Goalkeeper Watch Week 11 – From Barcelona to Brentford…Sort Of

Goalkeepers are a funny bunch – often unnoticed, often under-appreciated, and often misunderstood. Goalkeeper watch shines the spotlight – good, or bad – on the men between the sticks.

In the eleventh edition of Goalkeeper Watch, the EFL and Premier League fixtures between Friday 5th and Monday 8th February are under the spotlight.

Spain, or more specifically Spanish football, has had a profound impact upon the global game.

La Liga is known as the home of two of the world’s biggest and most successful clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Spanish National team between 2005-2014 hosted some of the best sides that world football has ever seen, with the intricate Dutch-Spanish creation of the tikka-taka passing game that Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso and co. mastered over that ten year spell, transforming the way we see the game today.

Two European Championship wins and one World Cup trophy in a ten year period is an undeniably incredible achievement.

Although, some may argue that Spain’s success on the international stage was actually more Barcelona’s success in disguise, with help from various other Spanish internationals whose domestic clubs were scattered throughout Europe (which is ironic given the ever-growing voice of the Catalan independence movement in the last decade).

Barcelona have always been footballing innovators. From Cryuff to Guardiola to Enrique, the Barcelona way evolved, adapted and at one point seemed virtually unbeatable.

Being from Catalonia and growing up in a footballing environment (whether at the club itself or not) that has fascinated fans of the beautiful game all over the world undoubtedly had an impact on all of the current professionals who originate from the region; today’s Goalkeeper of the Week being one of them.

David Raya and Brentford are sprinting towards the top of the Championship, with an attacking unit rivalled only by Reading or perhaps Blackburn. But against Middlesbrough on Saturday, it was the last line of defence who shone.

Raya, whose footballing career started at UE Cornellà in Cornellà de Llobregat, Catalonia, becomes the first shot-stopper to win the Goalkeeper of the Week trophy twice.

Whilst Raya’s distribution is often picked out as his selling point (as with many a goalkeeper originating from Catalonia), it was his shot stopping that has earned him this week’s award.

Because a goalkeeper’s job is to save shots, before anything else.

His performance in Brentford’s 4-1 victory away at Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough was vital in securing the three points for the Bees despite the divide between the sides’ goal scoring exploits. And, despite being credited with an unfortunate own goal within the opening five minutes of the game, Raya did excellently to keep the score line as comfortable as it was in the end.

Raya’s first intervention of the afternoon (positively, it should be said) was a fantastic tip onto the post from Boro’s Britt Assombalonga. The Spaniard’s positioning was excellent; just high up the line enough to close the angle down to be able to react to the shot.

Raya wasn’t too high in his set position, and was completely square with Assombalonga as he made contact with the ball. An incredibly strong wrist completed the save checklist quartet.

Via – Brentford FC YouTube

Raya’s second highlight of the tie came in the second half, where he reacted excellently to prevent another Brentford own goal – this time nearly contributed by Vitaly Janelt. Raya’s positioning was again exemplary, but the most important part of this save was his decision making.

One too many goalkeepers rely solely on their hands to make every save.

Knowing when and how to utilise other parts of the body (whether it’s done consciously or not) is a skill, and Raya put it to good use here.

Via – Brentford FC YouTube

But perhaps the Spaniard’s best piece of action on Saturday afternoon was an outstanding 1v1 save, this time denying George Saville.

Although it may seem repetitive, it was once again the things done before the save itself that really mattered. 90% of making a save is putting yourself in the best possible position to actually make it. The remaining ten percent is what is done once the ball is in flight.

Once again, Raya was a good distance off his line (if not a tad too high), and reinforced this with a wide, low base. This gave Raya the ability to spread into a save, as well as equally distributing his bodyweight which helped absorb the power of Saville’s shot.

Via – Brentford FC YouTube

Spanish goalkeepers may be acclaimed for their skill on the ball, but no successful goalkeeper from sunny southwestern Europe has ever lacked shot stopping skill. Raya isn’t an exception.

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