2021 Game Notes

[SimpleCoach]

So, been doing some analysis over the weekend.  Have a pretty good sample of games (74) to start drawing some conclusions.  For simplicity sake I've identified three categories of teams.  To give you a sense of where I am now.

The best teams, or 14 of the teams have a 6:1 pass ratio, or higher.  The average of the top teams looks like this -

Average Passes Per Minute - 5.5
Total Passes in a game - 492
Will spend over 55% of that possession in the defending teams half.

The middle range teams, or 18 of the teams have a pass ratio between 4.3:1 and 5.9:1.  The average middle range team looks like this -

Average Passes Per Minute - 4.3
Total Passes in a game - 390
Will spend roughly 38% of that possession in the defending teams half.

The bottom range of teams, or 44 of the teams have a pass ratio 1.86:1 and 4.14:1.  The average bottom team looks like this -

Average Passes Per Minute - 3.3
Total Passes in a game - 296
Will spend roughly 20% of that possession in the defending teams half.

Now, these are based on individual performances but if I look at teams that I watched multiple times, the pass range can go +1/-1 depending on competition etc..  There are some outliers in each category.  Some because of who they played (WashU), and other because they are that good (Messiah).  What I have seen though is that when you pair up teams from the different groups, You will see a bump up or down... depending on who you are ... by the +1/-1 I mentioned before.  When two teams play each other, the numbers stay the same.  In the bottom group though what you see is a decline in the pass ratio .... I  think largely because they go out and bludgeon themselves to find a winner.

Finally, the cool thing is that I think in a top cohort game there is about 700 passes in the 90 minutes.  The magic number that helps you win is getting more than 400 of those passes. 

Having said all that .... this is soccer, and once the ball starts to roll all the numbers go out the window.

So what does this all mean?  Not sure, but it has been fun watching the over 100 games I have sat through this season ... well some of them at least.  Some of the bottom group games caused me to despair ... 

[D3_Slack]

I love your analysis and agree completely.  Would also value your take on the quality of goalkeepers you've seen and if there's a team out there that is great on set pieces.  No surprise here but from the games I've watched the winners almost always have the edge in goal.  With so few teams consistently generating quality looks being able to make a save or two is often the difference.  I also haven't been overly impressed with the quality of service on set pieces.  Wondering if that's stood out to you as well.

[SimpleCoach]

I love your analysis and agree completely.  Would also value your take on the quality of goalkeepers you've seen and if there's a team out there that is great on set pieces.  No surprise here but from the games I've watched the winners almost always have the edge in goal.  With so few teams consistently generating quality looks being able to make a save or two is often the difference.  I also haven't been overly impressed with the quality of service on set pieces.  Wondering if that's stood out to you as well.

Thanks @D3_Slack.  Have strong opinions about goalkeepers, more so than on set pieces.  All I will say about set pieces is that the ones that I see tend to be a gimicky.  Except for corner kicks which I will get to a little further down this post.  Keep in mind, this is where I weird out and some coaches I know pretty much think I am an idiot.   So be forewarned.

This will talk about the main reasons why I am not very high on keepers these days.  I think the position has gotten short changed with the invention of cones, designer gloves and balls, and goalkeeper coaches.  Why?  Well here it goes.   The other points just came out as well, so that's additive.

• Cones - Most keepers in my day were taught to navigate inside the 18.  Over time you developed a deductive perception about where the ball was going, who was where, and where you were in relation to the goal.  The most we had was a string that was tied to teach post and was pinned at the top of the 22.  That's how we learned to play angles on shots, one on ones, etc..  Helping further develop perception of depth and optimal placement to deal with different scenarios.  What you ended up with were goalkeepers who were much more fluid in the box, and not afraid (Not the right word) or lacking of understanding of where to be, when to be there... and more importantly why these decisions are made.  Then cones became a thing.  And that thing changed the way keepers learned things like space, distance, time, because they were trained to do something to a specific point in the box.  Now, my theory isn't that it ruined everything, but enough keeper training centers around a cone in one session that you lose that time learning about what I mentioned earlier  - space, distance, and time in the 18. 
• Designer Gloves and Balls- Again, non-scientific, but ever wonder why most keepers may wear a $200 pair of keeper gloves ... and give up a ton of rebounds?  One part that isn't exactly earth shattering is the modern soccer balls since the 1982/1986 Tangos have gotten lighter more weird in the air.  Remember the 2010 Jabulani?  You have a case where the ball is becoming a bit more unpredictable and the newer gloves becoming less like hand protection and more like hockey pads ... not the right analogy, but my brain is a little slow right now ... and the result is that keeper training has de-emphasized catching the ball.  Basically a decrease in tactile sensitivity to the ball.  I think this has led to another issue with modern keepers and that is the indecision in keepers to catch, parry or punch, and when and in what circumstance they should do which... leading to what I would call judgement errors.  Again, back in the day we trained our entire sessions on catching.  You dove for a ball, you caught it.  You come out for a ball you caught.  And if not, there would be two or three guys ready to drill a ball at you. 
• Goalkeeper Coaches - Don't get me wrong.  I know a number of GK coaches that I consider the bees knees.  I think my issue is how specialized the role has gotten and I think that modern keepers are almost detached from the team in a lot of respects.  They are intended to shut up and make the save, and think a lot of coaches train them this way.  See bullets 1 and 2 for how this has happened.  I almost get a sense that they are detached just by looking at how they interact with defenders, where they position themselves on things like corners or longer range set plays. I think there are probably a lot of really good goalkeepers, but think they are good within the context of how they are trained today. No one that I have watched in the last 100 plus D3 games have I said to myself that I thought they were special.  The closest I have come to saying that is with the Messiah keeper ... gees, been having a Falcon love fest lately. But I am sort of withholding judgement until I actually see him under pressure.
• Feet - I will leave this one for a completely separate discussion.  I don't have the energy for this right now.
• Game Management - I think goal keepers should drive the tempo of a game.  In particular, when they get possession of the ball.  A pass to the back should mean to keep it in the back and chill the game out.  A punt should be interpreted as a need to get the ball at to the highest place in on the field as possible?  Why?  To push out of the back, defend higher.  Then I think, what few if any keepers can do is get the ball to the outside mid or a winger.  This is a sign to get forward with the ball.  And which one's to choose, well that's up to the keeper's judgement.  But no keepers are trained to think of what are the decisions they make and how they impact the team.  Because that decision has been largely removed from them and given to the center backs... in most cases.
• Communication - This is another one I could go on about.  And I blame the Premier League in general, and guys like Jordan Pickford in particular.  I never understood the need for a keeper to aimlessly yell at players especially at the worst possible times.  Players know when they make mistakes, there is no need to double down by yelling at them.  This, by and large has led to players not taking Keeper instructions seriously.  In part because they don't understand the ebbs and flows of the game.  In part because they say what everyone knows already.  And also in part because they provide little game time leadership.  I'll just leave it at that.
• Overall Game Knowledge - This is where I get boiled in olive oil and fed to the crows by some of my friends and colleagues.  I am astonished at how poorly some goalkeepers understand the game of soccer.  And I will say this applies to goalkeepers who are now coaches.

Now, I know you probably think I have a tin foil hat on and am in my basement typing away in the dark.  But this is where I get to corner kicks.  Corner kick plays have gotten closer and closer to the goalkeeper.  In part to crowd the keeper and make his life more difficult, but also because keeper's have become more unreliable in the catching department.  Also, and my point of contention is that the keeper does not command the 18 anymore.  It would be generous to say they even command the 6 ... Make it difficult, hope the keeper commits an error, and goal.  Now, I don't think this works and honestly have yet to see it work consistently, but do think it reflects the general point of view of goalkeepers.  Most keepers these days sit on their line, deal with the uncomfortable ball into the 6.  This is also the case on big throws.  Silly I know, but being a goalkeeper is the only strategic spot on the field.  As a keeper, what you do in a moment, can have long term consequences... positive and negative.  A goal keeper who is off his line, consistently comes out for balls, catches instead of parrying shots away, makes the next through ball, cross, or shot come at them a little differently because of what was done before.  You can hear it on the sideline.  Keeper doesn't catch a ball?  "Make sure we follow up on shots!"  Sits too deep? "Put it in deep in the box!". 

All this leads to what I think most goal keepers have become ... reactive.  Now, I have coached my son not to be this way and have been told by a number of coaches either he makes it look too easy .. because he knows not dive for just any shot that comes his way, and more importantly to catch everything ... or he "interferes with the job defenders do" as in on corner kicks.  True.  I take that as a compliment ... most coaches see it as negative. 

This sort of went beyond D3 goalkeepers, and I apologize for that.  But I would have made this shorter, but I just couldn't stop.  I'll start taking a look at keepers as well and try to come up with some more intelligent and factual examples, unlike my spewing forth of my general impressions of today's goalkeeping culture.

Ok.  I am done.  I have to finish my ASMR Shoe Shine videos on YouTube.

Out.

[D3_Slack]

I don't have your depth, but I know what I see (and haven't seen).  I've watched a ton of games and can say that I think the overall state of goalkeeping in D3 is not good, which means the season is completely wide open.  Dealing with balls in the air is a complete crapshoot.  Goalie play on set pieces is a crap shoot.  I've seen more goals on long throw in's that wind up in the goal this year than ever before.  Bottom line - I clearly see the difference between the teams that possess and the teams that don't.  Teams that string passes together win much more often than those that can't.  That said, I have yet to see a team that can do that...and has a goalie that is in command, is athletic, imposing and makes a couple big saves.  Thus, I believe it's the team that develops their goalkeeper over the course of the year that will decide the champion from the rest.  Because in the end the good teams will posses.  It's the team that actually has a keeper that will win.  So far...best keeper I've seen is from Ohio Northern.  Big.  Strong.  Athletic.  In command.  Can distribute accurately.  Decisive.  Decisive in the air.  Respected. 

[SimpleCoach]

I don't have your depth, but I know what I see (and haven't seen).  I've watched a ton of games and can say that I think the overall state of goalkeeping in D3 is not good, which means the season is completely wide open.  Dealing with balls in the air is a complete crapshoot.  Goalie play on set pieces is a crap shoot.  I've seen more goals on long throw in's that wind up in the goal this year than ever before.  Bottom line - I clearly see the difference between the teams that possess and the teams that don't.  Teams that string passes together win much more often than those that can't.  That said, I have yet to see a team that can do that...and has a goalie that is in command, is athletic, imposing and makes a couple big saves.  Thus, I believe it's the team that develops their goalkeeper over the course of the year that will decide the champion from the rest.  Because in the end the good teams will posses.  It's the team that actually has a keeper that will win.  So far...best keeper I've seen is from Ohio Northern.  Big.  Strong.  Athletic.  In command.  Can distribute accurately.  Decisive.  Decisive in the air.  Respected.

When it comes to posts, I am Edward Everett and you are Abe Lincoln ...  Very very true.  I think what surprises me and why I went on the diatribe is that usually you can watch and see some keepers that are good.  Some bad.  Like watching players.  You see a mix.  But I fear that most keepers I find are unimpressive for the reasons you touched upon ... which leads me to think that this is a symptom of bigger problems, not just because one team doesn't have a good keeper for a run into the playoffs.

I'll take a look at the ONU keeper.

Thanks again @D3_Slack.  Love this type of discussion.

[Hopkins92]

Oh man. We need to grab a beer S-C... This stuff is so in my wheelhouse it's kind of scary. Not many folks I can have this conversation with, as even my most knowledgable soccer friends don't really understand the GK position this well.

I have been harping on the training, equipment and overall state of "not catching the ball" for many years now. I don't know exactly when this trend started, but I really think you're on to something when you talk about the gloves. Heck, I used to very purposely train WITHOUT gloves, just so I could maintain my touch and increase the chances of being able to catch a ball. Maybe bc I grew up in hockey country, but I also attended tons of goalie camps... We were taught not to give up rebounds... That was a big deal.

Now, you see guys slapping, parrying an generally just avoiding catching the ball and it DRIVES ME NUTS.

BTW, Hopkins has a pretty solid keeper by D3 standards. He seems pretty confident on high balls floated in, but the one thing I've noticed is that he tends to get rooted to his spot a bit too much. Makes things harder than need be at times.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't have your depth, but I know what I see (and haven't seen).  I've watched a ton of games and can say that I think the overall state of goalkeeping in D3 is not good, which means the season is completely wide open.  Dealing with balls in the air is a complete crapshoot.  Goalie play on set pieces is a crap shoot.  I've seen more goals on long throw in's that wind up in the goal this year than ever before.  Bottom line - I clearly see the difference between the teams that possess and the teams that don't.  Teams that string passes together win much more often than those that can't.  That said, I have yet to see a team that can do that...and has a goalie that is in command, is athletic, imposing and makes a couple big saves.  Thus, I believe it's the team that develops their goalkeeper over the course of the year that will decide the champion from the rest.  Because in the end the good teams will posses.  It's the team that actually has a keeper that will win.  So far...best keeper I've seen is from Ohio Northern.  Big.  Strong.  Athletic.  In command.  Can distribute accurately.  Decisive.  Decisive in the air.  Respected.

When it comes to posts, I am Edward Everett and you are Abe Lincoln

SC, you continue to rock the historical analogies!

[SimpleCoach]

Oh man. We need to grab a beer S-C... This stuff is so in my wheelhouse it's kind of scary. Not many folks I can have this conversation with, as even my most knowledgable soccer friends don't really understand the GK position this well.

I have been harping on the training, equipment and overall state of "not catching the ball" for many years now. I don't know exactly when this trend started, but I really think you're on to something when you talk about the gloves. Heck, I used to very purposely train WITHOUT gloves, just so I could maintain my touch and increase the chances of being able to catch a ball. Maybe bc I grew up in hockey country, but I also attended tons of goalie camps... We were taught not to give up rebounds... That was a big deal.

Now, you see guys slapping, parrying an generally just avoiding catching the ball and it DRIVES ME NUTS.

BTW, Hopkins has a pretty solid keeper by D3 standards. He seems pretty confident on high balls floated in, but the one thing I've noticed is that he tends to get rooted to his spot a bit too much. Makes things harder than need be at times.

Thanks @Hopkins92.  Anytime!  Will take a look at the Hopkins keeper as well.  Prefer people to tell me who is good, rather than sift through a trove of film.

Am glad I am not the only one who see's it.  If I had the time and the insanity, I would love to take a look at how goals have been scored over the years.  I suspect that the incidence of keeper rebounds and judgement errors has increased.  Again, that's just my gut.  Rebounds were punishable in practice... every time.  I've probably logged miles in sprints because of rebounds in shooting drills...

[SimpleCoach]

SC, you continue to rock the historical analogies!

Even better @Gregory Sager is that there is someone who recognizes them!

[Ejay]

Simple and hopkins, you may enjoy these podcasts/webinars on GKs...

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/keepers-web-series/

[SimpleCoach]

Oh man. We need to grab a beer S-C... This stuff is so in my wheelhouse it's kind of scary. Not many folks I can have this conversation with, as even my most knowledgable soccer friends don't really understand the GK position this well.

I have been harping on the training, equipment and overall state of "not catching the ball" for many years now. I don't know exactly when this trend started, but I really think you're on to something when you talk about the gloves. Heck, I used to very purposely train WITHOUT gloves, just so I could maintain my touch and increase the chances of being able to catch a ball. Maybe bc I grew up in hockey country, but I also attended tons of goalie camps... We were taught not to give up rebounds... That was a big deal.

Now, you see guys slapping, parrying an generally just avoiding catching the ball and it DRIVES ME NUTS.

BTW, Hopkins has a pretty solid keeper by D3 standards. He seems pretty confident on high balls floated in, but the one thing I've noticed is that he tends to get rooted to his spot a bit too much. Makes things harder than need be at times.

@Hopkins92.  The below was sent to me by a keeper coach I know some years ago.  Basically tries to outline every decision a goalkeeper needs to make during the run of play.  Think it is pretty incisive and a good way to judge goalkeepers.  Some stuff could be added, consolidated or expanded upon, but an interesting analysis.  Thought you would enjoy.

Decisions a Goal Keeper Must Make
1.  Make sure your angles are correct.  Where are you in relation to you natural ability to get to the near post.
2.  Make sure distances are correct.  Where are you in relation to your natural ability to cover the goal. 
3.  Own the six. Rent the 18.
4.  Make a save on a goal at all costs.
5.  Intercept a pass to someone on goal.
6.  Make a save, catch the ball
7.  Make a save, parry away to the sideline.
8.  Make a save, parry away for a corner.
9.  Properly positioned to come out for the ball near post.
10. Properly positioned to pivot to go far
11.  Come out and catch the ball on a corner.
12.  Come out and punch the ball out to corners of the box.
13.  Come out for a ball for a one on one.
14.  Get big on - 1 on 1
15.  Got to feet on a one on one.
16.  Direct wall.  Half man past the ball.
17.  Direct players to know what to do when the ball moves.
18.  Be  Positioned to cover natural ability to get to far post.
19.  Receive and distribute ball with feet.
20.  Distribute ball with hands.
21.  Distribute ball to forward alone  in space.
22.  Distribute ball to forward in 1 on 1 situation.
23.  Distribute ball to outside mids
.24.  Distribute ball to outside backs.
25.  Punt/ kick ball away to player positioned to win a 50/50 ball.
26.  PK - Evaluate players angle to the ball.
27.  PK - Read hip position as shot is taking place
.28.  PK - Positioned to push player to choose strong side
.29.  PK - move to ball.
30.  Move to the play.  Support backs on through balls.
31.  Direct your defense to afford the best posture to prevent a goal.
32.  Direct defense to mark open men.33.  Direct defend to cover passing lanes to goal
.34.  Direct defense to force the play to strong side. 
35.  Direct midfield to cover passing lanes.  
36.  Think, don't react. 
37.  Move, don't stand still.
38.  Talk, and often.
39.  You are a field player.

[Hopkins92]

Interesting...

One of the most fundamental changes I've seen is how they are coaching breakaways. "Back in my day" is actually a thing I have to say now. We were taught that it's all about timing, waiting for the ball to get slightly out of reach of the player and to pounce. Dive at their feet, but laid out perpendicular to the striker's advance. Always with the knee facing toward the closest sideline so that if he tries to cut inside, the ball hits off your torso/legs and away from the goal. What I see now is much more focus on "making yourself big" and staying upright as long as possible, ready to move laterally if the player tries to round you.

I'm still not sure I buy that approach, but it does mitigate or reduce that amount of times you get rounded and forces the striker to make a decision, as opposed to being the aggressor.

[SimpleCoach]

Rochester v St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher
Bias? – Played against Rochester, and know a graduate of St. John Fisher

   Was just about to write how St. John Fisher moves the ball pretty well, and thought Rochester was just chasing.  Then, a back holds on to the ball too long, gets stripped at the 18 and the Rochester forward buries it calmly.  Rochester 10, St. John Fisher 0.  Big defensive blunder.
   2.5 minutes into the first half.
   Rochester scored again on a header from 4 yards out.  The St. John Fisher keeper sat on his line.
   St. John Fisher has been owning possession, but Rochester is dangerous.  Clearly the first goal was them being opportunistic, but they press high enough that turnovers can be dangerous.  And I will say, St. John Fisher just looks exposed defensively.  Lots of gaps and little help from the midfield.
   Think St. john Fisher does well with space but Rochester doesn't give them any.
   Rochester is dangerous on corners.
   Rochester is slowly showing its dominance on both sides of the ball.
   Rochester keeper reluctant to come off his line on a high ball, results in a corner.
   Again, St. John Fisher gets stripped in the back, and Rochester has a 2v1.  Forward who won the ball slots a forward to his right who one times a ball.  St. John Fisher made a great save to his near post. 
   Starting to wonder if it is worth putting the ball in the box on free kicks.  Are the odds better that you can be more dangerous than if you just float one in?
   St. John Fisher doesn't stay with their man.  Rochester does these very effective give and goes ... thank the Fisher defenders not tracking back.
   15 minutes down.
   Every time St. John Fisher wins a ball, they are surrounded by Rochester players.
   St. John Fisher keeper coming up big.
   Rochester can work the ball up field, and with St. John Fisher's loose defensive posture, it is a bit easy.   
   And like a drill in practice, Rochester moves the ball from the back to their wing who puts the ball across to a forward who taps the ball in.  Rochester 2, St. John Fisher 0.
   Not sure I am going to hang around much longer for this one.
   Rochester keeper comes out well for a ball lumped into the box.  Comes all the way out to the 12.  Refreshing to see.
   St. John Fisher just too slow moving the ball in the back.  Rochester is salivating at the chance to steal another ball.  Rochester does like the press.  I do think they would have a hard time dealing with a team that could move the ball a little quicker and with purpose.  Think at this point St. John Fisher is playing a bit dispirited.  Is that even a word?
   14 minutes left.
   I do think that St. John Fisher can get a goal back if they can get the ball, and a runner, behind the Rochester defense.  But they have to do it from closer than midfield.
   10 minutes left.
   Rochester is a good hustle team, but not terribly effective at moving the ball in tight spaces.  They need room to maneuver and space to run into.  St. John Fisher has been a little better in the last couple of plays of denying them both.
   Rochester of course can score another 3 goals easily.
   Ok.  Think that's it for me on this one.

[Centennial1]

Ok.  I am done.  I have to finish my ASMR Shoe Shine videos on YouTube.

Out.

Lulz. Line of the thread. Now I have to leave to see if this actually exists.

[SimpleCoach]

Ok.  I am done.  I have to finish my ASMR Shoe Shine videos on YouTube.

Out.

Lulz. Line of the thread. Now I have to leave to see if this actually exists.

@Centennial1.  Oh, it exists ... and it is awesome.