Edwin van der Sar

Edwin van der Sar is probably one of my favourite goalkeepers of all time. I like him because he has a commanding presence in goal without having a rep of being a bulldog like Schmichel. He had a good eye for the game and was able to come up with clutch saves throughout his careers. Goalkeepers can see the whole game and help move people into position like a big game of chess. One day I hope to play more like van der Sar and not just wearing the same equipment as him and we having similar height attributes. Skill and consistency, something to aspire to

Different nets, different game

I am lucky enough to get a chance to play soccer 2-3 times a week. The only downside is that there is no consistency.  Sunday is 11-a-side, Monday is 7-a-side and Wednesday is 5-a-side.  It is hard to adjust to the different style of game each day and it is hard to improve as a whole.  Monday and Wednesday teach me how to stay on my feet while challenging a shot and my throwing passes. The thing that it does hinder is my 11-a-side strategy. In 5/7-a-side in some leagues the strikers can't come into your crease, but 11 man everything is fair game, these elements are also those that I need practice on are high balls and the ability to challenge the ball off the line

Playing year round in the UK

2011 has not been one of my greatest goaltending years to start off.  Maybe I am still working off the winter blues (but it is March now). However that is the great thing about playing soccer in the UK is that it is never too cold or too much snow to stop playing.

Don't you like running on the pitch?

I get the question of "why I like to go in net". Growing up I was never allowed to go in net. If you were in net at age 10, you would only see 1 or 2 shots a game. I now understand why my Dad didn't let me play in net back then because it would be a waste of his time and money to take me out there to the pitch and watch me stand for 90 mins. I am grateful to him that he made me run out as a striker.

Now a few years later accidentally I found out that I was actually decent in goal, I can see why I like this position. I get to make dramatic dives and I get use my hands and feet to make a play. It is one of the most individualistic position in a team sport. All of the pressure of stopping the shot is on you. You are a game changer, one stop could turn the play around or one goal in could mean your team is now behind.  The opposition striker could be thinking that he/she has a chance at goal but in one great save you could make their moment, your moment to shine.

Mind wandering

A typical game is 90 mins long. As a keeper I could expect to be active for maybe half of that time. May that be kicking the ball, making challenges or making saves. As the game goes on sometimes my mind wanders... and thus will enter this blog :)