Just plain awful…

 

That was one of the most appallingly, inept, incompetent displays from a pair of goalkeepers I’ve ever seen. In what was otherwise a thrilling game last night, Rustu Recber and Jens Lehmann, no fewer than 73 years between them, were about as effective as 4th graders. I’ve criticised Paul Robinson consistently this past year for his performances but Jesus Christ even he didn’t come close to being as bad as those two were. I remember just a few seasons ago, the eccentric Rustu was quite highly rated and earned a move to Barcelona. On closer inspection they too realised he actually was terrible and played all of about 4 games. But can he have been that bad then? He was always a bit barmy but did seem to be at least a bit competent. The two games he’s played here though, he’s done nothing but fuck up quite frankly. It only serves to worsen the crime of Volkan, the suspended no.1 keeper who foolishly got himself sent off in the 90th minute against the Czech Rep.

Lehmann however is another case altogether. What really works me up about him is the sheer arrogance of the man. He’ll come out in the media, call other keepers terrible, proclaim how good he is, scream at defenders and then put in performances like that. He is the arrogant prick version of Paul Robinson. How he didn’t cost Germany the game was unbelievable. He kept coming for crosses and missing them, flapping at high balls and his positioning for Turkey’s second was just… well there aren’t even words for it. What the hell kind of goalkeeper takes that position for a low cross coming in from the by-line? He’s like thirty fucking eight, how can you be that incompetent?

Timo Hildebrand, Michael Rensing, Manuel Neuer, Rene Adler. All are streaks ahead of this bumbling liability. But it’s the old experience thing, it’s what’s holding England back and it’s what could cost Germany the final.  

It happens with players of all positions but with goalkeeper such a vital position, mistakes are so much more costly and the fact is, the step up to international level is a big psychological one. Experience is such a cliche but it really is a massive factor at tournaments like this with so few having the composure to cope. There are quite a few good English keepers around, Rob Green has bailed us out more times than I can count, Scott Carson, Joe Hart, Chris Kirkland provide heroics every week, but i wouldn’t trust any of them for England, even Rob Green. Its the simple fact that playing for England is so different, they’d get nervous and probably cost us, just like Carson did. How often does Carson blunder? Maybe twice, three times a season. One game for England and he’s a mess. 

It is a dilemma but one that does need to be addressed. David James is the best English keeper sure, but we could cope without him in the qualifiers. Getting players like Joe Hart or Ben Foster acquainted at this level is much more important for me. As for Germany, Sunday would be a very good time for him to come good, he’s due we know that much…