‘Judge us on keeping the ball out - not on playing it out from the back’
MCKEOWN HAS HIS SAY ON THE SHIFT IN EMPHASIS ON THE GOALKEEPER’S ROLE
JAMES McKeown says goalkeepers should be judged mainly on their ability to keep the ball out of the net - not what they do with their feet. Over recent seasons, there has been a gradual shift in emphasis on a goalkeeper’s ability to be able to play as well with his feet as his hands - mopping up danger and helping to launch attacks from deep.
While it’s something more widespread at the very top echelons of the sport, playing out from the back has undoubtedly filtered its way down and even Grimsby Town have experimented with it this season. McKeown feels criticising keepers for making mistakes with the ball at their feet is a bit unfair - and that keeping it out of the net should always be the primary focus. “Let’s be honest - we are in goal because we are the worst footballers. We use our hands for a reason,” said McKeown.
“What happens in football is you see things at the top level, and people start making comparisons with that.
“You’re talking about making comparisons with goalkeepers who are on potentially £150,000 to £250,000 a week. They are that good. They are good with their hands and feet. “Look at Nick Pope at Burnley. There’s a lot of clamour for him to be in the England team at the moment. But then I hear some ridiculous criticism that his playing out is not good enough.
“Hold on a minute, surely it’s got to be about keeping the ball out first and playing out second.
“It’s become a thing because maybe a few of the very top keepers in the world like Ter Stegen, Ederson and Alisson are really good at that side of the game.
“Ask any manager and they will tell you primarily they want their goalkeeper to keep the ball out of the net. But the thinking has changed and it is seen as important for goalkeepers to start attacks. So it’s about finding that balance.
“I think since the gaffer (Ian Holloway) has come in, he has added to my game in that respect. It is not a part of my game that I had
ever done.
“I’m 31 now and made my debut at 17. So for 14 years I have never had a manager encourage us to play in that way.
“You are never too old to start learning. I have enjoyed adding it to my game. I will always do whatever any manager asks of me.” After a poor run of form culminating in the 5-0 loss at Tranmere Rovers, McKeown points to last Tuesday night’s win at Crawley as being a ‘massive’ result that demonstrated the team’s character.
“We had the spell before the cup games
It’s become a thing because maybe a few of the very top keepers in the world like Ter Stegen, Ederson and Alisson are really good at that side of the game.
Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown
when we kept two clean sheets back to back and did okay,” said McKeown.
“And then the cup games seemed to knock us back a lot.The Dagenham game - when you are playing out from the back it always brings its risks - and it cost us in that game. “Then we had the two Trophy games. Hull played particularly well and we did not play well at all.
“Then we had Tranmere - which was appalling and nowhere near good enough from anybody.
“Then the Crawley result was massive. After about five minutes of the game we were 1-0 down. If we had susceptible character as a group I think it would have shown then after getting beaten 5-0 in the last game.
“I think it says a lot about us that we managed to stick in there and get a win that I thought we genuinely deserved.”
After a rare Saturday off, a busy schedule of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday begins again next week - something McKeown relishes more than most as he advances in his career. He continued: “The older I get, the more I like to play Saturday-Tuesday every week.
Maybe it’s because I’m a goalkeeper, but I don’t like to see people moaning about fixtures and tiredness.
“You might be retired from the game at 35. It’s what you are in the game for. Of course your body changes as you get older, and I have adapted my training so I am feeling my best on a Tuesday to Saturday basis.
“Just keep giving me games. One day they won’t be there anymore and that’s what I will miss.”
The big thing McKeown is looking forward to most in the future is the return of fans to
Blundell Park.
He added: “I’ve always felt that I’ve been a better playing, at every point in my career when I am playing under a bit of pressure. “Even considering we have had very up and down form - I have been here a long time and I know what it would have been like. It can be tough at times when people are getting on your back.
“But it’s what they give you as well - when you are 1-0 down, they are the people who help to drive you.
“The sooner fans are back, the better.”