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.

Interview With UK Blog, 'I Luv Football'

I recently participated in an interview with a blog based in the United Kingdom called 'I Luv Football'. I've listed an portion of the interview below... but I encourage you to visit the I Luv Football Blog to read the interview in it's entirety.

The Most Amazing Shootout at the 2010 FAI Ford Cup Final & How To Defend A Penalty Kick

It's the craziest penalty shootout I have ever seen. Goalkeeper saves 4 out of 4!

2010 Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup - FAI Ford Cup
Shamrock Rovers 0, Sligo Rovers 0 (0-2 Shootout)
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
11.14.2010

The Shamrock Rovers GK Saves one penalty and watches another travel wide while the second string Sligo Rovers goalkeeper, Ciaran Kelly, saves 4 out of 4 penalty kicks in a shootout to capture the 2010 FAI Ford Cup.

Goalkeepers use various tactics to defend penalties and determine where the ball is headed before it is struck to gain a competitive edge against the shooter. All goalkeepers are taught to make themselves as large as they can possibly be in the goal mouth... a save with the tip of the toe is still a save. You will also often see goalkeepers spreading their arms to look larger or bounce laterally along the goal line... all in a psychological effort to make the shooter feel uncomfortable.

As far as which direction a goalkeeper chooses to defend, these tactics can include:

1. Shooter Approach - a narrow approach to the ball by the shooter can indicate the shooter targeting across their body. A wider approach can indicate the opposite. This tactic is less effective at the professional level as shooters do well to disguise their direction based on approach.

2. Shooter Body Position - Very difficult. The body position just before the shooter contacts the ball may reveal an opening of the shoulders, hips, knee, and ankle which can indicate a right-footed shooter shooting right, or a left-footed shooter shooting left. With a right-footed shooter, the GK must plan to go to the shooters left (goalkeeper's right) unless they see the body open... then they must make a split second decision to change direction to the shooters right (goalkeeper's left).

3. GK Best Guess - basing the directional decision on film study or a gut feeling.

4. GK Reaction - Pure athleticism and quickness.

It may appear that Silgo Rovers GK Cirian Kelly is basing his directional decision solely on GK reaction (tactic #4), but If you look closely, it's more likely the based on the shooters body position (tactic #2) prior to contact. Look at Kelly's first two saves... pause the video just as the shooter is about to make contact. In each instance the shooter opens their body position and Kelly makes the decision at that point to go that direction.

In examining Ciaran Kelly's most impressive save versus the 3rd shooter, Kelly seems to make an initial decision to go to his left. But when the shooter does not open his body, Kelly quickly changes his directional decision to go the opposite direction. Kelly is actually in no-man's land and stuck in the middle of the goal. He is fortunate that the shooter chose to shoot down the middle rather than choosing the corner. A quick, brilliant, reaction gets his hand to the ball as his lower body goes one way and his upper body the other.

In the end It's part art, part science, part athleticism, and mostly luck. But this is the most impressive shootout performance I have ever seen.

Sun Sets on Thursday Training at The Home Depot Center

From @ussoccer... goalkeeper Dominic Cervi takes in the sunset during training at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. The United States hosts Chile on Jan. 22.

Chris Seitz Joins Third Team in Three Years

Chris Seitz has landed with FC Dallas. With Dario Sala finally hanging up his boots and Kevin Hartman getting older, there should be a fair amount of opportunity in Dallas.

One hopes that the Project 40 goalkeeper can put together a better season than last year. Mistakes like the one below surely didn't help his status with the Philadelphia Union. Follow him on Twitter @Seitzy1.

UPDATE: FC Dallas just posted an interview with "Seitzy" on their website. Here's a snippet:

FCDallas.com: What’s it like to be joining a legend like Kevin Hartman in goal?
Seitz: I’ve always loved training with good goalkeepers because the only way that you’re going to get better is by competing, and I obviously have that opportunity with both Josh [Lambo] and Kevin. From that standpoint I’m excited. I don’t want to embarrass him [Hartman] or anything, but I actually grew up watching him, so it’ll be fun to get out there with him every day and train with him and compete with him day in and day out.

FCDallas.com: How excited are you to be coming to Texas from Philadelphia?
Seitz: It’s my second team in two years (Seitz was with Real Salt Lake previously). I moved out to Philly and now I’m moving out here, so I hope to be here a while. I hope to prove myself and be able to stay here and call this place home for a while. That’s really the main goal, just get out here and get familiarized with the fans, with the front office and with the team and make it a good environment for me. I'm ready to get out there and get to work

Hilarious Promo for FIFA 2011 with Landon Donovan & Steve Nash

Steve Nash is hilarious.

EA Sports released a 3-part video series to promote the launch of 2011. Steve Nash is hliarious and newly crowned Awesomest Dude of the Year, Landon Donovan, could use some acting help... Part two is the best of the three.

Guzan Finally Gets a Chance to Start via Loan to Hull City

Brad Guzan serving as the US #2 goalkeeper while rarely seeing any time with his professional club is something that has been very confusing. This blogger has questioned why Guzan hasn't demanded a loan or transfer... Well it has FINALLY happened... At least for a month.

Brad Guzan has made a 2.5 hour drive from Birmingham to Hull City where he will play on loan for one month. The move comes after Hull GK, Vito Mannone, was called into duty at Arsenal.

The 26 year old American joined Aston Villa in 2008 from Chivas USA but has seen limited action. Former US #1 GK, Brad Friedel, has held the starting spot for an extensive period at Aston Villa. Friedel turns 40 in May.

Hull City was relegated from the Premier League to the Npower Championship in 2010 and currently sits 15th in England's second-tier, but only 4 points shy of a place in the Championship Play-offs.

Guzan has made one Premier League appearance and seen a handful of UEFA Cup/Europa League and Carling Cup action. The United States victory over South Africa in November is arguably Guzan's most exceptional game as a professional.

What can be accomplished during the short span of a one month loan is questionable. However, this is only a positive if Guzan can find himself in a starting position for Hull. Best case scenario would be the further exposure and consistent playing time prompting a transfer to another top-tier club..