Football has many sayings but some resonate more than others. Most notably Roberto Mancini and Jupp Heynckes have commented that ‘strikers win you matches but defenders win you championships.’
The latter part of this can be extended to goalkeepers – ask any Arsenal aficionado about Lukasz Fabianski. Newcastle’s Tim Krul and Swansea’s Michel Vorm may not be challenging for titles but they are nevertheless at the crux of their sides recent fortunes.
Until November, Newcastle were unbeaten in the Premier League whilst Swansea still have the best defensive record at home. To attain this though, both stoppers have certainly had to be Flying Dutchmen during the campaign.
Krul, 23, has turned in a string of impressive performances, none more so than at Old Trafford as the Magpies picked up a point. However, it was overshadowed slightly by a controversial penalty awarded to Newcastle which received the lion share of newspaper columns in the days after the encounter.
Vorm meanwhile has received plaudits for similar consistency and continuing to grow his reputation as the “Penalty Killer,” a title the 28-year-old picked up in his time at FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie. It’s worth noting how his old club’s fortunes have taken a turn for the worse defensively since his departure. They have conceded 35 goals in the first half of the season – something they never did when Vorm was between the sticks for the club.
Utrecht sit in 14th place at the winter break although the departure of star striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel is another contributing factor to their poor performance so far this season.
It demonstrates how a strong defence provides a platform for any attacking flamboyance. This comes in the sense that as an attacker, you know that should you lose the ball, you don’t have to worry about your mistake costing the team. This is perhaps something players wouldn’t think about openly and is more applicable on a subconscious level.
The Netherlands will forever be associated with Total Football and talented goalkeepers such as Krul and Vorm do give their teams a licence to thrill. Vorm’s Swansea has come closer to emulating the likes of Johan Cruyff. Their passing at times is mesmerising but Roberto Martinez must take credit for bringing a stylish brand of football to South Wales during his two years at Swansea.
Did anyone edit this piece?mistakes such as fabianski instead of szceszcny i think,roberto martinez in here?…gosh..