Source: FOOTYMAD
Sullivan deserves a new contract - Lee Butler
Doncaster Rovers' goal-keeping coach Lee Butler is not surprised that veteran keeper Neil Sullivan has been offered a new deal. I think that he has been very consistent again," said Butler."He might have celebrated his 40th birthday in February, but he's still got a desire to play and he has shown that he can still do a job."He has been very reliable this season."When I started playing people used to think that anyone over 30 was over the hill. But players look after themselves better these days and sports science has played a big part in that. "If you look at the top keepers in the Premier League Schwarzer, Friedel, David James, Edwin van der Saar, they are all a similar age to Sully."I've spoken to other goal-keeping coaches, including Aston Villa, about working with older keepers, and Brad Friedel doesn't spend much time on the grass."He does yoga and things in the gym and that's what works for him, whereas Neil prefers to work on the grass and he does exactly what the young lads do,"I've been working with him for two-and-a-half years now and I kind of know what Sully needs."If he was playing on a Tuesday he'd not do as many reps as the others. If the other lads did eight exercises he'd only do four or six."But other than on those occasions when we had got a midweek match, he did exactly the same as Ben (Smith) and Gary (Woods)."Despite being the oldest player on the club's books, Sullivan made the most appearances last season."Hopefully part of the reason that Sully has missed very few games since he's been here is down to what he does on the training field, but luck also comes into it," said Butler."He also knows how to look after his body and he's not missed many training sessions, either."We look to get a good fitness base during pre-season and then it is just a case of maintaining it. Unfortunately for Ben, with Sully having been so consistent, he only played in a couple of League Cup ties and the last league match of the season at Swansea on Sunday."He did well in all three games and he did well at Morecambe on loan and it would have been nice if we could have got him out more."It was always going to be a development year for Gary which he knew would be the case.
