It gives me great pleasure to publish the first 'Keeper Talk' Awards. Every season, members of our union who give 100% in their role and this never seems to get reflected in the PFA awards. So this is where goalkeepers of the world can get together, share their views and we can celebrate the finest (and not so finest) of our sport. The awards for the 2010/2011 season can be seen below:
Young Player of the Year - Joe Hart
Fantastic season where he has helped Man City to a current Champions League spot, claimed the Man City number 1 jersey in doing so and also is now England's first choice goalkeeper. Big saves in big games have helped Joe establish himself as one of the worlds top goalkeepers, and I am sure this success will continue.
Newcomer of the Year - Simon Mignolet
Despite being signed as a backup goalkeeper, as expected with Craig Gordon's chocolate body, Mignolet has been forced in to first team action. Steve Bruce has often praised this guy's ability and despite a few questionable moments - Mignolet has had a great first season in the Prem. His performance against Arsenal alone is enough for me to rate him!
Fatality of the Year - Chris Kirkland
I have always been a huge fan of CK, and it pains me to see what has happened to him. Being in goal for an opening day 4-0 home loss to Blackpool is enough to destroy anyone's confidence, but CK's head has well and truly gone AWOL. Shipped out on loan deals to Leicester, and almost to Cardiff, it has become clear that Kirkland's career has well and truly gone kaputt! Where Chris can go from here I have no idea.
Comeback of the Year - Kevin Poole
Having retired in 2009. Burton Albion's Goalkeeper coach Kevin Poole decided to have another stab at the big time at the grand old age of 46, in order to help out the Burton chaps! Great effort by a legend of the game. A true legend of bench warming and he truly puts shame to Jens Lehmann's pathetic attempt at a comeback.
Fraud Of The Season - Matt Gilks
This guy is a fraudster, I'm hearing whispers of potential transfers to Man City etc when his contract runs out at the end of this season. Believe me when I tell you, this will nooooo be a good thing! I may even put it out there that our good friend Richard Kingson is better than him.
Mistake of the Season - Greeno
It has to be really doesn't it. The occasion, the expectation, the promise........by no means the worst error this season. But it will never be forgotten unfortunately for Rob Green.
Performance of the Season - Fozzy vs Arsenal
I am a firm believer that great performances that occur in big games are the ones that matter. Its all very well having a blinder in a mid season league game as Fozzy has done all year, but these need to be reproduced on the biggest stage. Needless to say, The Fozzman delivered:
Mr Consistent of the Season - Mark Schwarzer
A good season from a top goalkeeper, no mistakes and an extremely professional season from one of the Prem's finest custodians. Should we be surprised?
Player of the Season - Edwin Van Der Sar
An idiot once said that Van Der Sar was finished, and that he should have hung up his gloves following a bottling against Chelsea in late 2009. I was that idiot.
VDS has been top of the tree this year, and will be retiring at the pinnacle of world goalkeeping. There are no superlative's left to describe this keeper. Arguably one of the biggest complements that KeeperTalk can give is that there will soon be the article 'Van Der Sar or Schmeichel?' - stay posted!
The Big One - Save of the Season
3rd place: Cech vs Stoke
(vid cannot be found for some reason)
2nd: Gordon vs Bolton
Winner: It's that man again!
This concludes the KeeperTalk awards for 2011. I look forward another great year of Goalkeeping - and look forward to next year!
Wednesday 20 April 2011
The undervalued art of Bench Warming...
Its around this time in the season that stories start being released of players becoming disgruntled with life on the sidelines, and rumours start surfacing of moves away from their current clubs. The other day I witnessed an article on Tomas Kuszczak informing the media of his decision that it is time to leave Old Trafford - what a massive shame that is! His reason for this declaration is due to the fact that he is tired of sitting on the bench at the worlds biggest club, something that many (including myself) would die for!
These people are the unsung heroes of goalkeeping, those that go under the radar and are quickly forgotten. It take a certain character and attitude to sit on the bench all season, and it is one that I have plenty of respect for! I want to make clear that I am not talking about the greatest goalkeepers to be a sub (Shay Given for example), I am talking about goalkeepers that are great at being a sub. The attributes for which are as follows:
These people are the unsung heroes of goalkeeping, those that go under the radar and are quickly forgotten. It take a certain character and attitude to sit on the bench all season, and it is one that I have plenty of respect for! I want to make clear that I am not talking about the greatest goalkeepers to be a sub (Shay Given for example), I am talking about goalkeepers that are great at being a sub. The attributes for which are as follows:
- Never pipe up about lack of playing time!
- Contribute heavily in the changing rooms to the team 'banter'!
- When shit hits the fan, and they are forced to play, they deputise with minimal fuss!
- Finally, they always seem to get a new 'improved' contract!
- Frequently seem to move in to a coaching capacity when the time comes!
The top five goalkeepers in this category will now be discussed:
5. Mike Pollitt - Mike has learnt from the best, when he first started at Wigan he was a part of a goalkeeping trio that consisted of himself, Gary Walsh and John Filan. Any of those other two could have easily made the top five in this blog. Most people reading this will be aware that Mike Pollitt was for a long time a very highly rated goalkeeper, and probably still is. However Chris Kirkland's arrival at the then JJB stadium pushed Mike down the Wigan pecking order and ultimately to the bench.
MP flirted with the idea of leaving, even a couple of short loan spells occurred. This is before he came to the clever conclusion that a life on the sidelines is for him.
Since this change, Mike has become a club legend for The Latics. Always being at the forefront of any TV opportunity (Soccer AM regular)! This what I look for in a bench man! .......and yes - he is currently doing his coaching badges!
4. Raimond Van der Gouw - The Manchester United fans reading this will have nothing but fond memories of this guy! A genuinely good goalkeeper, and always more than a capable replacement for goalkeeping icons Peter Schmeichel and Fabien Barthez! Many will remember VDG's performances in Dortmund and Monaco, endearing him to many of United's fans!
Do you ever remember Raimond giving it large about his lack of playing time? No you did not! This is because he knew his role on the bench - and was proud of it! Many will also know that VDG is now a highly respected goalkeeping coach!
3. Espen Baardsen - What a goalkeeper! This guy does not follow the trend of backup goalkeepers, but if anybody was born to sit on the bench. It was this guy! Signed from the San Francisco All Black's for Tottenham - he was Ian Walker's backup in both goalkeeping prowess and mainly style! Despite many heroic performances for Spurs! An opportunity at Watford came available, where he became backup to Alec Chamberlain, displaced Chamberlain, and then went back to the bench - his natural role! He then went to Everton - to sit on the bench!
The best thing about Espen Baardsen, he retired from professional football aged 25 having 'lost interest in the game' - basically he couldn't be bothered training anymore! Legendary!
2. Tony ' Bonus' Warner - Tony spent five ears sat on the bench at Liverpool, playing behind David James. Due to Warner's constant bench role he was nicknamed 'Bonus' by the Liverpool players due to him always collecting the teams win bonus, despite never contributing. to the performance. The best and worse of Bonus can be seen below:
1. Carlo Nash - Quote on Wikipedia "Throughout his career Nash has been used as a second and third choice keeper ". Think that says it all!
After starting off as a non league dog, and then becoming a expert in the of bench warming at Man City, Carlo seemed to have found his club when he signed for Stoke, and played a major part in helping The Potters gain promotion to the Premiership. A dilemma followed, Carlo had an offer from Everton - better money to sit on the bench at his boyhood club? Deal!
With Carlo's contract expiring, big Tone Pulis wanted the big man back, who else can be a steady backup to Thomas Sorenson, only Carlo could do this job. What were Carlo's demands? Simple - more money! This transfer prompted a beautiful eulogy from the great Tony Pulis:
MP flirted with the idea of leaving, even a couple of short loan spells occurred. This is before he came to the clever conclusion that a life on the sidelines is for him.
Since this change, Mike has become a club legend for The Latics. Always being at the forefront of any TV opportunity (Soccer AM regular)! This what I look for in a bench man! .......and yes - he is currently doing his coaching badges!
4. Raimond Van der Gouw - The Manchester United fans reading this will have nothing but fond memories of this guy! A genuinely good goalkeeper, and always more than a capable replacement for goalkeeping icons Peter Schmeichel and Fabien Barthez! Many will remember VDG's performances in Dortmund and Monaco, endearing him to many of United's fans!
Do you ever remember Raimond giving it large about his lack of playing time? No you did not! This is because he knew his role on the bench - and was proud of it! Many will also know that VDG is now a highly respected goalkeeping coach!
3. Espen Baardsen - What a goalkeeper! This guy does not follow the trend of backup goalkeepers, but if anybody was born to sit on the bench. It was this guy! Signed from the San Francisco All Black's for Tottenham - he was Ian Walker's backup in both goalkeeping prowess and mainly style! Despite many heroic performances for Spurs! An opportunity at Watford came available, where he became backup to Alec Chamberlain, displaced Chamberlain, and then went back to the bench - his natural role! He then went to Everton - to sit on the bench!
The best thing about Espen Baardsen, he retired from professional football aged 25 having 'lost interest in the game' - basically he couldn't be bothered training anymore! Legendary!
2. Tony ' Bonus' Warner - Tony spent five ears sat on the bench at Liverpool, playing behind David James. Due to Warner's constant bench role he was nicknamed 'Bonus' by the Liverpool players due to him always collecting the teams win bonus, despite never contributing. to the performance. The best and worse of Bonus can be seen below:
1. Carlo Nash - Quote on Wikipedia "Throughout his career Nash has been used as a second and third choice keeper ". Think that says it all!
After starting off as a non league dog, and then becoming a expert in the of bench warming at Man City, Carlo seemed to have found his club when he signed for Stoke, and played a major part in helping The Potters gain promotion to the Premiership. A dilemma followed, Carlo had an offer from Everton - better money to sit on the bench at his boyhood club? Deal!
With Carlo's contract expiring, big Tone Pulis wanted the big man back, who else can be a steady backup to Thomas Sorenson, only Carlo could do this job. What were Carlo's demands? Simple - more money! This transfer prompted a beautiful eulogy from the great Tony Pulis:
"Carlo was happy to come here as our third choice 'keeper, but people should not under-estimate the contribution he has made, and the peace of mind which he gives us," Pulis told the club's official website.
"It is important to have three top goalkeepers in the Premier League and to have someone with his experience as additional cover, so we are delighted that he has agreed to remain here.
"He has a tremendous attitude and great enthusiasm for the game, so I know that if we need to call upon him again at any point in the future, he can be relied upon to do a good job for us."
Carlo then gave this great explanation, which encapsulates everything he does (and should) believe in!
"It's a difficult decision - whether to go for something like this or for a No.1 spot somewhere else. But when there's a deal on the table, you've got to do what's best for the family."
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