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Long throw ‘bore’ Jamie Carragher and that’s fine. We are all different. Maybe the novelty wears off, though We are quite enjoying their recovery. But especially some woefully incompetent efforts in their defense.
On the sidelines of Brentford’s win over Newcastle, Carragher gave an insight into how the Magpies tried – and failed – to counter Michael Cade’s catapult threat.
“We asked Eddie Howe about it before the game and he had a bit of a tactic,” Carragher said. “We know that Nick Pope is one of the greatest goalkeepers in the Premier League.
“Eddie Howe and the goalkeeper’s tactic was that he wouldn’t play his goalkeeper as a goalkeeper but almost help his defenders to head him. He was almost like an outfield player who could use his hands. He’s not on the goal line, he’s not guarding the goal.”
What Newcastle have invented there, Cara, is a goalkeeper. Are we really so obsessed with the role of the goalkeeper that genuinely insightful pundits like Carragher don’t recognize anyone when it comes to the high ball? Or at least tries to.
Newcastle had a tactic of using Pope to deal with Brentford’s long throws, it didn’t work.
Is it time to make a run for Ramsdale on the team?— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 9, 2025
Actually, the confusion is understandable. In the 1980s, when the long throw was as common as ever, men and goalkeepers were goalkeepers. It was an easier time. But in the years since, keepers have gone from being shot stoppers to sweepers and then all the way to playmakers. Now, the journey has taken something of a U-turnbut much later when our journey began.
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We can say the same about the centre-backs. Many people don’t take pride in brick heading like they used to. Maybe that’s not a bad thing. But defenders and goalkeepers – especially goalkeepers – have certainly had to adjust to what is once again becoming the new normal under the high ball.
It isn’t just long throws, the frequency of which has gone up from 1.5 per game last season to 4.1 this term – a rise of 173%. These are all types of set pieces, and If the number of crosses is increasingthere will soon be a rain of size 5s in open play as well.
It’s no wonder so many keepers these days look lost under a high ball. They have not trained him. Certainly not when his style of employment focused on stopping shots and catching crosses. As the game evolved into a smaller, more complex build, it made perfect sense to prioritize other aspects of the position. So they have to readjust now.
It wasn’t that goalkeepers stopped facing high balls. There was also a change in approach to dealing with visitors. The influence of foreign goalkeeper coaches remains more with stoppers where they are, reacting to the line that was followed rather than acting practically to deal with a problem. A bonus to this approach: You can’t miss catches you don’t come for.
So, now, from being deep and comfortable to being expected to dominate their boxes once again, the keepers are going from one extreme to the next. Which, inevitably, will lead to Pope-like mistakes and performances at Brentford.
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And that’s okay. It has to happen. Just as keepers must allow the odd stray pass when they pretend to be Pirlo, they cannot be expected to claim everything with a perfect success rate. OL, because if the fear of failure is so great, only very few psychics will leave their line. And secondly, because dealing with high balls is actually bloody fun! A combination of time and energy required, necessary speed of thought and movement, you cannot cheat. It is very easy to just stay at home.
But opponents now bring the fight to goalkeepers in a way that is no longer targeted by the current generation. Look at corner kicks; Roundmouths are more frequented than tube trains during rush hours. In fact, you’re less likely to feel underground or pickpocket.
On each level, keepers are surrounded, caught, pinned and blocked by all kinds of set pieces. Standing on tiptoes, clutching arms, untying glove straps… it’s jungle out there.
And referees can no longer be relied upon for any level of protection. Yes, goalkeepers enjoyed better security than presidents there for a while — perhaps when they least needed it. Now, though, by clipping on contact in the box on set pieces, some officials now admit—with the volume of balls going into the box—that almost a penalty area is cleared. Especially when it comes to blocking, there is a lot of work to be done to pinpoint any individual offense. So almost anything goes.
Some goalkeepers will revel in this and put up a fight. But those who do not allow themselves to become helpless victims.
Carragher pointed out Pope’s unholy high starting position for Brentford’s throw. He is right, it might be with the first ball in mind. But to avoid boxing on the line, it can also be a trick to leave room for the ball to bounce back when in play.
It is different on the corners. If you leave your space, it won’t be empty when you want to return. Under the in-swinger, all you can do is stand your ground and fight for first contact. Some keepers prefer one mind. Others will take care of themselves instead, but often those who go it alone become completely fixated on personal attention at the expense of focusing on everything around them.
Then it becomes about attitude, bravery and determination. Who wants to keep their head or hands on the ball most of the time? More often than not, it’s as simple as that, regardless of how intelligent the routine is or how defensively it’s built. Come late, come fast, come hard.
The goalkeeper’s dominance in the air is hardly revolutionary so we don’t have to pretend it is, but it may be unfamiliar to many in the current generation of top-level stoppers. They need to be caught quickly.
