Player Journal: Erin Scott - October 2016

Erin continues her player journal with her second entry, this time a mid-season checkup. Creighton is currently 8-4-2, sitting fifth in conference, and are needing to finish in the top six to make the conference tournament. You can read all the previous posts by Erin and the other goalkeepers here.

You’ve split time with freshman goalkeeper McKenzie Meola this season. How has this changed your approach to the season?

Of course, splitting time has been frustrating and a bit discouraging but I can honestly say it has changed my outlook towards many aspects of my life, not just soccer. I have found that I approach practices much differently. I think I am at a point where I am training better than I ever have because I know I have something to prove. Rather than personally fixing problems that may have happened in a game the previous weekend, I really just focus on bettering myself and my skills overall. I have also been very nitpicky with myself in training sessions, really focusing on having clean hands or extending my range on those full extension saves. I have raised my own personal standard drastically. Finally, and I feel most importantly, this season has truly taught me that soccer is not everything. Splitting time has allowed me to step back and see things from a different perspective. I believe that soccer is a huge part of who I am, but I have come to understand that there is more to life besides soccer.

How has an improved season affected the locker room?

There is definitely a noticeable difference in the mentality of the team this year in comparison to last year. I would say the biggest difference is how close all of us are. We basically start every day together at practice and then we all go our separate ways for classes but I personally always eat dinner with a couple teammates at the dining hall. All of us truly like being around each other which is seriously awesome. Of course everyone has people that they are closer to than others but I can honestly say that I could talk to anyone on the team about almost anything. This group is definitely special and I honestly think that has a lot to do with the fact that we are such a young team. We gained 15 new girls (freshmen and transfers) this fall season and I think the fresh, positive mentality that new players bring to a program has helped drastically. We have truly developed a winning mentality.

What’s been a standout moment this far into the season?

 This team always finds a way to have a good time together, whether it be playing “Heads Up!” in the airport during five hour delays or scaring people in their hotel rooms, we always can find something to laugh about and have fun with. But recently before our game against Seton Hall the mood on our team has never been better. In the locker room we were playing music like always but the playlist before this game in particular was very different in the best way possible. We were playing everything from the Backstreet Boys to Nsync to Beyonce but right before we were about to go out for warm up the last song we played was I Want You Back by The Jackson 5. So obviously five people on the team designated themselves as “The Jackson 5” with four back up dancers and one lead singer. The rest of the team surrounded them singing along and dancing and the atmosphere in the locker room was absolutely incredible. It was one of those moments with your team that make those 6 AM lifts and all the fitness tests worth it. We ended up beating Seton Hall 4-0 that afternoon and it was one of the best games we have played all season. Since then, I Want You Back has become a staple in our pregame, locker room playlist. 

USMNT Goalkeeper Woes for 2018

cover photo from EPA/Guillaume Horcajuelo

After the 1-1 tie to New Zealand earlier this week, fans were less than thrilled with the performances from American goalkeepers. In the first minute of the match, William Yarbrough almost gifts New Zealand a goal by spilling the type of shot goalkeepers routinely see in warmups. Yarbrough was saved by his backline and snuck out of the half without a goal but struggled to convince fans he was worth the hype or battle to win him over from Mexico. For those who have followed WPY in his club career, you can't help but feel like it's constantly a one step forward, one step back type of situation. He'll have a ten save shutout one night, then turn around and let in a howler the next game. Unfortunately it looks like Yarbrough is another case of an athletic goalkeeper struggling to put consistent play together.

The second half saw Klinsmann sub in San Jose's David Bingham, only to concede one of the softer goals in recent USMNT play.

There are things stacked against Bingham in this play: Altidore doesn't clear the cross in, Bingham doesn't get a clear view of the windup or shot by Patterson, and it looks like the ball deflects off a US player before coming on frame. This is certainly not an ideal situation for David Bingham's second cap. However, it's a slow roller that trickles through Bingham's legs for a goal. When the shot is taken, Bingham gets into an extremely wide stance, which is odd given the close proximity of the shot. It's not a huge surprise the ball goes through the largest gap in Bingham's form. Goalkeepers let in soft goals every now and then but it's not the type of play we expect to see from a USMNT starter.

The 1-1 tie is on the heels of a 2-0 win in Cuba, where 21 year old Ethan Horvath earned his first appearance for the national team. Horvath earned the shutout despite looking a little unsettled in the match, although the 5000 miles of flights have may played a factor. There is much speculation and hope resting on Horvath, as well as a few other youngsters, but none have gotten to the point where fans are confident with them as the starting goalkeeper for 2018.

It's been a while since the US hasn't featured an elite goalkeeper in a World Cup. You would probably have to go back to 1994 or 1990, when a respective 25 and 21-year-old Tony Meola started for the US. In 1990, the US finished 23rd out of 24 teams but managed to reach the knockout stage in 1994, with a goalkeeper who was playing more indoor than outdoor at the time. Even in 2014's tournament, Algeria reached the knockout stage with Philadelphia Union washout Rais M'Bolhi before losing to Germany (an above average national team) 2-1 in extra time.

Teams don't need to have an elite goalkeeper to have a good World Cup performance. It'll help, but there are also ten other positions to fill. Concerns about the US not having an stalwart goalkeeper for 2018 are drastically overblown. Yes, the US would most certainly benefit from having such a goalkeeper but teams can advance without them. The US doesn't need an elite goalkeeper; they need a quality one that won't let in soft goals. As for who that goalkeeper will be, there are several names in the mix and Klinsmann recently gave some insight on the depth chart, when asked about Bill Hamid's place in the team.

“And there right now in that ranking, [Bill Hamid is] probably around No. 6, 7, because you have Tim Howard, you have Brad Guzan, you have Ethan Horvath, you have William Yarbrough, you have David Bingham, you have Nick Rimando, you have Billy, you have Sean Johnson. We discuss them up and down.”

Despite naming multiple goalkeepers, the answer should make fans more worried than less. Admittedly, he's probably not listing them exactly in order as it's likely just off the top of his head, but the fact that Hamid is competing for a roster spot with Sean Johnson - a goalkeeper who can't hold down his own roster spot for the worst team in MLS - shows just how out of touch Klinsmann is with the realities of the goalkeeper pool. Johnson has not been a viable option for the US for some time and Klinsmann still considers him in the running based on outdated expectations. Hamid has had a great last two years in MLS, to the point where you could easily argue he's outplaying his peers in the league. After Yarbrough's and Bingham's performance on Tuesday, it doesn't seem like Klinsmann has a strong grasp on the actual pecking order.

It's good to hear that Klinsmann said he leans on Russell Payne, the current US goalkeeper coach, when it comes to opinions on goalkeepers. Payne has worked with a number of top collegiate goalkeepers at Army and Maryland. With Army, Payne coached 6'4" 2015 graduate Winston Boldt, who earned a variety of awards during his time at West Point, as well as Zac MacMath and Chris Seitz at Maryland, both of which had successful college careers. Payne replaces Chris Woods, currently at West Ham, and should help get the right goalkeepers in and hopefully keep the wrong ones out.

Wading through all of this, the US actually has a number of options for 2018. Of course there are the previously eight mentioned goalkeepers by Klinsmann but there are still more names out there, domestically and abroad. If a goalkeeper starts stringing together performances, they could end up on Klinsmann's radar, especially if the current crop continue to struggle. Even the Cosmos' Jimmy Maurer or Alex Horwath in Norway could theoretically make a case for themselves given the current situation. With all the goalkeepers the US currently has, it's a safe bet that at least one of them will be playing well in 2018. On top of that, there's a good chance the number one will be a wash between the other candidates. Fans may have a preference between one or another, but ultimately they will all be around the same caliber. Unfortunately, this doesn't alleviate the main problem with the position.

Klinsmann hasn't been clear on what exactly he's looking for in a goalkeeper. It doesn't help that one hasn't separated himself from the pack but with so many goalkeepers rotating in and out, including ones that aren't qualified to be on the field, we don't know what to expect from the position. Playing consistent is the key factor but does Klinsmann prefer one type or aspect over another? It's hard to say. With Klinsmann showing a gross misunderstanding of the goalkeeper pool, it's doubtful he can accurately describe the priorities of the position specific to the US's needs. Fans have concerns of the quality at goalkeeper but 2018 might see bigger problems off the field than on it.

Cody Cropper v. Mexico - 04.22.15

This is a write up of an old game I did for the now defunct blog, back in April of 2015. Some additions were made but for the most part, the writeup remains the same.

Like any good US soccer fan, I’ve been tracking the next great bald goalkeeper, Minnesota native Cody Cropper, for a couple of years. In 2013, I watched him make two bizarre blunders in one play against France in the Toulon tournament. Later I saw him struggle against Mexico in the 2013 U20 Championship and tried my best to ignore some late game extracurricular activities. When the U20 World Cup came, he displayed some impressive saves against Ghana but gave up some goals that were head scratchers. He then followed that game by conceding another four goals against Spain, tallying eight in the two first games. He returned to Southampton soon after, where he looked a step behind when they played Chelsea in a 4-1 loss. A year later Cropper opened up against the Brazil U23’s by gifting the opposition with a free goal in the very early minutes of the match. So needless to say, when I heard he played great against Mexico in the #tresacero match, I was anxious to watch the highlights.

Some great saves to stunt the Mexican attack but what can we learn from the outing? Let’s take a look at three plays in the game.

0:33 - Cropper correctly skips his eyes ahead on the cross and is ready for the header. The header never comes so he takes shorts strides with his feet in rhythm to set himself for the next shot. As the shot comes, his hands hiccup, a result of habitually throwing your hands forward and slightly upward as the shot comes. He gets down for the save - a very good one at that - but the redirection in hand movement is not ideal. Goalkeepers should look to minimize excessive movement as much as they can as this is a good example of it.

3:15 - This play is similar in execution as the early save but with opposite implications. Watch as his hands go from thighs-to-textbook position (in front, holding an invisible ball) and then back to his thighs. While this would technically count as “excessive movement”, the reason he is doing this is, most likely, because he is trying to break a bad habit and start a good one. Ideally, the hands are in front for the pre-shot set so he only has to move his arms to make the save, not his arms and hands. His alternating between right and wrong shows their is a mental battle going on to be keen on correct technique. The resulting save has nothing to do with his hands, but it’s still a very good sign for development. However, the other thing to note on the play is that he hardly gets off the ground to make the save. This is a result of diving with just your upper body and lacking, in this case, and shuffle and a spring.

3:55 - An excessive high line on crossing situations causes more problems than solves them and we see Cropper backpedal to the goal to find the correct position. The scramble in the box pulls and hesitates Cropper, an expected movement given the circumstance. The bouncing ball is redirected by a head and the goalkeeper’s best attribute comes into action: strength. He dives, not falls, with one leg to keep the shutout. Is it correct technique? Definitely not. His right leg should not collapse on such a wide shut. But is it a phenomenal save that he can build off of? Absolutely if he is mindful of working on his technique.

The US U20s and U17s have historically struggled to field goalkeepers that go on to have successful careers. The USYNTs rely on pure athleticism to hold down the fort, which we have seen time and time again isn’t enough. The big question for Cropper now is where does he go from here? Optimism points to the fact that Cropper, still only 22, has years to develop and is clearly improving in a multitude of ways. The flip side is doubtful that he can successfully adhere to correct technique and not solely rely on his strength. Still, the hope that a bald man starts for the USMNT is a strong possibility for now.

Update: Cropper has signed with the New England Revolution after being released by MK Dons, where he had a polarizing time for fans. Some ups and some downs, both seen below.

@letsallsoccer Cropper made some nice saves -> https://t.co/5ab4lDPzY6

— Over There (@socceroverthere) April 3, 2016

Fifteen Goalkeepers We Don't Know Enough About

cover photo from tottenhamhotspur.com

All around the world there are goalkeepers with American ties playing in professional leagues. Some of them are at the end of their careers while others are passing on the college route to sign with a team. It's easy to have higher expectations for players who are getting an early start on their professional career but realistically a large majority of them aren't going to make it. In any case, the allure of being in a great environment - whether it's receiving USYNT call ups, playing for well known clubs, or simply signing professionally before their peers do - raises a lot of questions about a player.

There are three reasons why we may have question marks for a goalkeeper: we might not know how good they are currently due to low exposure, we might not know how they'll develop, or another country might be vying for a dual-citizen as well. There are no expectations on these goalkeepers, seeing as there's no guarantee from playing in any environment, but we are very interested in their future. Here are fifteen goalkeepers we don't know enough about yet.

1. Kaeli Anne Schmidt, 21 - Barcelona

It's not often you see a goalkeeper playing abroad at such a early age on the women's side. Schmidt has not only left St. Mary's to do so, but she went to Barcelona of all places. She signed an amateur contract for last year and was listed on Barcelona's UEFA Champions League roster. It's not clear if Schmidt is still at Barcelona this season or if she's moved on elsewhere.

Since she was on an amateur contract, Barcelona wouldn't permit an interview but Kai Edwards, who coached her at St. Mary's, commended Schmidt's style. "Kaeli has incredible feet. Not just for a goal keeper but for a field player. Kaeli allows a team to play from the back with skill and advance tactics. She is an imposing goalkeeper at about 6'0 and she understands the game well."

2. Brandon Austin, 17 - Tottenham

With his father being born in the US Virgin Islands, there are two main questions for Austin at the moment. First, how soon is he exactly to represent the US? It could take time for him to be eligible or it might be right away. Second, and perhaps more importantly, is he more interest in playing for England instead?

3. Alejandro Iturbe Encabo, 13 - Atletico Madrid

He's thirteen and is rumored to have ties to the midwest. Possibly the loosest claim to American citizenship but it's Atletico Madrid so needless to say he's worth the early interest if the rumors are true, although we have many years to wait to see anything from him.

Will Pulisic, pictured with Dortmund teammates, on the left

4. Will Pulisic, 18 - Dortmund

Sure, sure we all know Pulisic is currently at Dortmund but it's not common practice for the Bundesliga to snipe incoming Duke freshmen. Pulisic did well with the U17s but that also doesn't warrant direction placement into Dortmund. There's no doubt he's getting topnotch training so the finished stage of Pulisic will be very interesting.

5. Carlos dos Santos, 16 - Benfica

Thankfully dos Santos has already shown interest in the US by playing for the U17s. However Dos Santos is in the same boat as Pulisic: we know he's good but there's a lot of developing that goes on from 16-20. Benfica hasn't been a magic pill for USYNT players in the past and now we're waiting to see if Benfica is a good fit for Carlos.

6. Benjamin Machini, 20 - Barakaldo CF (Spain)

Machini helped RCD Mallorca earn promotion last year and now he is on loan with Barakaldo (third division Spain). The Swedish-American goalkeeper is a typical product of a Spanish club: great with his distribution and light on his feet. Machini is a little undersized but looking at Rimando's career, it may suit the US very well. (I spoke to Machini earlier this year in a brief interview.)

7. Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen, 15 - Weston FC (Florida)

It's not often a fifteen year old is called into a U17 camp. The worry here is that if a player is playing up a year or two, especially at goalkeeper, it's because of his physical ability and not because of his his technique. Hopefully he is getting the correct training appropriate to him and not just reps on making him a better athlete.

Defreitas-Hansen with the U14s, top right

8. Benny Diaz, 17 - Queretaro

The U19s have done a wonderful job of bringing in a variety of players and not just the same names over and over. Diaz went to Queretaro in 2015 and was then called up for the Slovakia Cup with the U19s in April of this year. The US hasn't had great success with Mexican-American goalkeepers siding with the US in the past so this is definitely a rare pick up.

9. Christian Hererra, 19 - Pachuca

The 6'7" goalkeeper was loaned to Pachuca from Real Salt Lake in February earlier this year and... that's about it. Similar to Defreitas-Hansen, Hererra is in need of very specific training. You cannot train a 6'7" goalkeeper the same as a 5'10" or even a 6'3" goalkeeper. The Mexican-American hasn't made much of a peep on loan, which could be really good or an unpleasant surprise for RSL when he returns from loan. Hererra has also been involved with Mexico's YNT program as well, which could be cause for concern.

10. Matias Reynares, 17 - Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Reynares joined Fort Lauderdale before the start of this season and was then brought into a U19 camp in September. It's an odd progression for the youngster but coming from a premier Uruguayan club, clubs are going to take the gamble on the goalkeeper. Reynares turns eighteen later this month and if you're interested in watching him as a 14 year old goalkeeper, you're in luck. Otherwise, we don't really know how he plays.

11. Carlos Avilez, 17 - FC Dallas

Avilez was called into USYNT camps fairly regularly up until early 2015 and hasn't been involved since. The 2017 graduate hasn't signed to a college yet, implying that he's looking to skip the collegiate game completely. If FC Dallas gets a USL side going for 2017, we could very well see Avilez on the field.

12. Bakary Sanyang, 22 - Pfeddersheim (Germany)

It's in a pretty low tier in Germany but Sanyang, who was born in New York, has been sent on loan to earn some time on the field. He's a little bit older than the rest of the goalkeepers on this list but he's still the age of a college senior playing professionally in Germany.

Nicholas Ammeter

13. Nicholas Ammeter, 17 - FC Aarau (Switzerland)

Ammeter was with Switzerland's U16s last fall but he hasn't made too much noise with the first team. He's still young and we don't have clue on his development but he was born in New York so he may be worth keeping an eye on down the line.

14. Luis Zamudio, 18 - Club America

Zamudio is a Sueño MLS product and apparently stood out so well that Club America has kept him on for a second year. It doesn't look like he's first in the depth chart but if America is looking to keep him around, it's at least a little promising.

15. Alex Stimac, 20 - Pro Patria (Italy)

The USMNT hasn't had much success with Sammarinese goalkeepers in the past but Stimac could potentially change that. He's playing in the fourth tier in Italy although no starts to his name yet.