Aston Villa star between the sticks, Zion Suzuki, could be the next Manuel Neuer in the modern football.
Aston Villa goalkeeper has been one of the key men in the club’s history. After the departure of Emiliano Martinez who excels at penalty savings as well as shot stopping, Aston Villa quickly move on to their new top profile between the sticks, Zion Suzuki.
The Japanese international is still 24 year old and his leadership as well as shot stopping skill has been on the standout. Yet, Suzuki brings something more on the table, which Martinez barely delivered well, the sweeper goalkeeper role.
The former Parma man is ball-playing goalkeeper who is comfortable in optimizing his feet to involve in the attacking build-up. His predecessor might have done fairly well too but what Suzuki does and his potentials could even give something new to Villa’s tactics and surely their offence.
Suzuki excels in delivering short as well as long passes upfront. He is certainly an upgrade in sweeper-goalkeeper role due to his ability to read the game. One proof of his contribution with such role was when he launched a long ball to Nicolas Jackson before the Senegalese displayed a one-two passes with Johan Manzambi to score the second goal against Spurs in the last outing.
It shows how Suzuki could still bring something more to his team and perhaps for himself, should he really aim to be the best goalkeeper in the world. His style of play inevitably reminds us of the likes of Manuel Neuer. The German world cup winner is still considered the best sweeper goalkeeper to date. Suzuki can be the next Neuer, should he reach the level Bayern Munich man has achieved in his prime years.
In modern football, there is no better figure than Neuer when it comes to sweeper-goalkeeper role. He is perhaps the ideal one. The 40-year-old goalie is able to lead the backline, occasionally move slightly forward to distribute the ball, not only from the short passes but long ball as well. He could even move further in the six yard box at times to help the attack and score goals, even if it is always risky.
Providing assist is probably one vital contribution to be the ideal sweeper-goalkeeper. Neuer has set up seven goals in his career. He did it four times with Schalke, twice with Die Roten and once with Die Mannsschaft. Germany’s opener in a 4-1 rout versus England in 2010 FIFA World Cup was the fine example. His goal kick bounced far into the six yard box and Miroslav Klose took advantage of it to break the deadlock.
The only ‘flaw’ in Neuer’s career was how his risky move could be destructive to his team. In last game of the group stage in 2018 FIFA World Cup, Germany conceded the second goal against South Korea due to his failure to control the ball in the final third. It put the nails on the coffin of Der Panzer’s world cup campaign.
The closest one to Neuer is probably Fenerbahce’s Ederson. The former Manchester City man has provided more assists than the German legend, with eight assists in his career, seven of which were created during his stint in England while another one was in his last season with Benfica in 2016/17 season.
Ederson is rarely making a run further to the final third like Neuer used to do. The Brazilian international also has tasted the intense competition in the Premier League rather than Bundesliga.
So what can Suzuki improve to reach their level? One thing for sure, is the silverware. Both Neuer and Ederson have lifted major trophies, including the league and Champions League. The former even clinched it twice plus won FIFA World Cup. Such achievement eventually led them to win the FIFA Best Goalkeeper accolade.
The Japanese goalie also need to start providing assist. It is something he has yet to have in his record despite playing in the same style of play with Japan national team, in Saint Truiden and Parma during his early career.
Suzuki is expected to improve his long ball delivery accuracy too. His current rate is still below 40 %. That was his average rate during his stint in Parma too. The higher rate in such attribute could improve his xA (expected Assist).
Both Neuer and Ederson have always had higher rate in accurate long balls. The German’s rate has been constantly reaching above 50 %, whereas Ederson’s rate has always been higher, above 40 % on average. Such would help them set up goals in the game.
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