness
   • Suppleness
   • Coordination
   • Space localisation

We will come back more deeply on each characteristic on future articles, but here are the basics.
Want to be a goalkeeper? You have the magic potion to be!
Easy to say... But goalkeeper is not an easy position on the field. Try once if you never did!  ;-)

Goalkeepers great pictures (1)

Todays article is will show you some great pictures about goalkeepers.

Indeed, like a goal a shot or a tackle can be great to capture a keeper's save or even just move can also sometimes be stunning.

Iker Casillas (Spain)

The first picture on the right shows how the keepers are the most exposed players in football (soccer).
As you can see Iker Casillas, from Real Madrid must have some courage to go across Barcelona's defender Carles Pujol, especially during the Spanish classic.






Below are some great pictures of saves.

Hope Solo (USA)

Reina (Spain)

Iker Casillas (Spain)

The USA woman goalie Hope Solo making an amazing save!









 "Pepe" Reina stopping a penalty in the Premier League.








Spanish number one goalie Iker Casillas during a training session. Yes, goalkeepers train very hard also...

Victor Valdes (Spain)

Barcelona's keeper Victor Valdes making a sheer reflex incredible save!

And finally a special gift for you:
The terrific "Scorpion's" save from former Columbian goalkeeper Rene Higuita.

Rene Higuita (Columbia)

Official transfers and news (16th of July 2012)

 The 34y.o. keeper Cristiano Lupatelli leaves Genoa for free to go the Fiorentina.
Lupatelli already played for Fiorentina from 2006 to 2008 and in 2004-2005.


Two goalkeepers playing in the French "Ligue 1" are followed by Turkish side Besiktas Istanbul: it is OGC Nice's keeper David Ospina and if the negotiations does not go through then the Turkish side
will try to land Rennes' keeper Benoît Costil.

 
Marton Fülöp (29y.o., Hungary) joined Greek side Asteras Tripolis on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion.




Stoke City and Carlo Nash have found an agreement to keep the American keeper one more year at the Britannia Stadium. Nash, 38 years of age previously played for Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Wigan and Everton.

Released by the Belgium side Lierse, the Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima signed a 3 years contract with Standard de Liège.




As Tottenham have not been able to signed highly rated French keeper Hugo Lloris so far, they now target Julio César from Inter Milan. The Milanese club want about 35M€ for him, to be followed...

Last tranfers & rumors (6th of July 2012)...

Official transfers: 

Jean-François Gillet

Torino today spent a little bit less than 2.000.000€ to tranfer Jean-François Gillet from Bologna.

The Begium international keeper, 33 years of age signed a 3 years contract.

The 24 years old keeper from Vicenza (Serie B) Alberto Frisson joined Catane. He signed a 5 years contract.

Particularity from Italy: The player is own by both teams, they signed a co-ownership contract.

News:

Hugo  Lloris

Tottenham Hotspurs have made an official offer evaluated at 15.000.000€ for Olympique Lyonnais keeper Hugo Lloris. Lyon refused the offer, they apparently want at the very least 20.000.000€ for their international keeper. Moreover clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal are following Lloris...

Elie Baup is the new manager for the Olympique de Marseille!

Former goalkeeper Elie Baup has been appointed as head coach by the Olympique de Marseille.
The previous coach was Didier Deschamps, who resigned, and is now felt to be the next coach for the French national team.

Elie Baup (on the right)

Elie Baup, previously coached Toulouse FC (1984 - 1991), AS Saint Etienne (1991 - 1994), as academy head coach, then head coach for the 1st team in AS Saint Etienne (1994 - 1996), coach assistant in Bordeaux (1997 - 1998), 1st team coach for Bordeaux (1998 - 2003), AS Saint Etienne (2004 - 2006), Toulouse FC (2006 - 2008) and FC Nantes Atlantique (2008 - 2009).

Due to a car accident when he was 20y.o., Elie Baup had to stop his goalkeeper career (double fracture at the cervical vertebrae).

English Premier League transfers!

Let's starts our transfer recap by arguably one of the best championship (this is quite subjective I must say...): The English Premier League.

So far 10 official goalkeepers moves have been signed. Here they are (by alphabetic order):

Robert Green

Jussi Jääskeläinen

Tomasz Kuszczak

Ben Foster

1 - Bartosz Bialkowski:
 The Polish goalkeeper from Southampton (there since 2005), has been transferred to Notts County (English League One) for free.

2 - Ruud Bofin:
This young goal keeper from Belgium arrived in West Ham United in 2010 has been transferred for free to the Turkish side Eskisehirspor

3 - Trevor Carson:
The young Northern Ireland keeper never used by Sunderland will go for free to the League One side Bury.

4 - Sam Cowler:
The 19 years old keeper has been release by West Ham United, so he will sign for free for Barnet (League Two).

5 - Jack Dovey:
The very young keeper from Southampton (released) signed a contract with the Blue Square South league club Eastleigh.

6 - Ben Foster:
He joins West Bromwich Albion for a definite transfer (about 5.000.000€) from Birmingham City.

7 - Robert Green:
The England n°2 keeper joins the Queens Park Rangers for free from West Ham United where he was since 2006 (before that he was at Norwich City).

8 - Jussi Jääskeläinen:
The veteran keeper from Finland has been released by the Bolton Wanderers (where he was since 1997!). He joins West Ham United following the departure of previously listed Robert Green.

9 - Chris Kirkland:
The 31 years of age also leaves Wigan Athletic for free for the Championship league side Sheffield Wednesday.

10 - Tomasz Kuszczak:
The Polish keeper leaves Manchester united, where he played 63 matches in 6 seasons for Brighton & Hove (Championship).

First Post!

Hello and welcome to everyone on my blog.

This blog is all about goalkeepers (mainly in Football - soccer - but sometimes also from other sports).
All about goalkeepers....? Yes: News, training sessions, ID cards, pictures, videos, jokes, techniques, equipment, interviews, and many more...!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any remarks or questions.
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