Coaching The Unorthodox - Part 2

Despite only being two gameweeks into the Premier League season, there are some really interesting trends already emerging around goalscoring and finishing!

Son + Szmodics + Madueke - The type of finish that intrigued me the most this week was the three goals scored by shooting through the goalkeeper’s legs. For each of these goals, the keeper is set with their hands extremely low (virtually below their knees) and their feet very far apart. This could evolve into coaches reconsidering the coaching point of shooting low across the keeper, as they seem well equipped for this.

Smith Rowe + Diaz - Capitalised on the extremely low stance/hand positioning from the goalkeepers as they shot with power close towards the keepers’ shoulder, where it is very hard to lift their hand in time to make solid contact. Too far away from the shoulder would make it easier for the goalkeeper to move their arm to the side, as opposed to close to their body.

Bowen + Haaland - On a similar path to Saka and Kovacic last week with a reverse finish into the near corner after opening their hips and shoulders to set up a far post finish, going against the goalkeeper’s flow and momentum.

Joao Pedro + Faes + MGW (albeit from the follow up) - Following on from Vardy last week, three goals were scored via a downwards header. I believe this a result of goalkeepers not being in their usual ‘set’ position and being very upright as a reaction to a lofted ball (going from upright to down low is very hard).

I would be extremely intrigued to hear from any goalkeeper coaches as to how they think this will evolve in their world in terms of stopping the shot through the legs, which seems to be becoming very common!