Alisson and Ederson are the new game changers and worth every penny of their hefty fees
IT is Monday morning’s first job down at the FA’s coaching HQ.
Count the number of English outfield players who started a Premier League game over the weekend and convert it into a handy percentage, ideal for soundbites. Last weekend, it was 24.5 per cent, which, apparently, is the lowest figure in three years.
It might well be the lowest figure ever, but the FA only started counting three years ago. Gareth Southgate (above) duly highlighted the number, saying the issue is “the missing piece everyone is keen to resolve”.
It is a worthy crusade, but there is a two-word riposte. Fabian Delph.
He did not start for Manchester City against Bournemouth last Saturday, but has he improved as a player through training and competing for a place with so many brilliant imports?
Of course, he has. Delph (left) has improved to the extent where he was, arguably, one of England’s best players before being tactically replaced late in the game against Croatia last month.
No, 24.5 per cent is not ideal, certainly not if you are the England manager.
But among the 24.5 per cent, most will have needed to take themselves to another level to be in that number.
And, as we are happily finding out in life with Southgate’s squad, that can only benefit England.
RALPH HASENHUETTL was in the Wembley stands on Wednesday night but did not take official charge of Southampton until yesterday. Of course Ralph (below) didn’t. Had Southampton pulled off a surprise win against Spurs, how long would it have been before it appeared on his record? Remember Sam Allardyce sitting in the stands for David Unsworth’s last game as Everton manager?
The thumping 4-0 defeat of West Ham was soon appropriated by Allardyce.
That’s the way managers work and that’s fine.
If you are in the stadium and it is your team, it is your result. THERE is a blindingly obvious reason why, in 15 Premier League games apiece, Alisson and Ederson have conceded a paltry six and seven goals respectively.
They have two outstanding teams in front of them, teams who spend the majority of the time on the offensive, teams who defend from the front.
Had he chosen to, Ederson could have taken a book with him to some of his engagements.
He would probably get through War and Peace in his on-field downtime this season.
In those 15 matches, he has made just 25 saves. That must feel like 90 minutes’ work for Burnley’s Joe Hart. With 34 saves, Alisson has been busier but, with Virgil van Dijk protecting him, on the domestic scene rather than the European scene it has to be said, the £67million keeper has hardly been manically busy.
And like Ederson at Manchester City, Alisson has made the odd mistake.
There was the botched Cruyff turn against Leicester and he was not too clever for the Jack Cork goal that gave Burnley the lead on Wednesday night.
But Alisson helped provide the match-clinching finale via his brilliant save from Ben Mee and his presence of mind to set up the counter-attack that ended with Xherdan Shaqiri scoring Liverpool’s third. Ederson’s rush of blood gave United a penalty and hope in a one-sided Manchester derby last month, but the 70-yard assist for Sergio Aguero in the thrashing of Huddersfield in August stays longer in the memory.
Statistics have to be handled with care in general but, in the case of goalkeepers, they can be taken with a pinch of salt.
According to the official Premier League website, David De Gea has made one error that led directly to a goal this season, Alisson the same number and Ederson two.
But what about the errors that lead indirectly to a goal? More importantly, what about the intangibles? A keeper’s self-belief inspires confidence through the ranks. Alisson and Ederson have it in abundance – witness the latter’s penchant for the no-look pass.
The nature of goalkeeping at the elite level is changing, Gianluigi Buffon said as much the other day.
“You have to accept the role has changed and more things are expected of the modern goalkeeper,” said Buffon.
Not least of which is that you find a team-mate no matter how much pressure you are under, that you develop and work on the skills needed by an outfield player. The nature of goalkeeping at the elite level is changing and, in the Premier League, Ederson and Alisson are leading the way.
It has long been taken as read by many that De Gea (left) is the best keeper in the world. Jose Mourinho repeated the mantra last week.
He is fantastic but probably not even the best goalkeeper in the Premier League right now, probably not even the best in Manchester.
Of the Big Six keepers out there, Ederson just edges it for me but, as Liverpool continue to shadow City in a remarkable first half of the season, that £67m they splashed out in the summer looks like some of the best money they have spent.
Alisson is worth every penny.