Ankergren on BBC site "I questioned myself, admits Brighton stopper Ankergren"

[Smirko]

I questioned myself, admits Brighton stopper Ankergren

Ankergren kept 20 clean sheets for Brighton last season

Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Casper Ankergren admits he has been affected by their defensive record.

The Seagulls had conceded nine goals in three games before Saturday's clean sheet at home to Hull.

Ankergren told BBC Sussex: "When you concede a lot of goals people question the back four and the goalkeeper.

"I ask myself questions when we concede goals. I get really upset and take it personally. I always analyse and see what I could have done differently."

The 31-year-old added: "It's not a situation that's happened before - conceding that many goals in three games.

"It's tough when you suddenly start doubting yourself. I've been down but you learn from it, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

"The only way is to work hard on the training pitch and things will turn around for you eventually.

"The clean sheet against Hull was important not just for me personally, but the whole team."

 

[Napper]

He is right to question. Made couple good saves on sat and the clean sheet is massive. We were bloody lucky not to concede though especially last min again.

 

[catfish]

Good on him for recognising he's had a wobble & is working hard to remedy it.

 

[LamieRobertson]

He is right to question. Made couple good saves on sat and the clean sheet is massive. We were bloody lucky not to concede though especially last min again.

Lol...at this level any side coming to the amex is going to going to create chances..fact is we dint concede and he made some good saves....all helps build some confidence

 

[Gus is god]

why i agree he played a good game, it was ONE GAME i wanna see him do this again again, sadly im not holding my breath

 

[Lush]

I was heartened when I heard him on the Albion podcast last season. He sounded calm, intelligent and with a dry sense of humour.

 

[Mr Smggles]

Whenever the Ankergren chants starts going round he always seems to acknowledge the crowd. I recon he really does appreciate that and probably helps with his confidence. What do others think?

 

[LamieRobertson]

Going by what I hear and read, I'm alone in thinking Casper is a quality keeper.

Probably the best keeper we've had in generations, including Ben Roberts (and Rami Shaaban)

Theres a divided camp on what people think of him...so yur hardly alone!

 

[bobby smith]

Good on him for recognising he's had a wobble & is working hard to remedy it.

Not his fault most of the goals we have conceded have been down Marcus's side

 

[HG201]

Going by what I hear and read, I'm alone in thinking Casper is a quality keeper.

Probably the best keeper we've had in generations, including Ben Roberts (and Rami Shaaban)

Spot on, i'm with you here

 

[Colossal Squid]

I was heartened when I heard him on the Albion podcast last season. He sounded calm, intelligent and with a dry sense of humour.

That's the Danes for you

 

[JCL666]

I think living in the North aged him. He looks ancient considering he's only 31.

 

[Seagull73]

I think he is right to question himself - clearly cost us 2 points against Leeds with their equaliser and didn't cover himself in glory with the first 2 Palace goals. That said, nobody in the team with the exception of Bridcutt and Mackail-Smith has any right to be happy recently.

He is a good keeper - but for his own sake he will need to prove that he has got the ability to step up to this level, because Leeds didn't think he could, that's why they let him go.

 

[Bald Gull]

The key problem for me is his command of his area, particularly when it comes to crossing.

He had a good game on Saturday because he made one or two very good saves - however, that is what he does. I have no issues at all with his shot-stopping. I'm not sure that's ever been in question.

It is the panic that sets in whenever a cross comes into the box. On Saturday we still had this. I can't remember the last time a cross came in and he caught the ball above his head. He just looks very unconvincing to me - even when he punches, the ball seems to go downwards inside the penalty area, rather than getting any sort of elevation and clearing the danger.

I don't think he is a bad keeper overall but his command of the area needs big improvement I think. If I was the opposition, I would put someone right in front of him at every corner and tell the corner taker to just put the ball into the middle of the goal every time. I know as a fan, my heart would be in my mouth everytime this happened!!

 

[Acker79]

The key problem for me is his command of his area, particularly when it comes to crossing.

He had a good game on Saturday because he made one or two very good saves - however, that is what he does. I have no issues at all with his shot-stopping. I'm not sure that's ever been in question.

It is the panic that sets in whenever a cross comes into the box. On Saturday we still had this. I can't remember the last time a cross came in and he caught the ball above his head. He just looks very unconvincing to me - even when he punches, the ball seems to go downwards inside the penalty area, rather than getting any sort of elevation and clearing the danger.

I don't think he is a bad keeper overall but his command of the area needs big improvement I think. If I was the opposition, I would put someone right in front of him at every corner and tell the corner taker to just put the ball into the middle of the goal every time. I know as a fan, my heart would be in my mouth everytime this happened!!

I don't think his problem is as simple as 'coming for crosses'. It is generally his decision making for when to come for any ball, often times balls are played long by our opposition and the keeper should be on his way to the edge of the box to collect it, but he doesn't. Other times it's played long and it's there for the fullbacks or centre backs and he'll come out leaving the goal exposed (a danger if the defender loses the ball). At corners he frequently tries to win a freekick by running at the man marking him rather than try to win the ball.

However, what I noticed about his performance on saturday, was that this was less of a problem that it has been in a long time. He was frequently coming out for the long balls from them, and generally picked the right times to come for the ball on crosses, too. I don't remember any moments of crosses going right across the face of the goal as they often do.

I think his performance on saturday was very good for more than just a couple of good-to-great saves.