Tim Krul was recently blasted for allowing seven goals in with nine shots on target against Lyon in the Europa League, when they lost the second leg of the tie 7-1 in France after losing the first leg 4-1.
But the life of a goalkeeper tends to be up and down as Karl Darlow has recently experienced.
But very good news from last night is that Tim Krul was the hero for AZ Alkmaar as they got to the final of the KNVB Cup after a penalty shoot-out win over second division SC Cambuur.
Tim Krul – after brilliantly saving penalty last night
There were no goals scored after extra time with Alkmaar ahead 3-2 after their fifth spot kick which was converted and – you guessed it – Tim saved the fifth spot kick and he was the hero – fact he was mobbed by the players and the fans for a terrific full length save to his left.
Just when SC Cambuur had to score to stay in the shoot-out Tim Krul made the crucial save.
This is good news for Tim Krul.
It reminds us of how Tim Krul was the national hero in 2014 in the shoot-out against Costa Rica in the World Cup when the scores were again 0-0 after extra time.
In that game the Netherlands scored all four of their penalties and Tim brilliantly saved the second penalty from Bryan Ruiz and then the fifth penalty from Michael Umana to take his country through to the World Cup semi-finals against Argentina.
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal had brought Tim Krul on just before the end of extra time and he replaced Jasper Cillessen in goal specifically for the penalty shoot-out and it worked!
That’s a clean sheet last night for the Dutchman who will return to Newcastle for pre-season.
AZ Alkmaar play Vitesse in next month’s final, so he could return to Newcastle with a cup winners medal in July.
It’s not known which goalkeeper Rafa will have as his number one for next season, but Rafa probably doesn’t know himself.
It could depend on the form of the goalkeepers in pre-season but one of the four between Krul, Darlow, Elliot or Sels will have to leave the club this summer.
Rafa wants three goalkeepers fighting it out for the number one position next season.
Comments welcome.
1 comment so far
AncientC
Mar 3, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Comment #1I cannot agree with those calling for Gouffran to play as striker again – based on the fact he will chase the ball around, and apparently tire out defenders.
Chasing shadows isn’t going to tire defenders out for a start, if the idea is to offer little threat and run around after the ball up front, you may as well play Colback as Striker.
There is a serious problem if we have to resort to tactics of being conservative and hoping to snatch a win with subs late on in the game. Those are the tactics that inferior sides use.