Hail Cesar: How a QPR reserve saved Brazil

[Tarbie]

WRT keepers and crosses

Speaking very generally, foreign keepers tend to punch away crosses and British keepers at least attempt to catch them.

Both methods have their pros and cons.

Catching it is obviously preferable, but not always achievable if e.g. the keeper is pressured into fumbling and dropping it, in which instance it can be potentially more dangerous than punching it.

Punching it is therefore often preferable but only if it's punched into a safe area, so this method too carries its own risks if not well executed.

Cerny for example always felt more comfortable punching it away and generally speaking he was good it. It's also true to say that if Cesar has a weakness it's his sometime susceptibility at crosses. However it could be argued that he compensates for that by being one of the best shot-stoppers on the planet. Green however, is generally better on crosses, but to then conclude this makes him a better overall keeper than Cesar I would definitely say is open to debate.

Saying all that, this entire debate is fairly moot if in fact Green has been given a new contract, which I dont actually know if he has or not, hence my question above.

Surely being able to catch a cross should be a prerequisite for a top flight keeper? It certainly is in my book and for many others that follow the English game. It would appear that attitudes on the continent and in South America are somewhat different and as such Cesar should take himself back there in my opinion!

[Stanley]

Surely being able to catch a cross should be a prerequisite for a top flight keeper?

Of course it is. That is not in question. It boils down to percentages and quick decision making - these key attributes are what can make a GK world class.

As that cross is being made a GK, based on his position; the pace, angle and trajectory of the ball; and his awareness of the opposing players and team-mates' positions; must make a decision in that instance whether he has a better chance of catching it OR punching it away to safety. That split second decision will be based on which he judges will produce the safest outcome.

I made it clear I was speaking generally. Therefore this is not to say that in certain instances a foreign GK would catch it and a British GK would punch it. This general difference I'm referring to is a cultural one, not necessarily one being more effective than the other.

[Tarbie]

Of course it is. That is not in question. It boils down to percentages and quick decision making - these key attributes are what makes a GK world class.

As that cross is being made a GK, based on his position; the pace, angle and trajectory of the ball; and his awareness of the opposing players and team-mates' positions; must make a decision in that instance whether he has a better chance of catching it OR punching it away to safety. That split second decision will be based on which he judges will produce the safest outcome.

I made it clear I was speaking generally. Therefore this is not to say that in certain instances a foreign GK would catch it and a British GK would punch it. This general difference I'm referring to is a cultural one, not necessarily one being more effective than the other.

Oh ok.......well I'm saying being able to catch a cross is more effective than not being able to! lol

[Stanley]

Oh ok.......well I'm saying being able to catch a cross is more effective than not being able to! lol

Quite right but, as I said earlier, only if you can be sure of catching it and not being pressured/intimidated into making an error, fumbling it and presenting a striker with a straightforward tap in - which could be avoided by the alternative of punching away to safety - hence back to the quick decision-making.

Ultimately the best goalkeepers in the world will use both methods depending on the situation, but will generally be better at one over the other.

[Tarbie]

Quite right but, as I said earlier, only if you can be sure of catching it and not being pressured into making an error, fumbling it and presenting a striker with a straightforward tap in - which could be avoided by the alternative of punching away to safety - hence back to quick decision-making.

Ultimately the best goalkeepers in the world will use both methods depending on the situation, but will generally be better at one over the other.

You're over-analysing it mate, a top flight keeper should be able to catch a cross.............end of! Try all you like to justify why Cesar punches sometimes, the fact is he's useless under a high ball!

[Stanley]

You're over-analysing it mate

I dont think so mate. Top flight goal-keeping is quite an art, but I'm happy to disagree over it!

[Tarbie]

I dont think so mate. Top flight goal-keeping is quite an art, but I'm happy to disagree over it!

Opinions and all that!

[QPRDave]

Bottom line is he was a major part of a shambles of a team it has been my dismay to watch for decades and yes his displays were as costly as any.
Why any clear minded QPR fan would advocate his return baffles me. Yes opinions are different so yes i can hear some thinking he is the better keeper, but we have
a gk in Rob, who is popular, respected as well as excellent at his job.
Julio Cesar was prepared in the buildup to a world cup to sit on his hands rather than go elsewhere. I read on another forum he was offered just £20,000 less to leave us
and he refused it, now i don't know if this is true obviously, but for some reason it wouldn't surprise me of him.

[fisnik]

Yes he is the better keeper. No he shouldn't be brought back. It would unsettled the team. Harry wouldn't do anything so silly. I don't know what Hughes was thinking bringing him in when he already had bought Green as a first choice keeper!

[MattyRangers]

Yes he is the better keeper. No he shouldn't be brought back. It would unsettled the team. Harry wouldn't do anything so silly. I don't know what Hughes was thinking bringing him in when he already had bought Green as a first choice keeper!

I touched on this on one of the previous 50 threads on the Green / Cesar debate.

Ability argument aside, surely not a single QPR fan would want Cesar brought back? One of the very few things that we all must agree on is that we need some unity in the squad and to go about the PL in a very different manner to last time and stick with more of the players that won us promotion.

This / last season we have seemingly built up a great team morale / spirit and Green is one of those that is core to that - he has been ever present all season & is a key part of the squad. What sort of message would bombing him out and bringing back in Cesar (who was offered to numerous clubs around Europe but was happy to sit & collect his wage)?! Would be a shocking decision. Let's just cash in on Cesar.

[Geng]

Bottom line is he was a major part of a shambles of a team it has been my dismay to watch for decades and yes his displays were as costly as any.
Why any clear minded QPR fan would advocate his return baffles me. Yes opinions are different so yes i can hear some thinking he is the better keeper, but we have
a gk in Rob, who is popular, respected as well as excellent at his job.
Julio Cesar was prepared in the buildup to a world cup to sit on his hands rather than go elsewhere. I read on another forum he was offered just £20,000 less to leave us
and he refused it, now i don't know if this is true obviously, but for some reason it wouldn't surprise me of him.

you mean three days wages upfront didn't convince him to tear up a 1.5 year contract worth several million quid?!?!

BURN THE MERCENARY AT THE STAKE

[Geng]

and for the umpteenth time, hate on Cesar all you like, but lets remember why the two joined us:

Cesar - sat on the bench at Inter, wanted first team football and a new challenge. QPR offer him way more £££ than anyone else

Green - just been promoted with West Ham, already had first team football. QPR offer him way more £££ than anyone else

SPOT THE MERCENARY

[QPRDave]

you mean three days wages upfront didn't convince him to tear up a 1.5 year contract worth several million quid?!?!

BURN THE MERCENARY AT THE STAKE

Wtf are you talking about?...he was offered 20,000 less per week to go and play if true....so if he was on 100,000 a week he couldve earned 80,000 per week....could he not live on that?
yeah i agree got any matches?

[QPRDave]

and for the umpteenth time, hate on Cesar all you like, but lets remember why the two joined us:

Cesar - sat on the bench at Inter, wanted first team football and a new challenge. QPR offer him way more £££ than anyone else

Green - just been promoted with West Ham, already had first team football. QPR offer him way more £££ than anyone else

SPOT THE MERCENARY

spot the better all round keeper....he was at wembley

[Kevin Mcleod]

Geng only seems to like and speak up for the players that dont play for us anymore but trouser millions. Whats your thoughts on SWP geng? Thoroughly good bloke?