Who Is To Blame: The Linesman Or The Goalkeeper?

In the last few minutes of the first half, Tottenham goalkeeper Gomes mishandles a long range shot from Chelseas's Lampard.   The ball trickles past him towards the goal line before Gomes amazingly stretches back to get a finger to the ball before it goes completely over the line.   The line referee was in a position where he was not able to definitively determine whether the ball completely crossed the line.    The linesman signals to the center referee that it was a goal... but replay clearly shows that it was not a goal.

Who is to blame?  The linesman or the goalkeeper?

The linesman completely fails on the call, but I do not believe he is to blame.    My take is that the fault should still be placed on the goalkeeper for putting the referee in the position to have to make a tough call.

The shot from Lampard was from long range and directly at Gomes.   Gomes got lazy and had poor technique.  Rather than dropping a knee, Gomes should have gathered the ball "frog catch" style and smothered the ball into the ground.   If the GK centers his shoulders and hips to the ball, collects the ball with both hands (pinkies together), simultaneously securing in his chest while his body motion propels him forward and down to the ground using the ball to break his fall... the ball would have never leaked past him.

I will applaud Gomes for his extremely athletic recovery.   He could have simply watched the ball trickle into the goal, but he got off his ass and worked to make a save.  

There is nothing more deflating to the rest of the field players than to watch a goalkeeper be lazy.   Field players are running 6+ miles a game, the least a GK can do is give every ounce of effort on every ball... even if the GK knows they won't be able to make  the save.   The field players will get some satisfaction out of the fact that their GK busts his ass on every play.

Catching Up With Brad Friedel

US Soccer recently caught up with Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.  Friedel talks about his longevity and what it's like playing in the English Premier League.   You will notice in the clip that he's developed an English accent over the years.

Friedel, who is now 39, grew up in Ohio and went on to play at UCLA.   The first time I ever saw Friedel play was in the 1990 NCAA Division I Final.  UCLA defeated Rutgers on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie and four overtime periods.  It still is one of the greatest goalkeeping efforts I have ever seen.

Friedel went on to play for the US National Team in the Olympics and the World Cup before embarking on a professional carrer that took him to Denmark, Turkey, and England (Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa).  

He also spent some time with the Columbus Crew of the MLS before his transfer to Liverpool.  During this time, he was awarded the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

He's also authored a biography, which I have yet to read.  It's titled, Thinking Outside the Box: My Journey in Search of the Beautiful Game  I may have to pick up a copy and see what it's all about...