Long and Impossiball

[robbiez666]

Watching the highlights again http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10074769/walsall-1-1-sheffield-utd Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

He's not trying to hold balls. He's palming everything, which given where the ball is going, is quite frankly bizarre. I can only assume he's been told to do this?

 

[jt64]

I'm not a keeper but I'd rather them punch/parry attempts away which will normally get the ball a good distance away from goal, rather than try to claim it, where if you get it wrong you're leaving it in an area where lots of bad things can happen. If he goes to claim a cross, doesn't get there and it drops straight to their striker who scores, you'll probably 180 on this point quickly

 

[robbiez666]

I'm not a keeper but I'd rather them punch/parry attempts away which will normally get the ball a good distance away from goal, rather than try to claim it, where if you get it wrong you're leaving it in an area where lots of bad things can happen. If he goes to claim a cross, doesn't get there and it drops straight to their striker who scores, you'll probably 180 on this point quickly

I'm not too bothered with punching crosses, as long as the keeper can punch well.

It's the shots. Apart from the first save, it was all bad. two parried straight to the opposition (one he made up for), no movement on lob and I'm not convinced he shouldn't have cut out the cross for the goal.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Watching the highlights again http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10074769/walsall-1-1-sheffield-utd Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

He's not trying to hold balls. He's palming everything, which given where the ball is going, is quite frankly bizarre. I can only assume he's been told to do this?

It sounded as if he had a very good game. Couldn't have done anything about the lob. Yes, he does punch too much, but when there are a lot of players in the box, sometimes he can't see enough to catch the ball and a good punch is the best option.

 

[metalblade]

Watching the highlights again http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10074769/walsall-1-1-sheffield-utd Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

He's not trying to hold balls. He's palming everything, which given where the ball is going, is quite frankly bizarre. I can only assume he's been told to do this?

With respect you are talking bollocks, get off his back and support the team we would have gone in at HT 0-3 down but for those saves.

 

[GB10]

Watching the highlights again http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10074769/walsall-1-1-sheffield-utd Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

He's not trying to hold balls. He's palming everything, which given where the ball is going, is quite frankly bizarre. I can only assume he's been told to do this?

I am with metal .. Just watched the highlights and whilst if we are looking for perfection and to be hyper critical yes he often does parry forward but FFS he kept us in the game - can't blame him for the goal either that's down to pathetic weak defending . We know he's got to improve but credit where credits due in my opinion.

 

[robbiez666]

With respect you are talking bollocks, get off his back and support the team we would have gone in at HT 0-3 down but for those saves.

were there not two palm outs to opposition players? One saved by quick reactions from Basham and then a great second save. The other skied it over the bar? How slow was his reaction to the lob?

I prefer Long to Howard btw, he just needs to work on holding shots or palming out to the sides (like he did with the first shot on the highlights).

 

[Harry's Game]

Watching the highlights again http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10074769/walsall-1-1-sheffield-utd Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

He's not trying to hold balls. He's palming everything, which given where the ball is going, is quite frankly bizarre. I can only assume he's been told to do this?

But... But...But according to the other thread he had a game reminiscent of Gordon Banks?..

..I don't understand...

 

[sheffielder]

Some people have their minds made up on players, whatever the performance and see something different to the rest.

One name for example would be Doyle. I saw Long having a good game from the highlights and wonder why the opposition can have pop shots at his goals from fucking everywhere, yet you all seem to think that Long parrying a few balls on a wet and windy day in Walsall is the problem.

 

[sheffielder]

were there not two palm outs to opposition players? One saved by quick reactions from Basham and then a great second save. The other skied it over the bar? How slow was his reaction to the lob?

I prefer Long to Howard btw, he just needs to work on holding shots or palming out to the sides (like he did with the first shot on the highlights).

It's hard to tip rather than parry in those conditions.

 

[robbiez666]

If the first parry had led to a goal, then people would be criticising him. He was lucky that they didn't this week but equally unlucky it did last week.

I like Long. It frustrates me that he's gone backwards and our goalkeeping coaches must be the worst in the country.

As for the weather, it's going to be like this for 3 months. Other keepers manage.

We need to get behind Long at games and encourage instead of criticising but he really needs to work on these aspects of his game. It would have cost us a point on another day.

 

[sheffielder]

If the first parry had led to a goal, then people would be criticising him. He was lucky that they didn't this week but equally unlucky it did last week.

I like Long. It frustrates me that he's gone backwards and our goalkeeping coaches must be the worst in the country.

As for the weather, it's going to be like this for 3 months. Other keepers manage.

We need to get behind Long at games and encourage instead of criticising but he really needs to work on these aspects of his game. It would have cost us a point on another day.

So if we need to get behind him, what's this thread all about?

 

[robbiez666]

So if we need to get behind him, what's this thread all about?

Jesus wept, I said AT GAMES. It doesn't mean we need him to get better or bring in a replacement. He's a young player who needs confidence. People getting on his back during games is not going to help that.

 

[alcoblade]

So if we need to get behind him, what's this thread all about?

I think he's drawing a distinction between not getting on the players backs at the games, and on here discussing the reality that most of our players, including Long, aren't good enough.

I agree with him.

UTB

 

[Ricky]

In those highlights he parried two shots out into the danger area when he should have been able to avoid it and maybe he should have intercepted the cross for the goal - the ball wasn't going to go anywhere else.

Our goalkeeping coach has to be questioned because in all this time Long hasn't improved when it comes to avoiding pushing it back into dangerous areas and he still punches too much. Where's Andy Leaning nowadays?

 

[mosbolad]

Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

Apart from the first save, it was all bad. two parried straight to the opposition (one he made up for), no movement on lob and I'm not convinced he shouldn't have cut out the cross for the goal.

How slow was his reaction to the lob?

We need to get behind Long at games and encourage instead of criticising but he really needs to work on these aspects of his game. It would have cost us a point on another day.

Oh dear Robbie. If you are going to stick the knife in don't pretend to support the lad. This thread is laughable.

Didn't make the game yesterday and thought I would check on the internet if his performance was as bad as you make out.

The Sun - WALSALL boss Dean Smith was left cursing his side’s misfortune and the brilliance of Blades keeper George Long as two promotion points slipped away.

James Shield The Star -
"were it not for George Long, United chances of winning this game would quickly have gone the same way.
In the 18th minute, Long excelled himself with a superb triple save"

Andy Giddings Tweet, "The exemplary George Long kept the Blades in it."

Sounds like he had a mare!
http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/shef...xter-saver-for-united-1-7583675#ixzz3sDewcgBl

 

[Woodwardfan]

Collins the first to congratulate the lad too.

 

[sheffielder]

Oh dear Robbie. If you are going to stick the knife in don't pretend to support the lad. This thread is laughable.

Didn't make the game yesterday and thought I would check on the internet if his performance was as bad as you make out.

The Sun - WALSALL boss Dean Smith was left cursing his side’s misfortune and the brilliance of Blades keeper George Long as two promotion points slipped away.

James Shield The Star -
"were it not for George Long, United chances of winning this game would quickly have gone the same way.
In the 18th minute, Long excelled himself with a superb triple save"

Andy Giddings Tweet, "The exemplary George Long kept the Blades in it."

Sounds like he had a mare!

I think it's a good job for George that he can't read, otherwise like the other players do, he would come on this boards to see how he's done.

 

[sheffielder]

Collins the first to congratulate the lad too.

A confidence boost in itself

 

[mosbolad]

Collins the first to congratulate the lad too.

Yes I noticed that Woodward and I have been critical of Collins for bollocking players so well done Collins. (did I say that!).

 

[JohnDenver]

In fairness to Long, when a shot is close to you but too hot to hold, you just bunt it back out as hard as possible. If you try to redirect it laterally you're at risk of letting it straight through. If you have to move sideways to make a save you naturally have the angles to send it wide.

I don't see too much wrong with what Long did.

 

[sheffielder]

Jesus wept, I said AT GAMES. It doesn't mean we need him to get better or bring in a replacement. He's a young player who needs confidence. People getting on his back during games is not going to help that.

Jesus wept indeed.

In fairness to Long, when a shot is close to you but too hot to hold, you just bunt it back out as hard as possible. If you try to redirect it laterally you're at risk of letting it straight through. If you have to move sideways to make a save you naturally have the angles to send it wide.

I don't see too much wrong with what Long did.

Which is why sometimes it's harder to tip than parry. If your defence is doing their job they should be back to help clear.

 

[Deadbat]

Seen the highlights from Sky and C5. He makes one awful rick where he comes for a cross and they hit the post with a header - he was nowhere near. Then he was a bit complacent with the lob but maybe knew it was wide. The goal he has no chance as Hammond let his runner get away and then Basham was ball watching.

The other saves were saves you would expect him to make but he saved them and for the most part got them out of the way. I would say I am not a fan of either Long or Howard and we need to upgrade in this position but I think at least one of those shots would have beat Howard yesterday. He has barely been saving any long range shots in the last 6 months with many routinely beating him either well hit or softly hit. Long deserved some credit for making some saves.

The one he saved on the triple save (should have held first shot) at the end was an excellent save and saved a certain goal. Cannot recall last time Howard made such a save. At the moment Adkins is going to go with Long so we have to try and get behind him a bit. Some of the criticism of him for yesterday (admittedly only seen highlights) is ridiculous. Completely exposed (17 shots on target) and he made a number of saves. Not sure the keeper was the issue yesterday and we should be asking why a side versus us is having 17 shots.

 

[Trigger Blade]

How slow was his reaction to the lob?

Couldn't have done anything about the lob.

Don't we see things differently? In real time, I'm with Robbie, it looked as though he misjudged it. He thought it was going well wide and he only reacted when he realised it was going much closer to the goal than he'd reckoned. Put it this way, he'd have looked daft if it had sneaked in.

All in all, he had a decent game. We commented at the time about one long range effort he kept out, which Howard would almost have certainly let in, in his Mark Bunnesque way.

I also thought his kicking was better yesterday, not one straight into touch

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Trying to hold on to the ball is not always the best option for a keeper, especially if the ball is hit hard. If he tried to catch it, the ball might pop out of his hands and end up conveniently at the feet of their striker for a tap in.

 

[blade too long]

Long let in 3 less goals than Englands Joe Hart yesterday
what a star

How lucky lucky are we to have Judean Peoples Front members as fans wanting to crucify our team members

 

[robbiez666]

Long let in 3 less goals than Englands Joe Hart yesterday
what a star

How lucky lucky are we to have Judean Peoples Front members as fans wanting to crucify our team members

*Peoples Front of Judea

 

[Maidenhead]

Watching the highlights again http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10074769/walsall-1-1-sheffield-utd Long was lucky not to gift them at least 1 goal. There's are a could of palm outs straight towards their players and the laughable lob watch.

He's not trying to hold balls. He's palming everything, which given where the ball is going, is quite frankly bizarre. I can only assume he's been told to do this?

Every palm out I saw there looked like a decent save to me.

Also, that was a clear cut foul on Che, a definite penalty.

 

[Maidenhead]

In those highlights he parried two shots out into the danger area when he should have been able to avoid it and maybe he should have intercepted the cross for the goal - the ball wasn't going to go anywhere else.

Our goalkeeping coach has to be questioned because in all this time Long hasn't improved when it comes to avoiding pushing it back into dangerous areas and he still punches too much. Where's Andy Leaning nowadays?

Is this for real?

Maybe our left sided defender (I can't be arsed to look back and see who it was because I don't need to allocate blame) should have done a better job of closing down and blocking the cross but to say the keeper should have intercepted it is unbelievable.

He's a goal keeper, not bloody superman

 

[Ricky]

Is this for real?

Maybe our left sided defender (I can't be arsed to look back and see who it was because I don't need to allocate blame) should have done a better job of closing down and blocking the cross but to say the keeper should have intercepted it is unbelievable.

He's a goal keeper, not bloody superman

Fair play for not needing to allocate blame - what a fantastic Blade you must be.

Have I said Long was to blame for that goal? No. Have I said the defenders were blameless? No.

I'm just saying that maybe (note maybe) Long should have been able to dive on that cross as it was only ever going to go across the face of goal and it wasn't too far from him. I don't know if you watch much football but goalkeepers do occasionally do that.