What has been the effect of substitute keepers being on the bench for every game now?
There aren’t more injuries to keepers than there were in days when outfield players had to go in goal, so reserve keepers aren’t getting more opportunities on matchdays, but it’s been a good thing. It’s something that will give keepers the chance to stay in the game longer because now you can bring on a sub keeper if you have to. You need two experienced goalkeepers at least in the squad fighting it out, and some Premiership clubs of course have three or four. The keepers aren’t missing out on match practice because most reserve games are midweek now. In our case Richard [Lee] has been able for most of this season to play in the reserves and sit on the bench for the match, so he’s been getting the real matchday experience, warming up in front of the crowds, getting the taste of it. Fitness levels of players in general have increased over period you’ve been playing. Does this apply to keepers? If you look at the shape of goalkeepers in the Sixties and Seventies and compare them to now
