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Its not just the save how on earth he does not put it over the line after is beyond belief
Football365’s early winner: Hugo Lloris - Football365
“After two years here I can only say good things about Hugo Lloris,” said Mauricio Pochettino after Tottenham’s 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. “He is a fantastic goalkeeper and one of the best in the world. He was brilliant again. I don’t change my opinion about him. He is top quality, he is one of the best. He is in the best moment in his career.”
Pochettino’s right, too. This was not simply a manager puffing out his chest over his own player, but an accurate assessment of his player. Ranking the world’s best goalkeepers is as difficult and ultimately meaningless as any other position, but there is no doubt that Tottenham have a gem. A club that hasn’t finished in the top two of its domestic league since 1963 really does have one of the best players in his position in the world.
It is a difficult lot being a goalkeeper. Your errors are scrutinised far more than any other position, and only your most flamboyant moments of excellence are remembered or even noticed. Paolo Maldini’s line about the brilliance lying not in making the tackle but never needing to make the tackle, doesn’t quite hold true with saves, but the general point holds.
Against Leverkusen, Lloris produced one of those flamboyant moments. Javier Hernandez clearly should have finished his second-half chance, but Lloris’ ability (and desire) to scramble back across his goal and stop the ball on the line with a strong hand showed incredible reflexes. Hernandez was in disbelief at the save.
Yet that is typical of Lloris’ form. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are rightly praised for Tottenham’s defensive record, but both take their lead from the unflustered Frenchman behind them. It isn’t an infallible measure of ability, but of the 20 Premier League goalkeepers to play in more than three games this season, Lloris has by far the highest save percentage (84.2%). The gap to second place is bigger than that between second and 11th on the list.
One thing that jumps out to an amateur observer is how good he is at staying low before a shot comes. It doesn’t stop him pushing off his feet to save a high shot, but does give him the balance to make the low diving stops that require a complete extension of his frame. Combine that with positional excellence and technically difficult saves are made to look easy.
So much of what a goalkeeper does flies under the radar of standard punditry and analysis, simply because it is such a specialised position. The goalkeepers-turned-pundits that do spring to mind (Peter Schmeichel, David James and David Icke) are rarely pressed for detailed analysis, except on the royal family being lizards.
Never was that more true in the case of Lloris. He does not play for Manchester United, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, so misses out on reputation enhancement through ubiquity. He shuns the chest-beating passion of Joe Hart – or is that old Joe Hart? – and doesn’t come to the halfway line like Manuel Neuer. Lloris is, and this should be taken as a compliment, indistinct. He is Tottenham captain, but a leader through example rather than raised voice or barked orders.
In that sense, perhaps Lloris is a reflection of his manager. There are no histrionics, no discernible hyperbolic emotions, both almost sheepish in front of a camera. Don’t let shyness be mistaken for meekness. Like Pochettino, Lloris has a steely determination to be the best at what he does and win trophies. It’s the quiet ones you have to watch.
“After two years here I can only say good things about Hugo Lloris,” said Mauricio Pochettino after Tottenham’s 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. “He is a fantastic goalkeeper and one of the best in the world. He was brilliant again. I don’t change my opinion about him. He is top quality, he is one of the best. He is in the best moment in his career.”
Pochettino’s right, too. This was not simply a manager puffing out his chest over his own player, but an accurate assessment of his player. Ranking the world’s best goalkeepers is as difficult and ultimately meaningless as any other position, but there is no doubt that Tottenham have a gem. A club that hasn’t finished in the top two of its domestic league since 1963 really does have one of the best players in his position in the world.
It is a difficult lot being a goalkeeper. Your errors are scrutinised far more than any other position, and only your most flamboyant moments of excellence are remembered or even noticed. Paolo Maldini’s line about the brilliance lying not in making the tackle but never needing to make the tackle, doesn’t quite hold true with saves, but the general point holds.
Against Leverkusen, Lloris produced one of those flamboyant moments. Javier Hernandez clearly should have finished his second-half chance, but Lloris’ ability (and desire) to scramble back across his goal and stop the ball on the line with a strong hand showed incredible reflexes. Hernandez was in disbelief at the save.
Yet that is typical of Lloris’ form. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are rightly praised for Tottenham’s defensive record, but both take their lead from the unflustered Frenchman behind them. It isn’t an infallible measure of ability, but of the 20 Premier League goalkeepers to play in more than three games this season, Lloris has by far the highest save percentage (84.2%). The gap to second place is bigger than that between second and 11th on the list.
One thing that jumps out to an amateur observer is how good he is at staying low before a shot comes. It doesn’t stop him pushing off his feet to save a high shot, but does give him the balance to make the low diving stops that require a complete extension of his frame. Combine that with positional excellence and technically difficult saves are made to look easy.
So much of what a goalkeeper does flies under the radar of standard punditry and analysis, simply because it is such a specialised position. The goalkeepers-turned-pundits that do spring to mind (Peter Schmeichel, David James and David Icke) are rarely pressed for detailed analysis, except on the royal family being lizards.
Never was that more true in the case of Lloris. He does not play for Manchester United, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, so misses out on reputation enhancement through ubiquity. He shuns the chest-beating passion of Joe Hart – or is that old Joe Hart? – and doesn’t come to the halfway line like Manuel Neuer. Lloris is, and this should be taken as a compliment, indistinct. He is Tottenham captain, but a leader through example rather than raised voice or barked orders.
In that sense, perhaps Lloris is a reflection of his manager. There are no histrionics, no discernible hyperbolic emotions, both almost sheepish in front of a camera. Don’t let shyness be mistaken for meekness. Like Pochettino, Lloris has a steely determination to be the best at what he does and win trophies. It’s the quiet ones you have to watch.
This is very noticeable. The ex-pros tend to show their extreme ignorance in this position and commentators themselves seem to want to scream "AMAZING SAVE" every time a keeper makes what should be considered a routine stop, even if the keeper has had to dive for it. Seems to them there's nothing other than an AMAZING SAVE. Even when blasted straight at them.
I'd love some serious keeper analysis on telly, but I can't really see it happening. Thorsvedt was always good when he was on Sky for the UCL games, I thought, but rarely asked about keepers. Perhaps it's indeed too niche when you've only usually got a panel of two or three .
Would be interesting if they could get Ian Walker into do some serious GK analysis
Roy Keane was quite good on the ITV highlights show last night. He was not impressed with everyone salivating over Schmeichel's save v Copenhagen saying it was a save any manager would expect their keeper to make. He did compliment Hugo's save though. Not a fan at all of Keane, but at least he calls it as he sees it & doesnt fawn all over mediocrity.
Keane's a massive cunt, like proper complete and utter arsehole cunt nasty piece of work.
But sometimes he's right, and sometimes being a cunt lets you tell the truth a non-cunt might shy away from.
Well, what do you expect, he is a Tottenham fan :eriksenlol:
Roy Keane Reveals He Supported Spurs Whilst Captaining Manchester United
Boyhood Tottenham fan wasn't he? Still a massive cunt though.
*Edit just seen the post above mine.
He is a cunt. No doubting that. Spurs fan or not. I just found myself agreeing with his comments last night. He slated Leicester big time. And said he didn't understand why everyone was making a fuss about Schmeichels save.Boyhood Tottenham fan wasn't he? Still a massive cunt though.
*Edit just seen the post above mine.
LOL when you were talking about Schmeichel's save my default thought was Peter not Kasper. That's how much Leicester register in my thoughts.:eriksenlol:
Perhaps move Roy Keane into Spurs fan's that are cunts thread?
Fucking lol!
He was a Real Madrid player.
Errr - and what team did he play for during the season he was nominated?
Real Madrid.