Another goalkeeper deputising for a national league starter, and being given playing time (moreso than Dowse), is Chris Baker at Southgate. With more clubs taking their chances with young goalkeeping talent, as mentioned previously, depth grows and competition should push along advancement as players fight more for the starting role game in and game out (as you would expect more commonly for outfield players).
Whilst the team in front of the goalkeeper chosen to play has to grow accumstomed to their playstyle and technical approaches and adapting to the switch for the next game, the bonuses make up for this in the growing competition pushing along the higher level of play (as mentioned, as they fight for spots) and the psychological edge of game motivation to play to your complete best, greatly benefiting the team in the results and table standings (currently standing first in their division).
Baker gained important game experience in the Premier League playing for Wimbledon in the 2014/15 season, deputising in place of Tom Millington when he was out injured with back problems, before joining Southgate. And Baker has gone from strength to strength in his inclusion in the first team from training to games, with encouraging performances.
When Allan signed from Holcombe, management said they were looking for a deputy to split starts and push for game time and with Baker being started in league games, rings true for the club and management, with Baker being given the room to push for starts and earn his keepsake.
This approach is a very forward and progressive one and one I think many clubs should be looking at to learn from; offering young talent can only better those in question and English hockey's goalkeepers as a whole (games are where true experience comes from and without it, young goalkeepers cannot be expected to become fully fledged starters off the bench).
With the current state of goalkeeping depth not as well constructed as other nations (like Germany, Australia or Holland for example) from the top down, this is a great step in the right direction and is paying off for both Southgate and Baker.
Whilst the team in front of the goalkeeper chosen to play has to grow accumstomed to their playstyle and technical approaches and adapting to the switch for the next game, the bonuses make up for this in the growing competition pushing along the higher level of play (as mentioned, as they fight for spots) and the psychological edge of game motivation to play to your complete best, greatly benefiting the team in the results and table standings (currently standing first in their division).
Baker gained important game experience in the Premier League playing for Wimbledon in the 2014/15 season, deputising in place of Tom Millington when he was out injured with back problems, before joining Southgate. And Baker has gone from strength to strength in his inclusion in the first team from training to games, with encouraging performances.
When Allan signed from Holcombe, management said they were looking for a deputy to split starts and push for game time and with Baker being started in league games, rings true for the club and management, with Baker being given the room to push for starts and earn his keepsake.
This approach is a very forward and progressive one and one I think many clubs should be looking at to learn from; offering young talent can only better those in question and English hockey's goalkeepers as a whole (games are where true experience comes from and without it, young goalkeepers cannot be expected to become fully fledged starters off the bench).
With the current state of goalkeeping depth not as well constructed as other nations (like Germany, Australia or Holland for example) from the top down, this is a great step in the right direction and is paying off for both Southgate and Baker.
No comments:
Post a Comment