Nige, Kasper, Dowd... i'm looking at you.

[The Doctor]

So the player himself spoke of his amazement at how much Kasper gave him to aim at, it's picked out on MOTD, it's picked out on Goals on Sunday, it's picked out in three online match reports I've read, yet I'm wrong.

I like Kasper, and I certainly don't want him dropped, but he was badly at fault yesterday. You can't blame a bloody wall for a free kick for god sake. Goalie's error.

 

Yes, you're wrong - the wall is at fault there, it doesn't jump and the order they lined up in made it easier for wallace. If you watch any game, you'll see that for a free-kick in that position the keeper will position himself similar to Kasper. 

[Dickov22]

Yes, you're wrong - the wall is at fault there, it doesn't jump and the order they lined up in made it easier for wallace. If you watch any game, you'll see that for a free-kick in that position the keeper will position himself similar to Kasper.

No way. He was way too far over to one side. If the ball goes right in the corner, fair enough. It didn't even need to and he still couldn't get across.

[LCFCFOX6190]

Think it's quite clear Kasper got it wrong.

[Guest Col city fan]

For me, the real issue is being missed.

Ross Wallace has a lovely left peg and has scored goals like this for years.

One of those players who you do not give that much to aim at.

Christ! Even Wallace thanked Kasper on Motd.

Enuff said.

Schmeichel clearly didn't do his homework.

[Guest ttfn]

I also don't get this "the goalkeeper doesn't want to concede on his own side" stuff.

Surely it doesn't matter which side it goes in. If it goes in on the keeper's side it doesn't count for 2 goals. It's too easy an excuse for goalkeepers to have "their side".

I think a complete re-think of the way that free kicks from that distance are defended is needed. It's not good enough to say "if you can kick the ball over these people it's a goal", particularly (as Carlo Cudicini mentioned on Goals on Sunday) as the dynamic of free kicks from that range has changed now that the vanishing spray guarantees that the wall keeps its distance.

There's a few options (off the top of my head):

1) Have the wall protect the opposite side of the goal so the keeper can stand more centrally and still see the ball the whole way.

2) Do away with the wall altogether.

3) Have a man on the line.

All of the above have obvious and significant drawbacks and I'm sure that there are other, far better ideas out there. I'm sure I read an article about a German side who went a whole season without conceding from a free kick after doing away with walls.

Either way it's not good enough defensively to say that, so long as a professional footballer can get the ball over the wall and down again with no pressure on him, it's a goal. The shot wasn't anywhere near the corner and Schmeichel didn't even get a hand to it. Realistically Wallace could have hit the ball a foot closer to Schmeichel and still probably scored.

[Lookatthebluesky]

Well I am a former keeper (played at semi-professional level and for British Universities in a 20 year adult career, so I was not too bad) and I have commented on what I see to be Kasper's issues on the post-match thread - and it's not just about this free-kick. Of course all keepers make mistakes from time to time, it comes with the territory. The bottom line is that having set the wall up, Kasper still has to give himself a chance to get across if Wallace beats the wall. His starting position gave him no chance whatsoever. Yes the execution was good but his positioning only served to raise the taker's confidence prior to taking the kick - Wallace knew that he didn't even need to hit the top corner to score - you cannot under-estimate how much this would have helped Wallace at this key moment.

 

Looking on from the far end of the ground, it looked almost certain that Wallace would score beforehand due to the set-up.

 

Irrespective of the free kick issue, Kasper is not dominant enough in his own area. Even basic corners seem to cause us problems due to his lack of presence and willingness to assert himself even within the six yard box. I have always held the belief that he is a top shot-stopper and useful in 1v1 situations (his father has clearly passed on his knowledge because he excelled here). In my view, the best keepers don't always need to make the spectacular saves because their positioning, anticipation and footwork enable them to use their experience accordingly. His father was rarely spectacular but of course he had the huge bonus of being a massive physical presence (I remember him playing for Denmark early in his career at Wembley and he was a man-mountain - on a number of occasions in the game he threw the ball out past the halfway line!)

 

Kasper is good at some aspects of the keeper's game and he's been a top performer for the club during our rise but he lacks the physical presence of a really top keeper and for me, he has reached his level. I've been watching him for years, I remember watching him down at Burton Albion when he played for Notts County and these were my thoughts then and they still are.

 

I'm not saying that he should necessarily be dropped immediately but he was definitely at fault yesterday in his positioning in my view (he could have been a yard more to his left easily) because as a left footer, Wallace was never going to go for the top left corner as he would not be able to generate sufficient pace on the ball in going for that corner. Kasper got it wrong and he wasn't brave enough for the first, where he should have thrown himself at the chap's feet rather than trying to spread himself in his 'starfish' fashion.

 

Kasper apart - the outfield players were disappointing, so in true fashion as a member of the 'keeper's union', I would have been having a go at them for being wasteful in the first half when we were on top. Even in the second half, we broke into their box on a number of occasions but failed to pick out the right ball. Kasper has gained us more points than he's given away over the years and he's always very committed but if we are to continue to move onwards and upwards, I'd happily sell him for a few million if a bid came in and look for a physically imposing individual for the future (not convinced by Hamer at this early stage either).

[Dickov22]

Well I am a former keeper (played at semi-professional level and for British Universities in a 20 year adult career, so I was not too bad) and I have commented on what I see to be Kasper's issues on the post-match thread - and it's not just about this free-kick. Of course all keepers make mistakes from time to time, it comes with the territory. The bottom line is that having set the wall up, Kasper still has to give himself a chance to get across if Wallace beats the wall. His starting position gave him no chance whatsoever. Yes the execution was good but his positioning only served to raise the taker's confidence prior to taking the kick - Wallace knew that he didn't even need to hit the top corner to score - you cannot under-estimate how much this would have helped Wallace at this key moment.

Looking on from the far end of the ground, it looked almost certain that Wallace would score beforehand due to the set-up.

Irrespective of the free kick issue, Kasper is not dominant enough in his own area. Even basic corners seem to cause us problems due to his lack of presence and willingness to assert himself even within the six yard box. I have always held the belief that he is a top shot-stopper and useful in 1v1 situations (his father has clearly passed on his knowledge because he excelled here). In my view, the best keepers don't always need to make the spectacular saves because their positioning, anticipation and footwork enable them to use their experience accordingly. His father was rarely spectacular but of course he had the huge bonus of being a massive physical presence (I remember him playing for Denmark early in his career at Wembley and he was a man-mountain - on a number of occasions in the game he threw the ball out past the halfway line!)

Kasper is good at some aspects of the keeper's game and he's been a top performer for the club during our rise but he lacks the physical presence of a really top keeper and for me, he has reached his level. I've been watching him for years, I remember watching him down at Burton Albion when he played for Notts County and these were my thoughts then and they still are.

I'm not saying that he should necessarily be dropped immediately but he was definitely at fault yesterday in his positioning in my view (he could have been a yard more to his left easily) because as a left footer, Wallace was never going to go for the top left corner as he would not be able to generate sufficient pace on the ball in going for that corner. Kasper got it wrong and he wasn't brave enough for the first, where he should have thrown himself at the chap's feet rather than trying to spread himself in his 'starfish' fashion.

Kasper apart - the outfield players were disappointing, so in true fashion as a member of the 'keeper's union', I would have been having a go at them for being wasteful in the first half when we were on top. Even in the second half, we broke into their box on a number of occasions but failed to pick out the right ball. Kasper has gained us more points than he's given away over the years and he's always very committed but if we are to continue to move onwards and upwards, I'd happily sell him for a few million if a bid came in and look for a physically imposing individual for the future (not convinced by Hamer at this early stage either).

Brilliant post. I agree entirely

[ealingfox]

Sack off Schmeichel, he's gash. Hamer In.

[Buzzell]

Because they'd play everybody onside?

Would that really matter with the free kick being so close to goal though? Being so close to goal the only sensible thing to do would be to shoot.

[Lookatthebluesky]

Oh and by the way 'The Doctor' - I don't see how you can blame the wall! Kasper sets the wall and their job in all honesty is not to actually stop the free-kick but to simply provide some protection for the side of the goal that they cover (and indirectly to cast some doubt on the taker's mind as to his ability to get up and over). If the ball goes over the wall, the players in the wall still expect the keeper to give himself a chance of getting there.

 

As a former keeper, I would have been disappointed by the fact that the player beat me from there by going over what was effectively the middle of the wall, without even getting a hand to it - again it's not as if Wallace curled the ball into the very top corner or even into the side netting. Kasper gave himself no chance of making up the ground.

 

Maybe he could have considered setting up the wall so that it was slightly angled with the right hand player being a step closer than the player on the very left - this would have allowed Kasper a better view of the ball from a position a yard further to the left - would he have saved it even then, who knows but he may have forced Wallace to think about going further towards the corner and thus increase his chances of getting it slightly wrong.

 

Time to move on but let's not try to defend Kasper on this occasion please - it was a well-taken kick but the bottom line is he didn't put enough anywhere near enough doubt into the taker's mind and thus lost the initiative, which is a key factor in any sport at the very top levels.

[Lookatthebluesky]

Would that really matter with the free kick being so close to goal though? Being so close to goal the only sensible thing to do would be to shoot.

 

But a keeper does not want a whole host of players standing in front of him and thus blocking his line of sight to the ball. You back yourself as a keeper in these situations and on occasions you have to hold your hand up and say that the taker wins the day - Kasper simply made it far too easy for Wallace prior to taking the kick, increased his confidence and lost the intiative. End of.

[jmono84]

Thought nuge looked decent when he came on and was sharp... He made done rookie decisions for a experienced pro, like when he went past their defence with ease, had loads of time on the byline, no one around him and no one in the box, he does a little floated chip to 4 Burnley players who clear the ball under no pressure... I'm sure this was in injury time as well, he should have played for a free kick or corner, anything than just give the ball away

[st albans fox]

Theres a photo on the mail online report of the free kick approaching our wall. It's worth looking at. Are they jumping in unison? No. Are the tallest players in the middle of the wall? No is kasper already headed towards the open side? Yes.

He has not had time to see the ball from the free kick before he is headed that way. Any further on his staring position and he has no chance to recover his weight to his right if Wallace chooses to 'dummy' the placement. I am sure that if nuge/ Moore/ vardy are 2,3 and 4 in that wall and they jump at the right time then it doesn't go in and no one is criticising Kasper. I have looked at loads of you tube free kicks and for the position of the ball, kasper's starting point is about right.

I read the post from a fellow keeper with interest and his comments re kasper's lack of six yard box control is bang on. This should where the coaches should have been concentrating For several years now. Either they haven't or kasper isn't able to do it. Would like to see hamer have another go - he wasn't convincing against shrews or Stoke. Against teams who play plenty of crosses in, we need a keeper who comes and claims. That will be against those sides who we will fight with to stay up. Can we chop and change to suit the opposition?

[ealingfox]

Nugent - Could he score in a brothel?

 

Yes, No, or Only if Vardy was there to win a penalty.

[dedlock]

Had James not clumsily fouled the Burnley player,running across our box,with cover in the box this debate would not be neccessary.

[Buzzell]

But a keeper does not want a whole host of players standing in front of him and thus blocking his line of sight to the ball. You back yourself as a keeper in these situations and on occasions you have to hold your hand up and say that the taker wins the day - Kasper simply made it far too easy for Wallace prior to taking the kick, increased his confidence and lost the intiative. End of.

You make it sound like I'm defending Kasper.

Trust me I'm not. Kasper positioned himself so wrong for the free kick. I also thought he could of done better with the first goal too.

[JonnyBoy]

Where did you think we'd finish this season?

 

Where did you think we'd be after 7 games.

 

 

this is what gets me the most irate in situations like this. People w*nking off at the fact we are 9th from 7 games. (we will be dropped to lower table after today) its as if fans don't have a right to criticize a performance when we play shite. Yes at the start of the season we would have took it, but circumstances change. We have been playing sublime football and made Man u look like an average side. but its OK if we play bad ... we have got 9 points from 7 games right... 

 

 

'wouldn't you have taken that at the start of the season' Bore off.

 

lads, we could score a 25 yard screamer into our own goal and still people would moan if you complained.

 

Some people need to remove their tampon and let people criticize a poor performance, doesn't mean they are any lesser of a fan 

[Grewks]

Nugent - Could he score in a brothel?

 

Yes, No, or Only if Vardy was there to win a penalty.

 

How dare you criticize nugent.

[Freesolo]

IMO the Keeper is the most important position in any team folwed by the back 4 and so on, when we got promoted Under MON the first 2 players he bought were Kasey Keller and Spencer Prior. I'm not saying we need a new keeper, Keller replaced Kevin Poole who was 5ft 11 and like a cat. but we are leaking more goal's than we would like and this is something that needs to be addressed quickly, we paid £2mil for Simpson a player who has prem experience and wasn't even on the bench yesterday

 

NP started a Leicester championship team yesterday bar Ulloa, we are not playing Championship football and no matter how good we were last season that squad is not going to keep us up

[Number 6]

Think Kasper was probably that far right due to closeness of the free kick. If it was spanked his side he'd have very little time to react. The setting up of the wall was poor though and it didn't seem to jump, ball has skimmed Drinky's head.

[The Doctor]

NP started a Leicester championship team yesterday bar Ulloa, we are not playing Championship football and no matter how good we were last season that squad is not going to keep us up

Bar ulloa, hamer and cambiasso, we've played a championship side all season, and ulloa and hamer were championship players last season. So, unless we're claiming cambiasso won the Stoke and man utd games single handedly then that's clearly nonsense

[Raj]

anyone who thinks Kaspers positioning was ok for the free kick needs my glasses.

[ian_marshall]

For me Kasper's positioning is awful for the free kick. I agree with 'Lookatthebluesky', in the sense that Kasper should be assuming that if Wallace gets the technique right he has every chance of beating the wall and getting the ball on target and if so is he positioned well enough to save the ball.

What is key for me is that if you look at Wallace's body shape as a left footer he angles his body slightly towards Kasper's right post in the build up suggesting that he is going to try and curl the ball into the goalkeepers left side. This should have been a cue to Kasper to take a step to his left. If Wallace had used his body position to dummy and go top right he would have needed a spectacular strike as there was far less to aim at and he also wouldn't have generated a lot of power as he'd be using his instep rather than his laces.

I understand 'St Albans' rationale about Kasper posing the question to Wallace with regards to technique, but I still think he makes it too easy. If Wallace lifts the ball over the wall and gets it down using lots of pace on the ball (like Ronaldo often does), you have to take your hat off to him and say it's a wonderful strike and a great bit of skill. However, Kasper's positioning just asks Wallace to beat the wall and get the ball on target irrespective of the speed of the ball. Wallace's strike wasn't particularly hard and powerful which as a free kick taker makes the strike 10x easier as you can concentrate on just chipping the ball over the wall. So long as you don't hit the ball too hard you know that the ball is likely to drop below the crossbar and without a man on the line you're pretty much guaranteed to score as the keeper will not get across in time.

[The Doctor]

anyone who thinks Kaspers positioning was ok for the free kick needs my glasses.

Kaspers positioning was the same as any other professional keeper in that situation. Seriously, the problem is that the wall makes it too easy to get the ball up, over and down.

[LCFC Rennie]

How dare you criticize nugent.

Here we go again...