The top nine goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues right now who can’t resist a dribble

Goalkeepers tend to be an eccentric bunch.

And, thinking about it, there’s a good reason why. In a role where loneliness is often one’s closest friend. can you blame them for being slightly ‘out there’?

So much is expected of them in the modern game; no longer are ‘keepers there solely to prevent the ball hitting the net. Nowadays at certain clubs the onus is on them to start the attacks.

Some are very capable, while others leave a lot to be desired. But what about ball-carrying? In the past certain players (e.g. Fabien Barthez) loved a take-on. Does that apply to today?

In our quest to find out, we’ve looked across the last two seasons in Europe’s big five league to see if there’s any ‘keeper who has successfully completed at least three dribbles.

And as luck would have it, there are nine (as of August 27, 2018)…

9. Jan Oblak

Age: 25

Club: Atlético Madrid

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 3/3

One of Europe’s finest, Oblak was a wanted man in the summer, but the chances of him leaving Spain’s capital anytime soon look slim. His shot-stopping, above all else, has been lauded. However, Oblak’s footwork is pretty nifty. As much is illustrated by his three successful take-ons across the 2017/18 campaign.

8. Jonas Lössl

Age: 29

Club: Huddersfield Town

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 3/3

Lossl was a revelation last season. The Danish goalkeeper kept 10 clean sheets in 38 league outings, playing a significant role in newly promoted Huddersfield Town maintaining their Premier League status. Never afraid of being on the ball, no ‘keeper playing in England’s top-flight since last August has completed as many take-ons as the Lossl.

7. Baptiste Reynet

Age: 27

Club(s): Dijon and Toulouse

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 4/4

Reynet ended a four-year association with Dijon by relocating to Ligue 1 rivals Toulouse, and he’s still up to his old tricks. So far, with the 2018/19 season in its infancy, the native of Romans-sur-Isère is one of three ‘keepers (alongside Benoit Costil and his successor Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson) to successfully complete at least one dribble. Expect that number to increase substantially before next May.

6. Benoit Costil

Age: 31

Club: Bordeaux

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 4/4

Costil to date has represented no fewer than five clubs, all in his native France, but hasn’t generated a single penny in transfer fees. Today you can find the veteran goalie plying his trade with Bordeaux, whom he captains, and he is never afraid of wandering out of his area.

5. Marko Dmitrovic

Age: 26

Club: SD Eibar

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 5/6

The former Charlton Athletic goalkeeper is making a career for himself in Spain and has impressed with his calmness on the ball; last season, for example, he attempted six take-ons and managed to to pull off all but one.

4. Leandro Chichizola

Age: 28

Club(s): Las Palmas and Getafe

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 5/5

Since leaving his native Argentina in 2014, the San Justo-born goalkeeper would enjoy three years in Italy before joining Spanish outfit Las Palmas. There, he really caught the eye. Chichizola has since moved to Getafe, following his former club’s relegation, though he’s yet to get minutes under Pepe Bordalás.

3. Antonio Adán

Age: 31

Club(s): Real Betis and Atlético Madrid

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 5/5

Atlético Madrid staved off a number of clubs for Adán’s signature in the summer following his impressive displays for Real Betis last season. As the understudy to Oblak, he’s not going to feature as much in the league (as long as the Slovenian is available), but when called upon expect him to be as brave as his teammate.

2. Alisson

Age: 25

Club(s): AS Roma and Liverpool

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 7/7

For a couple of days, at least, Alisson was the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he swapped Rome for Merseyside. To say he’s assimilated smoothly to life in the Premier League is an understatement. So far, after three league outings, he’s kept three clean sheets as well as being the only ‘keeper in England’s top division, to date, who has attempted at least one take-on. And little need be said about the how he chipped the ball over an onrushing Anthony Knockaert on Saturday.

Honourable mentions

Ederson (Manchester City), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) and David De Gea (Manchester United), renowned for their exemplary footwork, missed the cut as they respectively attempted just one take-on (and completed it) since August 2017.

Roman Bürki (Borussia Dortmund), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City), Ben Foster (West Brom and Watford), Petr Cech (Arsenal), Oier Olazábal (Levante) and Marc-André ter Stegen, though, are all one shy of making this present list.

1. Mike Maignan

Age: 23

Club: LOSC Lille

Dribbles attempted/completed since August 2017: 9/10

Once of Paris Saint-Germain, it soon became clear Maignan’s future didn’t lie with the French powerhouse. He has since become a mainstay at Lille, where he’s taken the art of the roaming goalie to another level: nine take-ons completed, from 10 attempts, since last August says this Frenchman is not short on confidence.

The post The top nine goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues right now who can’t resist a dribble appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2NrcDBC