Can Carson replace Reina as Liverpool’s top keeper?
So there has been much hype about young Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson, with Rafa Benitez vouching that the young guy will give Liverpool’s #1 Pepe Reina a good run for his money in the upcoming Premiership season. Question remains, will he replace Reina?
I had a hard time trying to scratch up some footage on Carson, but had watched the U-21 European Championship and was mesmerized by not only Carson’s goalkeeping skills, but the depth of growing talent in the future England ranks.
Sterling talent from the tournament included Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor, and West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble.
Others like striker David Nugent and Reading’s Leroy Lita were also showcasing phenomenal skills. So back to the goalkeeping side of things, I think that Carson has shown some great leaps and bounds over the years, and will definitely give Reina a run for his money.
The following video shows highlights from the U-21 European championship, with some great saves from Liverpool backup Carson during the penalty shoot-out and a great strike on goals.
So what do you guys think? Reina will certainly be Liverpool’s first-choice keeper next season, but what are Carson’s chances of taking over in the future?
BigJ writes at Keeper Skool, the world’s best goalkeeping blog.
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Discussion - 15 Responses
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Carson is a joke, if we can get 5 mill for him I would sell now, he sticks to his line too much and has no presence, exactly why he has won the most caps for U21,s , if he was any good he would be in the first team squad by now.. winning the most caps under 21’s tells its own story
Disagree with you kd, it’s true he isn’t the best at coming off his line and dealing with crosses but IMO, this is something you learn with experience. In fact, I think he’s one of the best young keepers in the world with Ustari, Foster, Ochoa, Adler, Neuer and Carrizo. That said, I don’t think he will be able to displace Reina next season, but one thing for sure Liverpool will the best back-up keeper in the premiership.
Why is the commentary in Hebrew?
How can you say he made great saves in the penalty shootout.!!!! Did you even watch it?!?!?! HE missed about 10 shots, went the wrong way!!! Rubbish
I think he saved one very good penalty. And he had a crack at goals himself, which I think is very brave. Look, I’m a Kop fan and I think he will do great at Liverpool, and be a very good understudy for Pepe Reina.
Scott will be a good understudy. He will put pressure on Reina and will play some good games in cup competitions. However, it will take more time for him to displace Pepe. Not this season.. but he can do it. He MUST be given more games. Reina played in too many last season.
Reina is also suspect when dealing with crosses.
p/s that Waterman goalkeeper also looks good.
Reina’s mistakes also come from the pace of the English game…it can be unforgiving.
What? you couldn’t find an English (or Dutch) broadcast of this match? My money is still on Reina! He remains an elite goalkeeper. Good luck to Carson though.
btw - Reo-Coker & (Anton) Ferdinand need to practice their penalty shots. They looked like they were playing for the senior England club (apologies to Gerrard & Hargreaves).
First, he needs to play like Snoogy Doogy. Then he can talk about replacing Reina as No.1. LOL
He saved one penalty and missed the others, he’s one for the future, just not the immediate future. Not his best performance in this video.
It will be for the betterment of LFC that he is Reina’s understudy.
What with Dudek whinging about not getting game time, Rafa had no intention of playing him just to make him happy. So Pepe had a free reign on the no 1 spot.
With Carson in the fold and Dudek gone, a young keeper wanting to prove himself and show others he is good enough, it will put pressure on Reina to get better…and that can only be good for LFC.
p.s Shervin….you might want to add Federici to that list. Reading 2nd choice at the start of the season but dont worry by the end he will be no1 and he will be the next Australian no1….forget about Brad Jones, the guy is a muppet.
Well said. I think that Federici is fantastic from what little I have seen of him, and any competition against reina, can only make him a better goalkeeper.
Lets get this straight, Reina is the best penalty stopper in the world right now, that much is universally acknowledged. So why compare Carson to this facet of his game. I too saw the under 21-s penalty shoot out & those dutch boys showed total footy is very much alive. The set pieces were special & many premiership, la liga or Serie A keepers wouldn’t have got to them, they were first rate finishes. Back to Carson, he will not displace Reina this season, no one could, maybe Cech if he gets his form back, but that’s another argument.
Carson singlehandedly made Charlton’s relegation respectable, he gave them fight & kept the pack at bay. The fans said he was the number one ahead of Bent, who’s goals kept him in the England squad & attracted the likes of WHAM & Spurs for 16mm. Carson will grow being around the LFC first team & learn about a different type of pressure. Being a LFC man means pressure to win, which is different to flinging himself around for Charlton. He may only get two saves to make in the reds goal, but he better make them or trouble. That is a completely different type of goalkeeping requiring superb concentration. Van der Saar was more suited to this than getting hammered every week in the Fulham net, but others find it difficult to adapt. Look back to David James, who in my opinion is an excellent goalkeeper, fast, athletic, etc. Won plaudits at Man City & Portsmouth for his exploits, but thats because he was busy all game. Faced with the big one save per half as per LFC he struggled. That will be Carson’s challenge for next season & I hope he lives up to it. Kirkland has been & gone (another fantastic prospect) & I don’t want to lose this one too.
Reina is the best penalty stopper because he cheats and comes off his line early, like all Kop keepers (See: 2005 Champions League Final shootout, 2007 semifinal shootout)
Sorry, still a litle bitter I suppose, haha.
Well i still stand by my convictions that eh will be better for being at LFC.
And it will make Reina concentrate that much more knowing he has an able student ready to step in. The fact that Reina is good at stopping penalties is a moot point. Its the 38 games of the Premiership that mean more to me.