IPod makes the save for Manchester United goalkeeper

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, a 26-year-old who plays for one of England’s top soccer teams, has the sports world debating whether it's fair to use an iPod as a competitive edge during a match.

Faced with the always difficult task of defending penalty kicks when Sunday's game went to shootout, a well-prepared Foster whipped out his iPod to study the tendencies of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara.

Foster watched video of a kick O’Hara took against Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven last year that suggested O'Hara liked to strike the ball to the left of the goalkeeper. He made the same move against Foster, who dove and blocked the shot.

Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele recommended the digital assist, but it was Foster who took home player-of-the-match honors.

"They told me for Jamie O'Hara I should stand up and be strong, and he would probably go the way he did," Foster told reporters after the game. "I have done a lot of research before, but this is an innovation we have brought in at the club."

The rules of soccer, both in England and at the international level, don’t say much about the use of technology -- let alone an iPod -- by players during matches. British soccer's governing body, the Football Assn., ruled that because there was nothing inherently dangerous about Foster’s tactic, there would be no disciplinary action.

It's not hard to imagine professional and national soccer teams throughout the world now loading videos of their opponents on iPods to prep their goalkeepers.

-- Jerry Hirsch

Comments

btw, Ben Foster is not a veteran, he's a young 26 year old keeper with a promising future with Manchester United and England.

[Sean O'Neil]

Ben Foster is their second string keeper who's only really played when they've had injuries so he's hardly a veteran and he's been capped once for England.

[Bonzai]

Hes not bad at all but van der sar is surely the best goalkeeper right now !!!

[John]

Correction:
The Football Association aka the FA is ENGLAND's football governing body. The Scots have their own (Scottish FA), as do the Welsh (Welsh FA)

[Steve]

"Ben Foster, a 26-year-old who plays for one of England’s top soccer teams" - the "one of the" is unnecessary. Man Utd are undisputedly THE best football team - top of the league, league cup winners, current European champions, current world champions and almost certain to win the league this season.

[Taylor]

How funny is it that all us football nerds come out and correct all the little details that some uninformed yank writes in his 250 word blurb about this?! Unfortunately, if everyone watched the EPL for their football instead of the disgusting MLS, soccer would be bigger than hockey in the United States.

[Diego Zidane]

While Van Der Saar may be the better goalie, in this instance, maybe it was better for Man U to have Foster and his iPod!
it's been a weird year in the EPL overall though...http://deciphersoccer.com/2009/03/04/the-premiership-twilight-zone/

[Syed Zulquarnain]

About the iPod thing, I personally feel its not a cheap idea at all, infact theTtottenham guyz should practice shooting inside the goal posts not outside!

[zolar]

Don't know why to complain.//
Ipod just a technology.. The important thing is the physical and mental of the goalkeeper to choose the right way and the fastest move

[Gavin @ hotel manchester]

I think it is an ingenious idea, a little cheeky all the same but if the rules do not state you can't use it then fair play, I dont think O’Hara or Spurs would be to happy with it though.