HEAD TO HEAD

Number two in a series comparing the best players in the history of Manchester City:

Joe Corrigan v. Ederson Moraes

Joe Corrigan hit the depths before he reached the heights, eventually becoming an England squad regular, restricted only by the phenomenal presence of Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton from gaining more than his 9 England caps. The goalkeeping art has perhaps changed more than any other facet of the game in modern times and certain skills are much more prevalent now than in Corrigan’s day, especially in the systems and game plans run by the likes of Pep Guardiola. Here we compare the two great ‘keepers and judge them on their different attributes. With Graham Ward.


Presence in the box


JC: Joe was a huge man, and unusually tall for his era. He did suffer from a weight problem when he first made his mark, but once this was under control following his return after MacRae’s injury at Leicester, he never looked back, and was a commanding figure, covering the whole of his penalty area superbly. 8

EM: Ederson and his ilk are no longer really required to be a “presence in the box” in the old way of things. The goalkeeping art has changed more than any other position on the field. Often it is not even “the box” where Ederson and his peers have to carry out their work, as noted below against Wolves. 7

Communication

JC: An area where Corrigan improved with age, as he built up his relationship with his central defenders like Booth, Doyle, and Watson, which was an important factor during the ‘what if’ 1976/77 season, as City missed out on the league title by a point, although Liverpool could afford to lose their last game. City conceded 34 goals (one more than the champions) in a 42 game season. 7.5

EM: In this era of multinational squads, communication has, as a must, become short and simple. Perhaps it always was. “Out!”, “Back post” and the like still suffice and even Ederson’s scratchy command of English can see him through this. Not the shoutiest of keepers, however. 7

1976-77: Joe Corrigan races back towards his goal as Dave Watson's back pass heads into the net v. Liverpool at Maine Road.  29th December 1976.

Crosses


JC: Again, an unsteady start for Corrigan, who was at fault for the WBA goal in the 1970 League Cup final, by being caught a little flat-footed under a looping cross. Once he slimmed down, his agility improved, and it was then rare to see him beaten in the air by an opposition centre-forward and there were several around who were useful in that respect. 7.5

EM: Ederson often has so little to do that his decision-making can be called into question. He can hardly be blamed for lapses when he touches the ball so infrequently. Having said that, this is not one of the areas of his game where he looks most accomplished. 7

Shot-stopping


JC: This was an issue for him at the start and during the early development of his career. However, I can say that I saw the greatest save I’ve ever seen live, when he sprang from a standing start to his left to keep out a point blank range Allan Clarke header in an FA Cup tie at Leeds, and was still agile enough to then pick up the pieces. 8.5

EM: Much more of an athlete than his predecessors in the City goal, his agility is second to none. Able to get down quickly to low shots and to fly high to tip others over. He is built to fly and he takes full advantage of his attributes in this respect. 8.5

Positioning


JC: Corrigan’s positioning was usually excellent and he was very rarely caught out, but he would look back, I’m sure, at one of his England appearances, against Brazil, when he was beaten at his near post. 7.5

EM: Can be caught out, as seen this season when being beaten by shots that might not have gone in, had he been positioned better. Generally aware of his angles and quick enough to right any positional wrongs that can occur. Has been rash on occasion coming out to meet forwards, ending in serious injury against Sadio Mane and a red card for interfering with Diogo Jota in the calamatous defeat at Wolves this season. Also beaten badly at his near post by Anthony Martial in the Derby. 7

Distribution


JC: An area where Corrigan was initially suspect, but, again, a caveat about the laws in place for the majority of his career. Usually a goalkeeper cleared the ball down the field as far as he could, both from a place kick, and out of hand. I’m afraid Joe will always be remembered for ‘that’ Ronnie Boyce goal, and a howler against Sunderland in the FA Cup when he wasn’t wearing a cap in the unseasonably strong sunlight. I saw both! 

6.5

EM: Throws almost as far as he kicks and kicks like a quarterback. If there is one aspect of this goalkeeper’s armoury that puts him in a different class to his peers, it his distribution. Fast, technically adept, with a clear vision of what he is trying to activate, his pinged diagonal slices have opened up many a defence and produced a direct assist for Sergio Aguero against Huddersfield in 2018-19. Let himself down badly in the Derby when setting up Scott McTominay for United’s 96th minute clincher this season, though. 8.5

Temperament


JC: Overall, I would rate this his greatest asset. The way he overcame the early setbacks, and accusation that he was a manufactured goalkeeper, speaks volumes for the man. As I indicated earlier, following his chance return, after 12 months or so he was winning his second League Cup, and his first England cap. Don’t forget this was in the era of Shilton and Clemence, plus other very fine keepers like Phil Parkes (QPR/West Ham). He was rightfully declared man of the match following the FA Cup final and replay against Spurs in 1981, when it seemed the only way Spurs would score in the first game was via a fluke - which is what happened, and, if you’re of a certain age, still gives you nightmares, or has caused a life long dislike of the north London club. 9

EM: A steady Eddie for a Brazilian, who you might be tempted to stereotype as hot headed and prone to tantrums. That would be unfair to Brazilians and to Ederson, who has seldom lost his control while at City, despite taking some stick from on-running forwards. Extremely coolness in tapping the ball nonchalantly about his area with forwards getting closer and closer is sometimes taken for granted. Not immune to the odd rumble, though.  7.5


Concentration

JC: This, too, was a problem to start off with, but again improved with age. As he reached maturity in his career. City had another outstanding side that usually scored more than they conceded, meaning Corrigan had to guard against lapses, as it was rare that City had to defend. Following Malcolm Allison’s dismantling of that side, Joe was the bulwark needed to prevent more heavy beatings for a young and callow team. 8

EM: Along with his distribution, this is Ederson’s greatest attribute, although this season has seen a few lapses, which had not been on display up to now. While Corrigan had an increasingly heavy workload as the City side he played for diminished in capability, Ederson has only known great periods of non-activity during his time at the Etihad. To remain vigilant in the teeth of incessant attacking away from your area of the pitch and overwhelming possession stats in favour of your team mates takes something special. 8.5

Handling


JC: Corrigan’s handling could be called poor during the first stages of his City career, and improved immeasurably as he gained experience. I should add a caveat about general ground conditions, and the fact that the gloves of today were at the prototype stage, by comparison, at the end of his career. If you look at early videos, you will see Joe wearing plain white woollen gloves. The first great goalkeeper to use the type of glove that is common today was the great Gordon Banks. 8

EM: Gloves, balls, pitches, preparation. All these items have improved beyond recognition in the time between the end of Big Joe’s career and the beginning of Ederson’s. The Brazilian’s handling has generally been of the highest order, but, again, this season has seen one or two shots spilled in a range of slightly below-par performances  8

Penalties

JC: I think I can honestly say I only saw Corrigan save one penalty in a 90 minute game - at Maine Road against Newcastle. The Scoreboard (soon to be North stand) end was boarded up, and the penalty was a poor one, and Joe managed to shovel the ball away before he dived under it. I should add I was there for the epic League Cup penalty shoot out at Stoke, and how can you forget the comedy value of a booking at Derby for pacing 12 steps to the missing spot? 6.5

EM: While Ederson has missed out on the possibility of being a penalty shoot-out hero like Willy Caballero and Claudio Bravo in recent years at Wembley and on the road to Wembley (even Aro Muric has emerged triumphant from one shoot-out - v. Leicester - during Ederson’s time at the club), he does have a critical penalty save to his name in the Premier League, salvaging a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park with a stoppage time save from Luka Milivojevic’s weak effort  Also saved from Aubameyang at the Emirates and Dries Mertens of Napoli in the Champions League. 7.5

TOTAL

JOE CORRIGAN 77 - 76.5 EDERSON MORAES