Outfield players in goal - not as bad as you think

Like several topics I've blogged about, this one is fading away like a bad memory. We laughed (if it happened to the other team), we cried (if it happened to ours), and we looked on in bemusement (had probably never happened before). In the days of five, seven, twelve substitutes on the bench, it is a rare beast that we get an outfield player going in goal.

The issue raised it's head recently in the Championship, when West Ham travelled to Blackpool. Last year, football league clubs voted to reduce the number of subs down to five, fearing it was costing more money and stunting development. Of course this also reduced options, and Sam Allardyce, the great innovator, decided to jettison the reserve goalkeeper in favour of a fifth outfield option. The only problem with this is when the one goalkeeper gets injured/sent off/goes mental.

Robert Green was dismissed early in the second half. Big Sam used all his tactical nous and threw Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury in goal. Luckily for him, Blackpool barely troubled him, and he got through the rest of the game with a clean sheet.

But put yourself in the mind of the opposition forwards. The big keeper has been keeping you at bay all day, and has to be withdrawn. The centre-back who has been kicking you all day dons the gloves and weirdly coloured jersey, and takes his place in between the sticks...

Kolo Toure needed the diet pills inserted by goalkeeper

This happened at Bramall Lane in 2006, where Phil Jagielka replaced Paddy Kenny in goal for Sheffield United against Arsenal. The fact that the Gunners started with Jeremie Aliadiere meant no goalkeeper was even needed, but it rubbed salt in the wound of the visitors that the Blades nicked a 1-0 win, with Jagielka making an excellent fingertip save from Robin van Persie late in the game.

The tables could have turned, if you could imagine a secret dimension where Arsene Wenger was a high risk strategist, and perhaps failed to name a reserve keeper. Most clubs have a player who occasionally trains as a keeper, and Arsenal's is van Persie. The Dutchman has finally exploded over the last eighteen months as the player everyone imagined without injury, but if they were chasing a game, and lost the number one and had used all three changes, would they dare put the captain in the nets?

The diving slightly to the left Dutchman

There are various other incidents throughout history, and it even happened the other way a couple of times - Les Sealey once came on for West Ham in midfield due to injury, wearing John Moncur's shirt, and the time Manchester City had David James and Nicky Weaver on the pitch in anticipation of penalties.

From the recent past, Uruguay tried to initiate 'rush goalie' at the 2010 World Cup against Ghana. Only they forgot to tell their opponents. Or the ref. Or FIFA...

Suarez could only be identified by his dental records

Maybe that could lead to a blog about playground football, and the inevitable Ron Manager quotes. Marvellous.