Mitten-fingers

Is there something fundamentally wrong with today’s goalkeepers?

They cannot catch a ball in the air to save their lives and diving at an oncoming forward’s feet is a lost art.

Since the introduction of the ‘star jump’ where, with a little luck, the ball bounces off of them where as a dive at the feet, with one forearm protecting the face and the hand of the other arm to take the ball was great to see.

They do not also make their defenders take a post at corners. How many goals have we seen scored from corners, when the ball is headed towards goal, the keeper having missed the ball, and it enters the net just inside the post whereas if a left or right back have been on the posts they could have cleared the ball.

Keepers also do not know that they should always stand at the far post at corners so they can run forward and take the ball out of the air, another lost art. They stand in the middle of the goalmouth, the ball passes over them and an attacker, unseen behind the keeper, heads the ball in.

They should watch some videos from the 1960s and ’70s with the likes of Gordon Banks, Ron Springett, Peter Bonetti and Tony

Waiters in action. Any ball below 12ft-high coming over from a corner was theirs. Once caught they took a step or two and kicked the ball upfield starting an immediate attack.

Of course, the mittens they wear these days do not help matters.

Why wear gloves on a dry sunny day when a spit on the hands help gather the ball and they can get their fingers around the ball.

Very different days, different ways.

Roy Thomas Fareham