Book of Roles: Goalkeepers

Goalkeeper (GK)

He plays simple risk-free football and looks to find open players to pass the ball to, failing which he plays long. Under different match strategies the keepers distribution will change.

Cautious tactics will see him clear the ball whereas aggressive strategies will see him pass the ball to the defence to start off passing moves.

Key Attributes: Aerial Ability, Command of Area, Communication, First Touch, Handling, Kicking, Reflexes, One on One, Throwing, Anticipation, Decisions, Positioning

There are several ways you can modify the behaviour of a goalkeeper through the use of Player Preferred Moves (PPM) and Player Instructions (PI).

Other Variations:
PPM: Uses long throws to start counter attacks.
PI: Distribute to Target Man or player if his kicking is good
PI: Roll it out to Defenders for Possession Tactics

EXAMPLES

In 2012, Cameroonian keeper Alan Tshoumi Tiko took the aerial route, when he performed an amazing somersault to help launch a long throw downfield to launch his sides attack. Unfortunately they still lost to Egypt.

There are many keepers who have used the long throw effectively to start counter attacks, these include Germany’s Jais Lehman, Manual Neur and Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand.

If you like to play a direct style of football and you have a keeper who has good decisionmaking and vision, then its always a good idea to have him learn the long throw.

Goalkeeper
• 'Orthodox' keeper, doesn’t need to have good first touch
• Can still play the ball on the ground with the “Play out of Defence” team instruction
• Stays in the penalty area, rarely ventures out of the box
• Real Life Example: Kaspar Schmiechel, Leicester

Sweeper Keeper (SK)

The Sweeper Keeper aims to perform two roles: the Goalkeeper and the outfield Sweeper. Apart from his usual goalkeeping duties, he will sweep up balls around the penalty area and initiate counter attacking moves with direct through balls to attacking players.

The Sweeper Keeper is a popular choice among managers who seek to keep possession of the ball and play a high defensive line. In these kind of systems, he is expected to act like a last defender, and is expected to be comfortable stepping out of his area and controlling the ball with his feet. It’s the reason why Pep Guardiola didn’t feel that Joe Hart could make a contribution in his Manchester City side. Can you make Hart play like a Sweeper Keeper?

With the defend duty he will be more cautious, but will play the counter attacking move if its on.
With a support duty he will stray outside the penalty box and look to play counter attacking passes, these will be more risky passes.
With an attack duty, the keeper will travel some distance outside his area and be comfortable moving out with the ball at his feet, it’s the riskiest role of all keepers.

I do have to admit that this role doesn't seem to perform nearly as well as SI would have hoped, but there is one thing I have noticed in the game. When I play a high line and the through ball is coming in, I have seen my sweeper keepers step up to clear the lines and play a pass out wide to a player.

Key Attributes: Aerial Ability, Command of Area, Communication, First Touch, Handling, Kicking, Reflexes, One on One, Throwing, Anticipation, Decisions, Positioning, Composure, Concentration, Positioning, Agility

If you want him to play on support and attack, he needs decisions as well and eccentricity, rushing out and acceleration

Other Variations:
PPM: Uses long throws to start counter attacks
PI: Distribute to Target Man or player if his kicking is good
PI: Roll it out to Defenders for Possession Tactics

Sweeper Keeper
• Technically proficient, good first touch, dribbling and kicking are attributes needed apart from typical keeper attributes
• Ideal for possession football and countering prevent short goalkeeper distribution and the high press.
• Used well when we have players in close proximity to offer passing options. Eg. Ball Playing Defender, Deep Lying Playmaker
• Might leave the box to launch attacks from deep
• Real Life Example: Allisson, Liverpool
• Works well in combination with a BPD, to counter the high press or prevent short goal keeper distribution.



How a sweeper keeper and a ball playing defender can create passing combinations to beat a high press. They draw the team in before releasing the ball either to a playmaker or they can use the BPD to do a deep diagonal. Without these roles the Sweeper Keeper could try and pass the ball to the nearest fullback.