Havant have the most goalkeepers registered in any national league
squad for this season upcoming, along with East Grinstead, at the maximum of four. But they arguably have the most depth in the league, although Beeston are in for a good shout as they have enough depth to help them through George Pinner's international training schedule and involvement. Caelen Dillon joins from Winchester, with experience at junior international level,
whilst Ben Cowling, Canterbury's first choice for the latter end of last season, with his own junior experience at U21's a while ago, joins via change of work and life circumstances (or however you phrase it!).
Personally from what I have seen, Cowling is not up to scratch, like some of the goalkeepers in the national league, which can be argued with quantified results, analysis and stats. Cowling's main facet is his unbreakable confidence, which all (something you can learn from the career of Ray Clemence, who would dust himself down and get back at it, every game, as they say). Havant looked like they were going to be back in the Premier league by this season, and were doing really well, with great consistency, but then started to falter, losing their confidence in an unexpected loss away to Guildford.
Yes, Cowling has experience, and some natural talent is there, but just because a goalkeeper plays behind a strong team it doesn't make him a good goalkeeper. When judging it should be on current standard of play, it shouldn't be "oh, so and so plays for Man Utd ergo he must be awesome". Cesar at QPR played outstandingly at QPR last season because he had a porous defence in front of him, not the other way round!! I know it sounds harsh, but if we want hockey to be of the same standard as the "professionals", then we have to be critical and push for more analysis and better able athletes in goal, rather than putting whoever wants to go in goal there.
He showed promise to start the season, but then things have seemed to go a little awry. And without that confidence level his game will probably fall to pieces, so he needs to reset and refind his game before the team implode in front of him. A lot like Gomes, sports psychology is incredibly important for goalkeepers; without it athletes struggle, the game is always 90% mental and 10% talent as they say. But it is not just that. I have seen him get beaten by simple shots, such as when making the choice to log against drag flicks, when playing for Canterbury, which are unjustifiable at the elite level, showing poor decision making, and will go punished if this type of thing continues. If he were to attack the ball more rather than be so passive with his size, he would also see different results.
Working with a goalkeeper coach, as they have at Havant, which is quite a rarity in English hockey to be honest, regularly should help him ground his technique for the game. This with working on the fundamentals that are the basis for any elite goalkeeper. But whilst he started strong, things have started to hit a bumpy road.
The goalkeepers around the club also demonstrate different approaches in technique and kit, which is better for the game. Although, if the team are used to playing with a certain style of goalkeeper and need perhaps to change it up, they need a reserve goalkeeper that can play in this way too. For instance a like for like match; take Freidel playing differently to Lloris for Tottenham and the results, for an analogy! Matt Weeks featured when Isaacs went down injured last season and Aaron Hoare has featured in the indoor seasons with Isaacs (now at Bromley) not making an appearance, although it would have been interesting to see him have adapted his sweeper keeper to indoor with a radical style, if improving on that of Andrew Charter's throwback development in recent years.
Other than that, Caelen has got all the skills to be an elite starter down the line, and the make-up of a long term champion, if he sticks with it and works hard to get there. With goalkeepers difficult to scout because they mature later, if he sticks to finetuning the technique he has so far, he should definitely be in contention for senior international selection. In my opinion he could have a similar "career" (for some reason ) path like Jimi Lewis, like when he himself was at Havant. He's grounded and shows maturity and the desire to improve, which reflects in his play. He took over as first chance for England U18's over the summer by battling for the shirt at the recent Junior tournament in Spain. He is confident with his feet on short corners, a facet of the contemporary game which allows better rebound control and reactive saves, and shows a strong, grounded base of technique, plus the confidence and game psychology to go with it. And these are sure signs of true potential.
Personally from what I have seen, Cowling is not up to scratch, like some of the goalkeepers in the national league, which can be argued with quantified results, analysis and stats. Cowling's main facet is his unbreakable confidence, which all (something you can learn from the career of Ray Clemence, who would dust himself down and get back at it, every game, as they say). Havant looked like they were going to be back in the Premier league by this season, and were doing really well, with great consistency, but then started to falter, losing their confidence in an unexpected loss away to Guildford.
Yes, Cowling has experience, and some natural talent is there, but just because a goalkeeper plays behind a strong team it doesn't make him a good goalkeeper. When judging it should be on current standard of play, it shouldn't be "oh, so and so plays for Man Utd ergo he must be awesome". Cesar at QPR played outstandingly at QPR last season because he had a porous defence in front of him, not the other way round!! I know it sounds harsh, but if we want hockey to be of the same standard as the "professionals", then we have to be critical and push for more analysis and better able athletes in goal, rather than putting whoever wants to go in goal there.
He showed promise to start the season, but then things have seemed to go a little awry. And without that confidence level his game will probably fall to pieces, so he needs to reset and refind his game before the team implode in front of him. A lot like Gomes, sports psychology is incredibly important for goalkeepers; without it athletes struggle, the game is always 90% mental and 10% talent as they say. But it is not just that. I have seen him get beaten by simple shots, such as when making the choice to log against drag flicks, when playing for Canterbury, which are unjustifiable at the elite level, showing poor decision making, and will go punished if this type of thing continues. If he were to attack the ball more rather than be so passive with his size, he would also see different results.
Working with a goalkeeper coach, as they have at Havant, which is quite a rarity in English hockey to be honest, regularly should help him ground his technique for the game. This with working on the fundamentals that are the basis for any elite goalkeeper. But whilst he started strong, things have started to hit a bumpy road.
Here you can see Cowling's newly changed hand positioning
at short corners as he leads his defence on this PC.
The goalkeepers around the club also demonstrate different approaches in technique and kit, which is better for the game. Although, if the team are used to playing with a certain style of goalkeeper and need perhaps to change it up, they need a reserve goalkeeper that can play in this way too. For instance a like for like match; take Freidel playing differently to Lloris for Tottenham and the results, for an analogy! Matt Weeks featured when Isaacs went down injured last season and Aaron Hoare has featured in the indoor seasons with Isaacs (now at Bromley) not making an appearance, although it would have been interesting to see him have adapted his sweeper keeper to indoor with a radical style, if improving on that of Andrew Charter's throwback development in recent years.
Other than that, Caelen has got all the skills to be an elite starter down the line, and the make-up of a long term champion, if he sticks with it and works hard to get there. With goalkeepers difficult to scout because they mature later, if he sticks to finetuning the technique he has so far, he should definitely be in contention for senior international selection. In my opinion he could have a similar "career" (for some reason ) path like Jimi Lewis, like when he himself was at Havant. He's grounded and shows maturity and the desire to improve, which reflects in his play. He took over as first chance for England U18's over the summer by battling for the shirt at the recent Junior tournament in Spain. He is confident with his feet on short corners, a facet of the contemporary game which allows better rebound control and reactive saves, and shows a strong, grounded base of technique, plus the confidence and game psychology to go with it. And these are sure signs of true potential.
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