The Goalkeeper

I have a written a blog specifically for goalkeepers for six years. It can be found here. But I'll add a few important points about the role of the goalkeeper in our 4-3-3.

Make saves. That's your number-one job. But you too have tactical responsibilities.

The most important tactical element for the goalkeeper is staying connected with the back four. To do this, the goalkeeper will have to be at the top of our outside the penalty area when the back four are at midfield. This prevents the gap between the keeper and defenders from being too big. The bigger the gap, the easier it is to exploit.

If the ball is played into this gap, the goalkeeper will have to make a quick decision about whether to run out and kick the ball away, let it come into the box and pick it up, or retreat and let the defenders deal with it. These can be difficult decisions to make, but remember that, generally speaking, the more aggressive your starting position, the less damaging it is if you happen to make the wrong decision.

This is because whatever happens - whether you leave a ball for your defenders that you should have come for yourself, or you attempt to play a ball better left to your defenders - it will be happening further away from our goal than if you had started closer to your line. The further from our goal, the more likely it is that tracking defenders can help.

Very simply, we cannot compress space and press the ball if our goalkeeper is hiding well inside the box. The gap between the back four and keeper will be so big that even poor teams can exploit it with a simple long ball. Staying 'connected' to the back four achieves two critical tactical aims: it allows our defenders (and, consequently, midfielders) to press high and compress the space for the opposition to play in, and it minimizes the danger of a ball over the top.

Another important duty for the goalkeeper is to communicate. While a lot of goalkeepers chatter endlessly, and others never say a word, effective communication means giving specific information and instruction to the players in front of you. Tell them who to mark, when to step up, and warn them about things they might not notice (overlapping runs, short corners, etc). Be positive and encouraging at all times. You will want and need the encouragement of your teammates; make sure you provide it for them.

Take care of these basics. If you do this every now and then, it's a bonus: