From the time Brian Clough broke the transfer record to sign Peter Shilton the importance of a top goalkeeper to a team has become obvious. England used to be blessed with a seeming never ending stream of great goalkeepers; Swift Ditchburn Banks Bonetti Stepney Shilton Clemence Seaman Arguably from there on it becomes more of a trickle than a stream. Clubs started to look abroad to bring in top keepers. The argument is that without a top keeper no team becomes great. Early days I know but it looks to me that Spurs have found one in Lloris. I think he has already made a difference, he is very quick off his line and has nipped many attacks in the bud with a punch that Ali would be proud of. The recent run of results coincides with the arrival of Lloris and not by chance IMO.
Early days, but he seems to be settling in really well. Was just watching some YouTube footage, a series of 4 films on Pat Jennings*, and this reminded me of the influence that he used to have over the penalty box. He totally dominated the area and as a result gave confidence to his defence. I think that Lloris can bring a similar level of comfort to those in front of him. * http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=VYXyR5sZPQA#/watch?feature=relmfu&v=VYXyR5sZPQA
Yeah, he certainly looking like a top class keeper,boy did we need one,Brad is a good keeper but his age is against him
If you are going to pucch you need to punch hard, he certainly does that. I wonder if he speaks English or with Verts and Gallas and Kaboul and Benny when they get back the defense will speak French?
I'll give it till lunch time before GH10 has replied with "told you so". I think he looks good. A little bit showey-offey for my liking, but he's doing well. I don't know what it is though, but sometimes when the ball is passed back him, I worry about his foot control. He doesn't look that comfortable. - maybe it's that howler between him and naughton that's making me think like that. Still, cracking shot stopper and for a guy that's not the tallest of keepers, he's pretty good aerially.
I wondered how long it would be before someone mentioned that. The thread is about the importance of goalkeepers generally so not exclusively about our Lloris.
It was inevitable. But yes, I agree with everything you've said. A team tends to plays with Confidence if they are comfortable in the ability of their goalkeeper and defence, IMO. I think lloris has given us that bit extra which we have lacked for some time. We haven't had a top drawer keeper in years and years. It'll be interesting to see the difference that Lloris can make over the course of a season. Hopefully 6061 will be able to provide us with some interesting stats
I agree about influence of keepers. When I played I was a forward, but the good keepers controlled the defenders and to a certain extent the midfielders. He even bossed us around if we weren't in the right channels for his kicks. Back to my Bristol Rovers knowledge (sorry all), Nigel Martyn ranks among the best keepers I have ever seen. He controlled the defence without exception. His shot stopping ability was worth around 20 goals a season and he just had an aura about him. In terms of the list, Robbo was good at Spurs at the beginning. His family and weight issues counted against him though
The worse keeper Spurs have had that played for a long period and even represented his country on numerous occasions - Ian Walker, how did that happen?
The counter is, that United found that if your outfield players are good enough, you can get away with a dickhead like Roy Carroll in goal!...how, I do not know!
If you listen to Jamie Redknapp, Lloris is far from convincing and he is yet to be fully convinced. For obvious reasons Redknapp cant help but have a sly dig at Spurs and rarely gives us any praise, at the same time as heaping praise on everyone and everything Mouser......... for example you will never hear him have a dig at the mistake riddled Pepe Reina, while he questions the excellent Lloris.
Lloris is class, still getting used to the PL but in my mind already the third best keeper in the country and better than Joe Hart.
which two keepers hold the club record for consecutive clean sheets kept? Ian Walker & Gomes. Legends!
