Subject: Robert Green

i just listened to Greens interview on bbc website.

He is blaming the ball - COME ON!! I am and still am a keeper. What i am also is a qualified keeper coach. Green made a basic simple error if you watch it again. He quite simply said to himself "easy save". Why do i know that? Look just as the shot is hit - he lifts his hands UP from the "set" position instead of moving his feet. Basic Basic Basic arrogant mistake. People can say he didnt have his body behind the ball - which is totally correct but again that was caused by the lifing of his hands from the set position instead of moving his feet.

Capello knows this and will no doubt study it and question Green today maybe tomorrow as to why he did that. I 100% expect Hart to get the nod in the next game due to this fundamental error.

Aye, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

If he knew what would happen, he'd let it into his knees and smother it. But it was a basic save, Green had done it 1000 times, he shouldn't have to worry about the 1001st.

I don't agree - rtg is spot on.

You have to get the basics right at any level - particularly when we've had the GK union banging on all week about problems with new ball.

If you watch the reply he never had his body, or hands, behind the ball - my (limited) understanding is that if you do this, then should you screw up the routine at least you body is in the way to avoid further embarrassment...

he may as well just take a touch or welly it if he's not going to get behind it. The second half save wasn't that great either and he nearly managed to push it into his own net. Just all round naff really.

Example:

In a local derby match, I was playing in goal. In the last minutes, a 30 yard strike deflected off a defender, and spun towards my near post. I had 2 or 3 seconds to ready myself, and stuck out my arms to catch it.
Next thing I know, the ball hit me on the wrist or something, and ball loops in off the post.
It was a routine catch, I took it for granted. Green took Dempsey's shot for granted, and paid the price.
Like some of the saves I made in that match were all forgotten with my fumble, Green's consistent reliability through the season is forgotten.

I don't condone Green, I won't condemn him either.

I'm not condemning him either, but at this level the margin between success and failure is very small.
England as a team don't genrally create loads of chances, and against good oppostion we aren't going to convert all the chances we do create.
So we have to eliminate soft goals. And lets be honest, its hard to imagine a softer goal than this.

One mistake on the world stage and everyone is gunning for him, pah. He will still start for the rest of the campaign and his decent save has already redeemed him. Goalies always get a bad rap for their mistakes because thay can be more serious. I was a lot more worried about Rooney's passing - absolutely shocking! Hardly got it to an England player half the time...

but that 1 mistake probably cost us 2 points. Who knows what it'll do for the back four's confidence in Green ...if Green continues to start I can see mix ups coming at crucial moments.

(edited)

Maybe, maybe not. You can only say the game ended as a draw and we have no idea whether it cost us two points or not as who know what would have happened in an alternative game?

All we do know is that James is not fit and Hart is not experienced. Green is the only option to start regardless of potential gaffes. Whilst it is unusual for England to be in the position of not having a world class goalie between the sticks it is the reality. Capello is fielding the best he could pick for the job, sadly I am not sure it is good enough if the lads constantly play over each other and cramp the potential to play efficiently.

Agreed Hart is not experienced, so you keep him out for fear of mistakes ...but if Green is making mistakes of that magnitue you may as well play Hart...
(edited)

Green made a brilliant save to save Carraghers blushes at one stage. I think he should stay in as he will not make the same mistake again imo.

But will he? That error (which I - an attacking mid - could have saved) will have gone through his confidence like a cannonball. He'll constantly be worried about making the same mistake, where as Hart can make use of this and can show his Birmiongham form.

I agree with rtg and stand by what I said. At that level you shouldn't make basic errors like that.

I was pissing myself at that face.

Btw, who was watching the match on ITV1HD? Best ad break ever.

@ rhys - Bonetti, James, Seaman, Carson? These happen.

imo the save was ok, nothing more.
In the post match analysis (and had Green not already messed up) they'd have been using that well worn phrase '...he'll have been disappointed not to have stopped that' if it had gone in.
I think the commentators really over-egged the save, almost trying to restore our confidence in Green.

The issue for me was the 2 or 3 occassions in the 2nd half where the ball was played behind our defence and there was clearly confusion about whether the CB's were leaving it for Green or not.
In the end you had Carragher shouting Green out to get a through-ball. That shouldn't be happening, the keeper should be making those calls ...because the back four trust his judgement.

Don't get me wrong, he hasn't suddenly become a bad keeper. But that mistake is bound to play on his mind and the rest of the defences mind.
(edited)

True, but the lack of pace at Centre back is more a worry for me.