Goalkeepers: An endangered species?

Paul Robinson is not a great fan of the back-pass rule, Roy Carroll will never embrace goal-line technology and the glovesman who enjoys the latest aerodynamic footballs has not been born. Quite simply, goalkeepers do not like innovations. Maybe, just maybe, though, that might change in the wake of the freakish yet alarming events at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday evening.

As Petr Cech continued his recovery from an operation to repair a depressed fracture of his skill at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford yesterday, and Carlo Cudicini recuperated from the serious head injury he suffered in Chelsea's defeat of Reading, calls commenced to redress the balance in a goalkeeper's favour.

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The debate has begun, gathering momentum among several prominent figures within the game and attracting enterprising ideas that, for once, may be welcomed among the keeping fraternity.

"Compared to the days of Harry Gregg, or when Brian Clough had his career ended in a challenge by [Bury goalkeeper] Chris Harker - which shows it can also work the other way - there is more protection now," said Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association. "But I do understand the particular concerns regarding head injuries and I would understand if goalkeepers wanted to start wearing protective head gear.

"It is possible something like that could come into the game. They never wore helmets in cricket at one time, only caps, but the authorities looked at what could be done to improve safety after a number of serious injuries and horse racing did, too. Now you have jockeys wearing protective body clothing as well as safer head gear. If it is put forward that goalkeepers should have protective head gear too, then I think people in football would have a responsibility to consider it."

Considering that Celtic's John Thomson died from a fractured skull after colliding with the knee of Rangers' Sam English in 1931, Taylor's radical suggestion may take a while to catch on. In the meantime, there may be more success in changing the attitude towards challenging the goalkeeper instead.

Taylor was one of many football men yesterday to absolve Hunt of blame for Cech's injury on the established principle that the ball was there to be won. Taylor said: "I didn't see any intent to injure from Steve Hunt and it was interesting to hear Bob Wilson explain that the player had done his best not to put his boot in but, as a result, there was more trajectory from the knee. The ball was there to go for, sometimes the goalkeepers get it right and other times they touch the player and concede a penalty."

Others, however, believe recent advances in the game have rendered that theory outdated. While the risk of dismissal for a mistimed dive at a striker's feet or of ridicule for misreading the flight of the ball has never been greater for a goalkeeper, it is the introduction of the back-pass rule that has had greatest impact on their game. Nowadays the last line of defence often has the added responsibility of playing as a sweeper, and requires the first touch of a midfielder. The chances of contact with an opposition forward, therefore, have increased.

Chris Woods, the former England international and current goalkeeping coach at Everton, explained: "Goalkeepers were always an option before the introduction of the back-pass rule but because you can't use your hands anymore it has given the forward more encouragement to keep running at you. Before the back-pass rule the forward knew the goalkeeper could pick the ball up and would see no point in going for the ball. Now he knows he might have a chance if he keeps going as the goalkeeper might have a poor first touch or clearance. There is more pressure on the goalkeeper now in that sense."

Yet in an era of diminishing physical contact between players, the right of the forward to go in low on a diving goalkeeper remains unchallenged. One agitator, however, is the Aston Villa manager, Martin O'Neill. "There has always been a feeling that back in our day the goalkeeper was punished and no one seemed to mind, and 20 years before that there was all hell to play for," O'Neill said yesterday. "I think the majority of people now agree with this idea that, if there is a ball to be won, you should err on the side of the goalkeeper. I'm not talking about a ball that is a yard away from the goalkeeper, but one that the striker thinks he might have a slight chance of nipping in and getting.

"The other week Michael Brown thought he should have had a penalty after a challenge on Petr Cech, but to me that was a foul. He was too close to the goalkeeper. When the keeper comes out he is only thinking of saving the ball, not protecting himself, but there is protection for the player who is going in with him with his studs up."

O'Neill's view is not an isolated one among Premiership managers. Last night, Arsène Wenger claimed his No 1 at Arsenal, Jens Lehmann, was a regular target for opponents aware of the German international's brittle temperament and that outfield players are granted too many allowances.

"This year there have been four incidents - Shay Given, Mark Schwarzer, who damaged his cheekbone, then you have Cech and Cudicini," said Wenger. "It cannot be coincidence that suddenly in three months you have four. There's nothing to stop players from hitting the keeper. It is too dangerous.

"What has also changed is the power of the players compared to 10 years ago. You have someone like Marlon Harewood [who was involved in the collision when Given perforated his bowel last month]. At his pace and power when he goes into a guy, it really hurts. In some games, Jens has been targeted. There has clearly been a game plan to get at him and that is not acceptable."

The man himself insisted goalkeepers would begin to take more than just the ball into their own hands if they are not afforded added protection soon. "I have never injured a player in my life and I really want to retain this record because I respect my opponents," Lehmann said. "But now if they want to have a go at me then I will have to change my game because there is no protection from the referees.

"This word clumsy makes me really angry because these stupid pundits on TV say, 'That was just clumsy' and 'It is a man's game'. Yes it is a man's game but what you have to consider is these men have children and wives and their children don't want to see their fathers end up with lifelong damage, driven around in a wheelchair or not being able to work anymore. I hope both Carlo and Petr recover quickly. When it happened I really felt sorry for both men. It made me really, really angry too."

A dangerous profession: Frightening incidents involving goalkeepers

John Thomson Celtic v Rangers, 1931.

Thomson fractured his skull and died after a collision with Rangers' Sam English.

Bert Trautmann Manchester City v Birmingham. FA Cup final, 1956.

The German earned hero status after it was discovered he had played the last 15 minutes of City's 3-1 victory at Wembley with a broken neck.

Ray Wood Manchester United v Aston Villa, FA Cup final, 1957.

A year on from Bert Trautmann's heroics, Wood broke his jaw after being shoulder-charged by Phil McParland, the Aston Villa midfielder. United lost the final 2-1.

Serhiy Perkhun CSKA Moscow v Anzhi Makhachkala, 2001.

Perkhun died after spending 10 days in hospital following a clash of heads with striker Budun Budunov.

Shay Given West Ham United v Newcastle United, 17 Sept, 2006.

Given needed emergency surgery for a perforated bowel after being clattered into by Marlon Harewood. Given described the pain as like "having acid poured into my stomach".