Goalkeepers' Union

Player of the Season is where we begin this week.

How many goalkeepers, if any, were handed awards at EFL end-of-campaign shindigs this term?

In the Premier League (where awards are yet to be handed out) decisions were made in favour of David Raya and Dean Henderson, but against Mark Travers. We discuss whether or not each one was correct.

The Championship's final day saw clean sheets and subsequent survival for Mike Cooper, James Beadle and Aynsley Pears at Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn respectively, while Grant Smith leaps into League Two with promoted Bromley.

A word on Tim Howard, too, who this week gained entry into the US National Soccer Hall of Fame.

This week's pod comes unexpectedly live from the home of Coventry City (it'll all make sense inside the opening five minutes).

In the Premier League, much has been discussed about Tottenham's need for a defensive set-piece coach. Richard Lee, however, isn't so sure. Neither was he convinced Cody Gakpo should have been allowed to tap into an empty after confusion reigned between Alphonse Areola and referee Anthony Taylor in West Ham's draw with Liverpool.

Elsewhere, Seny Dieng is finishing a disruptive campaign strongly at Middlesbrough, Russell Martin's decision to play Alex McCarthy over Joe Lumley at Southampton is discussed and, as tends to be standard practice on the final day of the league season, a number of understudies were given some much-needed minutes - and thus a mention on this very podcast.

More importantly, the Clean Sheet Club King of 2023-24 is revealed.

It is 200 up for GKU and Between the Sticks. A double century. One more game than Richard Lee managed in his career.

To celebrate, we've simply produced a standard episode you've grown accustomed to listening to over the past few years.

In it, we discuss Aro Muric's performance in Burnley's romp of Sheffield United, while also running the rule over his opposite number in that clash, Ivo Grbic. An analysis of the "Ic's", if you will.

Jordan Pickford continues to keep us all entertained with his on-field antics in a huge win for Everton over Nottingham Forest, while Andre Onana and Brad Collins shared saves in a whopper of an FA Cup Semi Final between Manchester United and Coventry.

Elsewhere, Keeper Capers goes into overdrive: Dean Henderson, Freddie Woodman, Aynsley Pears and Vicente Reyes all blessed with the jingle this weekend.

The Goalkeeper Assist klaxon, meanwhile, is sounded for Jackson Smith of Walsall.

Following a mini-break during the international and Easter interludes, GKU is back as per to cover all the key action as Storm Kathleen wreaked havoc with goalkeeping conditions over the weekend.

Jose Sa was caught out direct from a James Ward-Prowse corner, Franco Ravizzoli saw a cross float over his head in the dying embers of the EFL Trophy Final and Thimothee Lo-Tutala launched airmail for Doncaster's opener in a comprehensive win at Morecambe.

Elsewhere, we mark Lukasz Fabianski's 18th substitute involvement, Stefan Ortega's silky skills at Selhurst Park and Performance of the Weekend contenders from Max O'Leary, Luca Ashby-Hammond and Jackson Smith of Bristol City, Notts County and Walsall respectively.

Very rarely can a subject of interviews on this podcast boast a career involving anything else other than "goalkeeper" or "goalkeeper coach".

For Ian Feuer, however, vocations such as actor, stuntman, DJ and even part-time cook come into the mix.

There's also the fact he was introduced to goalkeeping via the nephew of a notorious Vegas mobster, he's son to a musical maestro who worked closely with Elvis Presley and sister to the one-time wife of Hollywood star Mickey Rourke.

At 6ft 7in, he's the tallest goalkeeper to have featured in MLS and back in 1994 became the first US stopper to journey into the Premier League. Two years prior to that, he was involved in the first-ever competitive fixture to implement the backpass rule.

This is the story of goalkeeping's Forrest Gump.

Across the four FA Quarter Final ties this weekend, five No2 goalkeepers were utilised.

Considering the negative narrative surrounding Robert Sanchez on BBC's coverage of the Chelsea v Leicester clash, we look at the implications of such decisions.

In the Premier League James Trafford was dropped for the first time this term, making way for Ara Muric to step in and help Burnley to a rare victory over relegation rivals Brentford. It means five ever-present goalkeepers remain in the top-flight for 2023-24 - can you name them quicker than Rich?

Joe Wildsmith takes centre stage in the EFL with an incredible Save of the Weekend contender in Derby's huge win at home to Bolton. And as a keen listener of the show, he provides us with a full breakdown of the stop via Text Talk.

It's been a while, but the Ramsdale/Raya debate returns following the former's display in Arsenal's win over Brentford on Saturday evening.

Much to be said, and therefore much is discussed.

Ederson's season looks to be hanging in the balance with an injury picked up in the draw between Liverpool and Man City. Basic error or poor goalkeeping to give away the penalty for that foul on Darwen Nunez?

Commentary Corner is back as Gary Neville tentatively released a call for a regular goalkeeping pundit, Jordan Pickford celebrated his 30th birthday with smiles at Old Trafford and Matz Sels comes under the spotlight for the first time since his January arrival at Nottingham Forest.

In the EFL, James Beadle and Dan Grimshaw took plaudits in the Championship and League One respectively, while League Two produced a series of sensational displays in the form of Jack Bycroft, Vicente Reyes and Nick Townsend.

Save of the Weekend (and possibly the season) contender comes from Kevin Dabrowski of Raith Rovers.

Save of the Weekend contender kicks off the show this week.

And that save was made by Bournemouth's Neto, who flew across his goal to brilliantly fling out a paw and pat away Jacob Bruun Larsson's free-kick in a 2-0 win over Burnley.

Alphonse Areola bagged another MOM display as West Ham won at Everton, Emi Martinez put in a superbly solid performance for a triumphant Aston Villa against lowly Luton, and Andre Onana secured a season's first with his eight successful high claims in the defeat to Man City being more than any goalkeeper has managed in a Premier League match this term.

In the EFL, Jed Ward continues to receive rave reviews at Bristol Rovers, Steve Arnold has stepped in admirably for a struggling Sutton and in Grimsby's 1-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, the game saw one shot on target and no saves made. Quite the spectacle.

It's all about Caoimhin Kelleher this week.

For the second Carabao Cup Final in three years, he pretty much single-handedly dragged Liverpool to the trophy at the expense of Chelsea.

Huge saves from Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher had Jurgen Klopp and Virgil Van Dijk singing his praises and forming a narrative which could prompt The Reds into a big decision this summer. Does the Irishman stay or go?

Elsewhere, Loris Karius made his first Premier League start since May 2018, Viktor Johansson continued to rack up his save count in yet another defeat for Rotherham and debut podcast mentions were awarded to Jack Bycroft and Steve Arnold of Swindon and Sutton respectively.

Lastly, a quick word is offered on Joe Hart following the 36-year-old's announcement that he'll be hanging up his gloves at the end of this season.

A select band of names seem to be synonymous with goalkeeper coaching.

Andy Quy is one of them.

Following more than a decade at Stoke City - a period which saw them climb into, consolidate  their status and then drop back out of the Premier League - he enjoyed short stints with Brentford and Burton before being tasked with assisting the creation of an entirely new MLS franchise in Charlotte FC.

Now back in England and reflecting on next steps, he talks to GKU about his ultimate goalkeeping department, how taking time out can aid progression and facing countless free-kicks from Gazza at Wembley.

NB: This podcast was recorded two weeks prior to Andy taking on his current role at Huddersfield Town.