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The Keeper's Line - Issue 163 |
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Growing up at SoccerPlus Goalkeeper
School as a kid was great - we were in a different place every
week, there were always a lot of people to talk to and tons of
fun things to do on and off the field. But I can't help thinking
about the Intel commercials as I write this, because our heroes
really weren't other people's heroes. Having Peter Bonetti (far
right) over for dinner or at a family birthday party was normal.
It wasn't until several years later that I really found out how
amazing this man's experiences truly were. So I hope you enjoy
this issue of the keeper's line and especially Peter's interview
about the 1970 FA Cup Final. |
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In the meantime, summer is right around the corner and
preparations are in full swing. The schedule is below or you can
always call us at 1.800.KEEPER.1. See you at an SPGS program
soon. -AD
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Q & A with MARIEL WILNER, New GK
Coach at UTAH |
Longtime SoccerPlus family member
(student, staff coach, now director) Mariel Wilner has recently
been named the Goalkeeper/Assistant Coach at the University of
Utah. Mariel took a few minutes to answer some very pressing
questions for TKL:
Question 1
TKL: Your Goalkeeper at Penn State
Alyssa Naeher was drafted this January by the Boston Breakers.
Congratulations! How does this make you feel as her coach?
MW: I couldn’t be happier for her. I’ve watched Alyssa develop
tremendously over the past three years given her collegiate and
National team experiences; she’s worked incredibly hard for all
of the accolades, honors, and championships that she’s earned. I
think she’s primed and 100% ready to take on this next challenge
as a professional with the Boston Breakers.
Questions 2
TKL: What Qualities does Alyssa Naeher
hold on and off of the field that make her special?
MW: On the field, Alyssa is the quintessential
leader-by-example; she has earned unmatched respect from all of
her teammates. In the net, Alyssa is what we all want in a
top-class goalkeeper: steady, consistent, even-keeled,
confident, and able to pull off the BIG save when it’s needed.
Off the field, Alyssa carries many of the same traits that she
does off the field – she continues to lead by example. She’s a
fantastic and hard-working student and has managed to do quite
well in school despite a crazy travel schedule (including being
a part of the National Team program and playing for [SoccerPlus
Founder/CEO] Tony [DiCicco] in the 2008 U20 World Cup)
and many commitments with our soccer team (she was our lone
captain this past fall).
Questions 3
TKL: You have almost completed your
Master's in Business at Penn State. What have you learned from
being a SoccerPlus Camper, Staff Coach and Director that has
helped you on your path through Business School?
MW: Business school has been a really
interesting journey for me. I’m certainly not the “typical” MBA
student. I was only a year out of undergrad when I started (many
of my classmates have multiple years of work experience). I’m in
a full-time MBA program, but I have another “full-time” job with
the Penn State soccer team (most of my classmates are full-time
students). And I’ve always intended to coach after I graduate
(the question, “what real job are you going to get after
school?” has been posed to me many times).
But while I considered myself to be at a disadvantage compared
to my peers for all of the aforementioned things, I believe I
that my background in soccer, coaching, and with SoccerPlus has
uniquely prepared me for the challenges and rigors of business
school. One of the biggest things that I took from SoccerPlus as
a camper and a young staff coach was the importance and
effectiveness of leading by example. While I have many memories
of directors and senior staff lending in a hand to get the job
done, one memory in particular has always affected me. It
happened at Colgate – I was maybe a 2nd or 3rd year staff member
– and we were there the night before camp started to move goals.
Not many staff members had arrived yet, but Tony and his wife,
Diane, pulled up to the fields and got out of the car. We all
started chatting, and before I knew it, I was moving a goal (and
quite a heavy one, I might add) across a VERY BIG field with
Tony, Diane, and George. The memory of our SoccerPlus Founder,
his wife, and our National Director doing some of the “dirty
work” to make our camp run smoothly has always stayed with me
and has always reminded me that, as a leader, we should always
be ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job
done.
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Mariel directing a
SPGS program, pictured with SoccerPlus Striker School
Director, Andrew DiCicco in 2009. |
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Mariel pictured with
Erica Walsh (Penn State Head Coach and USWNT Assistant)
at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. |
Question 4
TKL: SoccerPlus understands you were
involved with Soccer without Borders. Please tell us about your
experience!
MW: Soccer Without Borders (SWB) is an awesome organization
founded by Lehigh graduate Ben Gucciardi. Their mission is to
use soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the lives of
marginalized youth. A couple of friends of mine (Mary McVeigh,
Dartmouth College women’s soccer assistant coach and Ann Cook,
Penn State women’s soccer assistant coach) have become really
involved in the organization, which is where my involvement
started.
In January, I had the unique opportunity to travel down to
Granada, Nicaragua and work with SWB interns (and Penn State
soccer alumni) Zoe Bouchelle and Kaleen Adami. The work that SWB
is doing is truly amazing – the best part of my trip was walking
down the streets of Granada and watching as the Nicaraguan girls
who are involved with SWB saw us and sprinted up with huge
smiles to give Zoe and Kay big bear hugs.
In my MBA program, the culmination of our curriculum is a
consulting project with an organization; my team is working with
SWB to create a more formalized business plan. The big thing to
address with SWB is that it’s been so successful and has grown
so fast in the past 3 years; now they are trying to figure out
how they can leverage that growth to create change in the lives
of the youth they work with in the most positive way. One of our
big focuses this past week has been incorporating a more focused
social media strategy into their marketing push. So, now for my
shameless plug: follow SWB on twitter @soccerwoborders, become a
fan on Facebook, or check out the website at
www.soccerwithoutborders.org.
Question 5
TKL: Still only 24 you have been in the
SoccerPlus Family for many years now. Tell us about your first
experience as a camper, who was your staff coach/director? And
what location did you attend?
My first SoccerPlus camp was in Fayetteville, NC in 2000. It was
the summer before my sophomore year of High School, and I
attended the camp with a goalkeeper from my school (McDonogh
School in Owings Mills, MD), Dan Larach. Our dads drove us down
and I remember being (1) very excited and (2) incredibly
nervous.
It’s funny – even though that was 10 years ago, I remember so
many things about that week. Bill Steffen was the director for
NTC program and Paul Rogers was the director for the Challenge
program. My staff coach was Mandi Risden, who was coaching at
Rutgers at the time. My first official “SoccerPlus friend” came
from that camp – Erin Lycan.
It’s funny how things come full circle: Erin coaches down at
Davidson College and we’re on the Region I Goalkeeper Staff
together. And Paul’s the goalkeeper coach for the Women’s
National Team – Alyssa (my Penn State goalkeeper) just arrived
home from a three-week training camp with Paul and the rest of
the National team staff.
But beyond everything else, the memory that sticks out most to
me from that site in North Carolina was that a few years later I
was back there and Tony visited camp to chat with the group. He
was only a few years out from winning the 1999 Women’s World Cup
as the head coach; many of the campers watched that game and we
were all totally star-struck when Tony arrived. I remember
waiting in line for a long time after his lecture to get my
version of Catch Them Being Good signed by him (still have it!).
Read the
full article about Mariel's appointment to the coaching
staff at the University of Utah. You can also follow Mariel
Wilner on Twitter (@mmwilner)
or read more about her experiences as an MBA student and a
soccer coach on her blog (http://mmwilner.tumblr.com).
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Summer 2010 Goalkeeper School Schedule |
Goalkeepers who are serious about taking their game to another
level attend SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School. For 28 years, SPGS
has been on the cutting edge of goalkeeper instruction and 2010
will prove to be another tremendous summer.
Read More or
Apply Now
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June 4-7 |
MA |
Cambridge, MA |
Advanced National Training Center |
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June 13-18 |
OH |
Ohio Wesleyan University |
NTC, Challenge |
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June 20-25 |
PA |
Bloomsburg University |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
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UT |
Weber St university |
NTC, Challenge |
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June 27-30 |
MA |
Northfield-Mount Hermon |
GK Core |
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June 27-July 2 |
IN |
DePauw University |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
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TX |
Texas Christian Univ. |
NTC, Challenge |
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July 4-9 |
ME |
Bowdoin College |
NTC, Challenge |
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July 5-10 |
VA |
Randolph -Macon Univ. |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
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July 11-16 |
CA |
UC San Diego |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
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RI |
Roger Williams Univ. |
Challenge, Competitive |
July 18-23
July 25-30
July 18-30* |
NY |
Colgate Univ. |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
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July 18-23 |
CA |
Cal State - East Bay |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
August 1-6
August 8-13
August 1-13* |
MA |
Northfield-Mount Hermon |
NTC, Challenge, Competitive |
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*Two-week camp |
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Facebook / Twitter |
 twitter.com/soccerplus_org
 facebook.com/SoccerPlus
This week on Facebook was this video, discussion and links about the
USMNT World Cup Jersey and more...who knows what will be there
next week. Follow us today.
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Preparation for Crosses
and Services from the Flank |
by Michael Crane, Goalkeeper Coach, Duke University Women,
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School Director
You are 30 minutes into your U-16 State
Championship game. The score is 1-0, thanks to your right
midfielder’s shot from 15 yards out. As the goalkeeper of your
team, you have been spending the first third of the game
organizing your team and settling down into the game. Your team
is controlling the game and withstanding the opposition’s
pressure.
Suddenly, an opponent breaks down your left side with your left
back conveniently trailing behind them. The ball is served into
your area with power and precision. You drift towards the ball,
nervously hoping that it falls neatly into your brand new
Fingertips. You jump into the air, powering everything upwards
toward the incoming projectile. You feel yourself reach back…
back… back… THUMP.
You pick yourself up off of the muddy ground, removing the grass
from your forehead. You see your defenders returning to their
positions with their heads hanging low. From the deflated
feeling in your gut and the absence of the ball in your hands
you realize that something went wrong. It is now 1-1.
As goalkeepers continue to develop throughout their playing
careers, they are continually tested with new challenges. Today,
thanks to players like Luis Figo, David Beckham, and Cristiano
Ronaldo, coaches are expecting goalkeepers to deal with services
of higher quality and more width. In order to play at higher
levels, goalkeepers must learn to read and react more quickly.
This article will break down crosses into two segments, Tactical
Preparation, and Technical Execution. Individually, these two
concepts will not provide success to any goalkeeper but when
both are implemented together, they provide goalkeepers with a
better understanding and ultimately an improvement in success.
Tactical Preparation:
Where are you setting? Why are you setting there? What are you
watching? How should you react once the ball is struck?
These are all questions goalkeepers need to be asked to improve
their preparation for crosses. Let us focus on the ball and how
it determines our starting position. There is no ideal place for
all goalkeepers to set before a cross because there is no ideal
goalkeeper size and shape. Instead, our set position should be
found individually on a case-to-case basis and most importantly
it should make us feel comfortable. The location of the ball
will help you adjust your vertical and lateral positioning.
Vertically, you should be aware of your crossbar and the space
you are leaving behind you. A goal that is scored over your head
should be a learning experience rather than an embarrassment.
Goalkeepers should be ENCOURAGED by coaches to continually test
the location of their setting position before a service. Keep in
mind the State Championship game is not the time to be testing
something new. Use your opportunities in training to find the
area in which you feel the most comfortable and will find the
most success.
After you have found your ideal vertical position, you now need
to begin adjusting your lateral position. You will adjust your
lateral position according to the tactical visual cues displayed
by the player with the ball.
Tactical Visual Cues:
-Length of touches
-Foot used for service
-Field qualities (i.e. bumpy, soft, etc.)
-Rotation of striker’s hips
-Location of opposition
-Positioning of defenders
If the winger pushes the ball farther down the line and picks up
their head, they are giving you a tactical visual cue that they
are intending to cross the ball into your box. You should leave
your ball line and drift towards the center of your goal. In
another example, the winger keeps the ball close to their body
and focuses their eyes on the ball. In this situation you must
be aware of a shot on goal. As your near post should always be
your first priority, it is important that you not abandon it
prematurely in anticipation of a cross.
The number of attackers in the box, whether their hips are
pointing upwards, how the ball releases from their foot (i.e.
in-swinging or out-swinging), and whether the surface of the
field will cause the ball to jump, are all tactical visual cues
that goalkeepers must consider. Think about how the flight of
the ball will change by any of these factors. Will the ball
drift away from the goal or closer to it? By adjusting to these
cues with better preparation, goalkeepers will be able to put
themselves in stronger setting positions.
Technical Execution:
After the ball has left the winger’s foot, a decision must be
made to stay or go. Regardless of what the decision is, right or
wrong, it must be quick and decisive. The first step in
technical execution is about making a decision, not chasing
after the ball. Concentrate on making the right decision, not on
how many opponents you are going to take out. When you fail to
make a decision, you are diminishing or eliminating your role in
the defensive process and thus making it easier for the
opposition to score.
Once you have made your decision to stay or go you MUST
communicate it to your defenders and your immediate midfielders.
This communication is typically executed with a “Keeper” or
“Away” call. At the youth level where goalkeepers are still
learning and experimenting, it becomes easy for a goalkeeper to
become an “away goalkeeper”; relying on defenders to always win
the ball. ENCOURAGE your goalkeepers to take risks. Failure is
nothing more then a learning experience.
“KEEPER”
If the decision is made to go for the ball and “Keeper” is
communicated to everyone in your immediate area, you now begin
your approach to the ball. Your footwork to the ball should be
split up into two segments. The first part will involve your use
of smaller, quick footwork to join the flight path of the ball.
This footwork will be in a horseshoe shape allowing your entire
body to join the path of the ball. Once you have joined the
flight path of the ball, your second segment involves larger
explosive steps to the ball.
A common problem goalkeepers have is that they begin using their
explosive steps too soon and end up catching the ball behind
their head. You have to remain patient and controlled throughout
your first group of steps, not allowing your body to accelerate
too fast. Once you have joined the flight path of the ball, you
must time your acceleration to the ball. When it comes time to
make the catch, you want to meet the ball at the highest
possible point without losing control of your body. Make sure
that your explosion is through the ball and not up towards the
ball.
Another common problem goalkeepers have is that they jump
straight up into the air to win a cross. This can become a huge
problem when dealing with a cross in a crowded area. Your
defenders, midfielders, and the opposition are all looking to
challenge for the ball. If you jump straight up into the air,
you are putting yourself into the middle of a potential train
wreck. Instead, remove the ball from the situation by attacking
through it using momentum from your explosion.
When meeting the ball in the air, use your hands and arms to
cushion and control the velocity of the ball. Refrain from
reaching straight up into the air or reaching back behind your
head to catch the ball. Your neck and back muscles are not
equipped to control the ball. Meet the ball with your arms bent
at the elbow. Your decision to catch or punch the ball should be
made in your final explosion to the ball.
AWAY
If you make the decision to stay near your goal and communicate
“Away” to your teammates, your responsibility is not done. After
you make your decision to stay you need to move your feet to
prepare for a shot. By communicating your decision to your
teammates, they now know it is their responsibility to win the
ball. Your responsibility is now to read and react to the ball.
As the ball travels in the air, do NOT watch it float across
your goalmouth. If you keep your concentration on the ball
during its entire journey, you will have very little time to
prepare and react to a header or shot. Instead, after you read
the flight of the ball and make the decision to stay, assess the
scene in front of the goal. Because you waited to read the
flight of the ball you should already know where it will land.
Your attention should go to this area immediately to prepare for
any threats. The attacker’s body language will notify you of any
threats on your goal. This will also better prepare you to win
the second attempt if the ball is not cleared on the first.
Tying it Together- Training Crosses
1) Tactical Assessment
--STRIKE--
2) Decision Made
--Communication--
3) Technical Execution
--Footwork to Ball or to Cover--
Crosses are trained on a daily basis, even at the highest
levels. The more services you can see and learn from, the better
off you will be in game situations. When training crosses on the
field, make sure you train different varieties of crosses. To do
this, make sure you have multiple servers using both their right
and left feet for service.
ALWAYS remember to add pressure in the box at the end of your
training session. You want to make your training atmosphere as
realistic as possible. Start with no pressure so you can
concentrate and focus on tactical preparation and technical
execution, and then begin to add pressure. Add two or three
attackers and three to four defenders into the training area.
Remember to vocalize your decision to your defenders. Practice,
practice, practice and practice a little more.
Crosses are about preparation and execution. The more tactical
cues and information you can gather before the service, the
better your decisions will be at the end. The State Championship
game is not the time to realize you need to put more time into
crosses. Start the thinking process now and begin applying it to
your training. Your ability to cope with crosses will get better
over time and your game will undoubtedly reap the benefits.
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SoccerPlus Skill of the Week |
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In April, SoccerPlus launched the Skill of the Week - which
provides you exercises designed for you to be able to challenge
yourself at home. There are 3 FieldPlayer levels and 2
Goalkeeper levels. Check them out at:
soccerplus.org/skills
An example of the SOW from SoccerPlus Director Jason Grubb:
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Letters, Questions and Comments |
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My name is Katie Pope and I attended the SoccerPlus Goalkeeping
camp at
Depauw. I wanted to let you know how much I
enjoyed it.
It was the best camp I've ever been to and I was literally
crying when I had
to leave: I didn't want to go! Not only did I hone my skills, I
learned new
ones from true elite goalkeepers. I now know how to position
myself for
crosses and come out aggressively. I know what the proper
catching shape and
form is and I know how to smother a breakaway. The environment
was fun, but
serious and everyone there had the same goal: to get better and
we all
helped each other out. I've learned so much from this camp and
I'm so happy
I had this amazing opportunity.
Last year, I changed club teams
and made my
way onto a very elite team that was completely different from
the team I had
been comfortable starting at for a few years. This new team,
Mockingbird
Valley, has also been a good experience for me, but for the past
year I've
been scared. I've been scared of all the players and how good
they are. I've
just let myself be intimidated by the level of, not only my
competition, but
even my teammates. But going to this camp, I feel new. I am not
going to be
intimidated anymore because I've been through PT and I've
trained at the
best goalkeeper camp in the country. This camp has really helped
my
confidence and improved my technical and tactical skills, and I
would
recommend it to anyone who asks. I feel stronger and I'm ready show my club team what I've learned, and hopefully, I can
keep going and
secure a starting position. I'll definitely stay in touch and I
hope to come
back this year.
Thank you so so much,
Katie Pope
Katie,
We love your attitude and your drive. We can't wait to see the
strides you've made since last summer! Confidence is a major
piece of the goalkeeper's job description and it sounds like
you've got some now. Keep working hard and you will be rewarded.
Hi Anthony and Ben,
Just a quick message to catch you up on a few things. My daughter Clara will be attending a
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper this summer.
Second, Clara has been chosen to be on the Madrid Autonomous
Community (like a state in USA) U-16 Girls Soccer team. The team
will be playing this Spring against other states competing
towards
the U-16 National Championship. The team is composed of mostly
girls born in 1994 (maximum age limit) with only Clara and maybe
a few
others born in 1995. Next weekend they travel to Gijon, Spain
(northern coast of Spain) to play two other state teams; all
states
are playing that weekend but spread around the country in groups
of
3 states.
And thirdly, Clara's club U16 team is doing really well so far
this
season. They are currently tied for first place after 14 games
in a
26 game season (so 14 teams in the league within the Madrid
state).
Clara is the starting goalie for her team and has also been
pulled
up to the next level in her club - Regional Preference (this is
a
two level jump because her club does not have a team in the
Regular
Regional league) - for several games to play when these goalies
have
been injured or themselves pulled up even higher to substitute
injuries. These are more exciting games for her because many of
the
Regional Preference teams are made up of long term players with
ages
spanning 16-30s; these teams are all trying to stay in the
Preference level or move up to the National level and not drop
down
to the Regular Regional level. The only higher levels are the
National and Super League (professionals). Her club's team at
the
Preference level is currently 2nd of 18 teams.
Ann Lindley (Clara's mom)
Madrid, Spain
Hi Ann,
Firstly, let us say congratulations to Clara for her success. We
are very glad to hear of Clara's enjoyment and experiences since
we saw her at Colgate.
She did a great job last year at camp and I have no doubt she
will be challenged and successful with the NTC program. We certainly look
forward to working with Clara again! If you have any further
questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
Ben Pinkerton
Nation Director
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School
ben@soccerplus.org
To whom it may concern:
With regard to the Goalkeeping Clinic Jason Grubb ran this past
Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, as a parent and former coach we
were all much impressed with Jason.
The clinic started and ended on time, there was a proper check
in and more importantly from a parent's viewpoint proper check
out. In other words we had to check with Jason before we left
with any of the players. Most impressive!
Some of the skill sets he taught the kids we have never seen
before and my daughter who is 13 and knows everything now wants
to attend the Goalie camp in Ohio this June.
To Jason, thank you for an excellent job! To the organization,
please send more individuals like Jason into the field.
Sincerely,
Jack Delaneyy
Howdy to the SoccerPlus family! I’m trying to create an informal group/list of the
goalkeeper coaches in and around the state of Texas. As a former
SoccerPlus Director and the current head coach and goalkeeper
coach at Texas A&M I would love to be able to start a dialogue
with the people who are training the male and female goalkeepers
in our big state. I’m looking for the name of goalkeeper
coaches, their email and cell phone, as well as their
Club/HS/College team affiliation.
Thanks and Gig ‘em!
-G
G Guerrieri
Head Soccer Coach - Texas A&M
email:
coachg@tamu.edu
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From the Wire |
Peter Bonetti's Interview on 40th
Anniversary of Chelsea's 1970 FA Cup victory
Thursday 29 April 2010 via chelseafc.com
This week Chelsea's official website spoke to members of the
1970 FA Cup-winning team about events before and after the
victorious match. On the 40th anniversary of the club's
first triumph in the famous competition, legendary goalkeeper
Peter Bonetti recalls the game itself - and the day The Cat
finally got the cream!
Time, especially four decades' worth of time, allows tales and
recollections of a momentous event the chance to be set in stone
and become widely-accepted history..
The FA Cup Final replay on 29 April 1970 certainly holds a very
important place in the 105-year existence of Chelsea Football
Club and parts of the story have been handed down to generations
of Blues fans who followed.
They are told it was one of the dirtiest football games ever
played on English soil. They are told manager Dave Sexton's
decision to rearrange his defense was crucial to the outcome,
and they are told that when Leeds United saw Peter Osgood head
home his side's third equalizer over the course of the two
games, they realized this was a Chelsea team that just couldn't
be beaten.
Chelseafc.com spoke to one of the 11 players who started both
matches for the eventual winners to verify these stories and to
learn a little more about the first of five Chelsea FA Cup wins.
It was Peter Bonetti as much as anyone who had given the team a
replay, keeping Leeds down to two goals in the drawn game at
Wembley.
Three years earlier the Blues had barely turned up for an FA Cup
Final defeat by Tottenham. This time they acquitted themselves
better but Leeds were the superior side and twice led. It wasn't
until the 86th minute that Ian Hutchinson made it 2-2.
The minutes from the FA meeting convened to decide a replay date
show that the atrocious state of the Wembley pitch was raised as
a side issue in the meeting, at which point it was decided to
move the second game elsewhere.
And so on a Wednesday evening two-and-a-half weeks later, the
sides walked onto a more solid Old Trafford Turf. For Leeds
there was a change in goal. Chelsea were unchanged except the
back four in front of Peter was shuffled. David Webb, right-back
in the first game, exchanged places with centre-back Ron Harris.
It's the famous Sexton switch, and Peter confirms its
importance.
"Without a doubt," the man who made 729 Chelsea appearances
agrees. "Dave was a great tactician, one of the best in his day, and he
could see where we had gone wrong at Wembley by having David
Webb marking Eddie Gray."
"Webby, with all due respect, was very powerful, very strong and a 100
per cent man but not the fastest guy so he got a bit of a
runaround. Dave saw what had happened there and he put Ronnie out in the
right-back position to cope with Gray and Webby was far, far
happier in the middle where he could win things. He and John
Dempsey made a tremendous partnership. Webby's confidence hadn't been knocked at all. He was the first
to put his hand up and say yes, I had a terrible game, but he
was very pleased to get a second chance."
"As a team, the Wembley game made us even bolder. It made us
determined to go out there and do something about it. Leeds had
been the better side and could have had two or three goals more
so we were lucky and that gave us greater impetus to go out and
show what we can do."
"Gray was certainly good on that particular day at Wembley but
he was a skilful player anyway, a great left foot and he played
for Scotland, so he was a handful for any full-back. But Ronnie
was Ronnie..." Peter says with a say-no-more laugh.
Harris's first-half 'reducer' on Gray, as a later football
manager would have described it, is almost as famous as Webb's
winning goal that completed his rehabilitation in the tie. It
also set the tone for a festival of boot-on-flesh action that
followed.
So the dirtiest game ever? Time for Peter to decide.
"It probably was the most physical game I played in and today it
would never have lasted. Referees today say it would not have
got past the first 20 minutes because of the tackles but that
was the game in those days and you had to put up with it."
"Some of the Leeds players, Norman Hunter, Johnny Giles, Billy Bremner, Jackie Charlton, they disliked our players immensely
became Ossie [Peter Osgood] and Hutchy [Ian Hutchinson] were
quite a handful up front. They were strong fellas and they gave
out a lot of stick. Our back four of Eddie McCreadie, Webby,
Demps and Ronnie were as strong as ox and we had our runners in
Johnny Hollins, Peter Houseman and Tommy Baldwin with Charlie
Cooke the magician there in the middle. We had a tremendous
blend of players."
"The rivalry was there because Leeds had a name, a reputation as
being dirty. I'd call them physical because dirty doesn't sound
a very nice word. We matched them in the physical side of things
because we had our own players who were physical and that was
probably why we were such big rivals. We weren't unalike in the
way we played."
Peter was the game's most severe victim. A collision with Leeds
striker Mick Jones left him with a painfully injured knee and
needing treatment as the game stopped for four minutes.
"These day with that I injury I would have come off," he is
certain. "I was numb and aching like mad. Once you get the
feeling back you can run it off but they wouldn't allow that
length of time these days. They would get the substitute on and
that would be it."
This was a time before goalkeepers on the bench.
"Webby was saying to me, 'You're alright Cat, come on, come on,'
because he was dreading going in goal! But he didn't make my
mind up. I knew I was going to stay on providing I could hobble
around and be useful at the back.
"The challenge hit a nerve initially and for some reason it
started ballooning up so I got it strapped at half time and I
hobbled around and did what I had to do. The back four were
superb, they kept the forwards at bay and they didn't give me
too many troubles. There were a couple of shots but I have to
give credit to the back four."
Peter modestly doesn't point to three genuine saves he made in
his hindered state but he could not prevent Leeds taking the
lead through his assailant Jones. It was just a minute after
play resumed following the injury.
"People often say that I would have stopped it if fit and I
think I would have done. It sounds big-headed I know but I
couldn't get any push-off just after I had been injured and
straight away they got the goal. You can see in the film that I
just stretched rather than dived for it."
Chelsea went in at half-time 1-0 down and there were nervous
moments for the large London contingent in the Stretford End as
their keeper took longer to emerge for the second-half than the
others.
"I wasn't even contemplating not coming out but I was not only
getting my knee strapped," Peter reveals. "I don't know if anyone noticed but my boot started to split so
I had to strap that up as well. I took longer than normal. There
was no doubt I was going to get on."
"We came back again after twice being behind in the game and now
being behind in the replay. We came back again to win and that
takes some character, but we had great characters."
"Cookie's runs were causing Leeds the trouble Eddie Gray caused
us in the first game. He liked the big games and Ossie's
finishing for the equalizer was great as well, but I don't think
there was anyone who didn't contribute in some way and deserve
their medal."
"When I watch the game occasionally it brings little tingles up
my neck. The noise the fans were making was incredible. I still
have very strong memories. I think at the time we were a club desperate to win the FA Cup
because we had come so close with three semi-finals and a final
a few years before.
"Leeds were the top team at the time. They were the most
consistent team and they had fabulous players, hard players,
skilful players, international players, and because we were arch
enemies and comparable to them it was really great to beat them."
"The fans' jubilation behind the goal was fantastic. They must
take a lot of credit as well for their support and loyalty. It
was just nice for our era that we were the team that gave them
the cup that they had been looking for years."
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RetroLine:
Visualization – Sports Imagery |
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by Tony DiCicco, Founder/CEO SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School
Originally published in TKL 64, September 1990
Visualization is a technique that uses the power of your mind to
assist you in performing at a higher level. Visualization is not
a substitute for physical practice.
When using visualization, start with skills and moves you are
trying to refine. Visualization works best when you are in a
relaxed state. To should use visualization effectively, you
should practice 10-15 minutes each day.
Visualization can be used to practice more than just physical
skills and moves, of course. It have great value in preparing
you to handle specific situation effectively, and develop
routines that lead to more consistent, higher quality
performances. Some specific examples:
Before practice: Run through what you want to accomplish; set
one or twp specific performance goals for yourself. A
performance goal is one that is within your control (e.g.
“during the scrimmage I will follow my distribution by moving to
support”)
Before games: Develop a pregame routine gets you ready to do
your best. Recall some of your best performances. How did you
feel before the game? How did you warm up physically? What were
you thinking? How aroused or relaxed did you feel? Take this
information and build your pregame routine that you use before
every match.
Corner kicks, goal, kicks, penalty shots: Develop a routine to
help you become more consistent and effective.
Bad calls, fouls, etc: To play at your highest level you must be
focused on the game, and not allow opposing players or
officiating to “take your head out the game.”
To make visualization and mental imagery work for you, it is
important to develop the ability to vividly imagine yourself
executing the skill or desired response. See yourself executing.
Hear the sounds around you. Feel your muscles and body respond.
Smell the grass and sweat! Use visualization to practice tough
situations where you are fouled, or feel a bad call was made.
Visualize yourself handling it well, and getting on with your
game.
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The Keeper's Line
Anthony DiCicco, Editor
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School
1477 Park Street, Suite 13C
Hartford, CT 06106
goalkeeper.com | 1.800.KEEPER.1
© SoccerPlus Camps, Inc.
2010
Comments can be sent to:
tkl@goalkeeper.com |
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