Baker getting starts for Southgate

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.

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Injury to Tom Millington showing the need for a solid second choice at national league level

The unfortunate injury to Tom Millington, who suffered from back spasms in the game against East Grinstead that saw the side soldier on with a 'kicking back' has shown the need for a capable second choice goalkeeper ready in case of injury. In other sports, the back-up is compulsory, as with elite level ice hockey and aside from the need for healthy competition in all places (including goalkeepers), but in hockey and English hockey specifically, this isn't really the norm. And with this approach set in stone, one wonders, how are teams prepared to cope without elite talent in goal due to unexpected injury?

Wimbledon called up 21 year old second choice goalkeeper Chris Baker (a student at UCL where he was playing his hockey previously) to fill in for them without the chance to call upon Tom, who earned his colours at Loughborough Students and Exeter before solidifying his place at Wimbledon with their promotion run. All things considered, Wimbledon were pushing for a Euro Hockey League playoff place before Tom went down and in the circumstances, his understudy has done a good job as the starting goalkeeper. The nerves haven't got to him, some crucial saves have been made and he hasn't looked out of place, even if he has never played at this level ever before.

Games against Loughborough and Hampstead should have been 'easy wins' in the sense that the Surrey side managed to beat them both earlier on in the season, but both sides are hungry for the points, with HWHC looking to get enough points to see the clear of a final rush from Cannock say and Loughborough are battling hard looking to avoid the guaranteed drop zone.

And you can see him in action here, the only constructive criticism being to dive for the flick rather than use a splits attempt which missed the ball:

But aside from Chris' personal performance, Tom's injury shows the dire need for strength in the department which is a problem nation wide for our sport. Without a solid . Yes, the season is at its closing point, but what would the squad done if the injury had occurred earlier in the season at a more crucial point? What would they have done without a decent reserve choice? And considering the transfer window, would they have been able to bring in a short-term option?

What this essentially shows is the bottom line need for depth in hockey clubs. At the elite level, goalkeeping is some what lacking over the land. The 'English approach' is to go with an incumbent who plays every game rather than offering competition or being ready to drop a goalkeeper to refind their form. Is it because no-one wants to play in goal, or is it because the talent pool for goalkeepers is too small to ensure this kind of depth? Either way, it just goes to show the frailty of goalkeeping in English hockey, all things considered, by going with an incumbent all out without considering the possibility (however slight) of them getting injured.