On Saturday, Patrick van Aanholt scored deep into stoppage time to claim Crystal Palace’s first win at Old Trafford since 1989. Immediately after the goal, there were questions asked of how Manchester United keeper David De Gea was beat at his near post. Everyone knows that goalkeepers shouldn’t be beaten at their near post, right?



Few things irritate me more than misinformation surrounding the goalkeeper position, and this myth is near the top of the list. If the ball goes in at the far post, criticism rarely follows. But if it sneaks in at the near post, fans and pundits are quick to pass blame. It’s lazy analysis, and something that doesn’t make sense.



There is a quote that Borussia Dortmund keeper Roman Burki attributed to Kasper Schmeichel a couple of years ago that sums up this point: “Anyone who has played in goal knows it’s a huge area and you try to cover the whole goal. You can’t try and cover the whole...