James Trafford

Trafford's shot stopping relies on genuinely quick reflexes rather than just good positioning, the kind of reaction save that looks unlikely until the replay shows how early he actually moved. He pairs that with distribution good enough to start an attack himself, finding a teammate with a pass rather than simply clearing his lines under pressure. That combination is what modern goalkeepers are increasingly asked to provide, and not every keeper manages both parts equally well.

His reputation for clean sheets was built lower down the football pyramid, where the game moves slower and mistakes get punished less ruthlessly. Carrying that discipline up several levels is not guaranteed, because a goalkeeper who organises a settled defence needs that defence to hold its shape in front of him. Whether his distribution creates chances or invites pressure onto his own goal is the trade off worth watching.