He's only 17

[Jehovah]

And he's our goalkeeper. That was the worst goalkeeping effort I have ever seen in my life. Please god get an emergency keeper before saturday.

 

[Micalijo]

Totally agree. Glad you've put yer head above parapet. A total and utter joke of a performance. Could not give a toss how old he is. Way, way, way out of his depth.

 

[Willie Carlin]

And he's our goalkeeper. That was the worst goalkeeping effort I have ever seen in my life. Please god get an emergency keeper before saturday.

Is that you talking to yourself

 

[TarquinDelouche]

The problem is not how he's performed. The problem is that we've had no real option but to try out a 17 year old kid rather than our supposed 1st choice, seasoned pro of a keeper.

 

[Foxy]

Long will be a good keeper, but as I've been saying for a while, I think he needs to go out on loan to gain more experience.

The problem we have at the moment is that whoever we put in the net isn't helped by a midfield and defence that invite the opposition to attack and make mistakes regularly.

 

[beightonblade]

were blowing abart in the wind ................. midfield, defence a fookin shambles ......Hodgy in the net wud have his work cut out !

were dying i tell yer ....dying !

 

[Micalijo]

Long will be a good keeper, but as I've been saying for a while, I think he needs to go out on loan to gain more experience.

The problem we have at the moment is that whoever we put in the net isn't helped by a midfield and defence that invite the opposition to attack and make mistakes regularly.

On loan where? Hew is useless, years away. Why would say Hereford want a 17 year old in net? Stocksbridge reserves may need a keeper.

 

[sitwell]

To be fair the goals weren't down to him ,one was deflected and Williams and Maguire should have dealt with the others.

 

[Foxy]

On loan where? Hew is useless, years away. Why would say Hereford want a 17 year old in net? Stocksbridge reserves may need a keeper.

He isn't useless and we've got another talented young keeper on the books. You are right though, the problem with being further down the leagues is that there does become less and less point in sending them out.

 

[Micalijo]

First very arguable for me Sitters. Williams did well and surely keeper has to just come and dive on it. Agree, Williams could have whacked it out though which I assume is your opinion.

 

[Toronto Blade]

The board or DW expect a 17 year old to be the saviour,but if they won't spend thats the way the season will continue a keeper with no confidence and another expecting his first electric shaver for Christmas.

 

[Endcliffe Blade]

I've been saying for weeks I'd rather Long come in, make mistakes and learn from them rather than let Simonsen continue to show us all how bad a goalkeeper he is. The opening goal today is a mix up between Long and Williams, from the stand it's hard to point a finger at one of them but either way it should have been dealt with. Apart from that I don't think he's had a bad game and yet we've conceded 4 goals.

Fair enough it is a massive step for a 17 year old in a position where a mistake often results in a goal, but a) we have nobody better and b) he's deserved his chance so let's give him a chance of taking it.

 

[Foxy]

First very arguable for me Sitters. Williams did well and surely keeper has to just come and dive on it. Agree, Williams could have whacked it out though which I assume is your opinion.

Williams' first job is to defend. Nervous back five, 17 year old lad low on experience in the net, the ball should be leaving the area and out for a throw in without a second thought.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Nervous back five, 17 year old lad low on experience in the net, the ball should be leaving the area and out for a throw in without a second thought.

While that's a fair assessment, it's not exactly surprising that the ball will be ending up in the back of the net more often that we're going to be happy with.

 

[silverfox]

Williams closest to the ball should defend first.

Simple.

 

[LSF]

While that's a fair assessment, it's not exactly surprising that the ball will be ending up in the back of the net more often that we're going to be happy with.

In the situation for the first goal, I always feel its the goalie who should take the responsibility to come and take. It was as though Williams was shielding the ball for Long to come and take and George didn't do it. The third and fourth were almost as bad.
Despite all our transparent problems back there, we are still up there somehow? If only we could sort it out (a steady, confident, experienced keeper and another strong experienced defender to put pressure on the current incumbents) then we can prosper. But whilst ever it's like to day then it could be come back Nyron, we need you

 

[beechblade]

George may have not pulled up any roots with a sterling performance but was he solely to blame. Was he shit!

Williams fucked about with the first, LSF George was already there ready to claim under pressure Williams should have cleared the ball. Collins bottled his block and turned his back on the ball instead of standing stong, though it was an odd deflection that wrong footed Long. Monty should have made about three tackles before their player was able to make a cross to the back post. Even then what was Quinny doing playing their player onside, and Harry didn't put any effort into his header and missed it. Still then after Long tried to close the ball down, our whole back line just stood and watched the shot instead of someone covering the line. And this is all whilst considering, Wilson's fucking, tactic was to sit back and try and defend the lead at 3 - 2 instead of trying to kill the game off, when in recent games our defenders have shown they aren't capable of this. There was far more experience on and off the field that were questionable before the 17 year Goalie.

 

[Micalijo]

Williams' first job is to defend. Nervous back five, 17 year old lad low on experience in the net, the ball should be leaving the area and out for a throw in without a second thought.

Why? Why should age come into it? He's been picked for a pro football team, albeit a pub side league. Keepers have to come for that - what does he do in youth team - stay at home all game? Williams did his job imo. I feel like it's a case of please don't criticise George because he's 17.

 

[Foxy]

Why? Why should age come into it? He's been picked for a pro football team, albeit a pub side league. Keepers have to come for that - what does he do in youth team - stay at home all game? Williams did his job imo. I feel like it's a case of please don't criticise George because he's 17.

It really isn't, I've criticised George plenty in the past.

Even taking away age, a keeper new to the side, unless he's made it absolutely clear he wants the ball leaving should be protected.

A defenders first job is to defend. Even if he is faultless in leaving Long to deal with it, what happened to keeping his body between the striker and the ball?

 

[bartman]

1st and 4th goals Long was clearly at fault..Williams would have cleared it for the first if Long had told him too. The 4th goal you would be dissappointed to concede as a goalie at Sunday League level.

However Quinn and Monty were very poor today put the worst player on the pitch today was Maguire. He has been poor in quite a few games lately and teams are playing off him. Time for LJF to come in at centre half ?

As for Collins,thought he was the only one of our back 4 who tried to defend today and actually did well

 

[beightonblade]

a 17 year owd in the nets ............. just tells yer how bad our club is run !

 

[sitwell]

Williams indecision was worse than Longs and that has nothing to do with age ,if it had been Collins the biggest knives in the knife drawer would be out, it looked to me like Williams actually touched it past him. I do think longs biggest problem (apart from being a wendy fan) is his presence and communication. Can anyone tell me how the Exeter headbutt got un punished btw.

 

[stannyblade]

personally i thought the first was williams fault. 2nd was deflected. 3rd maybe offside and 4th was maguire and long. We do need a keeper and centre half

 

[Deadbat]

Why will Long be a good keeper? I have seen nothing at Academy games (saw 7 or 8 last year) and the Youth Cup games to suggest this. Seriously. He is ordinary I am afraid but as you say should be nowhere near the first team.

As the first goal anyone who has played in goal knows it was his fault. He shuld have come and got the ball. He could see everythign in front of him and whilst some may blame Williams;the goalkeeper has to come and command. He was not great on the third aand the fourth he dithered badl. There was numerous other incidents when he was so indecivie. Whetehr he is 37 or 17; does not matter; he had a mare. He should be nowhere near the first team the rest of the season btu unfortuneatley nor should Simonsen. He has to get a keeper in. And a centre half. We look woeful at the back and when teams like Exter score 4 and could have had a lot more that says it all about how poor we are.

 

[bartman]

I don't think we are poor overall,just poor at the back.from memory,Exeter had 5 realistic attempts on goal today...they scored from two of those and we handed them the other two. Going forward I thought we were excellant in the 2nd half.

 

[riselikeasalmon]

he's 17 for Gods sake, I don't know if he'll be a good keeper or not , but I don't think he should be anywhere near our no 1. Don't blame him, blame the person who put him in that situation

 

[Sirius]

a 17 year owd in the nets ............. just tells yer how bad our club is run !

Yes, we never won owt with 17 year old Hodgy in the net eh

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Can't believe the flack Long is getting for today. The debacle this afternoon was down to shoddy, powder puff defending infront of him. He might have been partially to blame for the first one, although Williams should be getting shut if there's any doubt whatsoever. Second deflected, third and fourth the keeper was totally exposed by p1ss-poor defending in front of him.

Deadbat from what I've seen of Long in last season's Youth Cup run (Villa at Lane and two versus Manchester Utd) he was United's standout player.

---------- Post added at 12:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 AM ----------

Just seen the goals again and you can defo put the first one down to Willams, Long's come out to collect and the left back's pushed it round the corner. Fourth goal Maguire's fault.

 

[Deadbat]

Can't believe the flack Long is getting for today. The debacle this afternoon was down to shoddy, powder puff defending infront of him. He might have been partially to blame for the first one, although Williams should be getting shut if there's any doubt whatsoever. Second deflected, third and fourth the keeper was totally exposed by p1ss-poor defending in front of him.

Deadbat from what I've seen of Long in last season's Youth Cup run (Villa at Lane and two versus Manchester Utd) he was United's standout player.

---------- Post added at 12:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 AM ----------

Just seen the goals again and you can defo put the first one down to Willams, Long's come out to collect and the left back's pushed it round the corner. Fourth goal Maguire's fault.

I still blame a keeper for the first (whoever it was). He should have come out and claimed well before Williams got there and can see everything in front of him (reminded me of Gerrard/Claude Davis v Pompey in the Prem) and regardless of Williams involvement if he comes and whacks away or dives on, there is no problem. Why was he dithering? Maguire was at fourth but Long got in a bad position also.

I saw Long 7 or 8 times at Shirecliffe last year and he as ordinary. He was at fault for 3 or 4 goals in games I saw (derby game v Weds for instance) and was not totally convincing. In the Man Utd games he should have done better with both goals in the game at the Lane (bad position for first and pushed out a cross for second) and at least 1 at Old Trafford so not sure how you can say he was a stand out player for us?

Dont want to knock him. Maybe he will make a good un but nowhere near first team material yet in my opinion and has been put in a cruelly exposed positon not helped by dreadul defenders in front of him.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

he's 17 for Gods sake, I don't know if he'll be a good keeper or not , but I don't think he should be anywhere near our no 1. Don't blame him, blame the person who put him in that situation

I presume you mean Simmo?