Comments on: Do Goalkeepers need to be protected even more?

By: combat chuck

combat chuck — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:58:30 +0000

Keepers generally have longer careers than other position players in soccer. Many keepers aren’t in their prime until their late 30’s, even early 40’s, which to me suggests they are less injury prone than other players. I would put Cech’s injury into the “freak accident” category, rather than calling it an epidemic. Plus, I think most keepers would be too vain to cover their heads with a helmet.

By: Jared

Jared — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:25:54 +0000

Why not pad the inside of the goal posts or redesign the goals to be more safe to head injuries somehow? Getting kicked in the head or something to the effect of breaking up a play and getting injured is a completely different story as it is up to the people within the play to make those decisions to be more aggressive and risk injury. Things like that are up to the referees judgement which may not always be great but thats what they are supposed to be there for.

By: Isaiah

Isaiah — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 07:52:57 +0000

It’s a tough question, but my gut tells me there’s no point in head gear. I think it would lead to higher numbers of injuries because people would fly into keepers that much harder (Sonko’s slobberknocker against Cudicini would become much more commonplace, I would think). Obviously it’s hard to say, but part of the question is what does protective headgear mean? Like a bike helmet? Those old Red Grange leather “helmets” that always remind me of WWI pilots? A football helmet?

How far does this go? We’ve got shinguards which are a good thing, but we don’t want a culture of fear in the game, so I think my vote goes for no added security measures. Just don’t kick goalies cause bad things can happen.

Hope Cech and Cudicini recover quickly.

By: Aloysius

Aloysius — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:42:33 +0000

It might need to be debated. However, I could npt recall a goalkeeper who is forced to retire due to injury. However, we find the likes of van basten, lentini, and other non-goalkeepers were forced to early retirement or at least comeback but with a decline ability. Owen’s case too?

By: miro

miro — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:47:32 +0000

I really can’t imagine goal keepers wearing a head gear. But anyway the risk of getting hurt or even seriously hurt won’t vanish no matter what counter measures are taken. I think it’s best to educate players in such a way that they realise what can happen to other players and give them a feeling of responsibility.

By: Finn

Finn — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:12:46 +0000

As a keeper this is a tough question. The basic reality is that the mechanics of being a keeper leave you more vulnerable to getting hurt then another field player.

The only way to protect keepers more is to increase the consequences. I guarantee you if Nicky Hunt knew he was playing with a red for going in that close he would have pulled out 2-3 steps before.

But then it becomes so damn subjective and up to the interpretation of the refs.

Hard question.