Rafa is going goalkeeping crazy. First it was young Aussie Dean Bouzanis, then he reeled back Scott Carson and now he forks out the dosh for Nikolay Mihaylov?
I have mixed thoughts about it. First, who is Mihaylov? An U-21 Bulgarian International who copped 5 goals against Scotland in the Kirin Cup (Japan) and who has plyed his trade for Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia.
It sounds that the young guy has promise, maybe…but I’m still concerned. These young goalkeepers will get some of the best development they will experience anywhere on the planet while at Liverpool, and it will make them better goalkeepers in the long run…possibly.
With so much competition, in such a competitive club like Liverpool, do you pigeonhole your career potential? I remember playing for Sydney United in the old NSL (Australia), waiting my turn under guys like Zeljko Kalac. I was 15 years of age playing for the reserve team…there were 3 other senior goalkeepers above me…it was a tough gig.
Now it was not that I had not learned anything, I uncovered much of my potential over my three year tenure. But did I become a better goalkeeper? I only ever played a handful of games, and in the grand scheme of things I did not feel I had reached my full potential. Full potential takes time.
You see for a goalkeeper, lots of training…but no game time, does not equate to overall performance potential. Being loaned out would be the best option (like Carson), and I guess that Rafa will do the same for all of these young lads at Liverpool.
I hope that these young goalkeepers get the chance to prove their worth. With time, I’m certain they will. But the life of a competitive goalkeeper can be long-drawn and it takes many, many years for any goalkeeper to reach their potential. For any young goalkeeper thinking about the big leagues, the best advice I can give is that goalkeeping is a waiting game…and then some.
If Mihaylov, Bouzanis and Carson have patience and a steely reserve they will reach their full potential at Liverpool under Benitez or at another club. What do you guys think?
This article was brought to you by Keeper Skool, a blog on goalkeeping tips.
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