Developing your skill set is more than just spending endless hours on the training field or working out extras at the gym for aspirational, motivated young goalkeepers like Murphy Cooper.
The most crucial aspect of being a good modern-day keeper nowadays is developing a top attitude, which is what eventually distinguishes the best from the rest, according to those who know the game better than others.
The Barnsley loanee is a vivacious individual who takes his work very seriously.
The 23-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Championship team QPR, may look back on his first few months at Barnsley as a rather strong start.
Granted, it hasn’t been flawless or error-free; errors in home games against Reading and Burton serve as one example. I must admit, rare defects.
However, his perspective is one thing that has always impressed, especially in Conor Hourihane’s opinion, who obviously thinks highly of him.
He had used phrases like “a breath of fresh air” and “a big, big plus” to characterise Cooper’s presence there.
The Reds manager has praised him for his keeper skills and also mentioned how talkative he is for a young keeper.
“You have the Ben Foster podcast and I listen to that and he has loads of goalies on and they talk about their experiences,” Cooper, a fixture at the league level, told The Yorkshire Post.
“A few years ago, I also had therapy from a psychologist, which was beneficial. I’ve taken steps to assist with that mental component because it’s a sometimes overlooked facet of the game.
“Goalkeeping is a challenging position since mistakes lead to goals.
“You have to stop thinking about it right away and deal with the goalkeeper coach the next day because it will negatively impact the rest of your performance.
“I have truly worked on it throughout my career, regardless of the objective.
‘Should I have done this, could I have done this?’ is a notion that arises whenever I surrender a goal, and I strive to be a perfectionist. even the ones that can’t be stopped.
“However, the most crucial thing is to erase it from your memory while the game is playing, concentrate on the game, and forget about it.
“Talk to the goalie coach about it the following day or after. I’ve been working on it since I was younger, and I’m still doing it today.”
Cooper describes himself as lucky to have learnt from some outstanding caretakers throughout his time at Rangers, and he speaks of an experienced brain on youthful shoulders.
The Reading native keeper learnt tidbits from former Sheffield Wednesday star Kieren Westwood during his early days in West London.
Westwood is a keeper who is highly regarded for both his exceptional athleticism and his resilient mentality. Cooper learnt a lot from working closely with Seny Dieng, who is currently at Middlesbrough.
He was a true new-age gloveman with exceptional skill with the ball at his feet.
Cooper went on: “I have had the opportunity to work with several incredible goalies, including Asmir Begovic, Seny, Kieren Westwood, David Marshall, Jordan Archer, and Joe Lumley.
“The list is endless… I was third choice during the season when Seny was the best player at QPR, so I flew home and away to see him practise in the hotel, talk to the guys in the dressing room and then go out and perform. For me, it was enormous.
“I took loads of things from his game and it was a really good learning (period) for me to be around these experienced players.”
Cooper’s desire to leave “safe” age-group football and challenge himself at the first team level outside of any perceived comfort zone has also been a significant factor in his growth.
He was excellent on his loan at Stevenage last season, keeping 16 clean sheets in 40 games. He has also dabbled in non-league football by playing on loan at teams like Stratford Town and Welling United.
It’s simple to understand why Cooper is so well-liked at his parent club. Prior to going on loan, he signed a contract extension last summer. Regarding his loans from the R’s, he stated:
“It’s commonly believed that goalkeepers reach their prime between the ages of 28 and 30, and they continue to play for a little while longer.
However, it’s been somewhat of a trend for goalies to go out on loan as soon as possible in order to gain experience, and that’s what matters most.
“I was performing well for the (under) 21s at QPR at the age of 18, and you can train however you like.”
“But the only way you’ll gain that experience is through men’s football. I was anxious to get out on loan as quickly as possible. This is my fifth loan overall, including non-league loans, and each one has been really beneficial to me.
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