I think it's more about exposure. A keeper at a side that spends ninety minutes under pressure faces more shots, more crosses, more balls into the box and more moments where he's forced to play out under a press. The more often you're asked to make a decision, the more often you'll get one wrong.
The modern game makes that worse. Keepers are now expected to be the first line of the build-up as well as the last line of defence, which means more touches, more risk and more chances for errors that never used to be charged to a goalkeeper. Put that demand on a keeper whose team can't keep the ball and the mistakes pile up quickly.
Compare that with a keeper at one of the top sides. He might face two or three shots in a game, most of them from distance, and when he plays it out he's got defenders who are comfortable on the ball and midfielders offering an easy pass. He can go long spells barely touched, so his error count stays low and his reputation stays intact. Swap the two keepers and I'd bet the numbers would follow the team more rather than the player specifically.
We anre a good example. Our style leaves us open on the break, and we concede more quality chances than almost anyone, so Walton (or Scherpen etc) is constantly in the firing line. Judge them on mistakes alone and you're really judging the system in front of him.
The simple truth is that in modern football, a keeper's error count says as much about how much pressure his team is under as it does about his ability. |  |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
