[Albion] Bart Verbruggen SINGS a 5-year deal

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I noticed something in Bart's technique at Anfield today. I'm not a goalkeeping coach so it would be unwise of me to call it a flaw.

In the first half he made an outstanding save from a right-foot shot (Gatko?) that was high to his left and going in. He used one hand, his left, and was able to push it round the post.

For the Salah goal, it was the mirror opposite. Salah shot with his left, high to Bart's right side. But rather than trying to save with his right arm/hand outstretched, he tried to save it with his left hand.

Now, I reckon this makes his reach about a foot to 10 inches less. Try it yourself. Stretch out you right arm high above your head and out at about 45 degrees. Keeping your right arm out, try with your left hand to see how far up your right arm you can get. I can reach to about my elbow, which is 10-12 inches from my right hand finger tips.

Why does he do this? I think he's left hand dominant and so for the high/stretch saves he will always favour his left. Maybe he doesn't trust his right, or its not as strong as his left, I don't know.

There's no knowing if he would have saved Salah's shot had he reached out with his outstretched right arm/hand. But by only using his left I reckon he puts himself at a disadvantage by at least a foot in reach.

Don't get me wrong, this is not intended to be a critism, he obviously does it for a reason. I'd love to know that reason.

It depends on the height of the shot relative to his dive, no?

The Salah shot was in the top corner. If he goes with his bottom arm (his right), he just looks miles from it.

The earlier save you’re talking about was much lower down, so it makes sense to dive with the lower arm.

@sussex_guy2k2 is pretty much spot on here. The arm Bart can use is dictated by where the two shots are relative to his body/dive.

The first save from Darwin is fairly close to his body, he can just stick out his left arm and deflect it wide. He makes the save in a fairly upright position and the actual dive comes after the save has been made as a continuation of his movement.

The Salah goal is a lot higher and further away from him. He has to go for it with his left hand as that is his upper hand in his dive, so is the arm closest to the ball. He actually gets finger tips to it but not enough contact to push it away. If he goes for it with his right hand he’s got the added complication of having to bring that arm across his own body, as it’s between him and the ball. He would be trying to save it with what is effectively a shorter arm because of where it is relative to the ball.

Hopefully these screen grabs of his body position/dive when he makes contact with the ball in both shots helps demonstrate what I mean further.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I noticed something in Bart's technique at Anfield today. I'm not a goalkeeping coach so it would be unwise of me to call it a flaw.

In the first half he made an outstanding save from a right-foot shot (Gatko?) that was high to his left and going in. He used one hand, his left, and was able to push it round the post.

For the Salah goal, it was the mirror opposite. Salah shot with his left, high to Bart's right side. But rather than trying to save with his right arm/hand outstretched, he tried to save it with his left hand.

Now, I reckon this makes his reach about a foot to 10 inches less. Try it yourself. Stretch out you right arm high above your head and out at about 45 degrees. Keeping your right arm out, try with your left hand to see how far up your right arm you can get. I can reach to about my elbow, which is 10-12 inches from my right hand finger tips.

Why does he do this? I think he's left hand dominant and so for the high/stretch saves he will always favour his left. Maybe he doesn't trust his right, or its not as strong as his left, I don't know.

There's no knowing if he would have saved Salah's shot had he reached out with his outstretched right arm/hand. But by only using his left I reckon he puts himself at a disadvantage by at least a foot in reach.

Don't get me wrong, this is not intended to be a critism, he obviously does it for a reason. I'd love to know that reason.

I know what you mean, you naturally think the keeper should be going with whichever hand to the side he is diving to - however in this case I think he gets closer to it than he would have done with his right, his technique is great because his left arm is full stretch and in a straight line with his body but the shot is just too good.

 

[Bold Seagull]

…

 

[nwgull]

Quality form him yesterday. I was thinking, when was the last time we had a really solid keeper? As far back as Kuipers? Stockdale had a good season in the championship before he turned into a dick head

Kuipers was probably one of the best shot stoppers we’ve had; he was however not what you’d call solid on crosses.

I don’t think Stocldale turned into a dickhead. The club just decided that we needed an upgrade, and Birmingham offered him far more money than we were offering to be back-up to Ryan.