How Can Paul Robinson’s Experience Be A Lesson To The 2021 England Squad?

When people are asked to name legendary England goalkeepers, chances are they choose to name the likes of Peter Shilton, Gordon Banks, or David Seaman.

Some may even go as far as to mention Joe Hart, but one name that never crops up is Paul Robinson. A Beverley native, Robinson is a goalkeeper from which the rest of the current England squad could learn a few things.  

With forty England caps under his belt during his stint in the national side, Paul Robinson actually emerged as one of the more experienced keepers within the history of the national team.

This same experience in terms of current-day England keepers is only matched by Jordan Pickford, who still trails Robinson by ten or so caps.

Outside that, the other goalies in contention have only a handful between them, which presents the problem that a lack of experience can create.

It could cause a lack of faith in the defence, especially given that a goalie’s usual responsibility is not only to save shots, but also to coach and marshal a defence from in between the sticks. 

How Can Paul Robinson’s Experience Be A Lesson To The 2021 England Squad?

With experience then comes trust and, with the squad that Southgate has picked, there’s arguably a lack of both of those. There is certainly a lot of potential, but, with an international tournament looming, it’s about instant results as opposed to long term development.

Even with this in mind, many betting providers still have England down to perform incredibly well. Odds of 4/1 with Paddy Power, for example, put them as firm favourites within the EURO 2020 betting odds. This beats not just France with their own incredible squad, but, more interestingly, the likes of Germany who, with Manuel Neuer in between the sticks, has more experience than practically any other keeper at the tournament. 

The case study of Paul Robinson actually presents a nice example for the rest of the squad to follow too. Whilst only remaining England No.1 for the one tournament – the 2006 World Cup in Germany, within that time, he built up a great reputation as a good overall keeper, who ended up falling a game short of equalling Gordon Banks’ record of seven consecutive games without conceding.

However, following a mistake in a game against Germany that allowed them to score their first goal in a 2-1 defeat in England’s first game at new Wembley, he was soon dropped from the starting eleven.

It goes to prove that, if a mistake can prove to be costly at a decisive time, it can cost not only a keeper’s reputation, but their place in the first team. This could be the case for any one of the goalkeepers in the England squad, even Jordan Pickford – think what happened to Robert Green at the 2010 World Cup for another example. 

It can definitely be said that Paul Robinson was a rather reliable England goalkeeper during his stint between the sticks, but can act as proof that, if things go wrong, goalies are quick to be punished.

In what is a young England side, someone with Robinson’s qualities will be needed in terms of trust and experience, in order to step up and lead the team to glory on the international stage for the first time in 55 years. 



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