George Long and the rest of the kids...

[s10blade]

I don't wanna slate the kid as most GKs don't come into their own until late 20s but Long just isn't what we need right now and it could even hamper his career if he carries on as our number one.

He's indecisive, doesn't communicate with the defence. shows little emotion/passion and very slow to react. Personally, I would loan him out and being in a loanee keeper until the end of the season. You may say Maguire could be described in the same way but I think Maguire saves/gets more points than he loses. The same cannot be said for Long.

Many at the club (fans included) need to wake up and smell the coffee about players coming out of the academy. Yes, we all want all of them to succeed and get a place in the team but it's just not realistic. You look at Ironside, Whitehouse, Kennedy and McFadzean - all approaching 20 and cannot even get a place on the bench for a bottom half league one club. If McCabe wants to rely on this lot for our future we may well be hoping for promotion to League Two rather than relegation to it in a few tears time.

I do think Long could still have a future with us but if we want him to really progress, conceeding and playing in a team like this will not aid that one bit.

 

[alcoblade]

If the stories I hear about the costs of the academy are true I'd mothball it. Last season's finds were Miller and Blackman. No need for an academy there.

UTB

 

[LSF]

The management want to pull Long from the firing line but are less than happy with Mark Howard....... watch this space....

 

[Gibbo89]

Hope that's the case. Being keeper behind a crap team down the bottom of the division can't be doing his confidence any favours. Think we really could do with a decent centre back to put pressure on Harry and Collins too. Needless to say after watching his performance yesterday, we also need a permanent replacement for Doyle. Don't think ever I've seen us have such a weak spine to the side (and you can take that any way you want ) Young Nigel needs to get very busy in January.

 

[bartman]

Hope that's the case. Being keeper behind a crap team down the bottom of the division can't be doing his confidence any favours. Think we really could do with a decent centre back to put pressure on Harry and Collins too. Needless to say after watching his performance yesterday, we also need a permanent replacement for Doyle. Don't think ever I've seen us have such a weak spine to the side (and you can take that any way you want ) Young Nigel needs to get very busy in January.

Agree we need to start at the back. Goalkeeper and a new dominant centre half is a must. Stop conceding then rebuild the rest of the side

 

[Hodgyman]

George has many qualities of a good 'keeper but commanding his area (or 6 yard box) and bravery aren't any of them

 

[sheffielder]

Not just his 6 yard box at times. You have to wonder what happens with his GK coach because parts of his play which come with experience should be improving and not declining. I think he is definately suffering from confidence and I think the defence presently doesn't know whether to stick or twist in terms of passing it out or hoofing and we end up with the opposition on top of us.

I personally am of the opinion to sort out the defence the midfield needs to be sorted. Yesterday, it was either sat on top of the defence at times giving them little option and having to to back which led to the mistake by Harry. We miss a water carrier in midfield with the legs to get up and down

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

It's a pity George II isn't a couple of years older. Proper goalkeeper!

 

[Racy]

Long has not improved at all in his 50 odd appearances.

Obviously the keeper coach works on his weaknesses.
Ok he pulls off a great save now and again but he can't master the basics.
The keepers in this league aren't world beaters but the majority are decent journeymen that's all we need at this level Long doesn't even come near.
I'm getting to the stage where I'm worried at any sort of cross he has to deal with.

 

[alcoblade]

Long has not improved at all in his 50 odd appearances.

Obviously the keeper coach works on his weaknesses.
Ok he pulls off a great save now and again but he can't master the basics.
The keepers in this league aren't world beaters but the majority are decent journeymen that's all we need at this level Long doesn't even come near.
I'm getting to the stage where I'm worried at any sort of cross he has to deal with.

True. He's a very young keeper and all signs were that he'd become a top one when he matured. His lack of progress is worrying. But as we've seen with umpteen players, being shite is catching, and the club's diseased throughout. Let's hope when a cure is found, many of our players will recover and flourish.

UTB

 

[Caveblade]

We need to get George out on loan and replace with somebody with more experience. He looks scared stupid most of the time and rarely ventures beyond his 6 yard box. There is no communication with his defenders and he has no command over his area.

I don't see the world beater that everyone talks about, more a young kid who is out of his depth behind a lousy defence.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Too hard on Long, our defense as been dreadful this season.
Once we sort out our defensive players we will see Long back in form.
He was great last season and we had the most cleans sheets.
Sending him out on loan is not needed, he is good enough.
Whoever is in goal behind this back four at the moment will not do any better.

 

[Balham]

It's no surprise that Long's showing indecision when there's no leadership in front of him. Collins and Doyle are the senior pros in the middle of the park but I don't see any leadership or fight from either of them.

It's almost as if Long is expecting a bollocking - I wonder whether he hesitated on Saturday as he thought someone would tear into him if Kedwell (?) beat him to the ball and he ended up getting rounded or sent off for bringing him down.

I've said it elsewhere - we need a pacy, talkative centre half to replace Neill Collins. Thanks for the years of service, Neill; now bugger off to Port Vale. You can take your mate Mickey Doyle with you too.

Finally - Long is better than Howard and should be our first choice barring injury or suspension.

 

[super_pig]

and to think that we once had Simmo.. how the memories fade
(large dose of sarcasm intended here)

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Sending him out on loan is not needed, he is good enough.
.

No he isn't. He has been very poor this season - at fault for numerous goals. I had concerns about his lack of communication and command of his area last season - but at least his shot stoppoing was generally ok. Even that aspect of his game has disappeared this season. There are big issues he needs to address if he is going to make it - commanding his area, taking crosses, staying alert, positioning so that he can come out of his area and clear the ball if necessary, communication - all fairly fundamental really. Be better for him and us if he went out on loan - probably at a lower level - and tried to improve.

 

[Balham]

No he isn't. He has been very poor this season - at fault for numerous goals. I had concerns about his lack of communication and command of his area last season - but at least his shot stoppoing was generally ok. Even that aspect of his game has disappeared this season. There are big issues he needs to address if he is going to make it - commanding his area, taking crosses, staying alert, positioning so that he can come out of his area and clear the ball if necessary, communication - all fairly fundamental really. Be better for him and us if he went out on loan - probably at a lower level - and tried to improve.

No, what he needs is the support of his teammates. Most of the aspects of his game which you've identified are all confidence related - he's still young and that's the biggest thing for him. I said a couple of posts up that I think he's reached the point now where he's frightened of making a mistake. How is that going to be solved if he's sent on loan anywhere?

If we had a culture at the club where players were encouraged for doing the right thing rather than getting torn into for getting something wrong we'd be most of the way to sorting out our problems.

 

[Longtimesupporter]

No, what he needs is the support of his teammates. Most of the aspects of his game which you've identified are all confidence related - he's still young and that's the biggest thing for him. I said a couple of posts up that I think he's reached the point now where he's frightened of making a mistake. How is that going to be solved if he's sent on loan anywhere?

If we had a culture at the club where players were encouraged for doing the right thing rather than getting torn into for getting something wrong we'd be most of the way to sorting out our problems.

Both Long and Maguire needed some support after the goal but I did not see any of the senior players give them any.

 

[Brisca Blade]

Both Long and Maguire needed some support after the goal but I did not see any of the senior players give them any.

i agree totally with this post not once did any of the senior players take a second or two just to have a supportive word with either player which is a big worry and says lots about these players

 

[oaklandrdblade]

If we had a culture at the club where players were encouraged for doing the right thing rather than getting torn into for getting something wrong we'd be most of the way to sorting out our problems.

A fair few years ago I remember seeing an interview with McManaman after he had gone to Madrid; he was asked what the biggest difference was; his reply was along the lines of "If I try something here and it doesn't work I get encouraged to try again, at Liverpool I'd have been laughed at or bollocked"

 

[brownie4583]

As i said in a previous post,Long is ok but surely being involved in the U-21 set up he has been watched by prem and championship scouts and would have been off well before now if they judged him to be a top class prospect for the future!
We need another good keeper to challenge him as he is an automatic choice at the moment

 

[Racy]

No, what he needs is the support of his teammates. Most of the aspects of his game which you've identified are all confidence related - he's still young and that's the biggest thing for him. I said a couple of posts up that I think he's reached the point now where he's frightened of making a mistake. How is that going to be solved if he's sent on loan anywhere?

If we had a culture at the club where players were encouraged for doing the right thing rather than getting torn into for getting something wrong we'd be most of the way to sorting out our problems.

Hes got over 50 games under his belt and at 20yrs he should have a bit of character about him.
Needs to man up and seriously work on his weaknesses.

 

[Balham]

Hes got over 50 games under his belt and at 20yrs he should have a bit of character about him.
Needs to man up and seriously work on his weaknesses.

That response is symptomatic of the problems the team's having. We've had the debate on here before but I've found in previous management roles that very few people response positively to being told to "man up"; constructive criticism and praise when it's due is far more effective.

Doyle is from the "man up" school of thought. We've done really well under his captaincy.

 

[Racy]

That response is symptomatic of the problems the team's having. We've had the debate on here before but I've found in previous management roles that very few people response positively to being told to "man up"; constructive criticism and praise when it's due is far more effective.

Doyle is from the "man up" school of thought. We've done really well under his captaincy.

Your response is symptomatic of whats wrong in society.

Hes playing in a mans league now not the academy you would take that line with the U15s not a fully fledged L1 player.
The thing is if he dosent put it right he will be out and at the moment hes the worst keeper in L1

 

[Balham]

Your response is symptomatic of whats wrong in society.

Wow. That's some leap. I'd argue that a lack of buy-in to what society means along with the sense of unjustified entitlement - all take and no give - are more to blame but evidently not in your eyes.

Hes playing in a mans league now not the academy you would take that line with the U15s not a fully fledged L1 player.

Why should the approach be any different? He comes across as a reasonably intelligent bloke, as does Harry Maguire. Both will have realised their mistake, how does it help to tell them to "man up"?

The thing is if he dosent put it right he will be out and at the moment hes the worst keeper in L1

Bullshit. The Gillingham keeper was worse, for one. Strip away the cheating and there was a prime example of a keeper who couldn't control his area. We put far too many shots just wide of the post, if we'd had more on target we'd have scored 4 or 5.

 

[Racy]

Wow. That's some leap. I'd argue that a lack of buy-in to what society means along with the sense of unjustified entitlement - all take and no give - are more to blame but evidently not in your eyes.


Why should the approach be any different? He comes across as a reasonably intelligent bloke, as does Harry Maguire. Both will have realised their mistake, how does it help to tell them to "man up"?


Bullshit. The Gillingham keeper was worse, for one. Strip away the cheating and there was a prime example of a keeper who couldn't control his area. We put far too many shots just wide of the post, if we'd had more on target we'd have scored 4 or 5.

Thats the problem at this club Doyle,Collins,Flynn, Mcmahon,Porter are still here i just hope Clough has inherited some of his dads balls and sorts it.

Im not backing down on the Long issue he just not good enough.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

No, what he needs is the support of his teammates. Most of the aspects of his game which you've identified are all confidence related - .

No they are not they - they are the basics of being a keeper. I want anyone who plays for us to do well - but we can't keep players in the team who are consistently performing poorly. Our defence is bad enough - but having a keeper who regularly makes mistakes and very rarely produces anything but routine saves doesn't help. I'm not saying he can't improve - but our situation is too critical to leave him in the team and just hopes he comes good. A loan out seems the best option - although I think we need to bring in a better keeper at the same time.

 

[bartman]

i agree totally with this post not once did any of the senior players take a second or two just to have a supportive word with either player which is a big worry and says lots about these players

You may be right but we have no idea what was said on the pitch after the goal was scored. You certainly wouldn't expect a physical arm round them thou or indeed a player to walk up to them but I would be amazed if someone on the pitch just say 'forget it,don't worry, lets get on with it.

However if it was down to a lack of communication(as well as a shit back pass),I would expect someone at half time to say' you've have fucking played football with each other for years, why don't you talk to each other'

Ultimately, Harry has his back to the attacker and Long should have either called for the back pass or told him to clear it. If he wanted the back pass, Long should be alert to the attacker and the potential danger. This is the basics for a goalkeeper at any level. If he has done this, Harry's quality is piss poor which certainly makes him culpable but Long still has to deal with it more bravely. If Long has said nothing, Harry should have just cleared it and bollocked Long for not talking. Either way,I am sure NC would have said something in the dressing room.

 

[Kentblade]

I suppose there will not be many on here who recall the start of Alan Hodgkinson's term keeping the Blades goal,being a very young keeper and taking over from Ted Burgin,who was a flamboyant keeper and good at commanding his box.
Alan was very poor at coming out for crosses and in many ways George Long reminds me of Alan except that he is much taller.If Long can improve and develop as Alan did then we will have a good keeper but if one looks at what is in front of Long then there is no wonder that he struggles on occasions.
Not much of a defence in my opinion
UTB

 

[Sirius]

It's a pity George II isn't a couple of years older. Proper goalkeeper!

Surely if he is good enough, age doesn't matter. Or does that apply only to outfield players?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Surely if he is good enough, age doesn't matter. Or does that apply only to outfield players?

I would ordinarily agree, but keepers mature later than the rest and in our current position we need experience.