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Conceding six goals in two games is never a good look. But calls from some for Eugene Galekovic or Mitch Langerak to come in to the Socceroos side to replace Mat Ryan for the Spain game are misplaced.
Ryan was the form keeper going into the World Cup. He was playing regularly, unlike Langerak, and playing at a high level, unlike Galekovic. He was playing very well, as his Goalkeeper of the year award in Belgium attests.
Ryan is only 22, much younger than both Langerak and Galekovic, but he is experienced for someone of that age and he is the future. He has more Socceroo caps than the other two and has played in A-League grand finals. He is the right call for the Socceroos.
He hasn’t been helped by having an inexperienced back four in front of him. They have barely played together or for the Socceroos at all, apart from Matthew Spiranovic.
We have a centre back in Ryan McGowan at right back now, and little depth in defence. We are missing several defenders through injury.
So Ryan hasn’t been supported by a stable or solid defensive unit in front of him.
Looking at the six goals that have gone past him in the Chile and Netherlands game, very few have been the Club Brugge keeper’s sole fault.
The first goal against Chile was a bit of a shemozzle. The defence was all over the place and there was some back luck when Mile Jedinak’s attempted headed clearance deflected the ball straight to Sanchez who quickly tucked it away. Unfortunate.
Ryan was back on his line at the point but couldn’t stop the shot.
For the second goal, Jean Beausejour’s, the Chilean was left completely open at the top of the box. There was a complete breakdown of communication from the Socceroos and players of top quality are not going to waste those kinds of chances.
For the third goal Ryan had made a great save at the feet of a Chilean, but the ball bounced out to Jorge Valdivia. With no-one closing him down, he had time to take a touch and then launch a brilliant shot from outside of the box. A quality strike.
Against the Netherlands, a poor mistake from Ryan Wilikson on halfway left Arjen Robben with a free run on goal. With Spiranovic decided to hang off Robben the Dutchman did as he has done countless times before, stroll in and finish with aplomb.
Too easy.
For the second goal, Jason Davidson accidentally played Robben Van Persie onside and he rammed the ball home from eight to 10 yards out.
In the third goal, Memphis Depay was given a lot of space to dribble on goal and take the time to shoot. The ball deviated in the air as it came to Ryan, who dived and got his left glove to the ball, but it wasn’t enough to push it wide.
For a keeper of Ryan’s quality, he will be disappointed that it got past him.
So of the six goals, there is just one that you might have expected him to stop. And that’s not forgetting the several key saves he made against the Dutch late in the second half of that game.
Ange Postecoglou has thrown his support behind Ryan and so should all Socceroos fans. He is the best keeper we have right now and the man who should be between the sticks against Spain. No doubt.
And at 22 years of age he is only going to get better with time.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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