African Goalkeepers??

[Dodger]

Read in the paper yesterday of the 240 goalies registered in the teams that are in European competition there is only one African keeper and he's Porto's third choice!!:mmm:

Since the start of the EPL there have only been two.

Why? We have plenty top class outfield players so what is all that about?

Puzzling.:mmm:

 

[Deleted member 18588]

There is a danger when generalising on these sort of issues but when you think back to recent tournaments there have been many outstanding outfield players from the continent of Africa e.g. Toure(s), Eto'o, Drogba et al but not too many goalies who have stood out.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Hard to say why.... Kind of surprising. Maybe a curious coincidence? Something more sinister?

On a similar note, and I haven't checked this but, just read that currently only one EPL club has an English first choice goalie....

 

[Blue in Munich]

Hard to say why.... Kind of surprising. Maybe a curious coincidence? Something more sinister?

On a similar note, and I haven't checked this but, just read that currently only one EPL club has an English first choice goalie....

Norwich I presume?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Hard to say why.... Kind of surprising. Maybe a curious coincidence? Something more sinister?

On a similar note, and I haven't checked this but, just read that currently only one EPL club has an English first choice goalie....

I am sure you are currently correct although I am equally sure that Hart will be back in the EPL before long, either with Man City or elsewhere and Foster will be back for WBA once fit again. Still not many though.

 

[Blue in Munich]

I am sure you are currently correct although I am equally sure that Hart will be back in the EPL before long, either with Man City or elsewhere and Foster will be back for WBA once fit again. Still not many though.

Not sure I agree re Hart; got dropped for the aberration with Torres, first game back does his best to repeat the trick against Germany.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Not sure I agree re Hart; got dropped for the aberration with Torres, first game back does his best to repeat the trick against Germany.

Would still rate him more highly than Pantillimon, and BTW hasn't Peter Cech become a little error bound in recent times.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Norwich I presume?

Yip, with foster injured and hart currently out of favour.

 

[Dodger]

There is a danger when generalising on these sort of issues but when you think back to recent tournaments there have been many outstanding outfield players from the continent of Africa e.g. Toure(s), Eto'o, Drogba et al but not too many goalies who have stood out.

Danger? What's the danger?

Lack of specialist coaching a factor maybe?

 

[Robobum]

Read in the paper yesterday of the 240 goalies registered in the teams that are in European competition there is only one African keeper and he's Porto's third choice!!:mmm:

Since the start of the EPL there have only been two.

Why? We have plenty top class outfield players so what is all that about?

Puzzling.:mmm:

Never really given this any though before - interesting!!!

Who were the 2? Richard Kingston? @ Blackpool. Who was other?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I was thinking back to when black players first broke through in England and all the stereotype remarks were made, like " alright as attackers but will never make defenders" and so on.

I do, however, think you may have a point re: lack of specialist coaching and this could be a vicious circle; lack of goalkeepers now equates to shortage of goalkeeping coaches in the future.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Never really given this any though before - interesting!!!

Who were the 2? Richard Kingston? @ Blackpool. Who was other?

Actually I believe Richard Kingson started in this country at Birmingham and, as a long suffering Bluenose, I can tell you he was shocking.

 

[Dodger]

Jeez the colour card?

Bruce drop a lot? Not all Africans are black.

 

[Robobum]

http://allfa.org/legendary-goalkeepers/

Who?

 

[Liverbirdie]

Jeez the colour card?

Bruce drop a lot? Not all Africans are black.

Don't think he dropped a lot of them medals he won.

Not sure about brown envelopes though.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Jeez the colour card?

Bruce drop a lot? Not all Africans are black.

But that was my point; people then, and now for that matter, make ridiculous sweeping generalisations and before long they become received wisdom. So black or otherwise there remains a danger in questioning the ability of African goalkeepers in general rather than specific terms.

Grobelaar was an exceptional goalie but I will leave it to you to decide what I mean by exceptional.

 

[GeneralStore]

Having grown up in Africa and having played loads of football at a competitive amateur level I would put it down to 2 reasons:
1: terrible infrastructure/training/coaching
2: mindset, the football tends to be skills and attack orientated, nobody wants to be a goalkeeper. Look at Brazil, a similar environment in terms of wanting to play skillful football...how many world class keepers have they had compared to forwards?

The observation is correct though.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Would still rate him more highly than Pantillimon, and BTW hasn't Peter Cech become a little error bound in recent times.

Granted Big Pete isn't quite as infallible as once he was but I'm not sure I see anyone in the Premier League that I'd take over him. He's still the only keeper I've seen go the right way for penalties 6 times out of 6 in the one game and get 3 of them.....

As regards Hart, I'm minded of a phrase an old driving instructor used to use; "Once is a mistake, twice is the start of a habit". Hart is beginning to look like he has a nasty habit.

 

[SaintHacker]

Hart would be an amazing keeper if he would just stay on his line! Ive never known a goalie rush out like he does, usually when there is a defender covering. Shot stopping he's in the top 4 I'd say, along with Cech, Poom and Boruc.
A lot is being made of keepers making howlers lately but a lot of it is down to the ball, they keep inventing a lighter ball each season which just doesn't fly true, its no wonder the guys are being deceived and are unwilling to come and claim a cross.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Hart would be an amazing keeper if he would just stay on his line! Ive never known a goalie rush out like he does, usually when there is a defender covering. Shot stopping he's in the top 4 I'd say, along with Cech, Poom and Boruc.
A lot is being made of keepers making howlers lately but a lot of it is down to the ball, they keep inventing a lighter ball each season which just doesn't fly true, its no wonder the guys are being deceived and are unwilling to come and claim a cross.

If we are talking about shot stoppers I'd put Cudicini above all of them, but he was a bit short for a keeper and was relatively well behind them in some other aspects of the game.