Goalkeepers Techniques and how do City's keepers measure up.

I know I always seem to start with "When I were a lad! but as a young boy, I always got a football book for Christmas. One particular favourite was the "FA Book for Boys" (girls were not interested in football then let alone play it).

So in addition to all the pictures of the stars, there were articles about tactics and all aspects of the game. Which contrary to what some on here believe is still 11 v 11 with a round ball and the same size goals.

Now to the point. Bert Williams was Wolves and England keeper and I clearly remember that he emphasised two aspects of goalkeeping which have not changed one little bit.
Firstly position yourself that you are never beaten by a shot at the near post.
Secondly, if you cannot hold/catch the ball always do your best to push it either over the bar or sideways away from the goal.

Because I do not see more than half a dozen games a season live, I'm left with scraps on video.
I've seen in the last month, two goals against where neither followed Bert Williams golden rules; Gerken beaten at near post v Birmingham and Heaton pushing stright out for Wednesday's second goal yesteray.

So my question to City fans is; Which is City's best keeper - Heaton or Gerken? And Why?

 

I really like Gerken I don't see nothing wrong with his play when goals are conceded. He came in as an understudy to basso and ended up playing the whole season of which we finished 10th and he kept I think 12-15 clean sheets. I also really rate Heaton the saves he makes are brilliant but like most keepers he's only as good as his defence and you have to feel sorry for the bloke because he deserves a clean sheet

Out of the 2 Heaton is the better keeper but Gerken is a great back up and if he's in goal I have just as much confidence in him as I do in Heaton

 

I agree with what Shiny says! Gerkin in my opinion improved when he came in for the last 8 games and I think training day in day out with David James helped him. I know a lot don't rate David James but if we had him 2-3 years earlier I suspect our choice of keeper would be different now!
What they both suffer with and I have stood next to Deano is lack of height for a keeper Wiki has him down as 6"4 which either he was in a hole but i didnt think there was 5" between us, but both don't command the area like most keepers.
But if either of them are picked I don't feel like oh ****. I do feel sorry for Heaton as I don't think there are many goals conceded that was particularly down to him apart from yesterdays. He just has not got the best defence in front of him.
I pick Heaton over Gerkin simply on the fact he is a lot more vocal and given a sensible defence he does try to organise things better, just a shame they don't seem to listen to him.

 

Ive seen a fair bit of both keepers and the one thing with heaton ive not been to sure about is his shouts to the defence a couple of times hes called and not reached the ball, now i do believe this is a two way thing and the defenders will often not let the keeper know what they are doing this has caused a number of scrambles all season.
Now gerken who ive watched in the reserves a few times as well as the first team is a bit better at calling out than heaton in fact it worth watching the second string if you get the chance just to hear his comments when he shouts! Overall heaton has more talent

 

I think this season will be Gerken's last with us.

Heaton is a good keeper, but so is Gerken and we've got a reputation of not giving keepers chances. We lost Henderson, possibly one of our best young keepers and a keeper I rate above Gerken, and I think Gerken will leave when he finds his chances limited around here.

I hear Lewis Carey is a fairly good keeper. Perhaps it'll be worth retaining him if/when Gerken leaves and perhaps rotating things a bit?

 

'if you cannot hold/catch the ball always do your best to push it either over the bar or sideways away from the goal'

Of course this make perfect sense.

The trouble with this theory is the ball used by Bert Williams trapped itself, especially on a wet day.
That bloody thing they play with now moves in the air like you can't believe and at speeds faster than 50 odd years ago.
Even Bert would have a job doing everything 'by the book' these days.

Heaton or Gerkin.

Heaton for me, Gerkin's weakness is the long through ball - he doesn't know whether to stay or come.
A defender's worst nightmare.

 

Carey will be the next Henderson. Young with much potential who wont be given a chance and will eventually leave and end up at a bigger club.

 

Unless Gerken goes in the summer and Lewis Carey becomes number two in his own right. He's then only one injury or bad run away from the top spot.
I really do believe that we will see the youngsters getting their chance over the next year or so.
But I understand, though do not necessarily agree, that most managers, Derek McInnes included, are very reluctant to introduce youngsters into struggling teams as it may, and I stress may, interfere negatively with their development.
Many years ago when manager of Man City, Joe Mercer was asked why kids who appear to be world beaters at 18 or 19 years, suddenly disappear when they get their first chances of first team football.
His answer was that unless an 18/19 year old is so brilliant that he just carries on learning and developing, the rest get seen off by the hardened old pros of 26 and older. He said an old pro has lots of experience on how to negate youngsters with bad tackles, verbals and so on.
It's sad but a fact of life, so any City youngsters who get in the team and do not seem to be overawed or overpowered, really are a bit special at Championship level. It should make us all realise how good Joe Bryan is, but also to remmber that he will need a rest from it every so often for the next year or two.

 

Neither Henderson nor Basso have set the world alight sice they left here.
Carey has time on his side - keepers dont find their feet until their mid 20s

 

The funny thing with goal keepers is they tend not to break into first teams til there into there early to mid 20s and they also dont really peak til they hit late 20s right up til late 30s lewis carey is hopefully the future we should be looking at getting him out on a season loan next year at a lower league Club then bringing him back to battle it out with an experienced shot stopper for a year or two someone who is willing to work with and compete against the lad an older keeper whos experience will help not hinder we also signed a young american keeper in the summer from us college league who also looks good in videos from his us games.

 

Is that Dylan Castanheira? I thought from his name he had Portuguese or Spanish (means chestnut tree) parents or grandparents but born in South Wales with a first name like Dylan.
Yes I've seen him on the I-player a couple of times.

 

Looks like his parents are portuguesse he signed for us on a portuguesse passport but was playing in the us for a high school side new jersey looks like stoke were after the lad as well 17 years old so two years behind carey