With Jamie Legg leaving the Berkshire side for conference side Richmond, Reading have sent a message essentially showing their intent going forward and support for England's current second choice (having been drafted in recently for the WHL and other games, getting his debut kept coming on at half time against Germany, replacing Pinner for the half split), entrusting the youngster and potential future star James Bailey with the command of their backguard. Building off the back of his performances in his debut in the Euro Hockey League, beating Dutch stalwarts and powerhouse Rotterdam in the penalty shuttles in over time, before going down against KHC Dragons, the former Old Loughtonians product is well on his way to being part of the world's elite, if only he makes the most of the opportunities coming to him.
Having signed with Reading whilst doing his Master's, James was still playing with Bath in BUCS games mid-week games, having got three seasons in with the Buccaneers team after joining them at the spritely age of 18 and being the clear cut chosen one (not like the Matrix though!). With the level of quality being so differing, he may have struggled psychologically and with the differences in speed and quality. And this is important for the Berkshire team considering they don't have a 1B goalie to turn to; the role that Legg filled. What the ice hockey analysts call in terms of having a 50/50 split between goalies starting and a solid second option that can 'step between the pipes' and still get the points if necessary.
If Bailey was to go down with injury say (as with any of the teams where the gap between incumbent and reserve choices is huge), then Reading would be a quite a tight spot and tricky situation. The other drawback is that there is no competition for the spot, meaning Bailey could drift in quality without being pushed from competition in the goalie ranks, as have been seen so many times with English national league goalies over so many seasons. With the World Cup taking place next year, the Euro Hockey League and the NOW Pension's league will be a great practise ground for the rising star seen as the next England number one. Reading have got quite a few new signings as they look to return to being one of England's hockey powerhouses after slipping in form in comparison to their glory days, and Bailey will be fortunate to play behind such a strong squad where the goal scoring talent will make the difference in the form of recently capped international Dan Shingles and the incredibly gifted, experienced and talented ex-East Grinstead Darren Cheesman.
Whilst he stumbled early on with cheap goals through the legs and so on, Bailey was able to turn the ship around and help Reading get up to third in the season finishing. What's interesting here is that Reading didn't put Legg back in when Bailey struggled and faltered, which would have got them points but caused trouble for Bailey's confidence. Confidence being such an important factor in a goalie's performance. Versus that of how Canterbury managed the similar situation with Stubbings, where he was benched and Cowling was brought back into the squad.
One of Bailey's Achilles heels is his ability to watch through drag flicks, which was really exposed when he was called up to England U21's in the Junior World Cup four years ago and exploited by other teams, especially India, as written about before. Rather than watching all the way through as say Stockmann does, he struggles to make the saves, possibly not having the elite skill of "silent eye" (explanation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPZCCpmRObw), going the other way against flicks. Turning and pushing the body weight in the other direction is going to make well executed world class drag flicks a real difficulty, as the goalkeeper is already commited to going one way and cannot switch to the appropriate side properly, moving the glove away from the ball if standing and putting themselves "out of the play". As you can see here against the Dragons, where he goes right against a high flick out to his left:
Barry Jukes is still around at the club and has been the reserve choice for quite some time, for the outdoor league, as well as for the indoor season, through Nick Brother's playing days and beyond. Not the funnest job (or sporting role) in the history of sport, but this humble position plays an incredibly important role in sports psychology and mentoring/relationship scenario, wherein the Goalies Union takes care of helping out the first choice for the betterment of the team and provides a strong presence in the dressing room. Chris Osgood in ice hockey for example was great at this and was able to consistently help out the goalie ahead of him on the team sheet. It's a team game and helping out your team like this is such a crucial and overlooked role! You may want competition, but the second choice doesn't always like the way the first choice treats them if snidy about it (re. Lehman and Almunia); but with a positive and encouraging outlook, it makes life better, rather than pointlessly difficult, for everyone involved.
They have also picked up new goalkeeping option from Richmond, in the form of Gary Noble, with Legg being a sort of trade in terms of Gary having been at Richmond previously. This is a good chance for him to make an impression and be a solid second chance, if the prefered option for the 2's and also to be involved in a higher level of hockey at training and for travelling and being part of the squad at the upcoming Euro Hockey League games. That and his experience and maturity will help Bailey out as he grows as a person and player.
For the upcoming season, Bailey is in a great position to really impress. He could outdo Pinner in the Euro Hockey League and get further and perhaps try and pull off a medal winning tournament as Brothers did when he was there. He just has to want it and to stop listening to overdone praise and look to self criticise to better his own game and work on it to be the best around. Should Bailey falter, I don't think Reading will turn to any of their other goalkeepers, but if he was to get injured, I could see Noble taking the opportunity by the hands and "stepping up to the plate" as it were to deliver the goods, but the lack of competition is still a fierce worry.
Having signed with Reading whilst doing his Master's, James was still playing with Bath in BUCS games mid-week games, having got three seasons in with the Buccaneers team after joining them at the spritely age of 18 and being the clear cut chosen one (not like the Matrix though!). With the level of quality being so differing, he may have struggled psychologically and with the differences in speed and quality. And this is important for the Berkshire team considering they don't have a 1B goalie to turn to; the role that Legg filled. What the ice hockey analysts call in terms of having a 50/50 split between goalies starting and a solid second option that can 'step between the pipes' and still get the points if necessary.
If Bailey was to go down with injury say (as with any of the teams where the gap between incumbent and reserve choices is huge), then Reading would be a quite a tight spot and tricky situation. The other drawback is that there is no competition for the spot, meaning Bailey could drift in quality without being pushed from competition in the goalie ranks, as have been seen so many times with English national league goalies over so many seasons. With the World Cup taking place next year, the Euro Hockey League and the NOW Pension's league will be a great practise ground for the rising star seen as the next England number one. Reading have got quite a few new signings as they look to return to being one of England's hockey powerhouses after slipping in form in comparison to their glory days, and Bailey will be fortunate to play behind such a strong squad where the goal scoring talent will make the difference in the form of recently capped international Dan Shingles and the incredibly gifted, experienced and talented ex-East Grinstead Darren Cheesman.
Whilst he stumbled early on with cheap goals through the legs and so on, Bailey was able to turn the ship around and help Reading get up to third in the season finishing. What's interesting here is that Reading didn't put Legg back in when Bailey struggled and faltered, which would have got them points but caused trouble for Bailey's confidence. Confidence being such an important factor in a goalie's performance. Versus that of how Canterbury managed the similar situation with Stubbings, where he was benched and Cowling was brought back into the squad.
One of Bailey's Achilles heels is his ability to watch through drag flicks, which was really exposed when he was called up to England U21's in the Junior World Cup four years ago and exploited by other teams, especially India, as written about before. Rather than watching all the way through as say Stockmann does, he struggles to make the saves, possibly not having the elite skill of "silent eye" (explanation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPZCCpmRObw), going the other way against flicks. Turning and pushing the body weight in the other direction is going to make well executed world class drag flicks a real difficulty, as the goalkeeper is already commited to going one way and cannot switch to the appropriate side properly, moving the glove away from the ball if standing and putting themselves "out of the play". As you can see here against the Dragons, where he goes right against a high flick out to his left:
They have also picked up new goalkeeping option from Richmond, in the form of Gary Noble, with Legg being a sort of trade in terms of Gary having been at Richmond previously. This is a good chance for him to make an impression and be a solid second chance, if the prefered option for the 2's and also to be involved in a higher level of hockey at training and for travelling and being part of the squad at the upcoming Euro Hockey League games. That and his experience and maturity will help Bailey out as he grows as a person and player.
For the upcoming season, Bailey is in a great position to really impress. He could outdo Pinner in the Euro Hockey League and get further and perhaps try and pull off a medal winning tournament as Brothers did when he was there. He just has to want it and to stop listening to overdone praise and look to self criticise to better his own game and work on it to be the best around. Should Bailey falter, I don't think Reading will turn to any of their other goalkeepers, but if he was to get injured, I could see Noble taking the opportunity by the hands and "stepping up to the plate" as it were to deliver the goods, but the lack of competition is still a fierce worry.
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