Another standout point goalkeeping wise from the recent early round action of the Euro Hockey League, was James Bailey's struggles in Reading's game against Rotterdam. Not up to the ability of his previous experience of the Euro Hockey competitive format, the youngster seems to be struggling to "up his game" against higher level opposition. With Reading playing strongly in front of him, when he is exposed to strong chances, it is possible to diagnose points in his game that become undone by smart shooters. While you will see him making those audience thrilling saves, he often seems to struggle with the basics, which, at this level, are simply giveaway goals.
What Reading need and have needed is and was a stronger, perhaps older but more experienced goalkeeper, ready to move away, or out of the way, when the next generation of talent is ready to take over. Much like when Mason stepped aside for Nick Brothers to take over the mantle at Reading, one wonders if Reading have pushed things forward too early in terms of his development. Clubs need to be wary of destroying the confidence of a goalkeeper by pushing them on too quickly: confidence being so key to a goalkeeper performing at their best. Whilst a young starlet goalkeeper might display great positives early on, if they don't have that life maturity or unbreakable spirit when faced with adversity, things can get a bit bumpy and difficult in the journey to developing into an elite, world challenging, goalkeeper. England need to be careful of how their treat the current crop of future goalie talent, wary of burning out possible stars, as has been happening in the football sphere.
On a technical level, it is simple fundamentals and basics that Bailey has been struggling. While a goalkeeper is going to be called upon to make spectacular saves at some point during a game at this level, the basics are just as important, as is the consistency to perform at the same level game in game out over the course of the season and beyond.
On the shot between his legs, he could have turned in with the leg, rather than trying to bring his legs together, making a snapping action in the save attempt, which does little to help him. Against a high glove shot, he is unable to raise his glove up in the miliseconds he has to respond to it, remedied by a higher glove positioning and aggressive push into the save. Bailey mainly seems to fall foul of being overly passive and not attacking the shot. Whilst it is important, Bailey seems to be wary of stepping off that depth to try and challenge the shot, sitting deep and expecting to be able to block. Goalkeepers are more than save makers and he needs to attack shots. Time and again does he hinder himself and hamper his chances by not stepping out to challenge. By staying that deep he exposes too much of the goal, leaving a wide space to exploit by shooters with international level, world class accuracy.
As you can see here, even though he opts to push out in the splits, it does little to help him, given he cannot reach the ball at that distance from him (with too narrow an angle) and ball speed of about potentially 90mph:
Playing on a high scoring team like Reading means that they can normally get away with goalie mistakes. But if they want to go far in the Euro Hockey League or in the NOW Pensions National Premier League, they need strength behind their back four. Young goalkeepers are going to make mistakes, it's part of sport (and life for that matter!), but the maturity to take on board (constructive) criticism and develop a strength of character like Marc-Andre ter Stegen in football, is what is required if Bailey and others like him (Smith, Stubbings et al) if they want to succeed in the direct immediate, rather than long term potential for their playing careers as goalkeepers.
What Reading need and have needed is and was a stronger, perhaps older but more experienced goalkeeper, ready to move away, or out of the way, when the next generation of talent is ready to take over. Much like when Mason stepped aside for Nick Brothers to take over the mantle at Reading, one wonders if Reading have pushed things forward too early in terms of his development. Clubs need to be wary of destroying the confidence of a goalkeeper by pushing them on too quickly: confidence being so key to a goalkeeper performing at their best. Whilst a young starlet goalkeeper might display great positives early on, if they don't have that life maturity or unbreakable spirit when faced with adversity, things can get a bit bumpy and difficult in the journey to developing into an elite, world challenging, goalkeeper. England need to be careful of how their treat the current crop of future goalie talent, wary of burning out possible stars, as has been happening in the football sphere.
On a technical level, it is simple fundamentals and basics that Bailey has been struggling. While a goalkeeper is going to be called upon to make spectacular saves at some point during a game at this level, the basics are just as important, as is the consistency to perform at the same level game in game out over the course of the season and beyond.
On the shot between his legs, he could have turned in with the leg, rather than trying to bring his legs together, making a snapping action in the save attempt, which does little to help him. Against a high glove shot, he is unable to raise his glove up in the miliseconds he has to respond to it, remedied by a higher glove positioning and aggressive push into the save. Bailey mainly seems to fall foul of being overly passive and not attacking the shot. Whilst it is important, Bailey seems to be wary of stepping off that depth to try and challenge the shot, sitting deep and expecting to be able to block. Goalkeepers are more than save makers and he needs to attack shots. Time and again does he hinder himself and hamper his chances by not stepping out to challenge. By staying that deep he exposes too much of the goal, leaving a wide space to exploit by shooters with international level, world class accuracy.
As you can see here, even though he opts to push out in the splits, it does little to help him, given he cannot reach the ball at that distance from him (with too narrow an angle) and ball speed of about potentially 90mph:
Playing on a high scoring team like Reading means that they can normally get away with goalie mistakes. But if they want to go far in the Euro Hockey League or in the NOW Pensions National Premier League, they need strength behind their back four. Young goalkeepers are going to make mistakes, it's part of sport (and life for that matter!), but the maturity to take on board (constructive) criticism and develop a strength of character like Marc-Andre ter Stegen in football, is what is required if Bailey and others like him (Smith, Stubbings et al) if they want to succeed in the direct immediate, rather than long term potential for their playing careers as goalkeepers.
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