Goalkeepers > the art of catching a ball ???

[not on facebook]

Is it me or are goalkeepers today far more inclined to punch the ball out instead of trying to catch it .

Ok sometimes they have no choice and have to punch it out ,but it seems to me it's the first thing they prefer to do when they have the option at times.

[Herbert Anchovy]

You're right. I think it must be something to do with the increased foreign influence I'd guess. Whatever, I certainly can't recall the likes of Peacock, Rhodes and Samways doing much punching of the ball!

[not on facebook]

Just watching the man city v lpool game and in the 1st half the cit- eh keeper punched the ball out when he could have caught it in my book.

Ball then landed at a lpool player on edge of area who struck straight back towards top corner and the keeper pulled off a great save.

But his punch out gave lpool a quality strike on goal.

Think you might have hit the nail on head wth the sat about European keepers.

[roversdude]

Samways was never in 18 yard box to catch ball

[Lincoln Rover]

Couldn't punch that Kieron Brady goal away could he?
Agreed with the OP though, with Lawlor apparently reluctant to catch on a regular basis.

[Al4475]

samways couldn't catch full stop! Lol!

[not on facebook]

Couldn't punch that Kieron Brady goal away could he?
Agreed with the OP though, with Lawlor apparently reluctant to catch on a regular basis.

Lawlor was from man city ,so was that coached into him as I guess he never picked the punch out not catch option in his much younger days

[karldew]

1) Does the ball move in the air more nowadays?

2) You never really see any howlers from a keeper punching the ball but if you attempt to catch it and drop it, there is more probability it'll end up in the net?..

[ch-ch rover]

The old heavy ball was easier to catch the newer ones swerve and bend and sometimes swerve back the other way the Man city goalkeeper has to be the worst in the premiership

[Dagenham Rover]

The old heavy ball was easier to catch the newer ones swerve and bend and sometimes swerve back the other way

That's my take on it the older balls were easier to catch the new balls are at lot lighter swerve more so punching is probably a safer option

[Al4475]

Ironically - I had a rare outing this morning for our Sunday Prem side and the Chairman watches every single game - he says he always feels far more happy when I'm in sticks rather than my younger colleague simply because I catch the ball at every opportunity! I'm 42 (almost) my junior colleague is 27 - very different upbringing we had as keepers!

He's all about sweeping and punching, I'm far more inclined to be all about positioning and handling

[RedJ]

Nowt wrong with a good fisting when required.

[Orlandokarla]

I'm far more inclined to be all about positioning and handling

Agreed - the cornerstones of goalkeeping. Everything else is secondary.