Deadbat
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- Aug 6, 2009
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Goalkeepers
Michael Cooper I did not think Cooper would be one of the major disappointments this season but like a number, he dropped off considerably. It did not help we had changes in defence and of course the manager alongside that but he seemed nowhere near the keeper of a year ago. He was rightly being discussed as one of the best keepers outside the top flight and there was talk of interest from the Premier League and even England talk in some circles. A year on and those two things are not close to being discussed. Cooper clearly had some injury issues and maybe should have been taken out long before he did, but he played most of the game and it was a struggle. Shots were going in, that did not go in the previous season. He started making mistakes and routinely we would concede goals we should not have done. Granted there was a mess in front of him, but he never really found the form of the previous season. We were conceding goals aplenty and invariably too many shots he should save, he did not. He also made big saves to keep us in games or preserve leads, the season before.
This simply stopped happened and the stats bore this out in terms of him being one of the poorest keepers in the league at saving shots. He had one of the lowest made saves versus expected saves stat. His distribution became even more shaky and he also stopped taking crosses (Leicester away an awful goal to concede) – one of his big strengths the year before. He did not fall off a cliff but like with Burrows, was teetering on the edge. Many would have replaced him but the lack of competition behind him made even this idea seem a poor one. Davies’ showing at Coventry gave further evidence to this as he was badly at fault in a defeat. However, he did improve for a period around Xmas and started to make some big saves and get back to some sort of form but he could not maintain this. He made some big errors in games again – one that directly cost us goals in games and weak hands/wrists as he struggled to get across his goal saw long range shots start to go in again. He pushed one out at home to Oxford and there were others where he did not deal with routine shots. He eventually was taken out with an injury after the defeat v Coventry at the Lane – that was something round the back of his keen. This would see him ruled him out for the rest of the season and despite rumours that it was an even longer term one – Wilder via Danny Hall fanned these flames saying he would be back for pre-season. He does need some competition here but probably needs to write this season off, get back to full fitness and hopefully get back to the standards he showed before, as like others -was way below what he is capable.
Grade D- (Last season A-)
Adam Davies A keeper that I have never had total confidence in sadly. He was always a number 2 at best and played sparingly when Foderingham or Cooper was injured but never convinced when he did making mistakes and struggling to control his box with high balls. It is crazy he is still around but probably a good pro and never grumbles which is someone you need but the fact is, he is not good enough to properly provide competition to the number one. When he got a rare opportunity, you always worried. He came in at Coventry and made a mistake and you saw why Cooper remained in, despite his poor form and rumours of an injury. When Cooper was taken out, Davies came in and to be fair was not as bad as I feared. He does not take crosses and this continued to be a theme but made some decent saves and not sure many goals/defeats were down to him. Some odd moments in terms of decisions for an experienced keeper (storming out at QPR and Bristol City) showed why he was not the steadying influence you would hope but he actually was decent enough and did not let us down too much in games but again, as with Cooper, goals went in too easily at times. Yet, I am not sure he did lots wrong and was securer than I thought. I feel his time should be up now and we need to look for a better alternative to Cooper. A nice guy but ultimately, we need to look improve now. I was shocked when I heard we may trigger an extension to keep him. Whilst there is an argument, we have limited funds and maybe a backup keeper is not where the money should go, we need to be looking for better competition and despite doing ok to close the season, he has shown he is not good enough to play for a team with aspirations at the top of the league. However, in terms of this season, he did ok. It comes to something when I am marking him higher than Cooper on his actual performances though – shows how much of a drop off Cooper had.
Grade C (Last season C-)
Others (not played/gone on loan/young players)
Ivo Grbic Remarkably he is still here. On loan in Turkey again – this time at Fatih Karagumruk – his team were fighting relegation most of the season. Saw mixed reviews on his time here -with some poor displays mixed in with some man of the match performances as he played for a poor side. His stats were largely ok. His signing at the Blades has been a disaster. He has one year left – hopefully we can find someone to take him off our hands this summer but the best scenario is probably a season long loan again (after he is around for pre season and we might see him play again) before we are finally rid of his services. Another total waste of money.
Luke Faxon Not pushed on really but maybe that is harsh but not had a football league loan and means he has just played development football for the u21’s. He is now 21 and seems a while since he was getting interest from some Premier League clubs. I watched him for the u21’s in the final game of the season against Norwich and he looked way off being ready – being at fault for all 3 goals. I know there is an argument loans do not always work but he absolutely needed/needs it. He is still under contract for 2 years as we got him tied down to a long deal but the fact he was not even risked when the season was done – is a concern in terms of how ready he may be? Has to be given a loan next season – even if it is National League.
Next season
A year ago, I spoke of Cooper being the undisputed number one and worried we may lose him. I thought Faxon was a promising number 3 type and we just needed a good back up to compete. Faxon not really pushing on and Cooper with an injury/poor season – we are not as secure as we were. Ideally Cooper comes back fit to form but has a good back up who can push him. Davies is/was not that but seems set to stay if reports are correct. Faxon can get some loan time out somewhere too. Cooper has a big season to prove his fitness and that he can return to form but if does not, it is concerning Davies is the next man up.
Returning players;
Player / Position Years remaining (contract expires) Red this year – Orange next year - Green longer contract –
Goalkeepers
Adam Davies Out of contract (2026) – option for another year
Ivo Grbic 1 year (2026)
Michael Cooper 2 years (2028)
Luke Faxon 2 years (2028)
Michael Cooper I did not think Cooper would be one of the major disappointments this season but like a number, he dropped off considerably. It did not help we had changes in defence and of course the manager alongside that but he seemed nowhere near the keeper of a year ago. He was rightly being discussed as one of the best keepers outside the top flight and there was talk of interest from the Premier League and even England talk in some circles. A year on and those two things are not close to being discussed. Cooper clearly had some injury issues and maybe should have been taken out long before he did, but he played most of the game and it was a struggle. Shots were going in, that did not go in the previous season. He started making mistakes and routinely we would concede goals we should not have done. Granted there was a mess in front of him, but he never really found the form of the previous season. We were conceding goals aplenty and invariably too many shots he should save, he did not. He also made big saves to keep us in games or preserve leads, the season before.
This simply stopped happened and the stats bore this out in terms of him being one of the poorest keepers in the league at saving shots. He had one of the lowest made saves versus expected saves stat. His distribution became even more shaky and he also stopped taking crosses (Leicester away an awful goal to concede) – one of his big strengths the year before. He did not fall off a cliff but like with Burrows, was teetering on the edge. Many would have replaced him but the lack of competition behind him made even this idea seem a poor one. Davies’ showing at Coventry gave further evidence to this as he was badly at fault in a defeat. However, he did improve for a period around Xmas and started to make some big saves and get back to some sort of form but he could not maintain this. He made some big errors in games again – one that directly cost us goals in games and weak hands/wrists as he struggled to get across his goal saw long range shots start to go in again. He pushed one out at home to Oxford and there were others where he did not deal with routine shots. He eventually was taken out with an injury after the defeat v Coventry at the Lane – that was something round the back of his keen. This would see him ruled him out for the rest of the season and despite rumours that it was an even longer term one – Wilder via Danny Hall fanned these flames saying he would be back for pre-season. He does need some competition here but probably needs to write this season off, get back to full fitness and hopefully get back to the standards he showed before, as like others -was way below what he is capable.
Grade D- (Last season A-)
Adam Davies A keeper that I have never had total confidence in sadly. He was always a number 2 at best and played sparingly when Foderingham or Cooper was injured but never convinced when he did making mistakes and struggling to control his box with high balls. It is crazy he is still around but probably a good pro and never grumbles which is someone you need but the fact is, he is not good enough to properly provide competition to the number one. When he got a rare opportunity, you always worried. He came in at Coventry and made a mistake and you saw why Cooper remained in, despite his poor form and rumours of an injury. When Cooper was taken out, Davies came in and to be fair was not as bad as I feared. He does not take crosses and this continued to be a theme but made some decent saves and not sure many goals/defeats were down to him. Some odd moments in terms of decisions for an experienced keeper (storming out at QPR and Bristol City) showed why he was not the steadying influence you would hope but he actually was decent enough and did not let us down too much in games but again, as with Cooper, goals went in too easily at times. Yet, I am not sure he did lots wrong and was securer than I thought. I feel his time should be up now and we need to look for a better alternative to Cooper. A nice guy but ultimately, we need to look improve now. I was shocked when I heard we may trigger an extension to keep him. Whilst there is an argument, we have limited funds and maybe a backup keeper is not where the money should go, we need to be looking for better competition and despite doing ok to close the season, he has shown he is not good enough to play for a team with aspirations at the top of the league. However, in terms of this season, he did ok. It comes to something when I am marking him higher than Cooper on his actual performances though – shows how much of a drop off Cooper had.
Grade C (Last season C-)
Others (not played/gone on loan/young players)
Ivo Grbic Remarkably he is still here. On loan in Turkey again – this time at Fatih Karagumruk – his team were fighting relegation most of the season. Saw mixed reviews on his time here -with some poor displays mixed in with some man of the match performances as he played for a poor side. His stats were largely ok. His signing at the Blades has been a disaster. He has one year left – hopefully we can find someone to take him off our hands this summer but the best scenario is probably a season long loan again (after he is around for pre season and we might see him play again) before we are finally rid of his services. Another total waste of money.
Luke Faxon Not pushed on really but maybe that is harsh but not had a football league loan and means he has just played development football for the u21’s. He is now 21 and seems a while since he was getting interest from some Premier League clubs. I watched him for the u21’s in the final game of the season against Norwich and he looked way off being ready – being at fault for all 3 goals. I know there is an argument loans do not always work but he absolutely needed/needs it. He is still under contract for 2 years as we got him tied down to a long deal but the fact he was not even risked when the season was done – is a concern in terms of how ready he may be? Has to be given a loan next season – even if it is National League.
Next season
A year ago, I spoke of Cooper being the undisputed number one and worried we may lose him. I thought Faxon was a promising number 3 type and we just needed a good back up to compete. Faxon not really pushing on and Cooper with an injury/poor season – we are not as secure as we were. Ideally Cooper comes back fit to form but has a good back up who can push him. Davies is/was not that but seems set to stay if reports are correct. Faxon can get some loan time out somewhere too. Cooper has a big season to prove his fitness and that he can return to form but if does not, it is concerning Davies is the next man up.
Returning players;
Player / Position Years remaining (contract expires) Red this year – Orange next year - Green longer contract –
Goalkeepers
Adam Davies Out of contract (2026) – option for another year
Ivo Grbic 1 year (2026)
Michael Cooper 2 years (2028)
Luke Faxon 2 years (2028)
