Sat.27th Oct. 2012 My wife brought my grandson to the circus, I stayed at home to watch QPR v Arsenal on Setanta. When they came back they told me of the tigers, the jugglers, the tightrope walkers, the performing seal and one clown. "Only one clown?" I said. My grandson said, "Yeah only one!" I'd been watching some tigerish tackles from Granero, some smart juggling from Tarrabt, us walking the tightrope that is the Premier League especially after the clown turned up, kicked another performer and left the arena. But the star of the show for me was the performing seal that is, Julio Cesar. It seems he has everything; he looks cool, he's a Brazilian International, has a cool name, played for Internazionale Milan, they sound cool, Champions League winner, former World No. 1 goalkeeper, and he makes spectacular one handed saves regularly, that's cool! But the old expression, "the goalkeeper is in total command of his area" doesn't apply to him. He's not in command of his six yard box. He won't leave his line unless someone gives him a back pass. All this talk of not having a settled back four is true, yes we've had changes through injuries, everyone else has too. Yes our central defenders hav'nt covered themselves in glory, are allowing too many shots on goal, bad marking, and won't jump when the ball is there to be won etc. As a result so far this season Cesar has made enough spectacular saves for his publicist to fill a very large photo album. Practically every goal we've conceded this season, was a scrambled ****ty goal. The ball is bouncing around our six yard box like pinball, not just yesterday, but every game, Everton, West Ham ect. I have never seen a goalkeeper so reluctant to catch the ball. We can all see the quality saves he makes, but i think our main problem is, he is not commanding his area. Is he staying on his line because he doesn't trust the defenders to stop shots raining in on him, if he mistimes his run? Is he in communication with his central defenders, I hav'nt seen him shouting at them. It seems like he is a one man show, and I have a feeling he's going to end up performing in a circus in Las Vegas, and QPR will end up performing in the championship! I hope i'm wrong! I am fully expecting Cesar to come out with the ball balanced on his nose at LR next time out, don't be surprised!! Everyone knows the Seal song, "You're never gonna survive, unless you get a little crazy!" But the question is, how ****in' crazy is it gonna get??
Me too, although he was a bit dodgy at the start of the game, but without his later performance, we could have easily have shipped another 3-4 goals.
He's a quality keeper. Most keepers are eccentric and showmen. Cesar is no different. Lots of keepers prefer to punch rather than catch. Do t understand it myself.
It's quite simple, I'll kick ball to you and you decide what is easier and safer, punch it or catch it.
But if it's harder for keeper to catch the ball then it's not safer. I just think there's a reason why keepers even the best ones keep boxing the ball rather than catching it.
Don't think he was dodgy at start. The save the commentators made a fuss of was the palms down to the left. When you see it front on it has some wicked movement. Did well to keep it out.
I recall a few early shots that he palmed away, and if Arsenal had a johnny on the spot they could have easily bagged a goal.
It certainly is. All the best one does it, Casillas, Kahn, Buffon, Neuer etc. It's an old British notion that the keepers has to catch it. Look no further than Joe Hart, great keeper, but all his mistakes comes from losing the ball when trying to catch it. It breeds confidence to the back four when a keeper regurly comes for the ball and gathers it, but it also brings an added risk. A risk the continental keepers isn't seem willing to take. Great OP by the way John
Everyone can see Cesar is a fantastic shot stopper, and his reputation is there for all to see, and Norway has some great points regarding catching and punching the ball, but there does seem to be a lack of communication between the central defenders and him. My other point is Cesar should not have to make all these world class one handed saves, if his defenders were doing there job properly and it is really up to him to encourage and co-ordinate what is going on in front of him, as they should be a unit. This is not critisism, it's observation. Anyone can critisize SWP, Zamora with justification, but their performances are not going to lose us games, their performance, may mean we won't win. We are losing games because of what is going on in our penalty area and i considered why it's happening. When the opposition are scoring regularly from two yards out, surely some questions should be asked?
John, your post is very good and full of facts. Personally. i wouldnt criticise Ceasar because he has been the single positive constant in our team all season. Should our keeper have to tell a seasoned professional to mark his allocated man in front of a 30K crowd? Should he have too tell our CB's to stop letting people run past/through/over them? Fact is, they are all professional players and on a big wage..If i earned $20k a week i would most definately not need anyone to tell me how to do what i am supposed to do. F me- they get all week to practice- its definately easier to defend than score (otherwise it would be 19-21 every week) C easar is in line for player of the season at the mo !
