Does George Long have a future here?

[Lane Ender]

There is a reason long was mocked and moore isnt. Its not rocket science

Long was in goal when all the team was underachieving.
Moore has played when we were on the up.
Having said that I’ve got to say Moore’s improved his game a lot since his reinstatement.

 

[sitwell]

Long was in goal when all the team was underachieving.
Moore has played when we were on the up.
Having said that I’ve got to say Moore’s improved his game a lot since his reinstatement.

Long was a big part of that under achievement ,he started the pattern for the season at Gillingham

 

[Lane Ender]

Long was a big part of that under achievement ,he started the pattern for the season at Gillingham

Not having that the whole team must take the blame in that era
Oh and don’t forget Adkins

 

[alcoblade]

Oh it was much more than that, and completely disproportionate to what he had done on the pitch. This was probably greater at away games. He was a mediocre keeper for us overall – the treatment he got was a bizarre, own-foot-shooting response from a highly vocal element of fans. I’ve never seen anything like that for any other player of ours either before or since.

Fair enough. It passed me by though.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I was implying that he would develop in to some sort of player, and that future transfer revenue from selling him, or the money saved buying a reserve keeper, would outweigh any tribunal fee.

There is a good chance he will turn out ok and I’d like us to retain him as back up. However from his perspective he should want to play and I’d rather have a premier league loanee sat on our bench than be hampering someone home grown getting a game.

There is a bit of sentiment and I think if he wasn’t home grown (I.e. we bought him young), having played as poorly as he did a few years ago he would have been shipped out permanently, that said I’d like us to show some faith as the lad has shown in patches he could be a good keeper.

Not the biggest financial outlay to keep him for another year versus finding someone else, buying them, giving them a 2 or 3 year deal and them not being any good.

Oh for the days of Kelly and Tracey or Kenny and Bennett. Times were simple back then.

 

[Lane Ender]

There is a good chance he will turn out ok and I’d like us to retain him as back up. However from his perspective he should want to play and I’d rather have a premier league loanee sat on our bench than be hampering someone home grown getting a game.

There is a bit of sentiment and I think if he wasn’t home grown (I.e. we bought him young), having played as poorly as he did a few years ago he would have been shipped out permanently, that said I’d like us to show some faith as the lad has shown in patches he could be a good keeper.

Not the biggest financial outlay to keep him for another year versus finding someone else, buying them, giving them a 2 or 3 year deal and them not being any good.

Oh for the days of Kelly and Tracey or Kenny and Bennett. Times were simple back then.

Don’t think he’ll want to bench warm for after getting a regular game for the Dons
Doubt if he really want to play for us after the bile he endured here anyway.

 

[Chali 2na]

There is a good chance he will turn out ok and I’d like us to retain him as back up. However from his perspective he should want to play and I’d rather have a premier league loanee sat on our bench than be hampering someone home grown getting a game.

There is a bit of sentiment and I think if he wasn’t home grown (I.e. we bought him young), having played as poorly as he did a few years ago he would have been shipped out permanently, that said I’d like us to show some faith as the lad has shown in patches he could be a good keeper.

Not the biggest financial outlay to keep him for another year versus finding someone else, buying them, giving them a 2 or 3 year deal and them not being any good.

Oh for the days of Kelly and Tracey or Kenny and Bennett. Times were simple back then.

Yeah I agree that Long should aspire to be playing every week for the sake of his career. I think as a club though, its probabaly better to keep him.

I think an ideal scenario is extending his contract and loaning him back to Wimbledon again next season, but that's just my opinion.

Sadly Kelly and Tracey were before my time, I've seen the highs of Paddy Kenny and the lows of Steve *shudder* Simonsen

 

[BushBlade]

Yeah I agree that Long should aspire to be playing every week for the sake of his career. I think as a club though, its probabaly better to keep him.

I think an ideal scenario is extending his contract and loaning him back to Wimbledon again next season, but that's just my opinion.

Sadly Kelly and Tracey were before my time, I've seen the highs of Paddy Kenny and the lows of Steve *shudder* Simonsen

Shame. Best two keepers I've seen play for us, although if Mel Rees had been able to continue, and continued to play as well as he did over that short period, he might have been the greatest ever. He was breathtaking.

 

[Chali 2na]

Shame. Best two keepers I've seen play for us, although if Mel Rees had been able to continue, and continued to play as well as he did over that short period, he might have been the greatest ever. He was breathtaking.

Can't have been that much better than Mark Howard?

 

[Gavlar]

Think he'll have a good career but it won't be at Bramall Lane. Very difficult as a goalkeeper when large sections of the fan base have zero confidence in you.

Never understood why United fans were so against him, not even in the top 3 worst United keepers in the last 10 years.

OK go on then, who would be the top 3 worst in the last 10 years?

 

[Gavlar]

The Wimbledon fans think Lyle Taylor is a world beater........just saying.

 

[Slim Man]

The Wimbledon fans think Lyle Taylor is a world beater........just saying.

He has developed into a good league one striker. The potential was always there.

 

[cooperblade]

OK go on then, who would be the top 3 worst in the last 10 years?

Simonsen
Bunn
Howard

 

[Gavlar]

Simonsen
Bunn
Howard

Simonsen
Bunn
Howard

All about opinions i guess.

Bunn bloody hell, forgot bout him! Only played about 5 games though?

As much as Simmo gets stick and will be remembered for that pen, he looked more confident in the net than George has for us.
Also the defense were more confident in Simmo that George.

Howard wasnt great but went on to get promoted with Bolton last year which was interesting that they rated him.

 

[Slim Man]

All about opinions i guess.

Bunn bloody hell, forgot bout him! Only played about 5 games though?

As much as Simmo gets stick and will be remembered for that pen, he looked more confident in the net than George has for us.
Also the defense were more confident in Simmo that George.

Howard wasnt great but went on to get promoted with Bolton last year which was interesting that they rated him.

Bunn was a full season loan

 

[Sirius]

There is a good chance he will turn out ok and I’d like us to retain him as back up. However from his perspective he should want to play and I’d rather have a premier league loanee sat on our bench than be hampering someone home grown getting a game.

There is a bit of sentiment and I think if he wasn’t home grown (I.e. we bought him young), having played as poorly as he did a few years ago he would have been shipped out permanently, that said I’d like us to show some faith as the lad has shown in patches he could be a good keeper.

Not the biggest financial outlay to keep him for another year versus finding someone else, buying them, giving them a 2 or 3 year deal and them not being any good.

Oh for the days of Kelly and Tracey or Kenny and Bennett. Times were simple back then.

You think thay times wete simple then
The goal was the same size and big rough guys like our Billy Tight shirt gave keepers a
muchharder time then Simpler for goalies? I think not

 

[Gavlar]

Bunn was a full season loan

kinell! 32 games according to wiki, I had blanked that from my memory......

 

[Foody]

I hope the lad continues to impress and gets to move onwards. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him do well at this level, just not for us. Unfortunately fans will never trust him and the lane can't hold the most positive of memories for him. You stick the likes of: McEverley, Allcock, Mcgahey, Edgar, Collins etc etc in front of even De Gea and he'll make mistakes. He was part of a disastrous defence, and deserves to take his share of the blame, but I feel he gets blamed for most of it.
For years we all knew we were desperate for a centre back, all that happened was we panic signed any one we could.

Sad times for the club, but when George came through with Harry Maguire in front of him he looked superb. Am I right in saying we kept the most clean sheets in England that season? A potentially good keeper, ruined by awful players in front of him.

 

[Lane Ender]

The Wimbledon fans think Lyle Taylor is a world beater........just saying.

We thought he was a world beater when we signed him
Just saying

 

[mosbolad]

We thought he was a world beater when we signed him
Just saying

Just checked wiki, 46 goals in 125 appearances. Not too shoddy. 27 yrs old so probably at his peak. He was 22 when he joined us and scored 2 in 25 which erm.....isn't that good.....

 

[Lane Ender]

Just checked wiki, 46 goals in 125 appearances. Not too shoddy. 27 yrs old so probably at his peak. He was 22 when he joined us and scored 2 in 25 which erm.....isn't that good.....

Check his record for Falkirk not that shoddy

 

[mosbolad]

Check his record for Falkirk not that shoddy

Ha Ha.... You have a point there! Looking again he was most prolific in league 2 for Wimbledon 23 in 48 games. Falkirk Scottish First Division is possibly lower league 2 non league standard.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Don’t want Nervous Nerys back sorry we’d end up with 3 centre halves defending on the six box , I wish the lad all the best but his future is away from The Lane and he’s probably playing at a level that’s about right for him with a clean slate .But if we need back up/ completion I’ve seen a lot better keepers the last few seasons .

 

[Lane Ender]

Ha Ha.... You have a point there! Looking again he was most prolific in league 2 for Wimbledon 23 in 48 games. Falkirk Scottish First Division is possibly lower league 2 non league standard.

And Cloughy loved them from that league

 

[Houston_Blade]

You think thay times wete simple then
The goal was the same size and big rough guys like our Billy Tight shirt gave keepers a
muchharder time then Simpler for goalies? I think not

Times were simpler in that we had a conveyor belt of decent keepers and one of them was forced to play second fiddle without demanding a move and throwing their toys out of the pram.

It definitely wasn’t easier for keepers.

 

[mosbolad]

Times were simpler in that we had a conveyor belt of decent keepers and one of them was forced to play second fiddle without demanding a move and throwing their toys out of the pram.

It definitely wasn’t easier for keepers.

We certainly have had some decent keepers.

Which ones were demanding a move or throwing their toys out of the pram though? Are you meaning Simon Tracey who went on loan to 4 clubs within a season or so of Alan Kelly arriving when it was obvious he would be getting much first team football? Or even Kelly himself who transferred to Blackburn Rovers at only 31 the peak of his career?

Or more recently? Long and Blackman who have both been publicly praised by Wilder for their professional attitude having been dropped to the bench?

Of course I'm being argumentative here Derek but it is easy to reflect on a golden era and trot out criticism of the modern game and players.

I will of course agree it is never easy for keepers. You are either in the net or out and when out it is likely to be for a very long time.

 

[Houston_Blade]

We certainly have had some decent keepers.

Which ones were demanding a move or throwing their toys out of the pram though? Are you meaning Simon Tracey who went on loan to 4 clubs within a season or so of Alan Kelly arriving when it was obvious he would be getting much first team football? Or even Kelly himself who transferred to Blackburn Rovers at only 31 the peak of his career?

Or more recently? Long and Blackman who have both been publicly praised by Wilder for their professional attitude having been dropped to the bench?

Of course I'm being argumentative here Derek but it is easy to reflect on a golden era and trot out criticism of the modern game and players.

I will of course agree it is never easy for keepers. You are either in the net or out and when out it is likely to be for a very long time.

Going out on loan to get games is fine, and I'm not saying Long has thrown his toys out at all, just that Kelly, Tracey & Bennett were all relatively long serving players who managed to stick around and fight for a place where possible. Going out on loan isn't an issue but as you say keepers need to understand that at some point they will have to be a back up option.

If I was Long I would want to move for first team football, be that in L1 or the lower parts of the Championship. If it's the latter then he might be above us this time next year, you never know. I'd like to keep him and give Chelsea their player back, but I do kind of agree that there has been water under the bridge and he may not want this anymore.

I used to love it with Tracey and Kelly as one would get injured and the other would get a chance and keep it, then get injured and it would swap around. Kelly moved for career advancement at the time, a move to Blackburn doesn't sound as good nowadays.

 

[LJBlade]

There is a reason long was mocked and moore isnt. Its not rocket science

Do you think Simon Moore would be as good playing behind a central defensive pairing of McEveley and Alcock?

 

[sitwell]

Do you think Simon Moore would be as good playing behind a central defensive pairing of McEveley and Alcock?

He would /is ten times the keeper that Long is. I don't think Long ever played behind a McEveley/Alcock central defence pairing ,but if it helps in making excuses for Long crack on. Wilder thankfully sussed Long out early doors.

 

[LJBlade]

He would /is ten times the keeper that Long is. I don't think Long ever played behind a McEveley/Alcock central defence pairing ,but if it helps in making excuses for Long crack on. Wilder thankfully sussed Long out early doors.

I can't recall if he ever played with those two as the central defenders but i'm sure you got my point. Incidentally, in the 4-0 defeat against Gillingham which you earlier seemed to blame solely on Long, he played behind a defence that included McEveley, Collins and Callum McFadzean. Do you think Moore would have looked as good as he currently does under those circumstances?

I'm not making excuses for anybody. Long was poor during that spell, I'm merely saying that everyone was also poor. Kieron Freeman played in the same defence that conceded 4 against Gillingham. He was also poor at the time and was also not helped by the players around him.