Smith's penalty save

[southchurch]

This keeper could learn from Smithy then.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

DWB,

Most games (emphasis on the word most) you do seem to go to great lengths to explain Smith's deficiencies and failings, with some really detailed commentary and observations about what keepers should be doing, where they should be standing, etc.

The fact that you even had to ask the question about the left hand/right side save kind of illustrates that your knowledge of goalkeeping isn't perhaps all that solid.

I was purely going on the pic that was inconclusive at that time. Please read my other posts since that question. I do feel that it was an even better save than a dive to the right corner as it wasnt at the corner but nearer the middle than the corner. This means Smith had to re-adjust to save high and nearer the middle, as he was committed in his dive which is probably why he used his left hand as he was going the ball. Had it been in the top right corner, the right arm would have been better from the stupid actions I am now doing in the living room, imagining myself trying to dive right to the top corner of a goal using my right arm outstretched then my left arm across my body and as far into the corner as I can. Doing that, my right arm goes nearer my imaginary corner of the goal.

From all my observations and where the ball was placed form seeing the video, smith's left hand was the best hand to use for that penalty save

 

[southchurch]

And this one

 

[southchurch]

And this one-
Good save: Real Madrid's goalkeeper Iker Casillas saves a goal against FC Barcelona

 

[davewebbsbrain]

This keeper could learn from Smithy then.

Surely he should be using his right hand as he is diving left, the opposite of Smith last night. Many were saying last night that the penalty was in the top corner which is why I queried the hand he used earlier today.

The difference here is clear to see. van der Sar is diving to reach a ball in the corner but the ball Smith saved wasn't in the corner. He readjusted his flight to save the ball when committed to the corner. Different flight of ball and different type of save.

 

[chapperzUK]

So you've posted 3 images, one doesn't work and the other two show the keeper not getting near the ball. How does this prove your point?

He stopped the ball going in and pushed the ball out of danger. That fact that the discussion is about he should have saved it with his right hand instead of his left shows that some people are nit picking here and have been for most of the season.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

This keeper could learn from Smithy then.

So you've posted 3 images, one doesn't work and the other two show the keeper not getting near the ball. How does this prove your point?

Just one question. If Van der Sar was to outstretch his right arm here, how does it get nearer the ball than his left arm?

 

[southchurch]

I did not want to fill the board with pics like this. But I could.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

When diving right you go with your left hand if you need extra height and your right hand if you need extra distance (width).

Smith needed extra height so had to go left-handed, the harder technique.

 

[Sutton Who]

I think all them pictures have done to prove is, Smith was diving but his body line was flat as all was natural to him was to put his left arm up to save the ball. The 3 keepers in the pictures are at an angle and therefore can use the other arm to save the ball.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

When diving right you go with your left hand if you need extra height and your right hand if you need extra distance (width).

Smith needed extra height so had to go left-handed, the harder technique.

So lets put this to bed. Last night, there were posts about Smith's save to the top corner leaning towards a right arm save for the width into the corner. The pic was inconclusive which is why I asked why he used his left hand. It turns out the penalty wasn't actually into the top corner but high and more central which is why he used his left arm.

Job jobbed.

 

[South Bank Hank]

Just one question. If Van der Sar was to outstretch his right arm here, how does it get nearer the ball than his left arm?

Like this...

 

[chapperzUK]

Just one question. If Van der Sar was to outstretch his right arm here, how does it get nearer the ball than his left arm?

His body has to adjust to push the left arm over to the right hand side of his body. If you have something that is on the right side of your body, you would use your right arm to grab it right? Surely same applies here.

Also, 35 seconds into this clip, the same keeper uses his right arm this time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI7VnOrZXxQ

 

[Cricko]

When diving right you go with your left hand if you need extra height and your right hand if you need extra distance (width).

Smith needed extra height so had to go left-handed, the harder technique.

Huh that is a load of tosh sorry..you dive right, your right arm leads.....in SBH's post VDS was on his knees and just sticking an arm up..

 

[southchurch]

View attachment 2032

See the ball by Smith's glove. It's a foot below the crossbar. Definitely in the perfect penalty zone, and easily above his shoulder. He showed brilliant reach and strength in the arm/hand to palm it away.

Look at Smiths arm. Pointing nearly straight up . Not right across his body . He went to his right and nearly went too far right of the ball . He is not full stretch and straining every sinew to get there because the ball is not in the top corner.

 

[southchurch]

I think all them pictures have done to prove is, Smith was diving but his body line was flat as all was natural to him was to put his left arm up to save the ball. The 3 keepers in the pictures are at an angle and therefore can use the other arm to save the ball.

How could smith dive to the top right hand (apparantly unmissable area) and be flat?

 

[South Bank Hank]

Huh that is a load of tosh sorry..you dive right, your right arm leads.....in SBH's post VDS was on his knees and just sticking an arm up..

You plum! That wasn't VDS. It was Smithy. Against Brentford. Diving to the Right. Using his left arm. Saving the penalty!

:stunned:

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

Huh that is a load of tosh sorry..you dive right, your right arm leads.....in SBH's post VDS was on his knees and just sticking an arm up..

Imagine you're leaping through the air, body straightish, head pointing to a point about a foot or so below the top corner of the goal. Now, imagine a line through your body and in the direction of travel. If the ball's going below the line then your right (in this case) arm would be better placed to reach it, but if it's going over that line then your left hand would be closer (the right would have to go across the body)

It's as much about the angle of the body as the position of the ball

 

[Cricko]

You plum! That wasn't VDS. It was Smithy. Against Brentford. Using his left arm. Saving the penalty!

:stunned:

Hairy muff he must of dived the wrong way ish, then used whatever arm he could to save the shot..100% having played at Essex level in goal you do not lead with your left arm when diving to the right.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

His body has to adjust to push the left arm over to the right hand side of his body. If you have something that is on the right side of your body, you would use your right arm to grab it right? Surely same applies here.

Also, 35 seconds into this clip, the same keeper uses his right arm this time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI7VnOrZXxQ

So as I said earlier, Smith adjusted his body and had to use his left arm because of the positioning of the ball in comparison to his body. Had the ball been in the top right hand corner, Smith would have used his right arm.