A former goalkeeper is upset at the strategy used by Golden Jaguars goalkeeper Ronson Williams in the World Cup qualifiers game against Mexico which the Golden Jaguars lost 1-3 on Friday at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico.
Overseas-based Guyanese Owen Wilkinson, a former goalkeeper and national table tennis player, said the use of the long ball by the goalkeeper is counterproductive.
“When we gain possession, especially from goal kicks, the defenders have to position themselves to receive the ball from the goalkeeper in order to build an effective offence on the opponent’s goal,” said Wilkinson.
“Having the goalkeeper launching long kicks back at the opposition hoping the lone striker could control the ball and score is counter-productive,” he asserted.
He explained: “The striker is out numbered by defenders and because of the length of time the ball is in the air, the defence has enough time to recover and either intercept and pass, or head the ball away.”
Wilkinson said while the team performed well defensively, there is room for improvement on offence starting with maintaining ball possession.
“I’ll state that Guyana cannot secure a positive result when the opposition has possession for 80 minutes of a 90-minute game,” he argued.
According to Wilkinson, in the game against Mexico, the opposition “outnumbered us in their half as are defending their half of the field.
“And as seen during the match, the opposition had us back on defence after every goal kick defending another assault on our goal.
Even if the ball is kicked long and is possessed by the striker, he has to be exceptionally fast and skilful to outrun and outmanoeuvre the defence to score.
“Also, the midfield players would have to do a lot of running to get deep into the opponent’s half to support the striker after being almost on the 18-yard line defending, and running back on defence to defend against a fast counter attack by the opposition.
Wilkinson argued that having the midfield players doing so much running would open holes in the defense.
“I would like to see the midfield players ‘attacking’ the passes they receive instead of waiting on the ball to get to them,” he said.
Wilkinson, a former Young Achievers and national table tennis player was also goalkeeper of the Georgetown Football Club before he migrated.
