Whilst the title is an attempt at poetic prose, it is essentially Potton or else for the West Sussex powerhouse side. For East Grinstead, the options are thin and imbalanced, or at least at a terrifically critical sense in that it's a lot like Man City and Joe Hart; there just isn't even competition or someone breathing down his neck to push Potts and get the best out of him. With Potton as first choice, they have a long term starter who has been playing at this level from the age of 22; he's 26 now and was brought into the squad in the 2009/10 season, beating Harris out of the top spot.
Potton has shown he has got what it takes, but at times he isn't always himself or what we come to expect of him. When David Kettle was there, having chosen to push himself to break into an established side at premier league level at that point in time, over the chance to play at Holcombe, Potton seemed to be the slightly beaten out. As the game against Hampstead illustrates, when they were splitting time (halves of games), Kettle got a clean sheet and Potton conceded one; it's a marginal difference, but at this level, to the acute level is how you analyse these details.
For me, I thought Kettle was the better one of the two at the time. He helped the squad progress and offered a greater presence for the back four. He is still going strong at the club, but the desire and fight of Potton meant perhaps he was letting himself down a little. This isn't to say that Potton, not at all, just that if I were a GB coach (he was actually brought into the full England squad as a reserve when Brothers went down injured about four years ago at an international tournament). It's like the criticism Mannone faced at Arsenal, which was pretty undue, given his athleticism, confidence and ability versus say Almunia. Not to sound pig headed or unnecessarily critical, but just because you play at a great club or team, it doesn't make you the best thing around (plus you might not have too much work to do!). Just happening to be playing for a good and well respected team doesn't automatically mean you are as a good as the team in front of you. Imagine De Gea and Man United. Potton had good competition in his time at Loughborough (Tom Millington, then Phil Carr, although I'm not sure if he'd graduated by then), and this is something I feel he needs, to bring the best out of his game as he fights for starts rather than simply given them (as most goalies at this level are, based on a respect based system).
Having said all that though, you can't knock him for his consistency, which is something you don't see a lot of at this level. He has a structure of grounded basics which you don't see much in the national league either, with so many goalies making those 'gasp worthy' saves but giving away cheap goals through simple mistakes. So this is where his quality lies, unlike other goalkeepers at other clubs. One of his standout strong points though, is his voice. It's strong and bold and short and sharp and is an extra man through his voice. Again, not something you see much at this level, which is weird for this level of sport, but an important quality to have.
He also likes to make use of the splits against short corners, making the most of his hand/foot co-ordination and speedy reactions which is feet, which is an interesting given his size, but is a style becoming very prevalent at this level right now (need to do a write up on it at some point!). And I don't see how his size is a negative anyway; his height doesn't hinder his play and he does well in all aspects of the goalkeeping game. His stance is a lot more like the Australian "X stance", with him in essence . He is aggressive in the right ways (versus Bristow's approach at times say). He's not bad at indoor either (that's a jokey compliment, because he is good!) and will help EG compete in the Super Sixes and in Europe if they don't bring back Neusser.
He is quick off his line to shut down attacks, comfortable to engage in shutting down attacks in this way as a modern goalie than simply staying rooted to his line. And EG aren't the same team they have been before, with core members moving away, say to Holcombe in search of glory, so his performances aren't always reflected in the score line. You can't score for them; you're the one in goal! He , and after his performance in the Euro Hockey League last season, I can see him having a breakout season in the sense of maturity; 26 is a good age for a goalie (the qualifying year for international hockey as a goalie in Australia generally to ensure level headedness), combining years of experience and a strong head on good shoulders with reflexes and agility of youth, so he could really go for it this season and see EG atop the league again, where they arguably should be.
For reserve choices, that is where East Grinstead seems more strong than, at least in experience and future prospects. Paul Colthram who was at Reading for a season (I think, if I remember right) and nearly joined Oxted in the 2009 season, so can step in if anything were to happen to EG's first choice. Then they have Richard's brother Mark who was at Loughborough (if I'm not mistaken) and then Jack who has studied at one of the Whitgifts (Mid or Trinity?!), although has not yet featured for England juniors, but has promise if he works hard and developing, already given playing opportunities in friendlies last year, as well as benching for Potton in a lot of games.
For this season, I think Potton will do well again as he pushes himself to prove any doubters wrong (guess I could class myself as one), but I think EG aren't going to lie down as they say and let a poor season define things. If the team in front of him do better, his hard work will really pay off. If they rebuild well, as they have, I can see East Grinstead winning the league again and making the most of Potton's long career in goal for them, but for now, they need to crack on with that hard work to get back into European competition. Without Potton they will definitely lose points, as shown in the home display against HWHC last season where he was the difference maker in retaining a clean short in spite of quality scoring chances for a 1-0 win. Onwards and upwards, and I'll think he'll have a good year this year, helping him impress the scouts again, given his opportunities with England A.
Potton has shown he has got what it takes, but at times he isn't always himself or what we come to expect of him. When David Kettle was there, having chosen to push himself to break into an established side at premier league level at that point in time, over the chance to play at Holcombe, Potton seemed to be the slightly beaten out. As the game against Hampstead illustrates, when they were splitting time (halves of games), Kettle got a clean sheet and Potton conceded one; it's a marginal difference, but at this level, to the acute level is how you analyse these details.
Having said all that though, you can't knock him for his consistency, which is something you don't see a lot of at this level. He has a structure of grounded basics which you don't see much in the national league either, with so many goalies making those 'gasp worthy' saves but giving away cheap goals through simple mistakes. So this is where his quality lies, unlike other goalkeepers at other clubs. One of his standout strong points though, is his voice. It's strong and bold and short and sharp and is an extra man through his voice. Again, not something you see much at this level, which is weird for this level of sport, but an important quality to have.
He also likes to make use of the splits against short corners, making the most of his hand/foot co-ordination and speedy reactions which is feet, which is an interesting given his size, but is a style becoming very prevalent at this level right now (need to do a write up on it at some point!). And I don't see how his size is a negative anyway; his height doesn't hinder his play and he does well in all aspects of the goalkeeping game. His stance is a lot more like the Australian "X stance", with him in essence . He is aggressive in the right ways (versus Bristow's approach at times say). He's not bad at indoor either (that's a jokey compliment, because he is good!) and will help EG compete in the Super Sixes and in Europe if they don't bring back Neusser.
He is quick off his line to shut down attacks, comfortable to engage in shutting down attacks in this way as a modern goalie than simply staying rooted to his line. And EG aren't the same team they have been before, with core members moving away, say to Holcombe in search of glory, so his performances aren't always reflected in the score line. You can't score for them; you're the one in goal! He , and after his performance in the Euro Hockey League last season, I can see him having a breakout season in the sense of maturity; 26 is a good age for a goalie (the qualifying year for international hockey as a goalie in Australia generally to ensure level headedness), combining years of experience and a strong head on good shoulders with reflexes and agility of youth, so he could really go for it this season and see EG atop the league again, where they arguably should be.
For this season, I think Potton will do well again as he pushes himself to prove any doubters wrong (guess I could class myself as one), but I think EG aren't going to lie down as they say and let a poor season define things. If the team in front of him do better, his hard work will really pay off. If they rebuild well, as they have, I can see East Grinstead winning the league again and making the most of Potton's long career in goal for them, but for now, they need to crack on with that hard work to get back into European competition. Without Potton they will definitely lose points, as shown in the home display against HWHC last season where he was the difference maker in retaining a clean short in spite of quality scoring chances for a 1-0 win. Onwards and upwards, and I'll think he'll have a good year this year, helping him impress the scouts again, given his opportunities with England A.
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