Woodman: "Power, Strength And Agility"

By Tom Easterby

Andy Woodman took time to speak to nufc.co.uk this week about the challenges awaiting United's goalkeepers as pre-season got underway.

The Magpies' goalkeeping coach, who made more than 400 league appearances between the sticks during a 17-year career, is responsible for ensuring the likes of Tim Krul, Rob Elliot, Jak Alnwick and his own son, Freddie, are physically and technically prepared to excel come the start of the campaign.

"We work intensely in pre-season with the goalkeepers," explained the former Northampton Town, Oxford United and Colchester United custodian.

"The repetitions we do are longer and harder, and it is all about getting the bodies back in to diving up and down, over and over again."

While pre-season is traditionally regarded as a period of intense physical graft for outfield players, Woodman insisted that, while perhaps not quite as running-orientated, Newcastle's stoppers follow their own specific programme to get them in shape for the new season.

"There isn't as much running as the outfield players, although the lads' fitness is high. But all our training is geared to power, strength and agility," explained the 42-year-old.

"We work alongside the players but when they are doing their running we are doing our own high-intensity goalkeeping.

United's players are all made aware of their own individual fitness goals before they break up for the close-season.

Woodman himself readily admits that pre-season wasn't a particularly enjoyable period during his own playing days, but acknowledges the progress that has been made in both coaching and sport science that have changed the way goalkeepers are readied for the long, gruelling slog ahead.

"The boys are given targets before we leave," he revealed.

"Of course we want them to enjoy their breaks - they have to switch off - but they have all come back champing at the bit and raring to go. They are expected to look after themselves during the summer and have come back in good shape.

"I hated it (as a player)! I don't look like I'm built for running, do I?

"It's changed a little bit over the years though. When I played, the goalkeepers did all the running, and I could never understand why I was doing marathons with the outfield boys.

"Since then the science of football and goalkeeping has changed but they will still be working very hard between now and the end of the season.

"I love being on the other side of it now, cracking the whip!" he added. "But in fairness, these guys just eat it up, they love it."

Number one Tim Krul's heroics at the World Cup in Brazil highlighted the strength of United's goalkeeping department, and with Elliot - another international - an able understudy and youngsters Alnwick and Woodman junior waiting in the wings, Andy reckons that United's future is in safe hands.

"I'm delighted to be back and looking forward to what lies ahead for our young goalkeepers and the more experienced ones too," he said.

"It could be an exciting season."