^^^Ex-keeper can confirm.^^^

you want to be able to meet that ball with pace, so having that step forward to then launch to a side off that forward planted foot. As Simon says, you can't come off your line, so you come from behind it. I had a great record at saving pens or intimidating strikers into putting it too wide of me (& the goal)*. If you're too static or flat footed you will not steer it wide of the posts if you even reach it at all.

I'd do similar with corners & free-kicks if I had a crowded box and wanted to meet onrushing headers of the ball with the same energy, otherwise theyve got the drop on a static defence. Also if theyre trying to a put a marker on me, I'd have a man with him and loiter behind the line. People questioned it and I'd inform them that when the ball is in play I will no longer be behind my line as i'm not gonna stand still the whole time. they cant mark me when they dont know where i'm gonna move to (and no point marking me before the ball is in play when that also takes them out of play). all in the timing. i have the space to nip round either side of my man depending on where they send the ball into the box.



*thinly veiled 'f**k I'm good at pens'

Posted By: DJ Ginga, Feb 23, 16:09:02