Liverpool's Brazilian international goalkeeper Alexander Doni ready to save the day in the FA Cup semi-final
Brazilian international Alexander Doni arrived on Merseyside last summer on a mission to end a prolonged curse of hapless back-up goalkeepers at Anfield.
Liverpool supporters have become accustomed to wincing as Reina’s deputies flapped their way through an assortment of embarrassing FA Cup and Carling Cup exits, but Doni has pedigree.
The 32 year-old won the Coppa Italia twice at Roma, where he was the established No 1 and rated at £15 million prior to a serious knee injury.
Doni also preceded Inter’s Julio Cesar as Brazil’s No 1, his finest moment for his country coming in the Copa America in 2007 when Doni saved two Uruguay penalties in a semi-final shoot-out, which the Brazilians won 5-4. They went on to win the final.
His last appearance on English soil, however, was humiliating. Doni was in goal when Roma were beaten 7-1 by Manchester United during the 2006-07 Champions League campaign.
After his injury in 2009, he lost his place to fellow Brazilian, Artur, and was second choice prior to accepting Liverpool’s £1.5 million move last July.
With Reina suspended for the next three games Doni will play in two Premier league games, against Aston Villa at home and Blackburn away, as well as the much-anticpated FA Cup clash with Everton. Whether he is still at the club next season remains to be seen.
"Next year, I do not know where I will play," Doni said, "Being on the bench is not great. Liverpool have changed so much. There have been lots of ups and downs, but I'm learning the language and the experience is beautiful.
"I miss [former club] Roma a lot because it always rains here in Liverpool."
His presence against Everton won’t concern Liverpool supporters as much as those who’ve gone before as their substitute keepers have been mish-mash of the inept and the ineligible.
Brad Jones, Liverpool’s third choice, endured a torrid evening against Northampton Town in the Carling Cup last season and hasn’t been seen near the first team since.
In fairness to Jones, he looked like Ray Clemence compared to some of his predecessors. Before him, Liverpool were reliant on French misfit Charles Itandje — a player rejected by Everton after a trial in 2007, but who crossed the road to Liverpool’s training ground and was bizarrely not only granted entry, but immediately given a four year deal.
Itandje made an instant impression on his his first day’s training when he arrived without any gloves and had to request a set of football boots.
His last two appearances for Liverpool were in the FA Cup. He made the Havent and Waterlooville attack look as potent as Barcelona’s, and was similarly ineffective when Liverpool lost at home to Barnsley in the next round.
A week later, Itandje was dropped for good, with Rafael Benitez citing the “psychological damage” of the severe press criticism he’d received. Worse followed when Itandje was transfer listed for fooling around at the service commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
For all Itandje’s faults, at least he was available for selection. Before him, highly-rated Bulgarian teenager Nikolay Mihaylov was signed in 2007 prior to a medical and without a work permit.
Club doctors reported scenes of ecstasy during routine eye tests as the youngster shouted “I can see, I can see” as if he had been cured of a lifetime’s affliction. The miracle cure was a pair of contact lens.
After one half in a pre-season game, it emerged Mihaylov — who has since become Bulgaria’s number one — had failed in his work permit application. He was sent on loan to FC Twente and never returned.
Patrice Luzi, Pegguy Arphexad, Diego Cavelieri and Daniele Padelli complete an inauspicious list of goalkeeping deputies.
Doni will need to end the tradition if Liverpool are to retain hopes of more Wembley success. |