A must sign

[BushBlade]

If players train hard and play regularly there's no reason why they won't improve over time. That's why most players are better at 28 than they are at 23 (it's a general comment so please don't waste your time finding examples of players who decline, I know who Michael Owen and the rest are).
So I'm not really sure why it's so impossible for Howard to improve, particularly with a better defence in front of him.

I've seen Long play for Motherwell a few times on TV and I think he's improved. He looks like a man now, not a kid.

I wouldn't have a problem with Howard and Long fighting it out for the first team spot.

When you read his Dad's opinion on keepers ( and why Shilton won the Champions Cup for Forest) I'd be very surprised if Clough didn't understand the value of a good keeper.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Once again: WILLIS. Give him a chance. Potentially better than Howard or Long.

 

[BushBlade]

Once again: WILLIS. Give him a chance. Potentially better than Howard or Long.

How's he got on at Alfreton? I'm assuming quite well.
Maybe we should loan him out to a L2 club for the first part of next season and see how he gets on?

I haven't seen him play but he does seem to be highly rated.

 

[Newbury Blade]

He let in five at home to Macclesfield but someone else was in goal when they leaked seven at Bristol Rovers and got themselves relegated. Still looks a good prospect and should at least be given a chance in JPT, League Cup etc.

 

[Guesty]

I'd love us to sign Tommy Lee, if only for the Motley Crue /Pamela Anderson puns.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Is a new goalkeeper.
Contenders:
richard O'Donnell:

Disagree 100% - the problems this year was Howard or Turner for that matter did not have a steady pair of centre halves in front of him.

There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with Howard last year, because he had a settled and balanced defensive 4 in front of him - particularly when Brayford and Harris were brought in.

Very little criticism of Howard last season - he formed a relationship with Maguire and Collins, and although both of them had issues, the goalkeeper knew exactly how they played and adjusted what he needed to do.

Football is all about partnerships - we have had no partnerships anywhere on the field this season.

I do take your point about Howard been poor at times though.

UTB

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Disagree 100% - the problems this year was Howard or Turner for that matter did not have a steady pair of centre halves in front of him.

There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with Howard last year, because he had a settled and balanced defensive 4 in front of him - particularly when Brayford and Harris were brought in.

Very little criticism of Howard last season - he formed a relationship with Maguire and Collins, and although both of them had issues, the goalkeeper knew exactly how they played and adjusted what he needed to do.

Football is all about partnerships - we have had no partnerships anywhere on the field this season.

I do take your point about Howard been poor at times though.

UTB

so your basically saying we've had an awful goalie in goal for the past to seasons. But we haven't noticed because he hasn't been tested. Well that seems to confirm my point

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

If players train hard and play regularly there's no reason why they won't improve over time. That's why most players are better at 28 than they are at 23 (it's a general comment so please don't waste your time finding examples of players who decline, I know who Michael Owen and the rest are).
So I'm not really sure why it's so impossible for Howard to improve, particularly with a better defence in front of him.

I've seen Long play for Motherwell a few times on TV and I think he's improved. He looks like a man now, not a kid.

I wouldn't have a problem with Howard and Long fighting it out for the first team spot.

When you read his Dad's opinion on keepers ( and why Shilton won the Champions Cup for Forest) I'd be very surprised if Clough didn't understand the value of a good keeper.

I believe Long was dropped as their first team goalie for not being commanding enough and making too many errors, so let's just please get a new goalie

 

[Fulwood Blade]

so your basically saying we've had an awful goalie in goal for the past to seasons. But we haven't noticed because he hasn't been tested. Well that seems to confirm my point

Not saying that at all - Howard has had some poor games, he has also had some good games. Fans only notice the bad ones.
I presume when you wrote "to seasons" you actually meant two seasons - Howard was not poor last season, unless you can draw up opinions he was. The whole team this season has been inconsistent, including Howard, but that doesn't make him a poor or awful player. As for your own opinion that he was awful - seems a bit OTT to me and I don't see many supporting the fact that we need to change Howard.

UTB

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Not saying that at all - Howard has had some poor games, he has also had some good games. Fans only notice the bad ones.
I presume when you wrote "to seasons" you actually meant two seasons - Howard was not poor last season, unless you can draw up opinions he was. The whole team this season has been inconsistent, including Howard, but that doesn't make him a poor or awful player. As for your own opinion that he was awful - seems a bit OTT to me and I don't see many supporting the fact that we need to change Howard.

UTB

Howard for me is a good , sound goalkeeper . As i have said previously even Lev Yashin , would have struggled with a make shift back four , and a ongoing back injury. Theres definitely mitigating circumstances for Howard IMO.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Howard for me is a good , sound goalkeeper . As i have said previously even Lev Yashin , would have struggled with a make shift back four , and a ongoing back injury. Theres definitely mitigating circumstances for Howard IMO.

UTB

Yep agree with that - Howard is solid enough, we saw that last season. What he ideally needs is good competition. It didn't take any of us long to see Turner was not that good and it is no surprise that he has just been released.

I still feel so cross about lack of centre halves - can't really fault any of the players for effort, but Cloughs stance on this issue is particularly noticeable by lack of real discussion. He knows - just doesn't want to comment as you cannot defend the indefensible.

UTB

 

[BushBlade]

I believe Long was dropped as their first team goalie for not being commanding enough and making too many errors, so let's just please get a new goalie

Wasn't that at Oxford? I thought he's played fairly regularly at Motherwell?

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Wasn't that at Oxford? I thought he's played fairly regularly at Motherwell?

Yep sorry it was oxford

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Not saying that at all - Howard has had some poor games, he has also had some good games. Fans only notice the bad ones.
I presume when you wrote "to seasons" you actually meant two seasons - Howard was not poor last season, unless you can draw up opinions he was. The whole team this season has been inconsistent, including Howard, but that doesn't make him a poor or awful player. As for your own opinion that he was awful - seems a bit OTT to me and I don't see many supporting the fact that we need to change Howard.

UTB

I also didn't see many backing up my opinion last season that we needed to reinforce our defence but 1 year later here we are

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I also didn't see many backing up my opinion last season that we needed to reinforce our defence but 1 year later here we are

no doubt you should go and ask Simon Clough for a job then - you obviously know a lot more than the rest of us put together.

UTB

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

no doubt you should go and ask Simon Clough for a job then - you obviously know a lot more than the rest of us put together.

UTB

Simon? And I don't know more than you, I just can accept the fact that we aren't good enough for promotion and I can state the reasons why and I don't continue to use the same excuse of "we don't score enough goals" because we do. The problem is we let in too many and the Way to stop that is by changing the guard. We have sound full backs in brayford, freeman, mcevely and Harris but never at any point should they be centre backs. What we don't have is quality centre backs we are forced to play midfielders and full backs in that position. Then we have a dodgy keeper but I also believe this may be down to coaching as he seems to be making errors that seem to be not being fixed by the coaching staff and some of the pre match warm ups are pathetic to the ones I see the opposing goalkeeper doing such as the MK DONS ones. Also a back injury which is unlikely to be fully fixed so if it's a problem now it's going to be a problem next season. I'm not saying get rid of him but bring in another keeper as first or backup because of you want to keep Howard, turner and long aren't good enough to come in when that back injury reappears. Some of you need to face reality which is what you didn't do last season and realise that sometimes players aren't up to the task and sometimes you have to reinforce positions that may need reinforcing in the future by which it's too late.