Deprecated: Function jetpack_form_register_pattern is deprecated since version jetpack-13.4! Use Automattic\Jetpack\Forms\ContactForm\Util::register_pattern instead. in /var/www/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6031
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /var/www/html/wp-includes/functions.php:6031) in /var/www/html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1794
{"id":66348,"date":"2024-03-29T14:46:43","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T12:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inews24.eu\/can-rotating-your-goalkeepers-really-work\/"},"modified":"2024-03-29T14:46:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T12:46:43","slug":"can-rotating-your-goalkeepers-really-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inews24.eu\/can-rotating-your-goalkeepers-really-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Can rotating your goalkeepers really work?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Arsenal were meant to be the team who ripped up the rule book and rotated their goalkeepers this season, but it has ended up being Brighton who have kept on swapping who plays between the sticks. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi has broken a Premier League record by changing his keeper 17 times already in 2023-24, with Jason Steele playing 15 league games and Bart Verbruggen the other 13, and neither starting more than three times in a row in all competitions.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This is certainly a new idea – no top-flight team has done it before in the Premier League era, and when they have even come close it has been for different reasons. The most changes previously were down to injuries, form, or both.<\/span><\/p>\n
It’s fascinating to see it happening, but I wanted to explore whether it has worked\u2026 and why Brighton are even doing it in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span>The previous record for most goalkeeper changes in a Premier League season was 14 by Manchester United in 2000-01, but Fabian Barthez played in 25 of their first 28 league games and the other rotations took place when he and regular understudy Raimond van der Gouw were injured in March, and teenager Paul Rachubka and veteran Scotland international Andy Goram were used as cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\n
\n
Most goalkeeper changes in a Premier League season<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n
\n
Team<\/span><\/td>\n
Season<\/span><\/td>\n
Games<\/span><\/td>\n
GK changes<\/span><\/td>\n
Starts per keeper<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
1. Brighton<\/span><\/td>\n
23-24<\/span><\/td>\n
28<\/span><\/td>\n
17<\/span><\/td>\n
15: Jason Steele, 13: Bart Verbruggen<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2. Man Utd<\/span><\/td>\n
00-01<\/span><\/td>\n
38<\/span><\/td>\n
14<\/span><\/td>\n
30: Fabian Barthez, 5: Raimond van der Gouw, 2: Andy Goram, 1: Paul Rachubka<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
=3. Man Utd<\/span><\/td>\n
01-02<\/span><\/td>\n
38<\/span><\/td>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\n
32: Fabian Barthez, 6: Roy Carroll<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
=3. Middlesbrough<\/span><\/td>\n
05-06<\/span><\/td>\n
38<\/span><\/td>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\n
27: Mark Schwarzer, 9: Brad Jones, 2: Ross Turnbull<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
=3. Man Utd<\/span><\/td>\n
06-07<\/span><\/td>\n
38<\/span><\/td>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\n
32: Edwin van der Sar, 6: Tomasz Kuszczak<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
=3. Portsmouth<\/span><\/td>\n
09-10<\/span><\/td>\n
38<\/span><\/td>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\n
25: David James, 8: Asmir Begovic, 5: Jamie Ashdown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
What’s the difference between Steele and Verbruggen?<\/h3>\n
At 33, Steele clearly has a lot more experience than Verbruggen, who is 21 and looks like he has a lot of raw talent that needs to nurtured, but performance-wise it’s interesting to see how there is such little difference between both goalkeepers.<\/span><\/p>\n
I’ve watched a lot of clips of both of them in the past few weeks and a few similar themes emerged.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span>Brighton have played 40 games in all competitions this season, with Steele (right) starting 21 of them. So far, Verbruggen (left) is yet to play more than two games in a row, but that will change if Roberto de Zerbi (centre) picks him against Liverpool on Sunday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Verbruggen seems more economical with his general movement in the box, while Steele’s positioning in goal when facing shots is sometimes more questionable – for example when he takes his position off the defender, and also with his decision making, which might be why his save percentage is the worst in the Premier League this season.<\/span><\/p>\n
The younger keeper is more self-assured in those situations, although every once in a while he does maybe get drawn too much towards his near post, which is a trait of Steele’s too.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Neither of them is having a particularly great season in terms of shot-stopping, though, even if Verbruggen’s save percentage is significantly higher.<\/span><\/p>\n
Verbruggen is underperforming by 3% in terms of the saves he is making compared to the ones he is expected to make, while Steele is -7% in the same metric, meaning they are both lowly ranked there.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
Premier League 2023-24 (Goalkeepers with 900+ minutes ranked out of 23)<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n
\n
Verbruggen<\/span><\/td>\n
<\/td>\n
Steele<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
14.9<\/span><\/td>\n
Expected goals on target conceded<\/strong><\/td>\n
23.6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
16<\/span><\/td>\n
Actual goals conceded*<\/strong><\/td>\n
26<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
-1.08 (16th)<\/span><\/td>\n
Goals prevented<\/strong><\/td>\n
-2.38 (18th)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
-0.08 (16th)<\/span><\/td>\n
Expected goals prevented per 90<\/strong><\/td>\n
-0.16 (18th)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
*Excludes own goals<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
There is not much between them when it comes to using the ball either, as you can see from their respective pass-maps, but this is an area where they both excel.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Steele is probably viewed as the more accomplished passer – even his manager has alluded to that being the case – and he plays a marginally higher percentage of longer balls forward.<\/span><\/p>\n
But Brighton don’t change the way they play when Verbruggen is in the team, and his feet are clearly one of his strengths too.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In fact, Verbruggen has completed more passes per game (33.5) and with a higher success rate (90.8%), than any other Premier League keeper this season and, like Steele, he is in the top five for passes completed under pressure per game too.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span>Steele ranks sixth for passes completed per 90 minutes (29.8) and fourth for pass accuracy (82%)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
He definitely contributes to his team’s attacking output as well, even if – so far – their end product with him has not been as successful as when Steele plays.<\/span><\/p>\n
While Steele’s distribution has led to the Seagulls scoring five Premier League goals this season, Brighton have actually created more chances per game building play from the back with Verbruggen in the team.<\/span><\/p>\n
Ederson (2.4) at Manchester City and Alisson (2.0) for Liverpool are the only top-flight keepers involved in more shot-ending open play sequences per game than Verbruggen this season, among those with a minimum of 270 minutes played.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
Brighton’s attack with Steele & Verbruggen in 2023-24 (per 90 mins unless stated)<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n
\n
Premier League<\/span><\/td>\n
Steele<\/span><\/td>\n
Verbruggen<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Minutes (season total)<\/strong><\/td>\n
1350<\/span><\/td>\n
1170<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Open play sequences involvements<\/strong><\/td>\n
31.7<\/span><\/td>\n
34.5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Shot-ending open play sequences<\/strong><\/td>\n
1.1<\/span><\/td>\n
1.8<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
xG from shot-ending sequences<\/strong><\/td>\n
0.19<\/span><\/td>\n
0.12<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Involvements ending in goal scored (season total)<\/strong><\/td>\n
5<\/span><\/td>\n
0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
The rest of the Brighton team is being rotated too<\/h3>\n
It’s not just in goal where De Zerbi has made a lot of changes – he has changed the rest of his team more than anyone else too, with 108 changes in the Premier League alone so far.<\/span><\/p>\n
With 10 league games to go, that is already 29 more changes than he made in the whole of last season and 28 more than anyone else in the top division this term – Nottingham Forest have made 80, while Liverpool are next highest with 78.<\/span><\/p>\n
Brighton have had European football to contend with this season, of course, and some injuries too – but compare their situation to Aston Villa, who have made only 40 changes, despite also having midweek European matches.<\/span><\/p>\n