289: Between the Sticks #194
Just like Richard Lee the goalkeeper, we are short and sharp this week. Packed inside half-an-hour of goalkeeping goodness comes multiple Save of the Weekend contenders. Guglielmo Vicario and Jose Sa staked their claims in Wolves' win at Tottenham, while Gavin Bazunu, Viljami Sinisalo, Liam Roberts and James Belshaw fly the EFL flag for Southampton, Exeter, Barnsley and Harrogate respectively....
25m Feb 20, 2024
25m
288: Between the Sticks #193
He may have been on the losing side, but Mark Flekken broke Premier League records for Brentford in their clash with Man City on Monday night. We briefly discuss his start to life in England, in addition to some familiarly rough treatment dished out to Guglielmo Vicario in Tottenham's draw at Everton. A day of deflections, own goals and rebounds occurred in the EFL, where Bristol Rovers young...
35m Feb 06, 2024
35m
287: Between the Sticks #192
Lucas Covolan, take a bow. A man-of-the-match performance from Maidstone's No1 helped The Stones defeat Ipswich and in turn become the first club from outside the top five tiers of the English football pyramid to make the FA Cup fifth round since Blythe Spartans in 1978. The Brazilian takes centre stage this week, along with the rest of the fourth round action where, yet again, "Foul or No Fo...
34m Jan 29, 2024
34m
286: Josh Lambo | NFL Kicker and ex-goalkeeper
Is it feasible for a professional goalkeeper to genuinely consider a career as a kicker in the NFL? That is a question we’ve posed on the podcast many times before. Indeed, Kasper Schmeichel - as you’ll be reminded of in this episode - provided a very frank response when comparing the two disciplines a couple of years ago. Now, we have an answer. For Josh Lambo did just that. Following a sho...
1hr 4m Jan 25, 2024
1hr 4m
285: Between the Sticks #191
Gamesmanship? Cheating? Poor goalkeeping? Anything other than taking accountability? Those are the questions posed when pondering Ivan Toney's much-talked about opener in Brentford's win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend. From a goalkeeping perspective, we look at whether his ball-tampering tactics should have been flagged earlier by Forest - and whether Matt Turner's wall wasn't positione...
34m Jan 23, 2024
34m
284: Colin Barnes | Crystal Palace Head of Emerging Talent
Slightly different approach this week. Colin Barnes is a man with skin in the goalkeeping game. After 25 years in the coaching arena, he's contributed to the development of more than 40 professional stoppers over the course of his career (he may have also been Richard Lee's first-ever goalkeeping coach). Now, as Head of Emerging Talent at Crystal Palace, he's scouring South London to find the...
44m Jan 18, 2024
44m
283: Between the Sticks #190
Foul or no foul? That was the question on, well, some people's lips following Luton's last-minute equaliser at Burnley over the weekend. With James Trafford appearing to be impeded by Elijah Adebayo, a goal was given and the Twittersphere was split. We look at that incident, as well as Andre Onana's AFCON involvement which could pave the way for Altay Bayindir's long-awaited first piece of ac...
37m Jan 17, 2024
37m
282: Between the Sticks #189
A typically unpredictable and reactive window has resulted in this week's podcast arriving a little later than usually expected. However, we quickly wrap up all the key action from the FA Cup Third Round. Big performances from Nathan Baxter, Dan Grimshaw and Max O'Leary helped Bolton, Blackpool and Bristol City take Premier League sides to respective replays on home soil, Lucas Covolan stayed...
22m Jan 10, 2024
22m
281: Between the Sticks #188
Happy New Year to goalkeepers far and wide. We kick off 2024 in reluctant fashion with... Commentary Corner! Yes, remarks directed towards Matt Turner in Nottingham Forest's victory over Manchester United were simply too ridiculous to ignore, so we run the rule over whether they were justified. (Spoiler: they were not.) In the EFL, Viktor Johansson continues to keep Rotherham's Championship s...
36m Jan 03, 2024
36m
280: Between the Sticks #187
Crystal Palace now have a conundrum on their hands. Dean Henderson's welcome to return to action in the draw with Man City most likely means the No1 jersey is his to lose. A No1 jersey which, up to this point, had been deservedly maintained by fellow England goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone. We discuss that and plenty more in this week's show, including a first-ever four successive Premier League cl...
44m Dec 19, 2023
44m
279: Between the Sticks #186
It's been a long time coming, but Burnley have bagged precious points in recent weeks - and the draw at Brighton was thanks largely to MOM, James Trafford. The uber confident 21-year-old made 10 saves to silence The Seagulls in a performance to show the Premier League he has very much arrived. Returning from a short absence was Alisson, whose presence between the sticks aided Liverpool's come...
38m Dec 12, 2023
38m
278: Connor Ripley | Port Vale
Every so often you meet a goalkeeper and think, "Yeah, this lad's got that bit extra." Connor Ripley is one of those lads. After waiting more than ten years to earn a sustained period of first team football at his registered club, the Middlesbrough-born stopper has revelled in his rightful role as No1 in recent seasons. Successive campaigns at Morecambe and Port Vale have garnered rave revie...
1hr 4m Dec 07, 2023
1hr 4m
277: Between the Sticks #185
According to Erik ten Hag, Manchester United's Andre Onana is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League "based on stats". We discuss the Dutchman's claims and look back over his stopper's midweek performance at Galatasaray, before turning attention to Newcastle and a gaping void left by the injury suffered to Nick Pope. If only there was a proven Premier League goalkeeper with world cla...
46m Dec 05, 2023
46m
276: Between the Sticks #184
First on Match of the Day and also opening this week's show are Luton and Thomas Kaminski. The Belgian has been solid for The Hatters since his summer arrival from Blackburn, and a series of saves in a first Premier League home win at Kenilworth Road continues to raise his profile. Andre Onana kept a clean sheet away at Everton and looks like he's just beginning to adjust to life behind an ev...
40m Nov 28, 2023
40m
275: Adam Collin | Mansfield Town Goalkeeper Coach
It's not often you encounter a dog taking part in First Team training. At Mansfield Town, however, Bobbie (pooch of manager, Nigel Clough) is very much part of the furniture. As is Adam Collin, a Goalkeeper Coach enjoying his first full season in the role. Following a morning on the grass, we sat down with the ex-EFL stopper to discuss his transition from player to coach, how he implements hi...
1hr 2m Nov 24, 2023
1hr 2m
274: Dan Bentley and Neil Cutler | Wolves
For the first time ever on the Goalkeepers' Union Podcast, it is two for the price of one. A goalkeeper accompanied by his goalkeeper coach. Dan Bentley flanked by Neil Cutler. We visited Wolves' training ground to sit down with the pair on how they operate, the inner workings of a Premier League goalkeeping department and the implementation of a very meticulous fine system.
1hr 16m Nov 17, 2023
1hr 16m
273: Between the Sticks #183
Normal service resumes on Between the Sticks with a full rundown of the key goalkeeping action from the weekend. Alphonse Areola, winner of October's Premier League Save of the Month, whacked his name in the hat for November's award with a fine stop from Taiwo Awoniyi in West Ham's victory over Nottingham Forest. He could be accompanied by a) Nick Pope who, despite being on the losing side at...
29m Nov 14, 2023
29m
272: Between the Sticks #182
Premier League, Championship and FA Cup First Round action is discussed and dissected this week. The standard debate around David Raya kicks things off, followed by Guglielmo Vicario's almost point-saving performance as Tottenham fell at home to Chelsea. In the second tier, Illan Meslier was praised as "the best goalkeeper in the league" by boss Daniel Farke, while many a non-league goalkeepe...
35m Nov 07, 2023
35m
271: Between the Sticks #181
Raya and Ramsale? Again? Yep, following the weekend's clash between Chelsea and Arsenal, that debate takes centre stage once more. We discuss whether Mikel Arteta's current No1 was at fault for Mykhailo Mudryk's cross-cum-shot, whether criticism of his performance was justified and whether Aaron Ramsdale should be "banging the manager's door down" as some pundits have suggested. Elsewhere in...
39m Oct 24, 2023
39m
270: Simon Smith: Part Two
Following on from Part One of our chat with Simon a few months, this is just a quick clean up where he talks about more of the goalkeepers he's worked with over the years. The likes of Pavel Srnicek, Joe Hart and Martin Dubravka receive a mention, as do some lovely stories of Simon's time with Sir Bobby Robson.
28m Oct 19, 2023
28m
269: Between the Sticks #180
As much as we all try to move on, the Raya/Ramsdale debate continues to bag headlines and, as a result, the centre of attention on this very show. Some suggested the current Arsenal No1 looked shaky in the first-half of The Gunners' win over Man City at the weekend. Taking his entire performance into account, we argue whether such analysis was a little hasty. In the same game, Ederson racked ...
37m Oct 11, 2023
37m
268: Between the Sticks #179
A bit late this week. With Rich over in the US, we opted to hold off until the midweek fixtures had occurred, thus including Champions League action into this episode's analysis. Andre Onana's start to life at Manchester United is reviewed following Tuesday's home defeat to Galatasaray, a first minor slip from David Raya occurred as Arsenal lost at Lens and Napoli's Alex Meret came within a w...
33m Oct 05, 2023
33m
267: Kyle Letheren | Doncaster Rovers Goalkeeper Coach
In the 2020-21 campaign, one name tended to crop up a fair bit during the EFL Overview. Affectionately referred to as "K-Leth" on the pod, Kyle Letheren's 24 appearances for Morecambe in the second half of that season were a key factor in The Shrimps' League Two Play-Off promotion. Since then, it's been something of an itch to have him sit opposite us. An itch which, we're delighted to say, h...
53m Sep 27, 2023
53m
266: Between the Sticks #178
Once again the Raya/Ramsdale debate takes centre stage in this week's episode. With the former in for three straight games since his introduction, we discuss whether Mikel Arteta will stick to his reasoning that each stopper will be selected on a game-by-game basis - and comment on that noticeable applause offered by Ramsdale upon Raya's save from Brennan Johnson in the North London Derby. Me...
31m Sep 25, 2023
31m
265: Between the Sticks #177
Raya or Ramsdale? That is the question. And it is a massive, potentially position-changing question in a fascinating scenario which will no doubt rumble on until the end of this season - at the very earliest. Mikel Arteta has been respectfully firm in his stance that rotating goalkeepers shouldn't be such a big deal; his argument leaning towards how the perceived No1 and No2 norm has never bee...
52m Sep 19, 2023
52m
264: Alex Cairns | Salford City
Imagine making your pro debut and then having to wait five years for your next taste of action. That, right there, is the life of a goalkeeper. Welcome to the story of Alex Cairns, current No1 at Salford City with more than 300 appearances under his belt and plenty more in the tank. We sat with the ex-Leeds man (a few weeks BEFORE the triumphant EFL Cup outing against his former club) to disc...
1hr 7m Sep 14, 2023
1hr 7m
263: Between the Sticks #176
With the transfer window tidied up and normal service resuming, we reflect on all the weekend's goalkeeping action - including an injury-time epic involving Jordan "Don Corleone" Pickford at Sheffield United. A glance is given to the best of the rest from the EFL and last week's Carabao Cup clashes, plus a final look at all the movers and shakers on Deadline Day. NB: With Rich away on post-de...
34m Sep 04, 2023
34m
262: Between the Sticks #175
What is a big save? There be a question which commonly crops up when discussing goalkeeping. Is it the timing of the save? Is it the technique executed to make the save? Is it the magnitude of the game in which the save is made? Or is it just simply a big save? Whichever criteria you plump for, there's no escaping a certain Alisson Becker fell into the big save category at St James' Park on S...
42m Aug 29, 2023
42m
261: Lewis Price | Oxford United Goalkeeper Coach
With every goalkeeper (and subsequent goalkeeper coach) comes another story slightly different to the other. Lewis Price played in the Premier League with Derby, but never really believed he deserved to be there. He initially opted out of goalkeeping when a youth spell at Southampton went awry, inadvertently jumped back in with Ipswich, helped Luton reach Wembley in a two-game cameo and freely...
1hr 19m Aug 24, 2023
1hr 19m
260: Between the Sticks #174
With the Premier League now back in full swing, so too is Between the Sticks. All the goalkeeping action from all top tiers of English football is covered, including the much-discussed double whammy at Arsenal with Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya ready to battle it out for that No1 spot. We also look at Mary Earps' World Cup, victory for Inter Miami and Drake Callender in the North American Lea...
48m Aug 22, 2023
48m
259: Ryan Allsop | Hull City
A slight tweak has kept Rocky out of the opening few games of the Championship campaign, so we've ensured he remained in action as the latest subject in our recent series of interviews. The Cardiff No1 delves deep into his thoughts on goalkeeping, the key decisions required to fulfil a career and just what a precarious position it can be. With one half of GKU away on a very quick break, Betwe...
51m Aug 15, 2023
51m
258: Between the Sticks #173
A bonkers summer of goalkeeping activity shows no signs of abating. Therefore, with just less than a month still to go, we thought it was best to cover off the majority of moves to have taken place thus far. Rich returns to run the rule over acquisitions from all four tiers, plus offering a little reflection on the opening weekend of the EFL campaign and Aaron Ramsdale's Community Shield succ...
37m Aug 08, 2023
37m
257: Tom King | Wolves
Had arrangements gone to plan, this podcast would have been recorded and subsequently released about a month ago. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Because a month ago, Tom King was a goalkeeper who had not long completed a short-term contract in League Two with Northampton Town. Now, he's Tom King of Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers, training alongside Jose Sa and Dan Bentley in...
1hr 23m Jul 31, 2023
1hr 23m
256: Jack Stevens | Cambridge United
After starting his pro career with a close to ten-year stint at one club, Jack Stevens made the decision to switch allegiance this summer. The 25-year-old jumped ship (or boat, more fittingly) from Oxford to Cambridge, signing a two-year deal at the Abbey Stadium in a bid to further an already blossoming spell between the sticks. Touted among top-flight clubs since first breaking onto the sce...
54m Jul 25, 2023
54m
255: Tomáš Vaclík | Czechia and ex-Sevilla, Basel, Olympiacos
Up until now, only two goalkeepers to have appeared on the Goalkeepers' Union Podcast could lay claim to winning a European trophy. Alex Stepney and Peter Schmeichel now have company in the form of Czechia's Tomas Vaclik. After rising through the ranks on home soil, a multi-title winning move to Basel preceded a sunshine switch to Sevilla where he was present for one of the many Europa League...
1hr 2m Jul 17, 2023
1hr 2m
254: Kevin Miller | Exeter City Goalkeeper Coach
Back to the dugout for this one. Kevin Miller enjoyed a thorough playing career. From the top tier with Crystal Palace to the nether regions of non-league goalkeeping, he racked up more than 700 appearances over the course of a whopping 26 years. Now his fortunes have come full circle with a role as Goalkeeper Coach at Exeter City, the club where it all began as a teenager in the late 1980s. ...
1hr 3m Jul 11, 2023
1hr 3m
253: Lawrence Vigouroux 2023
Before today, only once in the history of the Goalkeepers' Union Podcast had a guest been invited back onto the show for a second outing to discuss his or her career. That man was Kasper Schmeichel. And now joining such illustrious company is Lawrence Vigouroux - the man crowned Clean Sheet Club King of 2022-23 and set for an exciting few years ahead. Currently on the verge of monumental care...
1hr 14m Jun 17, 2023
1hr 14m
252: Between the Sticks #172
In the final analysis pod of the campaign, we discuss Ederson's heroics in the second-half of Man City's Treble-securing triumph over Inter Milan in Istanbul, while also looking at the impact Andre Onana had on the game. GKs On Their Way also briefly returns to quickly capture the few moves to have taken place in the post-season, before Rich runs the rule over the past 12 months and offers his...
19m Jun 13, 2023
19m
251: Simon Smith: Part One
Having been out of the cut and thrust of goalkeeper coaching for close to a full season, it was awesome to sit down with a man who's had time to reflect on his career and the fine art of goalkeeping. Simon Smith is the ultimate glovesman. He's worked with one of the most solid No1 and No2 duos the Premier League can ever boast in Shay Given and Steve Harper, he's travelled the globe to expand ...
1hr 21m Jun 08, 2023
1hr 21m
250: End of Season Awards 2022-23
And so the end of another campaign is very nearly upon us, which can only mean one thing... IT'S TIME FOR THE HOTLY-ANTICIPATED GOALKEEPERS' UNION PODCAST AWARDS CEREMONY. Yes, eight gongs are up for grabs in this year's showpiece event, ranging from your standard Goalkeeper of the Season to your not-so-standard Surprise Package of the Season. Before that, we take a quick look at the FA Cup F...
42m Jun 06, 2023
42m
249: Between the Sticks #170
Apologies for the slight delay this week. Travel arrangements (read: Rich on a plane) meant we had to hold off until Wednesday for a full rundown of the final weekend of league action, but hopefully a dose of standard goalkeeping goodness will make up for it. Rather than delve into each Premier League game, we've instead opted to run through the goalkeeping landscape for each of this season's ...
37m May 31, 2023
37m
248: Between the Sticks #169
Once you've negotiated a rather unimaginable tale told by Richard Lee this week, you'll find plenty of analysis on the weekend's key performers in the world of goalkeeping. David Raya pulled off a stunning double save at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (can it actually be credited as a "double save", though?), matched by decent stops from Sam Johnstone, David de Gea and Stefan Ortega - the latte...
50m May 22, 2023
50m
247: Richard O'Donnell
Big Dick, in the middle of our goal, Big Dick... Another goalkeeper. Another unique goalkeeping story. Richard O'Donnell sits down with GKU to recall a career with the type of twists and turns we've not heard from a previously featured guest. From almost falling out of the game a year after his release from Sheffield Wednesday, to bouncing back with Walsall and then opting to join Wigan - a ...
1hr 1m May 20, 2023
1hr 1m
246: Between the Sticks #168
Bosnia's finest returns for another stint in the analyst's chair this week. Asmir Begovic talks us through Everton's defeat at home to Man City, answering Roy Keane's criticism of Jordan Pickford in the process. Jason Steele takes centre stage for his show-stopping performance at Arsenal, Dan Bentley receives a nod for impressing on his Wolves and Premier League debut and the return of Edouar...
57m May 16, 2023
57m
245: James Trafford
Onto the next feature interview we go, this time with the return of Richard Lee to the question-asking fold. James Trafford may only be 20, but the Man City stopper already has a wealth of goalkeeping experience to draw upon. From farmland beginnings in Cumbria to signing for The Cityzens at the age of 12, he talks GKU through a difficult first stab at professional football with Accrington, f...
1hr 5m May 12, 2023
1hr 5m
244: Between the Sticks #167
Another weekend of goalkeeping thrills and spills in the Premier League and EFL. Jordan Pickford was vintage Jordan Pickford, David de Gea was what you could arguably describe as vintage David de Gea and Alisson racked up a 100th clean sheet in all competitions for Liverpool. Of course, the real award goes to Lawrence Vigouroux who was finally crowned Clean Sheet Club King for 2022-23. Seny D...
43m May 09, 2023
43m
243: Between the Sticks #166
Contrasting fortunes in the Premier League this weekend. Bernd Leno and Keylor Navas - the latter of which made one of the saves of the season in the midweek win over Brighton - both put in shifts to no avail in defeats for Fulham and Nottingham Forest respectively. Neto, meanwhile, remains consistent for Bournemouth as one of the signings of the campaign - The Cherries looking safe for anoth...
44m May 01, 2023
44m
242: Mark Crossley
Just when you thought you'd heard all Norms' stories... Another one from the Patreon vault this week with a Nottingham Forest and goalkeeping great. As it goes, Norm couldn't help but hark back to those anecdotes with Mr Clough. However, we attempted to then delve a little beyond the brilliant but oft-told tales he's served up in after-dinner talks and podcasts elsewhere. It's up there with ...
1hr 27m Apr 27, 2023
1hr 27m
241: Between the Sticks #165
Yet another busy week across the Premier League and the EFL provided plenty of goalkeeping talking points. Taking centre stage is David de Gea doing a job for Manchester United in their FA Cup semi-final triumph over Brighton - a game which saw Peter Schmeichel in the BBC studio for some welcome goalkeeping analysis. Aaron Ramsdale, Illan Meslier and Hugo Lloris are also covered for much talk...
41m Apr 24, 2023
41m
240: Matt, Rich and Rousey
Today's Between the Sticks is a little different due to time constraints and Rich having to duck out on an emergency "Goalkeeping Super Agent" phone call. Thankfully, a readymade replacement was with us in David Rouse - the ex-QPR and Stoke City goalkeeper coach possessing a bundle of knowledge on all things our favourite position. Rather than analyse each individual tier as per, we instead p...
36m Apr 18, 2023
36m