I'm perplexed. This is not something new; I've been perplexed for several months. But an incident happened recently, during the QPR match, which compels me to put pen to paper about the cause of my perplexity.
Back in the day when I was a young footballer, I played goalkeeper for quite a few years. I was not good: we played at about the fifty-eighth level below the Football League.
But I liked to think that I understood something about goalkeeping. One of the big things was commanding your area. Not the six-yard box; the penalty area. When a cross comes in, it’s supposed to be your ball.
Has this changed? Is the keeper now supposed to stay on his line and rely on making a reaction save from any follow-up shot?
If I were to wander along to Osmaston Park to watch the footy, would I now hear defenders yelling "Stay on your line, goalie!"? Or if a ball is dropping on the six-yard line, would I hear a Centre-Half shout "My ball!"?
The incident that led me to ask this question, of course, is the second QPR goal against the Rams.
When the free kick came over, it was high but it dropped just beyond the far post. It looked to be only about two or three yards out from the goal line. It was clearly the keeper's ball. Yet Grant didn't make any move to challenge for it, and was beaten by the header.
What was Grant thinking?
How was not going for the ball possibly the best thing for his team?
This is not a rant just about Lee Grant; I have seen other keepers at this level doing pretty much the same thing.
I have seriously wondered whether Modern Goalkeeping Theory now has coaches instructing keepers not to come out for a cross; which makes no sense to me at all.
There are a couple of causes for optimism; as it seems not all are believers in the Modern Goalkeeping Theory.
The cameras seemed to catch Richard Keogh remonstrating with Grant after the goal; as though Grant should have made another decision. And Andre Wisdom could be seen looking baffled.
I could almost see the thought bubble over Wisdom’s head, reading "That's how they score goals in this league!?"
Standing at 6'4", Lee Grant should be far more valuable than the 5'9" Frank Fielding and the 6'0" Adam Legzdins, precisely because he is expected to be more effective coming out for high crosses.
So, Lee, in the words of the Nike ad…
Just do it!!