As we look back over the season, Damon Carter gives his verdict on the players and what their futures might hold both at or away from the club. Today its the turn of the goalkeepers, and mainly one in particular
Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester City’s No.1
Appearances total – 48 – Premier League – 38 / FA Cup – 4 / Europa League – 6 / Total clean sheets 17
Moment to savour – That save in the FA cup Final
Moment to forget – Punching one in his own net to start the collapse from the champions league entry
The Future – The club captaincy and breaking into the top 3 of Leicester’s all time top appearance makers
Kasper Schmeichel has now completed a decade as Leicester City’s number one goalkeeper, and its fitting that he has ended it with another piece of silverware. One of the abiding memories of the season was that incredible save from Mason Mount at Wembley that was as good as any from the last year and ensured the famous trophy will be Leicester’s for one year. Only a week prior to that, Schmeichel pulled off an equally amazing save from Newcastle’s Joe Willock, emulating his father with the ‘starfish’ type spread.
One thing that Schmeichel hasn’t been given enough credit for is his distribution which has improved ten-fold since Brendan Rodgers joined the club. He has embraced starting attacks and keeping the ball moving at the back where appropriate and reduced the ‘shankers’ out of play considerably. Schmeichel as a shot-stopper seems a lot harder to beat these days, but strangely his save percentage is one of the lowest in the Premier League with only 2 goalkeepers below him.
Errors leading to goals were flawless until he uncharacteristically punched into his own net in the final game against Spurs to begin the fall out of the Champions League yet again. This was a real shame considering how well his season had gone up till then. In the same way he came up trumps to win Leicester a trophy a week earlier, he was unfortunately left wanting with UCL within touching distance.
My own personal gripe of this fantastic goalkeeper still remains though and it involves commanding his area and more specifically his 6-yard box. Although the zonal marking sometimes negates a goalkeeper’s involvement on crosses they do hold the undoubted advantage of an arm’s length. Too often Schmeichel is rooted to his line when his defence needs him to take the initiative (see Newcastle’s second goal in the embarrassing 4-2 home defeat) and punch away from danger.
Still, it’s worth remembering, that if this small complaint was ironed out, Schmeichel would be up there with some of the best goalkeepers in Europe. The guy is a rock and characterises the spirit of the club with his animated personality causing referees and sloppy defenders much earache. He is the first goalkeeping captain to lift the FA cup since David Seaman in 2003. Many Leicester fans will hope he stays at the club for many more years to come. The overall club captaincy seems certain to be within his grasp as does the top 3 spot in Leicester City’s all-time appearance list. Quite simply, this guy is a Leicester City legend.
Rating 8.5/10 – Chances of leaving – 1%
Danny Ward
Appearances total – 5 – Premier League – 0 / FA Cup – 2 / Europa League – 2 / Total clean sheets 2
Moment to savour – 1 more appearance than the previous season
Moment to forget – His part in Eddie Nketiah’s goal in the League Cup
The life of a second-choice goalkeeper is one of patience and more patience. Not just over a year, but over the course of many years. With his third full season behind him, Ward has now amassed a grand total of 14 appearances which takes Leicester City underneath the million pound a game mark at least. With Schmeichel such a permanent fixture between the Leicester sticks, Ward will most likely be philosophical about it, with his game time restricted to when the Danish stopper needed rest, Ward has done okay under the circumstances.
Although his rustiness was notable at the end of the League cup game with Arsenal where his hesitation to block Nketiah was alarming. Likewise, his parried shot at the end of the Brentford game should have been punished. But as Ward continues to be number one for Wales and saves penalties from stars like Karim Benzema he will surely be given more time at Leicester City.
Rating 6/10 – Chances of leaving – 0%
Eldin Jakupovic
Appearances – 0
Moment to savour – none
Moment to forget – none
If the life of a second-choice goalie is one of patience, then the life of the third choice is even stranger (see this article for more). Jakupovic will rarely ever play but he is there to challenge the two ahead of him to be better and be ready in case there is any goalkeeping injury crisis. Rodgers seems happy with his contribution.
Chances of leaving – 50%