You asked, he answered.
Over the last few days, hundreds of fans have submitted questions to Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted via social media. We put a few of them to the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalist and here's what he had to say.
That’s tough. Obviously there’s the Philadelphia one, because it was a special feeling having the whole stadium cheer after that save. And the way it got everybody going was special. The one against Portland off the Valeri free kick was very special as well because it was a playoff game and one of those saves you really want to make to help out the team.
On the mental preparation side, I always have 10 minutes before I go out to warmup where I put a towel over my head just to go through my normal routine and make sure I’m ready. In terms of music, I normally listen to Mumford & Sons. It’s nice and calming and good music.
I think it shows what Carl has tried to do in Vancouver. He’s tried to build a very, very strong team. And he has. Obviously, some of these big name stars, their qualities are undeniable. But I think the strength of our team is the team.
That’s difficult, because it’s Danish. Without the ‘U.’ So Oh-sted.
(Laughs) It definitely feels great to get up in those top corners and tip the ball away. It’s one of the fun aspects of being a keeper. But as I always say, and as [goalkeeper coach Marius Rovde] always says, it’s not the most important one. The most important one is to be solid and do the simple things well. Once in a while, a save like the one in Portland comes up, but it’s more important to be solid.
I’d love to say me just so they can laugh at me in the dressing room. I’ve been told I have very, very bad banter. I don’t think it’s that awful, but I’d say Russell Teibert gets under people’s skin. He’s got some good jokes, once in a while.
I’ve studied Valeri and I know that his free kicks are fantastic. Kendall asked if he should go in the wall to maybe block a little more, but I wanted Kendall at the far post because I knew if for some reason Valeri wanted to cross it I was going to be a little further in so I wouldn’t get out to the cross. And also because I wanted the visibility of being able to see Valeri step to the ball so I knew when he was kicking it.
That is normally how I spend my time on the road. I love to read. It’s relaxing and it’s nice to sometimes not be looking at an iPad or a TV or whatever. I read a lot of Ken Follett. I love his world trilogy, where he talks about the World Wars up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. That’s probably my favourite trilogy.
My favourite goalie to watch right now would be Manuel Neuer. He’s so special in the way he moves and the way he does things that I don’t think you can copy him, you can just enjoy watching him play. The one who inspired me to be a goalie was Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. I watched him growing up, like a lot of Danish goalkeepers did, and he’s always been someone I’ve looked up to.
Especially if they’re around that 12, 13, 14 age, make sure you’re developing your skills with your feet as well as a goalie. For me, they need to be just as technical as a midfielder does and just as comfortable on the ball. That would be part of my advice. Obviously try to develop as a goalkeeper but also try to develop as a soccer player.
(Laughs) Normally, if I have a big save, I just celebrate it in the sense that I want to show the team I’m ready and I’m there for them. There’s no go-to phrase. I normally yell at a guy if I think he’s not giving me 100 per cent. Luckily, on this team, we have a number of guys who always give 100 per cent. If they don’t pay attention to the details and don’t do their job, then I might get at them.
I don’t mind the playoffs. It makes for some very fun games and makes the intensity very high. I’d say that winning the Supporters’ Shield is more difficult then maybe winning the MLS Cup because it’s over 34 games and you have to be very, very consistent to win that. But it’s fun having the playoffs.
A lot of preparation. I’ve said all along when I save these PKs that there are video guys who give me all the penalties from this season and last season. I look them through and see if there’s anything I can pick up on. How they move, how they step to the ball, and then making the decision when you’re in there and trying to read the player.
It was the whole package – both on and off the field a great opportunity. On the field, I thought Vancouver was an organization going forward and something I wanted to be a part of. And off the field it was a place I wanted to see – both Canada and British Columbia, being in the mountains and in this beautiful city.
Catch Ousted and the 'Caps on Sunday at BC Place, when they host Portland Timbers in the club's first-ever MLS home playoff match.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and limited tickets are still available.
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