We have all enjoyed the Euros I’m sure, the games last night were incredibly exciting, and more to the point should tell us all how much this glorious game we love has missed fan participation. The swans have players and club connections littered all over the tournament. From the academy players in the national team to high profile managers in charge at Belgium and Poland. Swansea City have the honour of having more links than any other Welsh club in any tournament in football history. That’s the measure of the clubs DNA, as it is described as these days. The effect over years of football structure at the Liberty is paying, and has paid off.
However, tonight’s tie at Wembley ( again ) for England has all the hallmarks of a nerve jingling and stressful evening for followers of both England and Germany. We know all about the history of England and penalties against yet another foe, they seem to have many, but this game has thrown up so many instances, far too numerous to recall.
These days of course the science of coaching and ability to teach is the key thing in any training set up. England knew this when they appointed their current goalkeeping coach, one Martyn Margetson. Martyn plies his trade at Swansea City. Yes, another link to this years excellent Euros. He is held in such high regard by the English FA he was permitted to scrutinise Jordan Pickford for Sky TV recently. Unsurprisingly Martyn didn’t hold back, he is after all looking for excellence, and this has indeed rubbed off on Freddie Woodman during his two seasons at Swansea. So much so Freddie is extremely hopeful he can return again this coming season.
Martyn Margetson Swansea City & England head goalkeeping coach : The Sun
Martyn analysed Pickford at a time when his goalkeeping was under serious scrutiny. "The goalkeepers I work with, your hand position is absolutely key to your success. They're the quickest things that can react and if your hands are too low, sometimes the distances they have to travel - when the ball is above your head makes all the difference” His knee bend is too great at times, which means his hands are virtually by his ankles. If he starts with his hands a bit higher, then that saving the shot or penalty becomes easier. Jordans hands need to start higher that makes a save a touch easier. "When you get to Jordan Pickford's level, that type of detail, your final set position when attackers make ball contact, are the choices as a goalkeeper that win you and lose you games." This type of non judgemental coaching aiding keepers at the swans and England to learn and improve has certainly improved Pickford’s game
Martyn working with Sam Allardyce
Since then England have had Martyn’s clear attention to detail, and observations on decision making - at ‘hand‘ during the whole of England’s Euros qualification and tournament. Both he and the England keepers have all been working solidly over the last few days with one eye on a potential penalty shoot out, and as we saw last night, one error and you are out. And it doesn’t matter how big you think you are, nor how entitled you believe yourself to be.
Could it be that Martyn Margetson, a proud Welshman actually coaches England to a victory over the Germans tonight ?