One of the most interesting stories at Hapoel Beer Sheva of the current season is actually between the posts. Last summer, at the beginning of Roni Levy and Aliniv Barda’s double-digit signing campaign, Maccabi Haifa’s second goalkeeper, Omri Glazer, joined in with a three-season contract. Glazer signed in the Negev capital after five seasons at Maccabi Haifa, and although he was the first goalkeeper to sign, it was clear to everyone that a more senior goalkeeper would come than him to lead Roni Levy’s back squad. Long before the meetings against Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight (Saturday, 20:00) and later Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Netanya in the cup, Omri Glazer grabbed the goalkeeper’s jersey in the capital of the Negev and in his current fitness it will not be easy to take it.
While Glazer got into things in Be’er Sheva after a long procrastination and many deliberations, Roni Levy decided to eventually go for a senior goalkeeper who could withstand the pressure of expectations and Ariel Harush was the chosen one, when at the same time he had to deal with the criticism that emerged from the crowd. Hemlock came to revive his career as a first goalkeeper and despite the talk around him, he managed to show that he is one of the best goalkeepers in Israel and also the love of the crowd is back.
Ariel Harush’s good season opener was also reflected in good performances against Betar Jerusalem, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, but in the game against the Greens in the first round came a shoulder dislocation that disabled him until recently. Bad, even in the main game of the cycle and just before the team’s game against Scotland.
In football as in football, one door closes and one door opens. Hemlock’s not-so-simple injury led to giving the first goalkeeper gloves to Omri Glazer. The goalkeeper, who will be 26 years old in March, has already stood as the first goalkeeper in the Maccabi Haifa uniform, he knows what the pressure of an audience is in big games, but he probably deserves this opportunity much more due to his first opportunity.
Glazer’s entry into the beams in Be’er Sheva was accompanied by some apprehension, but the defensive players around him felt while moving that there was someone to rely on. Glazer’s future is ahead of him and he has some other good qualities like leadership and decision making, which help him in the right moments, during which he gives confidence to his teammates at the back. From the moment he entered the goal, Glazer conceded only seven goals in 11 games, of which in five games he kept a clean sheet, while in Be’er Sheva he was very pleased with the goalkeeper’s ability.
The phenomenon in which the secondary goalkeepers move to the position of senior goalkeepers is a trend that is becoming more and more realistic in Israeli football, probably in Be’er Sheva. Guy Haimov took the first goalkeeper’s jersey to his uncle was expelled, Ohad Levita took to Ariel Harush and here it happens to Harush again. At Maccabi Haifa, Josh Cohen took the place of Guy Haimov, who has since retired, and holds it to this day. At Maccabi Tel Aviv, Daniel Tennenbaum took the place of Janiotis with great success for two years. And here today, Daniel Peretz is doing to Tennenbaum what Tennenbaum did recently to Janiotis.
In addition, Omri Glazer is no longer the same boy he was at Maccabi Haifa. The young goalkeeper got engaged six months ago and this coming summer he is expected to marry with his heart singing choice, so it’s another step on his path to becoming more focused in football. Some footballers choose to enjoy the good life and not indulge one hundred percent in the profession, but there are players like Glazer who know that the best thing for a career and for life in general is to start a family, where the investment and energy is towards family and work on the lawn.
One of the people who accompanied Glazer in his career, is the legendary goalkeeping coach Giora Antman, who brought Glazer in his time from Hapoel Raanana. Antman accompanies Glazer from time to time, advising and directing when necessary. With the signing of Glazer in Be’er Sheva, Antman He appeared on the sports program on Radio South and did not agree with the fact that Glazer came as a second goalkeeper: “There is no such thing as a first goalkeeper and a second goalkeeper. Every goalkeeper will have the opportunity to be the first goalkeeper because of health or professional interest, the question is what he will do with that opportunity.”
In retrospect, Antman was certainly right and is very optimistic about the continuation of his path. “First of all, so far Omri is not wrong that it is already good,” the goalkeeping coach told ONE: “Sometimes you don’t have to do much to spoil, you can only make a mistake. To the goalkeeper, how significant is it that Omri Glazer has brakes next to him like Vitor, Tibi, Alhamid, and Abu Abid? People have no idea how significant it is to have such brakes next to him.
What a goalie usually needs is to gain experience and not make mistakes. Through bad delivery, bad kick, omission, etc. I’m not talking about saving from the connection, the combination of the quality brakes and its current fitness is what makes the difference. Once the goalkeeper connects to the defense, it’s a good combination. The defense in Be’er Sheva silences the goalkeeper, sometimes a goalkeeper silences the defense. In this case, the defense helps Omri produce quiet. That, in my opinion, is the difference with Omri this season. In the past he had mistakes that created unrest and today it does not happen to my joy. “
Glazer already ripe to be first goalkeeper in a big team?
“His significant test is yet to come,” Antman added. “We are still ahead of him. Beer Sheva currently wanted a championship. If you remember Josh Cohen, he brought in games last season. Omri is doing great things, but his test has not yet arrived. Josh Cohen stopped a crucial penalty against Maccabi Petah Tikva last season, Omri will also face such a challenge this season and it will be his test, we are not there yet. As long as he does not Mistakes that appeal, he should remain as the first goalkeeper. Only in circumstances of loss, or mistake, he may lose his place to Ariel Harush. But even if that happens, he will have to go through it. goalkeeper”.
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