AS AN old goalkeeper myself, I have a soft spot for the odd men out in football teams, the only guys allowed to use their hands. Goalkeeper is also the most-specialised position in any team. In any XI, you have two full-backs, two central defenders, up to five midfielders, and up to three strikers - but, only ever one goalkeeper.
This means, in any squad, you might expect one goalkeeper at least to spend most of his time sitting on his backside on the bench, waiting for his chance. The fall-out rate in goalkeepers, therefore, tends to be high. A back-up goalkeeper might spend several seasons waiting for a game, not get one and be released.
In the past week Rangers, Celtic and Hibs have all bought-in goalkeepers from outwith Scotland, as have Aberdeen - taking James Ward on-loan from Liverpool and immediately putting him into their first team for their opening Europa League qualifier.
It was one thing for wee Jimmy Greaves to build a TV career out of abusing Scottish goalkeepers, it is quite another for Scottish club managers to ignore the claims of native-born keepers. I believe the talent is there it simply needs to be encouraged and for clubs to put in place development plans for young stoppers.
For instance, I had a look at the keepers who have played for the Scotland Under-21 team in the last ten seasons, and came up with a few almost-forgotten names. Surely some of these guys, who have dropped off the radar, could do a job in the upper reaches of the SPFL.
Since season 2005-06, the following keepers have won Scotland Under-21 honours: Season 2005-06 - David Marshall, Iain Turner
Season 2006-07 - Andrew McNeil, Jamie Macdonald
Season 2007-08 - Chris Smith, Euan McLean, Greg Fleming
Season 2008-09 - Alan Martin, Scott Gallacher
Season 2009-10 - Jamie Barclay, Grant Adam, Michael Andrews
Season 2011-12 - Mark Ridgers
Season 2012-13 - Jordan Archer, Chris Kettings
That's 15 promising young goalkeepers. OK, Marshall is now Scotland's first-choice; Macdonald has joined Kilmarnock from Falkirk, to compete against Craig Samson, a Scotland squad player; Ridgers was first-choice at St Mirren last season; Gallacher was back-up to Neil Alexander at Hearts and is now seeking regular first-team action.
That's 3 of the 15 getting a regular game, with a fourth enjoying enough action last season to have him seeking further exposure at the top end. What of the rest?
Turner, who was with Sheffield United last season, has spent most of his career, he is 30 now, on-loan to various clubs, during his long spell with Everton. He has been a full-time professional for more than a decade, but has yet to play 100 first-team games.
In spite of this, he has one Scotland B cap and has been in Scotland A squads.
Andy McNeil, Chris Smith, Greg Fleming, Jamie Barclay, Grant Adam and Michael Andrews are all playing for lower league SPFL clubs, while Jordan Archer, having been released by Tottenham at the end of last season, has signed for Millwall, while Chris Kettings is with Crystal Palace.
Only Euan McLean is no longer in the game, the former Dundee United and St Johnstone back-stop is now a policeman.
You have to ask yourself two questions - how come so-many of our best young goalkeepers have failed to "train-on" and become deemed only fit for part-time, lower league football, or the reserve team of a full-time outfit? And, could they, if given the chance, play at a higher level?
I feel our clubs are, particularly when it comes to goalkeepers, not giving home-grown talent a fair crack of the whip. Only 1 of 15 Under-21 goalkeepers progressing to the full Scotland team simply isn't good enough.
SO, m'learned friends are making more money out of Rangers FC (1872-2012), or, more-properly in this case: the Murray International Holdings Employees Benefits Trust, MIHEBT, as "The Big Tax Case" returns to the Court of Session.
This case has nothing to do with the Rangers Tribute Act, but, this will not prevent the internet warriors, from both halves of the Bigot Brothers "families" from venting their considerable spleen on the matter.
Ach! It's a nice wee mid-close-season diversion. But, that said, the case has potentially serious repercussions for English football. Despite what "Ra Peepul" have claimed since this case kicked-off, HMRC's determination to fight the BTC to the bitter end is NOT an attack on Rangers, that club is the catalyst - the targets are the big-spending English clubs; there is, potentially, a lot more tax income to be obtained from a verdict in favour of HMRC against MIHEBT, which can be used as a means of getting at the English clubs.
The Murray Group could lose, the former Rangers players could lose, as could players with various English clubs, but, as always, the lawyers will win. That's life.
Am I the only one who thinks, Dundee United ought to declare themselves an official feeder club for Celtic?
No comments:
Post a Comment