Quote Originally Posted by Syn View Post
The reason strikers attempt to go far post is because the goalkeeper is at the near post, not because it's easier to hit it far post than near post. It was easier for Van Persie to sidefoot it near post than cut through it far post. To me that seems like common sense not just because the technical difficulties of controlling a shot through the laces but also because the angle is tighter. If this wasn't the case, the goalkeeping manual would tell goalkeepers to keep Reina's position but instead you're asked to keep your near post covered.

Szczesny should have saved Ben Arfa's too - I remember saying that at the time. Though the shot was more accurate and lower down. I realise it's not just as simple as 'near post...should save it' but the angle where Van Persie hit it from, the height of the shot and the fact that it was a controlled shot rather than belted, I think it was very save-able.
Well we could go really deep with this I suppose. Perhaps Reina had seen RVP take one far post and assume that's what he would try again, in fact, I wonder if RVP thought about it. It does seem like he adjusts to it, having watched the slo-mo replay.

And Syn, well you've just proven my point. If a striker goes far post because the keeper is near post and I suppose you consider that to be the accepted fact of what players do on the volley, then it'd make sense in theory for Reina to not be touch tight to the nearpost, for a cross ball volley on to somebody's leftfoot and it would've meant Reina had the right angle to the push the ball out of danger (if RVP had gone where I guess most would think he would). It's cat and mouse between goalkeepers and strikers and Reina lost out. He got it right for the save to deny Theo's deflected shot by having his legs free but it's all marginal.