Discover the essential goalkeeping attributes in Football Manager and how to enhance your goalkeeper's aerial ability, reflexes, and decision-making.
Understanding Goalkeeping Attributes in Football Manager
Goalkeeping attributes in Football Manager are crucial for building a reliable last line of defence. From aerial ability to one-on-one situations, goalkeepers rely on a mix of mental, physical, and technical skills to perform under pressure. This guide breaks down each goalkeeping attribute and explains how they interact with other key attributes, helping you develop or scout the perfect keeper for your team.
1. Aerial Ability: Reaching for the High Balls
Aerial ability refers to how high a goalkeeper can reach when contesting a high ball. It’s a goalkeeping version of the jumping attribute, vital for dealing with crosses and aerial threats.
- Command of Area: Enhances the likelihood of claiming aerial balls.
- Handling: Ensures the keeper can catch or hold onto the ball.
- Tendency to Punch: Determines if the keeper will punch instead of catching.
- Anticipation: Helps predict the trajectory of high balls.
- Bravery: Mental strength to engage in aerial challenges.
- Concentration & Composure: Aids decision-making under pressure.
- Positioning, Agility, Balance, Strength: Helps in maintaining stability and positioning.
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- Pro Tip:
- Combine high aerial ability with bravery and positioning to ensure your keeper dominates in set-piece situations.
2. Command of Area: Controlling the Box
Command of Area shows how often a goalkeeper will come for crosses and high balls in the box. It doesn’t guarantee success but indicates a willingness to challenge aerial balls.Aerial Ability: Required to succeed in claiming crosses.
- Handling: Helps the keeper hold onto the ball.
- Tendency to Punch: Dictates if the keeper will punch or catch.
- Anticipation, Bravery, Composure: Aid decision-making and confidence when dealing with aerial challenges.
- Agility, Balance, Strength: Help in maintaining stability and reacting quickly.
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- Pro Tip:
- Pro Tip:For high-press systems, a keeper with good command of area and anticipation can cut out dangerous crosses and long balls, preventing scoring opportunities.
3. Communication: Organising the Defence
Communication measures how effectively a goalkeeper can organise the defence and communicate with teammates, essential for maintaining defensive structure and harmony.
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- Pro Tip:
- A goalkeeper with high communication can marshal the defence, making it more organised and reducing defensive errors.
4. Eccentricity: Risk-Taking and Unpredictability
Eccentricity shows how often a goalkeeper will take risks, such as dribbling outside the box or rushing out to challenge attackers. Higher eccentricity can lead to spectacular saves but also to mistakes.
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- Pro Tip:
- Be cautious when choosing a goalkeeper with high eccentricity unless you have a strong defensive system that can handle unpredictability.
5. Handling: Holding Onto the Ball
Handling refers to how well a goalkeeper can catch and hold onto the ball. It’s crucial for preventing rebound chances for the opposition.
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- Pro Tip:
- In rainy or difficult conditions, high handling paired with strong anticipation is critical to prevent spills and rebound opportunities for opponents.
6. Kicking: Distance Over Precision
Kicking measures how far a goalkeeper can kick the ball, though not necessarily how accurate they will be.
- Creativity & Decisions: Influence where the keeper aims their kicks.
- Passing & Technique: Affect the accuracy of kicks.
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- Pro Tip:
- Pair kicking with good decisions for goalkeepers who can start quick counter-attacks or pick out long-range passes to teammates.
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7. One on Ones: Stopping the Breakaway
One-on-ones show how well a goalkeeper can handle an opponent charging towards them in a solo attacking scenario.
- Reflexes, Bravery, Anticipation: Help the keeper react quickly and stop the ball.
- Rushing Out: Determines how effectively the keeper closes down attackers.
- Acceleration, Agility, Balance: Essential for closing the distance and staying stable.
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- Pro Tip:
- A keeper with high one on ones and rushing out is ideal for teams with a high defensive line, where opponents often break through.
8. Reflexes: Instinctive Saves
Reflexes are crucial for making quick, instinctive saves when shots come from close range. It’s one of the most important attributes for goalkeepers, especially when dealing with rapid-fire shots.
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- Pro Tip:
- Pair reflexes with good anticipation and agility to create a goalkeeper who excels in reactive saves.
9. Rushing Out: Closing Down Quickly
Rushing out measures how quickly and effectively a goalkeeper leaves their line to close down opponents or claim loose balls.
- One on Ones, Reflexes, Bravery: Important for handling situations outside the box.
- Acceleration, Pace, Agility: Help the goalkeeper close down attackers quickly.
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- Pro Tip:
- For teams that play a high defensive line, a keeper with good rushing out and pace can prevent many one-on-one situations by cutting out long balls.
10. Tendency to Punch: Clearing with Fists
Tendency to Punch indicates how often a goalkeeper chooses to punch high balls rather than attempting to catch them.
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- Pro Tip:
- A keeper with high tendency to punch can be useful in high-pressure situations but may lead to more second-ball opportunities for opponents.
11. Throwing: Quick Distribution
Throwing measures how accurately and quickly a goalkeeper can distribute the ball by hand to teammates, which is useful for starting counter-attacks.
- Decisions: Helps the keeper decide where to throw the ball.
- Strength: Determines how far they can throw.
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- Pro Tip:
- Goalkeepers with good throwing and decisions are invaluable for teams that play fast counter-attacking football.
12. First Touch: Ball Control Under Pressure
First Touch is important for how well a goalkeeper can control the ball when receiving a pass or handling an awkward situation. While typically more critical for outfield players, a goalkeeper with poor first touch is more likely to make errors when controlling the ball.
- Composure: Helps the keeper stay calm when receiving a pass under pressure.
- Passing: Affects how accurately the goalkeeper can play the ball after controlling it.
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- Pro Tip:
- For goalkeepers who are heavily involved in build-up play, like those in possession-based teams, having a high first touch is key to maintaining control and playing out from the back.
13. Passing: Accuracy When Distributing the Ball
Passing determines how accurately a goalkeeper can play the ball to teammates. It's crucial for teams that like to play out from the back, as a keeper with poor passing could lead to turnovers in dangerous areas.
- Technique: Helps improve the accuracy and precision of passes.
- Decisions: Ensures the keeper picks the right passing option.
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- Pro Tip:
- For keepers in teams that play short, possession-based football, pairing passing with good decisions and technique is essential to maintaining control and preventing risky turnovers.
Conclusion
Goalkeeping attributes are critical for maintaining a strong defence in Football Manager. Whether your team relies on quick distribution, aerial dominance, or shot-stopping ability, understanding how these attributes interact with each other will help you build a more well-rounded, reliable goalkeeper. By combining the right skills, you can ensure that your goalkeeper is not just a last line of defence but a key part of your team’s success.
