George Long the forgotten man

[Gavlar]

So things are going great for the Blades at the mo, more clean sheets than a nunnery, but it wasnt that long ago that we were shipping goals, one change is obviously in nets. Do we think George will be back as No.1 at the start next season? What affect will this have on his career? I for one agreed with dropping him as his confidence was shot, but he looks like he might be a benchwarmer for a while now. He's still a great young keeper tho, and last season was superb, cant help feel a bit sorry for the lad.

 

[sitwell]

Personal view is he is not going to be strong enough a personality for us. Could maybe make it at this level with a club with smaller gates and less pressure. Still think Clough will get a new keeper in the summer ,although I think Howard should be given a contract ,we need 2 decent keepers and I don't think Long is good enough.

 

[dingledog]

It's a team game, Howard deserves to keep the shirt. Long will be a better keeper for this in the long run, no pun intended. It should build character and I think he has played too much over the last year and needed a break. He will be back, stronger and more determined.

 

[Gavlar]

Personal view is he is not going to be strong enough a personality for us. Could maybe make it at this level with a club with smaller gates and less pressure. Still think Clough will get a new keeper in the summer ,although I think Howard should be given a contract ,we need 2 decent keepers and I don't think Long is good enough.

Bit harsh i think really, last season we kept loads of clean sheets with Long in nets, he cant have become a poor keeper over night? I hear the argument about pressure on him, that was an argument against Billy Sharp aswell. I guess a keeper is a position that can be really exposed at times when things go wrong, ie his error at home to Yeovil last season. I think we need to keep him and I think Howard is showing he is good enough so will be great to renew his contract aswell. Having competition for places is important.

totally agree dingle that its a team game aswell.

 

[Balham]

Howard is on merit at the moment and I hope that he can keep this level of performance up when he gets his new deal in the summer.

I'd be happy to see Long out on loan next season to a midtable side in this division or a top half team in League 2 where he could develop his game with less pressure on although I know that goalkeeper is usually a position most teams have nailed down.

The issue with Long seems to be that he doesn't make decisions as he's frightened of making a mistake (I call that Wilson syndrome). He needs to be in an environment which lets him realise that his judgement is actually pretty good.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

So things are going great for the Blades at the mo, more clean sheets than a nunnery, but it wasnt that long ago that we were shipping goals, one change is obviously in nets. Do we think George will be back as No.1 at the start next season? What affect will this have on his career? I for one agreed with dropping him as his confidence was shot, but he looks like he might be a benchwarmer for a while now. He's still a great young keeper tho, and last season was superb, cant help feel a bit sorry for the lad.

Being out has not hurt Howard, in fact he's come stronger.

Long is in a professional footballer environment so it won't effect him, he'll be back.

Look at Kasper Schmeichel for Denmark, hadn't played for his Country for yonks yet was MOTM.

They have lived with this for years [even at Longs tender years],

 

[Jehovah]

He does not speak to his defence and makes bizarre decisions to either come for a ball or not come. Dropping him was a no brainer.

 

[Rossb123]

He is a great shot stopper, if he works on the rest of his game while he is out of the first team then there's no reason why he can't be a great keeper for us in the future.

 

[sheffielder]

Long needs to learn a lot from Howards communication and ability with crosses. That being said, considering Long got 25 clean sheets last season lets not chuck him under the bus just yet. Some like to bully the youth on here.

His confidence needs to be rebuilt and still will be a better keeper for us than Howard, just not yet.

 

[OllyBlade]

Personal view is he is not going to be strong enough a personality for us. Could maybe make it at this level with a club with smaller gates and less pressure. Still think Clough will get a new keeper in the summer ,although I think Howard should be given a contract ,we need 2 decent keepers and I don't think Long is good enough.

I don't think many coaches/managers would claim goalkeepers peak at 20. I think the evidence is there that he will be good enough in the future. Very simplistic to say - 'oh look we've gone on an 8 game winning run since he was dropped, he was never good enough.' (Not necessarily saying this is what you've done.) I know we have to guard against rosy perspectives on academy products just because they are 'one of our own,' but this is someone who 4 permanent managers (Adams, Wilson, Weir, Clough) have seen fit to give starts, and has been selected for England U21s. It's not like Joe Hart was dropped straight into crowds of 20k+.

 

[Rollerball]

Long time since we had 2 decent keepers, Howard the better keeper but saying that george has a long ( excuse the pun) way to go an a lot of time to learn his trade, and Howard has said him n long help each other and learn from each other, if long can learn command of his box etc from Howard he will definitely come back in as a top class keeper, he has the potential to go as high as he wants if he's willing to bide his time and learn from Howard and in the England set up, a definite possible England no1 with work

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

The guy is tremendously young for a keeper and still has plenty to learn. But he's only just turned 20 and has 64 first team appearance's to his name, so to write him off seem incredibly harsh and potentially short sighted.
The biggest concern for him, if I were advising him, would be the fact that George Willis is right behind him pushing so if it isn't starting games then he could soon be sidelined entirely whereas he could be playing for another team week in week out.
As for him being in or out of the team currently, it exactly how young players should be handled. They should get in when opportunity and form arises, and then brought out when they need/deserve it. Consistency comes from experience and each time he's reintroduced he needs to feel the support of the fans and I'm sure he'll improve.
The only question is will it be enough and to the level we require. Far too early to make a call on that from my point of view.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

One of the upturns in our fortune is the replacing of George by Howard, the defence seems much more solid. Whilst George is still young, as someone pointed out he has played well in excess of 50 first team games for us but just didn't seem to be progressing as much as I hoped, no words ever seemed to utter from his mouth during games. No doubting his ability but has to improve some parts of his game if he's now going to seriously challenge Howard who now seems to have a frim grasp on the keepers shirt.

 

[Gavlar]

so communication is the biggest issue with Long, fair enough, he is only 20 and will hopefully have a sparkling career in front of him. Didnt realise he kept 25 clean sheets last yr, and strange that he's hardly kept any this yr with much the same defence. I for one hope he comes back to be a Blades regular in time.

 

[katedeluxe91]

He needs to gain more experience. And a beard.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Think the question of how and why the defence has improved is down to a need's must pragmatism employed by Clough. As with Maguire, Long became a regular first team player at a very early age, so there was no experience to fall back on, and when mistakes by himself or others began to happen, correcting these was easier said than done. As with other positions and players, Clough and his team have showed the willingness to steady any shakiness, making sure that with one eye on the potential for relegation we've reverted to a no-nonsense defensive mindset while not diminishing the more fluid football we've seen of late.

George will have his moment, there's no doubt about that, but whatever Howard was lacking, his overall game has been first rate, and it is this that United needed given their awful situation. George will be fine, as we should be aware, the position of goalkeeper is one where whoever puts that jersey on can play well into their '30's if they maintain the high standards expected of them.

 

[TopBoy]

Young players tend to need a spell out of the limelight from time to time. I think Harry could've done with this too earlier in the season but we had no real replacement. Long will be back better and stronger.

 

[Blade56]

It's a team game, Howard deserves to keep the shirt. Long will be a better keeper for this in the long run, no pun intended. It should build character and I think he has played too much over the last year and needed a break. He will be back, stronger and more determined.

Would agree he needed a break. Look how good Howard has come back since his season on the bench, IMO he is much better than before. His shot stopping against Fulham was excellent and his handling of crosses last Tuesday was a source of confidence for his defenders and the crowd.
Having said that I think Long will go on to big things either with us or another club. Reminds me of a young Jo Heart

 

[diplomat]

Did Long get the standard Utd contract offer of 10 grand a week with a bonus for clean sheets, probably without stipulating that he has to actually play in said game?

If so, and Clough doesn't fancy him yet then he could be a big drag on the FFP wage cap.

I hope he stays and develops if he is on reasonable terms. I think Howard has looked much better than in previous games he has played and the switch has worked and Clough deserves respect for making the call and getting it right. I do think there was a nervousness in front of Long but perhaps the greater confidence of the defence has come as much from setting ourselves up differently, whilst adding two new full backs and a majestic beard to the back line.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Howard is in the team on merit, he's taken his chance and has done well in what is now a settled team.
United should still look at Long as the fist team goalkeeper as he's young and has certainly proven his worth over the few years he's been in the first team, he was involved in a number of clean sheets which broke our record for a season, so clearly he's not a bad goalkeeper.
People saying he's not good enough and should be replaced are clearly mad, any team in the world would love to have a goalkeeper in their team with the quality and experience that George has at his age.
Long will get his place back and will keep it, no one can drop Howard at the moment so Long will just have to wait for his turn.

 

[JohnDenver]

Howard is in the team on merit, he's taken his chance and has done well in what is now a settled team.
United should still look at Long as the fist team goalkeeper as he's young and has certainly proven his worth over the few years he's been in the first team, he was involved in a number of clean sheets which broke our record for a season, so clearly he's not a bad goalkeeper.
People saying he's not good enough and should be replaced are clearly mad, any team in the world would love to have a goalkeeper in their team with the quality and experience that George has at his age.
Long will get his place back and will keep it, no one can drop Howard at the moment so Long will just have to wait for his turn.

I'd be tempted to put Long out on loan if Howard is now secure in the role. I'd much prefer our young players to make their mistakes and learn their lessons for other teams, especially for a keeper who's so exposed. Also, assuming we're no longer stoney broke, there's no need for us to blood players ourselves.

Willis can warm the bench while playing for the juniors, and Long can return in a few months to challenge for the first team. Wins all round. Easy this management business.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Howard is in the team on merit, he's taken his chance and has done well in what is now a settled team.
United should still look at Long as the fist team goalkeeper as he's young and has certainly proven his worth over the few years he's been in the first team, he was involved in a number of clean sheets which broke our record for a season, so clearly he's not a bad goalkeeper.
People saying he's not good enough and should be replaced are clearly mad, any team in the world would love to have a goalkeeper in their team with the quality and experience that George has at his age.
Long will get his place back and will keep it, no one can drop Howard at the moment so Long will just have to wait for his turn.

Any team in the world would love to have Long?!! Yeah, right. Long was a very promising youngster but in the last year or so has been shown wanting in several basic areas - positioning, communication, judgement and dealing with crosses. Hopefully Long can improve - but he needs to if he is to get back in the team. Howard has shown himself to be far superior at the moment and has made a massive difference to the team. And our defence look far more comfortable and relaxed with Howard behind them.

 

[sheffielder]

I think we all have learnt a lesson this season when writing off players.. just saying

 

[Blade56]

Unlike outfield players Long has at least 20 years as a player to look forward to so he needs to be patient.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Unlike outfield players Long has at least 20 years as a player to look forward to so he needs to be patient.

so do we