Final: Houston Dynamo 1, Real Salt Lake 3
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT
MLS - Major League Soccer
05/13/2010
Pat Onstad
Houston Dynamo, #18
Overall Grade: C+
Summary Statement
Onstad had 25+ touches/tests in this match so it was a pretty good sample of his ability.
The game was over almost from the start with the goal that was allowed in the 3rd minute. The Dynamo never really tested Rimando and Salt Lake until after the 70th min. By that time it was already 3-0.
Onstad is an intelligent goalkeeper. At 42 years old, he may also be the oldest player. With age comes wisdom, and that is probably why Onstad does not take many risks. I preach about this often... there is little reward to be gained from risky goalkeeping.
In addition to limiting risk, Onstad also does very well to maximize his advantage with his positioning in the goal mouth and while playing his angles. He is a very tall man and more often than not, Onstad was in a perfect initial position to give him the best opportunity to keep his body between the ball and the goal. In the 7th minute, the save was made purely because of this body position as he was distracted by an attacker and the ball bounced off his chest.
Now, here is where the positivity stops. Once the ball is struck, Onstad's footwork and balance become a big problem. In nearly every case where a ball was directed toward goal in this match, Onstad's weight would immediately shift from being forward and on the balls of his feet to moving backward and falling back on his heels.
With his weight and balance shifting backward, there is a natural tendancy to make your dives go back toward the goal. This creates an obtuse diving angle which limits the real estate one can cover side-to-side. In addition, any diverted balls that are not caught will be diverted backward toward the goal. An optimal dive is one that is executed at an acute or right angle.
Strengths
Angle play. Body position. Breakaway/1-on-1 play. Communication. Size. Makes intelligent decisions.
Weaknesses
Footwork. Balance. Speed. Handling contact.
Complete Scorecard:
Technical Abilities: C
- Hands: There was one soft header on goal. Technique looked okay, but not enough information.
- Body Position: Was initially well positioned on almost every play. He was distracted in the 7th minute and good body position bailed him out.
- Diving: See footwork below… this is generating undesired diving effects.
- Angles: Onstad knows where to be within his goal area to maximize his angle advantage. If he can combine an proper footwork with this angle play, he will be more effective.
- Footwork: Postive: Moving side to side in the 50 min. was very well done. Negative: Taking a close look at Onstad's footwork at the time of a shot shows that he is falling backwards on nearly every attempt. This is also generating obtuse diving angles rather than acute (or right) diving angles. Your balance is off when you are going backwards... and you are limiting the amount of side-to-side real estate you can cover when falling backwards.
- Diverting: One poor punch on a cross diverted low and up the middle. Other saves that resulted in rebounds required immediate attention from defenders to clear/contain.
- Foot Skills: Very effective with his feet. Makes good low-risk decisions. Did very well in the 55th minute to use his body to clear a ball out of bounds.
- Breakaway/1-on-1: Two breakaway situations were presented to Onstad. He does not over-commit and likes to stay on his feet. This works well against some attackers who like to get the simple chip over an on-rushing GK. Findley lost the one-on-one battles with Onstad in this match.
Physical Attributes: C
- Balance: I have issue with him falling backward and redistributing his weight towards his heels on shot attempts.
- Speed: He's 42 years old… not lightning quick.
- Reaction: Hands are very quick in one-on-one and point-blank situations. Loses a point because balance is an issue with reaction saves.
- Size: Very tall… about 6'4". Knows how to make himself even bigger when required.
- Strength: Does not appear tremendously strong for his size. Did not handle contact very well on the on instance I witnessed.
Aerial Intelligence: C
- Preparation: Pat does very well to position himself in a proper starting postion within the goal mouth.
- Decision Making: The preparation is good. The decisions made are acceptable. Execution needs improvement.
- Communication: Onstad is always communicating with his team. Very vocal.
- Timing/Execution: One cross was misplayed due to judgement or contact. Another was punched poorly into a questionable area. Caught in no-mans land on a goal.
Distribution: C
- Punting/Drop Kicks: I don't know if a punt was attempted in this match.
- Goal Kicks: Adqequate.
- Throwing: When you throw a simple bouncing ball over a teammates head and out of bounds to conceed possession, you will get a low score from me.
- Bowling: 2 bowls attempted. One good. One sloppy.
- From Feet: Long, well weighted, balls played into opponents end of the field.
- Decision Making: I question the timing of some of the ditribution methods. In one instance a goal kick was played softly to a defender who had his back the the field…. The result ended up being a loss of posession. In another instance, a bowl would have delivered a nice ball to the feet rather than a bouncing thrown ball requiring extra touches.
Psychological: B
- Confidence: Onstad has confidence in the knowledge he posses about the game. I question the confidence he has in his own technique and physical ability with him being in the 40+ club.
- Leadership: I think Onstad has the respect of his teammates. Clearly provides leadership and direction.
- Mental Toughness: I thought Pat kept his head on straight, even after the goals and lack of help. Possibly had checked out a bit on the last shot that hit the post.
- Courage: Comes off his line to challenge when appropriate.
- Attitude: Carries himself in a professional manner. Obvious frustration after the 3rd goal, but I can feel his pain.
Tactical: B
- Knowledge: Onstad is a very experienced keeper who obviously knows the game and how to identify how to approach each situation.
- Decision Making: No poor tactical decisions. Sound play.
- Organization/Communication: The only reason Pat gets a 3 here instead of a 4 is because of the final goal. I truly believe that the tactical miscommunication with the guys in the wall pulled focus away from reinforcing the communication to the runners to follow their men. Defenders need to be encouraged and reminded... OFTEN... otherwise they can get lazy.
Final Result: F
- Victory/Draw/Loss: Loss by 1+. Houston was never really in the match.
- Shutout (1) or (0): 3 goals. Houston has some work to do.
- Significance in Result (+/-): Onstad had 25+ tests/touches in this match. He was very busy and played like a professional.
Uniform Kit: Plus (+)
- Style: Simple style. Clean.
- Coordination: Combination looked really sharp. The gloves even matched. Best GK kit I've graded so far.
- Color: I'm a big fan of the white GK jerseys. Black Shorts and white socks.
Key Moments
2 min.
BREAKAWAY SAVE. Onstad positions his body perfectly, has proper footwork, plays his angles well, and keeps his hands ready to make the save against Findley. A better choice for Findlay may have been the near post as Onstad gave more of an opening to the near side. Onstad soes get caught back on his heels slightly, but does brilliantly to divert the breakaway shot to the side. OFFICIATING NOTE: The rebound gets played back into the hands of Onstad and should have been a free kick for Salt Lake.
3 min.
GOAL. Near post cross is redirected by Findley into the goal. Onstad's body postion was proper. His initial hand position is low, which he quickly changes to high when contact is made, but then has to change back to a low hand position to attempt to make the low save. Onstad also gets caught on his heels again and makes an obtuse angled dive attempt. Keeping hands low and making an acute angle dive from the balls of the feet would have given Onstad a better chance.
5 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Throw to the outside back.
5 min.
FOOT SKILL. DISTRIBUTION. Ball collected and played from feet. Accurate long ball to an attacker at midfield.
7 min.
SAVE. Narrow angle shot from the right side. Onstad is distracted by oncoming attacker attempting a diving header. Ball deflects off of Onstad's chest to another oncoming attacker who has a shot blocked by a Dynamo defender. Good body position. Poor concentration.
8 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Approx 60 yd. goal kick.
11 min.
SAVE. Ball crossed into dangerous spot from an inside position about 25 yards out. Great body position by Onstad. Once again, falls back on heels slightly when making the save. Distribution clean and safely bowled to the outside defender.
20 min.
SHOT. Long, hard, shot over bar. Onstad well positioned.
21 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Approx 65 yd. goal kick.
24 min.
GOAL. One time shot into near post from 17 yards out. Onstad may have been screened as his body is not set completely for a shot and he does not make a diving move until the ball has traveled to about the 8 yard mark.
25 min.
SHOT. Probing run into the box produces dangerous situation. The shot goes wide of the far post. Onstad falls back on heels slightly once shot is hit.
31 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Long, easy, bouncing ball sent into Houston goal area. Onstad collects and sends a simple throw to the right side.
33 min.
DISTRIBUTION. FOOT SKILL. Collects easy ball from head of own defender. Sloppy bowling distribution back to teammate. No harm, no danger.
35 min.
BACKPASS. SAVE. Onstad dives to his left to collect a backpass header from his own defender. Good work to safely secure a below average backpass.
35 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Lazy throw to left back. Ball still bouncing on arrival to his feet. A strong bowl is a better option here.
38 min.
SHOT. Shot from about 23 yards sails over the crossbar. Onstad maximizes his advantage by creeping out past the 6 yd. line.
39 min.
GOAL KICK. Short rolling goal kick delivered to defender at top of the box. Subequent ball from the defender was played poorly out of bounds on the opposite touch line.
46 min.
CROSS. Dead-ball cross from wide and about 40 yards into the penalty area near the spot. Onstad makes an early decision to challenge for the ball but completely misplays the ball flight and/or does not handle the contact well.
46 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Ball from feet played into opponents area (about 45 yards).
50 min.
FOOT WORK/BODY POSITION. Onstad effectively moves from one side of the goal mouth to the other, while moking the most of his angles at each position (at top of 6 yard box at the peak). Shot missed the target.
54 min.
DISTRIBUTION. Collects ball at top of the box from a long through ball. Extremely poor throw to left side which skips past teammate and out of bounds -- conceeding posession. GKs need to make it easy for players to receive balls at their feet. No bouncing, difficult balls. It should only take one easy touch to control.
55 min.
FOOT SKILL. Long quick counter-attacking ball played into a dangerous area outside the Dynamo box. Onstad does well to get the ball cleared out of bounds quickly as possible, eliminating the possibility of Findley getting to the ball and allowing his defense time to get back and defend.
60 min.
GOAL. Onstad appeared to struggle in communication with his wall on the set piece. This indirectly may have contributed to the goal as it did not allow him to turn his focus to directing traffic elsewhere. The defenders simply did not continue to follow their runners and one man was left completely wide open on the near post. Onstad was caught in no-mans land without a definitive plan for defense. Onstad is not at fault for the goal, but should attempt to stay set on his feet and ready to react to flicked headers when there is not an opportunity for the GK to get to the cross.
66 min.
BREAKAWAY. Onstad positions his body well, stays on his feet, and forces Findlay to make the play. Shot goes wide. Well played.
78 min.
DIVERTING. Onstad punches away an inswinging cross from 38 yds out. Punch is diverted low and up the middle. Punches should always be high and wide… and the further… the better.
79 min.
SHOT. Quick shot from top of box hits the post. Poorly playd by Houston defender to give up ball. Onstad was slow to react and clealy beaten. The post can be your friend.
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