Liverpool FC Forum

by **Poolinc.** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:20 pm

I've seen nothing from Pepe for me to believe he is a better keeper than Dudek! What do you guys think? I know Jerzey made mistakes, but his double save from Shevsheko was unbelieveable!

by **115-1073096938** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:22 pm

I think you don't understand football. Basically.

I'm not goalkeeping expert, but its not hard to see the complete difference in class. Reina's miles better in ever area.

by **Poolinc.** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:28 pm

stu_the_red wrote:I think you don't understand football. Basically.

Of course it's a given that absolutely no one understands the game as well as you but this question is intended for the mere mortals in the forum who might have an opinion at variance to you, oh auricle!

by **MilitiaRusher** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:39 pm

Yea Poolinc. you've got a good point here. We haven't got an evident chance to judge Pepe's talent as he has been kept quiet almost every game, with thanks to our back 4. Signs are generally good though. He looks solid whenever called upon while Dudek does sometimes give me nerves. Obviously, you can't judge Jerzy on the saves he made that night.

by **Red H** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:40 pm

Is this a wind up ?

Pepe's record, and the Liverpool defences, since his arrival speaks for itself.

by **bigmick** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:50 pm

I try not to get drawn into the area of goalies too much 'cos I know little about the technical side of their game. Actually, I'll tell you the one and only thing I know about the goalies technique. When in a one on one situation, try and keep your momentum moving forwards, resist the temptation to go to ground and don't fall back on your haunches. Make the striker make the first move. There, that's the Micky coaching class
on goalkeeping. Sorry it was short but thats all I know.
Having said that, I think it's a bit odd that the topic starter thinks Dudek was or is a better keeper than Reina. Doesn't the Spaniard just fill you with a lot more confidence than Dudek? When Everton got the free-kick first-half today after Gerrard got sent off, were you worried? Didn't you like me think "if he scores it will have to be a great shot"? We've conceded some fantastic goals this season, Ferdinands header (which Pepe almost got) and Simao's shot at Anfield. If it's going to beat Reina it's got to be quality. Remember Rooney's goal at Anfield last season? Absolutely no comparison in any way shape or form whatsoever for me.

by **JC_81** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:51 pm

Reina's an improvement on Dudek, no question. Commands his area much better, deals with crosses much better (although he didn't necessarily show that today) and most importantly his decision-making is much better - he always knows when to stay on his line and when to come out. This is why we have been able to change the way our defence plays this season - they hold the line much higher and Reina is excellent at sweeping.

When you put all this together it basically means our defence has much more confidence in him than any of our previous keepers in the last few years, and consequently they play better themselves.

The one area Reina fails to totally convince me in is shot stopping. Never once this season has he made a save that I've thought - 'he had no right to save that'. Compare that with people like Cech and Robinson though, they seem to do it on a regular basis. It's this area that in my opinion prevents Reina from being classed as a world class keeper.

Don't get me wrong though, he's an excellent keeper and a massive improvement on what we had. He's extremely young too and he could get even better. Definitely worth the 7 million we paid on evidence so far.

by **Poolinc.** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:59 pm

bigmick wrote:Having said that, I think it's a bit odd that the topic starter thinks Dudek was or is a better keeper than Reina.

No Mick! I never said that dudek was better! I'm just saying I haven't seen much to make me think Pepe is better. Also my confidence in us not conceding is based on my confidence in the great season our back 4 are having! No matter if your the best keeper in the wolrd, you're gonna concede plenty, if your defence ain't up to scratch. Don't get me wrong! Reina is a great keeper, but i aint seen anything spectacular yet! That's all!

by **bigmick** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:10 pm

Poolinc. wrote:
bigmick wrote:Having said that, I think it's a bit odd that the topic starter thinks Dudek was or is a better keeper than Reina.

No Mick! I never said that dudek was better! I'm just saying I haven't seen much to make me think Pepe is better. Also my confidence in us not conceding is based on my confidence in the great season our back 4 are having! No matter if your the best keeper in the wolrd, you're gonna concede plenty, if your defence ain't up to scratch. Don't get me wrong! Reina is a great keeper, but i aint seen anything spectacular yet! That's all!

Fair enough mate I stand corrected. That he doesn't do the spectacular though is no bad thing if you ask me. He just saves it, and that'll do for me.

by **Liverpool 4 EVA** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:17 pm

It's absurd to even compare the 2.

I really like Dudek, more as a person than for his talent as a goalkeeper.

The difference in quality is enormous.

His distribution is absolutely WORLD CLASS....I am pretty sure that we have scored quite a few goals because of Reinas tremendous distribution.

Today is an example, how did the move for Garcias goal start? :nod

He commands his box so well, hes probably one of the quickest goalskeepers in the world and you can just see the defence looks so much better with Reina there, there is so much more confidence with him in goal.

And lets not forget hes not even 24 years old until August.

Again I must reiterate, it's absurd to even compare the 2.

by **akumaface** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:20 pm

Just look at our record this season and we have a chance to break the all time clean sheet record in a season and this is only the 7th time in the Liverpool history that we have achieved at least 30 clean sheets a seaon. The record is only 34 and I'm quite confident that we will have a good chance to break this. This is only the first season for Reina in EPL. I don't know much about GK either but when I play at either position at the back, when you know your GK is good, the back four usually plays better. I also agree with Bigmick that just look at the kind of goal scored against Reina, most are top notch where he had no chance. I think in Dudek's first season, he was awesome as well but he was a lot older. To be at this young and have a command presence in the box is something you don't see even in a lot of experienced GK. So, I think we actually have someone very special here for a long time. Very good buy from Rafa. Dudek is also very good but Reina is in a different class for sure.

by **onizukaeikichi** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:20 pm

he has great this season, the only drawback for me is his goal kicking and clearance, at times it goes to the wrong player or goes out for a throw, luckily, he wasnt punished , yet.

by **Liverpool 4 EVA** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:25 pm

john craig wrote:Never once this season has he made a save that I've thought - 'he had no right to save that'. Compare that with people like Cech and Robinson though, they seem to do it on a regular basis. It's this area that in my opinion prevents Reina from being classed as a world class keeper.

I remember Reina making quite a few superb saves, the most recent world class save was a few weeks back, Ive watched too many Liverpool games this season to remember what game it was, I'm sure someone will remind me....Plus some of his shot stopping this season has saved us a few points certainly.

Furthermore, the reason we haven't seen more of Reina is because we haven't had to, Reina has been exposed to far less danger than other keepers in the Premiership as our defence is currently the best in the country.

by **ivor_the_injun** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:43 pm

When Dudek first arrived, he was so good that I thought he had the position stitched up for the best part of the decade. Unfortunately though, the flapping started, his blunders against Man U shot his confidence to pieces, and he's never been the same keeper since. Even in the CL final, the Shevchenko save and his shoot-out performance apart, his handling was very wayward.

Since Reina's arrival, he's given us enough confidence to play further up the pitch. The guy is so fast, decisive, assured and commanding that the defence can play a more relaxed game. He's also possibly the best keeper I've seen with the ball at their feet in the Prem. Out of his hands his distribution is outstanding, but even on the ground his passing is crisp, and his touch is excellent.

When it comes to keeping, look at David James. He still occasionally has man of the match performances, making world class saves and looking like nothing is going to pass him. The next week, he'll flap around embarrassingly and cost the team a goal. So, although you know he's got it in him to be excellent, you don't know which David James will turn up. Dudek's in that category.

The consistent, non-showy keepers are the ones you trust in your team every week. Here, read Cech, Schmeichel, Van Der Sar and Reina. If you don't notice your keeper doing much in a game, it's generally because they're very good at what they do.

by **mccabec2** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:01 pm

I think Ivor has a good point, I love Jerzy and will always remember his heroics in Istanbul and I would love to see him stay on as he is a great squad player and loves the club but Reina has GOT to stay between the posts on a permanent basis. He is mr consistency and if results count for everything then his track record means he has got to stay. If he keeps it up he will be a regular for us for the next 7-8 years and could well go on to becom the next grobelaar.

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