George Long Not Good Enough

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Still young for a keeper. Let's hope by the end of this season we are offering him a new 4 year deal on much better terms. Let's hope he plays for us in the Premier League within that period.

All that is possible but Long has to improve and mature more than 100%, perfectly possible at this stage of his career. The squad has to improve more than that: possible?:)
 
YES Blade said:
I've seen one video of him, but he wasn't keeping goal in it..........
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dannysufc_ said:
Have you ever even seen Smith play?

What we need is an experienced head as competition. Can pick them up for nowt, I'd go for Kirkland.
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This for me. Now that Long is staying, I'd go for someone with more experience. In that respect, Long and Smith would be too similar.
 



the issue is not whether a young goalie like Long will improve (of course he will) - the issue is whether THIS COMING SEASON he can contribute to a top-2 side by commanding his box and stopping the 25 yard hopeful shots flying past him as they sometimes did last season.
I like him but don't think he is sufficiently mature to be a goalie of a top-2 side.
If Wilder means business , he has to get in an older , more commanding goalie , even if it's only for 2 seasons.
I am hoping the contract delay over Long was him reluctantly having to accept that at 22 , he is going to be number 2 for a couple more years , behind such an incoming goalie.
If he's number 1 in a Championship side in 3 years time , he'll be 25 and have a lengthy career ahead of him.
 
Keen Blade said:
the issue is not whether a young goalie like Long will improve (of course he will) - the issue is whether THIS COMING SEASON he can contribute to a top-2 side by commanding his box and stopping the 25 yard hopeful shots flying past him as they sometimes did last season.
I like him but don't think he is sufficiently mature to be a goalie of a top-2 side.
If Wilder means business , he has to get in an older , more commanding goalie , even if it's only for 2 seasons.
I am hoping the contract delay over Long was him reluctantly having to accept that at 22 , he is going to be number 2 for a couple more years , behind such an incoming goalie.
If he's number 1 in a Championship side in 3 years time , he'll be 25 and have a lengthy career ahead of him.
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I think you will be disappointed as Ramsdale will be is understudy waiting his chance,my opinion obviously as ime not ITK
 
Am really surprised by those that say he's improved or think that he'll play at a higher level. I genuinely think he's dreadful.

Watching at nearly every game last season he would make some of the stupidest decisions, rushing out when he didn't need to, coming for the punch and missing by a mile, no command of his area. Can stop shots when hit directly at him and made the occasional decent save but for me it never really papered over the fact that he just isn't ready to be in the first team.

If people say that he's got a bright future then I reckon I won't argue but he is no where near ready to play in league 1 team pushing for promotion, not sure if ready for league 1 at all.

Used to really like Tommy Lee at Chesterfield, thought he was brilliant season before last but then witnessed the calamity match against us away this season gone but still think when he was on form he was a great keeper.

Other than that, i've no idea, i'm shit with keepers. Hope CW is still looking.
 
Almosthuman said:
Watching at nearly every game last season he would make some of the stupidest decisions, rushing out when he didn't need to, coming for the punch and missing by a mile, no command of his area.
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He did make some daft calls, but are you seriously saying EVERY game?

He is a young lad learning his trade and will make mistakes. Tracey made mistakes (how did the 'Battle of Bramall Lane' start?), but was still a great keeper. GL has had a poor defence in front of him for most of his 100+ games but I have seen a change in his confidence over the last season.

What is this thing with attacking our own academy players? Jags got it for 18 months until everyone understood he wasn't supposed to be the new TC.

FFS, give the lad a break!
 
Watching at nearly every game last season he would make some of the stupidest decisions, rushing out when he didn't need to, coming for the punch and missing by a mile, no command of his area....

If people say that he's got a bright future then I reckon I won't argue but he is no where near ready to play in league 1 team pushing for promotion, not sure if ready for league 1 at all.

Used to really like Tommy Lee at Chesterfield, thought he was brilliant season before last but then witnessed the calamity match against us away this season...

a bit like Joe Hart!! However, the problem is when a keeper makes an error it usually results in a goal but when anyone else does the same it's easily forgotten :-) a work in progress definitely but has improved season on season!
 
I should coco said:
He did make some daft calls, but are you seriously saying EVERY game?

He is a young lad learning his trade and will make mistakes. Tracey made mistakes (how did the 'Battle of Bramall Lane' start?), but was still a great keeper. GL has had a poor defence in front of him for most of his 100+ games but I have seen a change in his confidence over the last season.

What is this thing with attacking our own academy players? Jags got it for 18 months until everyone understood he wasn't supposed to be the new TC.

FFS, give the lad a break!
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Why should academy players be given special treatment?
 
I should coco said:
He did make some daft calls, but are you seriously saying EVERY game?

He is a young lad learning his trade and will make mistakes. Tracey made mistakes (how did the 'Battle of Bramall Lane' start?), but was still a great keeper. GL has had a poor defence in front of him for most of his 100+ games but I have seen a change in his confidence over the last season.

What is this thing with attacking our own academy players? Jags got it for 18 months until everyone understood he wasn't supposed to be the new TC.

FFS, give the lad a break!
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As a member of the keepers union (albeit very retired now), it is probably the one area on the pitch where the smallest mistake can be magnified and more often than not end in a goal. I'd agree to a large extent that George wasn't helped by the defence in front of him for much of last season. However, if he's going to kick on and become better, I'd say two key areas he needs to improve are distribution, and command of his area which isn't as good as it should be given he's a big lad. The good news is, these are areas that can be worked on with good coaching.

Keepers tend to get better the older they get, I tend to think they mature later than other positions. Having said that, at GL's age you should be able to see whether the component parts are there in order to kick on. I feel some of them are, others need work. The next 12-18 months will be key in George's development.
 
Almosthuman said:
Am really surprised by those that say he's improved or think that he'll play at a higher level. I genuinely think he's dreadful.

Watching at nearly every game last season he would make some of the stupidest decisions, rushing out when he didn't need to, coming for the punch and missing by a mile, no command of his area. Can stop shots when hit directly at him and made the occasional decent save but for me it never really papered over the fact that he just isn't ready to be in the first team.

If people say that he's got a bright future then I reckon I won't argue but he is no where near ready to play in league 1 team pushing for promotion, not sure if ready for league 1 at all.

Used to really like Tommy Lee at Chesterfield, thought he was brilliant season before last but then witnessed the calamity match against us away this season gone but still think when he was on form he was a great keeper.

Other than that, i've no idea, i'm shit with keepers. Hope CW is still looking.
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I wouldn't say he was dreadful AH, but can't disagree with much of your second paragraph. Hoping that next season we see him cutting out some of those ricks if he is to be our number one.
 
dublin 10 blade said:
Sorry, no disrespect , but are ya have'n a laugh , no fucking way , whats next someone decideding to go for the cunt Madine .
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Why not? Kirkland is nothing like Madine... Just because he played for Wendy doesn't mean we can't sign him. Safe to say I'd take all 11 of their first teamers off their hands straight away... Good professional and would be like Wigan signing Jaaskelienen last year. Didn't do them any harm.
 
I see everyone's point but I still don't see what others must be seeing.

For the record i'm not saying every game however it happened regularly, there were many occasions where his mistakes luckily didn't lead to a goal but they were still poor errors in judgement all the same.

Perhaps dreadful is too strong a word, It's not an attack on academy lads and i don't want anyone from the academy to fail (I think Whiteman looks very promising, still not sold on DCL) however I also don't think that should shield them from honest truths also.

George has been around long enough in my opinion to be further on with his development and I just think we could find better. If he improves as our no.1 this season I'll of course admit to being wrong but at this point I still think he's a bit poor and we could do with a better option between the sticks.
 



of course....all fans could unite behind the lad, offer encouragement and make him feel a foot taller. We might see less mistakes from a relaxed and confident keeper then!

Or some could blow his mistakes out of proportion and destroy the lad.....that'll help!

Open your eyes....look at the bigger picture and treat the keeper as part of the defensive unit...that being how the whole side defends not just him. It's only because of his position that any error is scrutinised. When Sharp misses a sitter...or Adams makes the wrong decision...or Reed gives the ball away its soon forgotten about.

Simon Tracy made errors....Kelly....Kenny...all made errors that often cost us goals. Difference these days is that fans don't praise their positives, and for me often forget the biggest part of this is that they are OUR player. Fans should be cheering them on, and pushing them to be the best they can, even if they are crap. I wonder how a Bob Booker would fare in the modern Bramall Lane!
 
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