Goalkeepers- an interesting breed goalkeepers are. Some days they either make or brake a team. Other times you only catch a glimpse of your keeper when the camera man quickly passes by the starting line up at the beginning of the match. And that's just the starting goal keepers, who usually is your best goalie and then you have the backup who came from the youth system. If it wasn't hard enough for the kid on the bench to get some attention it's even harder as teams are fascinated with the idea of switching keepers for competitions. As you know this involves having multiple quality goal keepers and allotting one to play the league and the other to play the cup matches. It seems to be a good idea right? Look how many teams are being successful with it; especially treble winners Barcelona who won La Liga with Claudio Bravo and Champions League and Copa del Rey with Marc-André ter Stegen. It seems to be the key formula to winning more than one trophy.
So then where is the downfall you ask? It comes in numbers. Take for example Real Madrid, who never intended to have a goal keeping duo but when Diego Lopez continued to prove himself at the club it seemed the only solution was to keep a rotating schedule between the gloves in front of the net. After failing to win La Liga it seemed Iker Casillas would be handed back the reigns until Real Madrid went on to purchase Costa Rican keeper Keylor Navas after his spectacular performance in the World Cup. So back at two quality keepers Real Madrid push the limits even further by eyeing goal keeping extraordinaire David De Gea. Its said that De Gea is sought to be the long term replacement club captain Iker Casillas, who has been with the club his whole life, but Casillas has recently said that he is not yet ready to leave the club and doesn't wish to play elsewhere. Anyone who has seen De Gea in net for Manchester United over the years would probably admit he is the dream keeper for any club to have, but Casillas' loyalty to the club over the years keeps him at fan favorite and they are not yet ready to see him leave. Though his spot doesn't necessarily seem to be questioned at the moment, Navas has also stated that he is not ready to leave Real Madrid and is willing to fight for his place. Compared to other big name goal keepers it may seem as if Iker is slowly descending down the ladder, having not too long ago being considered the world's best goal keeper. He may have lost that title but he still finished off the season with 84 saves and 12 cleansheets. De Gea had a total of 93 saves and 11 cleansheets in the EPL. Navas in his most recent active season, being the 2013-14 season with Levante, had 160 saves. Clearly all three goalies have remarkable stats to their names. So here is the problem-Who stays and who goes?
Goal keepers naturally have the longest last careers in football. Notably being able to stay in top form and playing as starting keeper into their mid to late thirties, but it seems now quality goal keeping is limiting that and are cutting their own career life span down. Having multiple star goalies is seeing not only the youth keepers out of a spot, but also forcing others into early retirement. Having rotation doesn't seem to be a problem when its only two goal keepers being looked at, especially when it gives both players a chance to play, but soon enough other clubs will find themselves in the same situation as clubs look to secure more titles. Iker Casillas not being the only one to have to hand his spot over without his time necessarily being up. Long time Chelsea goal keeper Petr Čech also seems to be taking off the gloves early as Thibaut Courtois stepped in and having Jamal Blackman starting to prove his worth. So is winning the treble one year really worth it in the long run, or is it acceptable to be replacing keepers once every few years? Even if it means seeing their careers be over with as early as thirty?
-Til next time, this is the Final Whistle.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Does Money Make the Club?
With the Champions League final done and dusted the 2014-15 season begins to become an after thought. Those fans lucky enough to have celebrated a title start to wind down their celebrations as they realize the team that won them that trophy probably won't be the same as the sun burns brightly through the summer transfer window. As we all know this time of year is particularly dreadful as rumors break faster than Gareth 'Ferrari' Bale down the wing and none of our favorite players are safe from the rumor mill.
Some of us have it easier than others though. Even with Financial Fair Play big name clubs have the advantage of being able to open up their pocket books and wave around money like it like it has no value. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, PSG, Manchester City all never shy of opening up their checkbooks to have the best players, but does having the most expensive players really make the squad a winning team?
The top of the European tables surely makes it seem that way as the richest clubs continue to be the top dogs year after year. Which is why year after year Gooners around the world are demanding Arsenal starts dishing out the big bids to strengthen their side, but Spanish football does a good job to prove otherwise. Two Spanish teams are a leading example of good leadership making a good team and not necessarily the bigger wallet. Andalusian side Sevilla finished 5th in the league which most people wouldn't consider as a successful run, as it wouldn't normally get them even in a qualifying position to the Champions League, but their back to back Europa League titles say otherwise. In the summer of 2013 Sevilla traded nine players to English clubs, including their two biggest stars Jesús Navas and Álvaro Negredo, which left fans thinking the club was sure to be battling in the bottom half of the table. Instead they finished 5th and won their first Europa league title and their third over all. The following summer they lost their captain Ivan Rakitić , who played a large role in securing that Europa League trophy, to FC Barcelona and other key players elsewhere such as Alberto Moreno (current Liverpool). Despite losing out on key players once again, the 2014-15 season was no different for them and they once again secured the 5th place spot in the league while defending the Europa League title; Becoming the first ever team to win two back to back European titles and became the first team to earn the right to a Champions League promotion from winning the Europa League. Despite constant changes in the squad Sevilla have found a consistency that keeps them winning when it counts the most.
So having big money signings must be nice and probably helps to bring kit sales to new heights, it seems squads are proving you don't need to toss out hundreds of millions of euros to play like you're worth that much. While there is no promise that the smaller teams will be able to keep their successful squads with the top dogs looking to steal their talent away, their fans should be able to rest soundly knowing their club will find away around it. As for fans of the top money clubs you should also sleep soundly this summer because while some say money can't buy happiness it sure can buy your new favorite player. Most off all best of luck to all fans out there trying to survive the dreadful transfer period.
-Til next time, this is the Final Whistle.
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