Goalie

[Ashtonsmashton]

who do you pick?
After last night

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

I picked howard. I just think he has better reactions and he gets back up quicker.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

I would award Howard a place for his decent performance last night and give long a break, but I'd expect Long to take his spot back in the team before the end of the season.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I'm going to sit on the fence here and leave it to the manager.

I think they're both good goalkeepers so no problem with either.

 

[Wards]

I really rate Long but Howard does seem to be the more decisive of the two and for that reason alone I think he's a better option for us at the moment.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Prefer Howard to be honest. Commands his area better than George, comes off his line quicker and has an uncanny knack of talking to the defence in front of him.

 

[blader]

I'm amazed. In a game where Howard has had to contend with 2 shots on target, that has been enough for people to vote overwhelmingly in his favour? He had one (relatively) tough save to makel which you would expect him to make, and his distribution was even worse that Long's!

I think Howard is a very capable back up and am happy to have him here, however, even if we are generous to Howard and say they are equal, Long is only going to improve, Howard is at his peak now, so what's the point?

I personally think this is a classic example of a player becoming 'better' the longer he sits on the bench. Long has made some superb saves this season so far, and would not even question his place in the team. It does appear though, I am in a vast minority on this one!

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

I'm amazed. In a game where Howard has had to contend with 2 shots on target, that has been enough for people to vote overwhelmingly in his favour? He had one (relatively) tough save to makel which you would expect him to make, and his distribution was even worse that Long's!

I think Howard is a very capable back up and am happy to have him here, however, even if we are generous to Howard and say they are equal, Long is only going to improve, Howard is at his peak now, so what's the point?

I personally think this is a classic example of a player becoming 'better' the longer he sits on the bench. Long has made some superb saves this season so far, and would not even question his place in the team. It does appear though, I am in a vast minority on this one!

Why not keep a winning team together? Whats the harm in giving Howard a chance under Clough, Howard did have a good game at Fulham (apart from his kicking) so I don't see why not give him another game or two to see if he can keep up this performance.
I still see Long as our clear number one keeper.

 

[Damski]

Being a goalkeeper is not just about saves. It's like saying all a striker does is shoot.

He's better technically, seems fitter, reads the game better, talks to his back 4 and commits at the right time and doesn't panic. He should be in net every game for us. I really liked long last season, but he's dropped off. There have been some very poor goals scored against us this season, purely through Long's inability to stretch for the ball. Howard all the way for me.

 

[iggle-theblade]

i go for Howard as we have to remember Long is only 19 and still learning so needs taking out of the firing line every now and then. over the last few weeks we have conceded sloppy goals and Long has come under fire, resting him when we have a suitable replacement in Howard make sense.
Howard didn;t lose his place becasue of bad form he got injured so i have no problem with him been brought in to give Long a rest out of the spotlight. UTB

 

[blader]

Why not keep a winning team together? Whats the harm in giving Howard a chance under Clough, Howard did have a good game at Fulham (apart from his kicking) so I don't see why not give him another game or two to see if he can keep up this performance.
I still see Long as our clear number one keeper.

I think your last sentence sums it up. Long has done nothing this season to suggest we should consider dropping him. He is our number one, and until there's a genuine reason for dropping him it should remain that way, in my opinion.

 

[Pinchy]

I think your last sentence sums it up. Long has done nothing this season to suggest we should consider dropping him. He is our number one, and until there's a genuine reason for dropping him it should remain that way, in my opinion.

I've consulted John McEnroe and he says you cannot be serious. Long has made numerous glaring errors this season. Misjudgement, poor positional sense, poor handling, wholesale failure to command his area, non-communication, appalling clearances.....it goes on and on.........

 

[TopBoy]

Howard for me. Not because I think he's a great keeper but Long is young and young players need to be taken out of the spotlight every now and again. It should've happened with our Harry but we had no real understudy for him and therefore had to keep him the 1st team while he was making mistakes.

 

[blader]

I've consulted John McEnroe and he says you cannot be serious. Long has made numerous glaring errors this season. Misjudgement, poor positional sense, poor handling, wholesale failure to command his area, non-communication, appalling clearances.....it goes on and on.........

Do you remember when Howard was awful last season? Bet you're thinking 'yes but not as bad as long'. I suppose football is about opinions, but I absolutely believe long is the better keeper and is only going to improve.

Also don't forget, Long has been the busiest keeper I we've had for a long time, Howard played in a team that won most weeks. Easy to look good as a keeper in a good team.

 

[dannycorker]

I'm amazed. In a game where Howard has had to contend with 2 shots on target, that has been enough for people to vote overwhelmingly in his favour? He had one (relatively) tough save to makel which you would expect him to make, and his distribution was even worse that Long's!

I think Howard is a very capable back up and am happy to have him here, however, even if we are generous to Howard and say they are equal, Long is only going to improve, Howard is at his peak now, so what's the point?

I personally think this is a classic example of a player becoming 'better' the longer he sits on the bench. Long has made some superb saves this season so far, and would not even question his place in the team. It does appear though, I am in a vast minority on this one!

When exactly? All the home games I've seen it feels like the first shot on goal the opposing team has they score....

 

[Silent Blade]

Do you remember when Howard was awful last season? Bet you're thinking 'yes but not as bad as long'. I suppose football is about opinions, but I absolutely believe long is the better keeper and is only going to improve.

Also don't forget, Long has been the busiest keeper I we've had for a long time, Howard played in a team that won most weeks. Easy to look good as a keeper in a good team.

For a long time I thought Pinchy was a wind up merchant who pretends to be narrow minded but after his post 15 minutes ago, I am not sure....

 

[OllyBlade]

I'm amazed. In a game where Howard has had to contend with 2 shots on target, that has been enough for people to vote overwhelmingly in his favour? He had one (relatively) tough save to makel which you would expect him to make, and his distribution was even worse that Long's!

I think Howard is a very capable back up and am happy to have him here, however, even if we are generous to Howard and say they are equal, Long is only going to improve, Howard is at his peak now, so what's the point?

I personally think this is a classic example of a player becoming 'better' the longer he sits on the bench. Long has made some superb saves this season so far, and would not even question his place in the team. It does appear though, I am in a vast minority on this one!

I find this strange too, also I remember after the Rotheram defeat earlier in the season people weren't too happy with how Howard let in their equaliser.

Having said that, Long maybe could do with a rest. His season has been characterised by fluctuations in form, shortly after Clough came in it looked like he was becoming more assured etc, but since around Christmas he has looked wobbly. Howard coming in may calm things down and on Tuesday he looked vocal and confident.

 

[stannyblade]

I've consulted John McEnroe and he says you cannot be serious. Long has made numerous glaring errors this season. Misjudgement, poor positional sense, poor handling, wholesale failure to command his area, non-communication, appalling clearances.....it goes on and on.........

Didnt he fcuk up for both Gillingham goals or certainly one of them

 

[Pinchy]

For a long time I thought Pinchy was a wind up merchant who pretends to be narrow minded but after his post 15 minutes ago, I am not sure....

Which bits have I got wrong, though?

Someone has to point out that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes. No amount of wishful thinking is going to turn Long into a good goalkeeper. Time and experience will, hopefully, do that job.

Lest I be misunderstood (as usual) I am no fan of Howard; far from it. He is, however, a better bet than boy band favourite George at the moment.

 

[Russ]

Chalk dust man!!!!!

I've consulted John McEnroe and he says you cannot be serious. Long has made numerous glaring errors this season. Misjudgement, poor positional sense, poor handling, wholesale failure to command his area, non-communication, appalling clearances.....it goes on and on.........

dust

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Why not keep a winning team together? Whats the harm in giving Howard a chance under Clough, Howard did have a good game at Fulham (apart from his kicking) so I don't see why not give him another game or two to see if he can keep up this performance.
I still see Long as our clear number one keeper.

His kicking?

I thought it strange at the time but no one seemed bothered and he kept repeating it.
Was it a NC tactic, it did turn Fulham around and give us time to get our two banks of four positioned?

Nicked off Rugby and it worked a treat.

 

[Silent Blade]

Which bits have I got wrong, though?

Someone has to point out that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes. No amount of wishful thinking is going to turn Long into a good goalkeeper. Time and experience will, hopefully, do that job.

Lest I be misunderstood (as usual) I am no fan of Howard; far from it. He is, however, a better bet than boy band favourite George at the moment.

Your tirade on Long has been too long enough! Which bits have you got wrong? Ok, after seeing Howard wasting the most kicks I have seen from a keeper in one match, you said that Long's kicks are even worse! I agree that Long might need improvement in his kicking but your criticism of his kicking was bad timing when it comes to constructive criticism. I dont remember you complaining about Long's kicks before the Fulham game.

 

[LSF]

Ok, after seeing Howard wasting the most kicks I have seen from a keeper in one match

I thought you'd accepted that Howards kicking against Fulham was a deliberate ploy Silent?
When I first saw Howard, one of the first things that impressed me was his effortless kicking and variations on this theme.

 

[Silent Blade]

I thought you'd accepted that Howards kicking against Fulham was a deliberate ploy Silent?
When I first saw Howard, one of the first things that impressed me was his effortless kicking and variations on this theme.

I said it might have been and it did work despite Pinchy saying he hates hoof balls!

 

[LSF]

I said it might have been and it did work despite Pinchy saying he hates hoof balls!

Don't take Pinchy too seriously Silent

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Which bits have I got wrong, though?

Someone has to point out that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes. No amount of wishful thinking is going to turn Long into a good goalkeeper. Time and experience will, hopefully, do that job.

Lest I be misunderstood (as usual) I am no fan of Howard; far from it. He is, however, a better bet than boy band favourite George at the moment.

Spot on, I would rather have someone in goal other than the two mentioned but that is not going to happen. Howard shades it for me at the moment. Having seen both, perhaps we should be asking for a new goalkeeping coach 'cos whoever is doing the job now is gash. Can't we recruit Alan Kelly ?.

 

[s4-blade]

perhaps we should be asking for a new goalkeeping coach 'cos whoever is doing the job now is gash. Can't we recruit Alan Kelly ?.

The current goalkeeper coach is Darren Ward mate. He's been int' job since 2009/10 season, and was int' goal for Notts Forest in the play off semi final. Spoke to him a few times and as a keeper myself, he seems to know his stuff.

On the issue of George and Marks kicking, as far as i'm concerned against Fulham it was a tactic to get the ball up field and allw us to get behind the ball and not be caught out, and George mainly does it towards the end of the game, when were winning. Again another tactic to see out the game.

At the moment i'd say MH just shades it. I am impressed with George as a young keeper but he need a rest and a chance to improve by watching a more experienced keeper. His form has slowly deteriorated possible because of him being in the spotlite too long and being under too much pressure. He will be a great keeper, just not at the moment. Chin up George.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

His kicking?

I thought it strange at the time but no one seemed bothered and he kept repeating it.
Was it a NC tactic, it did turn Fulham around and give us time to get our two banks of four positioned?

Nicked off Rugby and it worked a treat.

That's why both keepers do it , turns them back around and means they have to start from the back coming through us , I mean it's not like we can roll the ball out to Lowts , who passes it to Quinny /. Willo who beats his man before giving it to Ched to smash home , them were the days .

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

after seeing Howard wasting the most kicks I have seen from a keeper in one match.

I think the consensus is that Howard's kicks were tactical, Silent.

 

[Jehovah]

I dont rate Long at all. Yes he makes some decent reaction saves, the very bare minimum I would expect from a goalkeeper, but he has zero command of his box. I honestly am not even convinced he speaks. That box is the goalkeepers, he owns it and demands people obey his command. Long looks like he recieved it as a wank christmas present he never wanted.