Keepers

[SE1Blade]

Probably one for Darren:
What's the most number of keepers that have started a league game in a season for The Blades?

This season we could have Bunn, Bennett, Ikeme, Simonsen & Kenny all starting a league game.

I remember a season in the mid-80's when we had a few keepers. If I remember right: Leaning, Hansbury, Segers, Tomlinson, Burridge??

Can anyone remember any other seasons when we've had so many keepers?

 

[Revolution]

I remember a season in the mid-80's when we had a few keepers. If I remember right: Leaning, Hansbury, Segers, Tomlinson, Burridge??

In 1987-8 we used 4: Leaning, Hansbury, Segers and Benstead. Tomlinson and Burridge had gone by then.

I think 4 starting keepers in league games is the club record. It also happened in:

1979-80 (Poole, Ramsbottom, Richardson, Conroy).
1991-2 (Day, Tracey, Kite, Rees)
2003-4 (Kenny, Gerrard, Baxter, Fettis)

In both 1987-8 and 2003-4 an outfield player also took a turn in goal due to injury (Stancliffe at WBA and Jags at Palace respectively)

So far this season it's 3 different starters, and as Kenny is to return and Bunn is gone 5 is certainly a possibility.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I find it strange that we sign an International goalkeeper and then suggest that an away trip to Donny might be too much for him and we don't want to dent his confidence.

 

[Micalijo]

'Strange'? I'd rather call it 'pathetic management'. Why sign players who he doesn't trust? It is an absolute disgrace. He moans about lack of resources yet signs plenty of players who he doesn't play.

 

[Foxy]

'Strange'? I'd rather call it 'pathetic management'. Why sign players who he doesn't trust? It is an absolute disgrace. He moans about lack of resources yet signs plenty of players who he doesn't play.

Or perhaps it's good management, realising he's uprooted a lad who is now in a strange new place, getting to know the english game/the rest of the team?

If we do plan on bringing him into the first team, is it wise to risk him getting off to a shaky start in the current climate and getting the abuse for it and the feeling of failure?

Ideally we'd throw him in and he'd do the business, but do you know his state of mind/how he's adapting to being here?

 

[Revolution]

I would not be in the least surprised if he never plays a first team game.

 

[Micalijo]

Or perhaps it's good management, realising he's uprooted a lad who is now in a strange new place, getting to know the english game/the rest of the team?

If we do plan on bringing him into the first team, is it wise to risk him getting off to a shaky start in the current climate and getting the abuse for it and the feeling of failure?

Ideally we'd throw him in and he'd do the business, but do you know his state of mind/how he's adapting to being here?

He's employed to do a job. Just like I am. My boss doesn't protect me by keeping me away from situations I might handle badly and this is exactly the same. I believe the English game is the same as the Estonian game where a keeper is meant to block, stop, save, kick, throw the ball. If he aint up to it physically/mentally (which I believe is what you are getting at) then it's another bad signing. You can't teach bravery in my opinion.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

'Strange'? I'd rather call it 'pathetic management'. Why sign players who he doesn't trust? It is an absolute disgrace. He moans about lack of resources yet signs plenty of players who he doesn't play.

A slightly anti-Blackwell way of looking at it

I can understand breaking him in gently, it's a new country etc etc but as you've said elsewhere, the goalkeeping job is the same in every country and he's got to get used to crowds sometime. Maybe an away day at Donny is about as tame as he's going to get in this division.

I believe he's turning out for the reserves this afty.

 

[Robbie]

Or perhaps it's good management, realising he's uprooted a lad who is now in a strange new place, getting to know the english game/the rest of the team?

English game? It's not like he is an outfield player, where the game can change quite a bit. He is a keeper, where his job is to stop the ball going in the net.

If he doesn't know the rest of the team in 2/3 months, well I would find that rather bemusing.

If we do plan on bringing him into the first team, is it wise to risk him getting off to a shaky start in the current climate and getting the abuse for it and the feeling of failure?

Ok, lets never play him then. In fact, forget that, let's never play again because we might fail.

Now is the perfect time for him to be given a game.

Ideally we'd throw him in and he'd do the business, but do you know his state of mind/how he's adapting to being here?

State of mind?

If he has problems, then it is bad management bringing an unstable player to the club.

 

[Silent Blade]

I remember a season in the mid-80's when we had a few keepers. If I remember right: Leaning, Hansbury, Segers, Tomlinson, Burridge??

In 1987-8 we used 4: Leaning, Hansbury, Segers and Benstead. Tomlinson and Burridge had gone by then.

I think 4 starting keepers in league games is the club record. It also happened in:

1979-80 (Poole, Ramsbottom, Richardson, Conroy).
1991-2 (Day, Tracey, Kite, Rees)
2003-4 (Kenny, Gerrard, Baxter, Fettis)

In both 1987-8 and 2003-4 an outfield player also took a turn in goal due to injury (Stancliffe at WBA and Jags at Palace respectively)

So far this season it's 3 different starters, and as Kenny is to return and Bunn is gone 5 is certainly a possibility.

1973-74- McAlister, Connaughton, Hope and Brown

 

[Foxy]

English game? It's not like he is an outfield player, where the game can change quite a bit. He is a keeper, where his job is to stop the ball going in the net.

If the outfield game can change quite a bit, surely that is a change that effects him and he needs to be able to read/get used to?

We can simplify any position into a single job.

Ok, lets never play him then. In fact, forget that, let's never play again because we might fail.

I'm saying that perhaps they want to give him more time to settle and bring him through gradually, rather than throwing him into a pressure situation where he could suddenly feel like a hated young new boy in an alien country.

If we have the option to bring in a tried and tested option who isn't as potentially susceptable to that, then I think thats what they'd prefer to do.

State of mind?

If he has problems, then it is bad management bringing an unstable player to the club.

You are having a laugh on this one. If you think it's bad management to have unsettled players, players with personal issues, players with problems adapting, players with psychological issues then we'd better sack the vast majority of managers.

The keeper we've had between the sticks most of the season has had a sports psychologist working with him one-to-one, theres only a couple of weeks age difference between them and one of them has the added bonus of coming in from another country.

I'm not saying we shouldn't play him, I'm saying theres much more to it than just sticking him in as "it's his job" and that the management will be considering all these factors in the decision.

 

[Tihane]

if you want him to play regularly for the first team as number 1, then you should do the switch during pre-season preparations if possible. If you just need a cover for a while, or somebody on the bench - then push him right into the hot action (in a situation where many are still hoping for a playoff position - and can easily lose their nerves) and see whether he survives.

 

[Robbie]

If the outfield game can change quite a bit, surely that is a change that effects him and he needs to be able to read/get used to?

This is why he will be training with the first team.

I'm saying that perhaps they want to give him more time to settle and bring him through gradually, rather than throwing him into a pressure situation where he could suddenly feel like a hated young new boy in an alien country.

Kenny will be back as number oe permenantly as of next season, perhaps this one.
When do you suggest bringing him through? A cup competition every so often, where we don't even take it serious?

You could argue that he could feel like a 'hated young new boy' by being left out of the team all the time, he might feel like he is unwanted, he might feel that he will never get his chance because when there is only Bennett to choose from - we decide to bring in another replacement.

You are having a laugh on this one. If you think it's bad management to have unsettled players, players with personal issues, players with problems adapting, players with psychological issues then we'd better sack the vast majority of managers.

The keeper we've had between the sticks most of the season has had a sports psychologist working with him one-to-one, theres only a couple of weeks age difference between them and one of them has the added bonus of coming in from another country.

So..... Where's the problem in throwing him in then?
As you have stated, the keeper currently has had problems.

 

[Foxy]

This is why he will be training with the first team.

So like I said, the idea is to get him used to the English and our game.

When do you suggest bringing him through? A cup competition every so often, where we don't even take it serious?

I have no idea, personally I'd like it to be before long, but I have no idea of his grasp of English or how he's settling. My point is, it's not as simple as he's a keeper, throw him in, it's his job.

Seems I was right in assuming their reasoning anyway:

"It wouldn't be right to throw Mihkel in at this stage of his career - he is still learning English, never mind not having played any senior games yet.

If he was to make a mistake on debut the fans would remember that and we don't want to damage his confidence straight away - he is basically one for the future.

 

[Micalijo]

When would you play him Foxy? When he's passed an English degree at Cambridge?

Ignore my bitterness towards Blackwell and using Robbie's point, I assume you'd play him in Carling Cup next year and then drop him?

You say it aint as easy as just playing him now, I say it aint as easy as waiting for an undefined period of time until hopefully he is ready.

 

[Robbie]

Seems I was right in assuming their reasoning anyway:

In their reasoning yes. doesn't make it right.

Talk of him making a mistake from Blackwell, is basically saying he doesn't trust him to do the job he purchased him for.

I see this keeper going the same way as a number of players, being here for a few years, and then being shipped on.
Sometimes you accept that they don't get a chance for one reason or another, however when a chance is thrust upon you, ie being one of two keepers left available - you have got to be a bit gutted and feel unwanted when they bring another keeper in on loan to basically say - well you're not good enough and we don't have faith in you.