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.

International commitments seeing goalkeepers getting the shake around

With the World League competition and the Euro indoor competition underway at the same time the weekend gone and previous, a few nation's elite goalkeepers were required to fill in the gaps. Germany's Reuss for instance, who is impressing for club and country, got the call up to present Germany in the highest tiers of indoor hockey (well, aside from the indoor world cup that is!), with Tim Jessulat getting some playing time for Germany in the World League. 

England also saw goalkeepers split across the divide to ensure the team had experience between the posts, although this didn't stop England from getting relegated in the indoor arena (which could be a useful learning curve instead of calling up England A players to fill in, and perhaps learn from the Dutch method of indoor specific talent central players playing in indoor competition!!). Personally I think if Hendy was still involved in competitive hockey he would have been a better option given his playing style suited the indoor game. 

Bailey was sent to Austria to play for the indoor squad, whilst Patrick Smith went to warm the bench for George Pinner in the World League, although did get some game time, when England were thrashing New Zealand.

Smith getting playing opportunities at Cannock

Having played in place of James Fair in cup games last season, it would seem that Patrick Smith is getting the chance to step out of his deputy role at the moment. With George Pinner taking over the England mantel, Fair would seemingly be stepping down and away from the level of dedication for training and match days to push for a position in the international set-up. So this would have potential knock on effects at club level and it seems management are pushing the future into the present, with Smith being given the chance to start games, rather than outplay him for the position, in the vein of incumbent starter role system as would come across as the most popular format in hockey. Haven't not been to any games in person and no footage around the net, I can't be certain, but going by game photography this seems to be the case.

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Dixon taking over at Cheltenham?

With the Gloucestershire side retaining their place in the Western conference after their relegation battle last season, it seems as if they are stocking goalkeeper depth. Matt Dixon started against Havant recently and offers them more goalie options for games. Another goalkeeper sponsored by Monarch, it is his national league debut and first season as far as I know. Giles Rooke is obviously starting age, but a good age for any goalkeeper, so I'm not sure where things are heading. But even so, it's good for competition and to ensure the team has depth in case of injury, as occured last season.

link to match report

 

Photo pinched from Havant hockey site (and therefore their copyright!).