Howard v Moving Long Shots

[William Henry Foulkes]

Howard is getting grief again, it even popped up in Adkins' interview.

This is a good example of what the ball can do these days.



Any assessment of his abilities against long shots should take into account this sort of thing.

UTMB

 

[Tyler Durden]

If only long shots were Howards only problem.....

 

[Leonardo Green]

A very poor keeper. Are we really trying to defend him based on the modern football?

Every keeper in the world has to deal with that. If you can't, don't be a keeper.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Have you ever seen a player in league 1 make a long shot move like that? You'll probably give some excuse like "you don't stand behind them so you can't comment" bit I'm pretty sure they don't.

Howard is an average league 1 keeper at best, he'll do something good followed by something bad. The bad normally costs a goal so he'll be criticised.

We've been spoiled recently and Howard/Long are pretty bad relative to Kenny/Kelly/Tracey.

WHF, each negative post is not a personal affront against you, it's just an opinion. The blades aren't amazing and it isn't all rosy in the garden. Accept this and comment with a lack of bias from time to time.

 

[jt64]

Calhanoglu's a freak though

 

[Tyler Durden]

I started the season defending Howard on account of the fact that he has the worst back four in recent United history in front of him, and I still believe that's a factor.

But regardless of that, he's just not a good goalkeeper, his distribution is appalling, as is his positional sense and on bad days, he even fucks up with basic shot-stopping.
There needs to be a mass cull in January and I'd like him to be a part of it quite frankly.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Calhanoglu's a freak though

Yes and No.

I picked this because although plenty of pundits talk about the flight of the ball I'd never really seen it. This one basically goes mesmerisingly straight for about 30 yards then veers off to the keeper's right substantially at the last second. Goal.

Is Howard likely to face this week in week out? No

Do shots and free kicks wobble in the air in a way they didn't use to? Yes

As a side note: the technique in this particular case I think is to hit the ball so it doesn't spin, if you watch it carefully it's almost floating, the pictures make that really clear.

This whole technique is something lots of young and junior players are trying out and have been trying out for a few years. Reed often tries this in warm ups before the game almost slicing under the ball.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I started the season defending Howard on account of the fact that he has the worst back four in recent United history in front of him, and I still believe that's a factor.

But regardless of that, he's just not a good goalkeeper, his distribution is appalling, as is his positional sense and on bad days, he even fucks up with basic shot-stopping.
There needs to be a mass cull in January and I'd like him to be a part of it quite frankly.

My concern with Howard and long shots, if any, would be his foot movement: does he dive too early instead of taking an extra step? Don't know.

Whatever the case, the way I see it we have limited resources, we need to be getting the best out of the players we've got by supporting them, and looking to spend in areas of greatest need. For me that's central midfield first, and then centre half. Or is it the other way round?

If we spend money on a keeper that's money we can't spend elsewhere. I think we have greater needs elsewhere.

Goalkeeper is a confidence position. I think we should support Howard and try to get the best out of him. The criticisms - not necessarily from here - are undoubtedly reaching the players, this has to adversely affect performances and results.

UTMB

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think our next signing should be a keeper.

I'd hesitate to expose Long when there is so much tension around.

Howard is what he is and always has been, a just alright keeper in League 1 and for his modest number of games at St. Mirren before us. For a promotion season we need a good keeper.

 

[Bladebri]

Haward has just lost some confidence maybe it because of our defensive frailties, Howard to me IMO is a better keeper than his form is showing.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Goalkeeper is a confidence position. I think we should support Howard and try to get the best out of him. The criticisms - not necessarily from here - are undoubtedly reaching the players, this has to adversely affect performances and results.

UTMB

I agree, goalkeepers do need confidence to inspire performances, which is why I think it would be counter-productive to vocally criticise Howard during the course of a match.
But even if we give him our unconditional support, his level of ability simply doesn't reach the required standard. When it comes to the JTW, there will be a couple of players who I personally like but objectively speaking, just aren't up to task of achieving promotion, and I'm afraid that this is a time to be ruthless.

As for the general criticism of players, I have a different take on it. The performances served up in several games this season have affected the critical outlook of the supporters.
We turned up in August expecting to see a side ready to grab this league by the scruff of the neck and instead have been treated to gutless, lazy, going-through-the-motions football. This is not a team which plays in the spirit of the Sheffield United that many of us know and love.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no professional moaner, I have complete faith in Adkins and even conditional faith in the board, but as for our squad? With a handful of exceptions, half of them don't have the ability and the other half don't have the attitude in my view.

 

[Rodley]

Yes and No.

I picked this because although plenty of pundits talk about the flight of the ball I'd never really seen it. This one basically goes mesmerisingly straight for about 30 yards then veers off to the keeper's right substantially at the last second. Goal.

Is Howard likely to face this week in week out? No

Do shots and free kicks wobble in the air in a way they didn't use to? Yes

As a side note: the technique in this particular case I think is to hit the ball so it doesn't spin, if you watch it carefully it's almost floating, the pictures make that really clear.

This whole technique is something lots of young and junior players are trying out and have been trying out for a few years. Reed often tries this in warm ups before the game almost slicing under the ball.

I suspect there's very little chance of a mass cull in the JTW. There's simply not the volume of deals done or time to do them. I think we'll see major outgoings in the summer.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I started the season defending Howard on account of the fact that he has the worst back four in recent United history in front of him, and I still believe that's a factor.

But regardless of that, he's just not a good goalkeeper, his distribution is appalling, as is his positional sense and on bad days, he even fucks up with basic shot-stopping.
There needs to be a mass cull in January and I'd like him to be a part of it quite frankly.

I agree about distribution. Against Notts County it was noticeable how much quicker the ball moved from Long.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I agree, goalkeepers do need confidence to inspire performances, which is why I think it would be counter-productive to vocally criticise Howard during the course of a match.
But even if we give him our unconditional support, his level of ability simply doesn't reach the required standard. When it comes to the JTW, there will be a couple of players who I personally like but objectively speaking, just aren't up to task of achieving promotion, and I'm afraid that this is a time to be ruthless.

As for the general criticism of players, I have a different take on it. The performances served up in several games this season have affected the critical outlook of the supporters.
We turned up in August expecting to see a side ready to grab this league by the scruff of the neck and instead have been treated to gutless, lazy, going-through-the-motions football. This is not a team which plays in the spirit of the Sheffield United that many of us know and love.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no professional moaner, I have complete faith in Adkins and even conditional faith in the board, but as for our squad? With a handful of exceptions, half of them don't have the ability and the other half don't have the attitude in my view.

I don't get this about not caring. (But plenty of people are saying it.)

Have you seen, for instance, Baxter's reaction when he scored last week?

I'm just going through a team and thinking who it might apply to:

Howard
Freeman
Collins
Edgar
Wallace
JCR
Bash
Hammond
Done
Sharp
Adams

Form that lot I'd say maybe Edgar bc he's a loanee, and controversially sometimes maybe Done - though others have pointed it out. I think he gets easily frustrated out on the left.

Jury's out on Hammond but you'd have to expect him to come through.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I think our next signing should be a keeper.

I'd hesitate to expose Long when there is so much tension around.

Howard is what he is and always has been, a just alright keeper in League 1 and for his modest number of games at St. Mirren before us. For a promotion season we need a good keeper.

Fair point about Long as back up. We suffered when Turner played last season.

At the JPT game he was still doing his frightened rabbit impersonation.

A keeper ahead of CM and CH?

 

[Bladebri]

Get the defence sorted and Howard will be great for us, remember the 10 games unbeaten, decent defence and a keeper with confidence.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I don't get this about not caring. (But plenty of people are saying it.)

Have you seen, for instance, Baxter's reaction when he scored last week?

I'm just going through a team and thinking who it might apply to:

Howard
Freeman
Collins
Edgar
Wallace
JCR
Bash
Hammond
Done
Sharp
Adams

Form that lot I'd say maybe Edgar bc he's a loanee, and controversially sometimes maybe Done - though others have pointed it out. I think he gets easily frustrated out on the left.

Jury's out on Hammond but you'd have to expect him to come through.

Baxter has shown improvement of late, but it's easy to look passionate when you've scored.
If you look at us when we aren't in possession, everyones looking around at the other man, expecting them to win the ball, the unacceptable lack of defensive runs has cost us a hatful this season already. The best defending I saw against Millwall came from Conor bloody Sammon.
Throw-ins are another example, everyone standing like Subbuteo figures, not jostling for the ball or running into space.
And considering what I've said about Howards distribution, he's not entirely to blame, because nobody ever looks particularly forthcoming in wanting the ball off him when he throws it out.
Done is a different story, in the right position he makes things happen, at Port Vale for instance he was the most effective man we had, unfortunately nobody else turned up. But playing him on the left is a huge mistake which we surely can't make again.

Actually, as I'm writing this I can't decide if our problem is the lack of work ethic or a lack of football intelligence.

 

[Clarkey87]

Haward has just lost some confidence maybe it because of our defensive frailties, Howard to me IMO is a better keeper than his form is showing.

To be fair, I'm not convinced he will be anything other than a bog standard, very average league one player.
Just look at his career. Aside from a three year stint at St Mirren where he racked up 53 appearances, Sheffield United is the ONLY club where he has been a regular number one and for his age, it shows he really isn't good enough.

Compare the amount of games George Long has played in his young career (and he is by no means a finished product) against Mark Howard and the picture says it all.

Howard will only ever be a back up keeper, no more.

We do have areas of weakness on the pitch that needs addressing, and a goalkeeper is up there as a priority. Having a good keeper can be the difference between getting points or not.

A good keeper inspires confidence in the rest of the team.
Yes - before someone points out - it works both ways and a good defence can inspire confidence in a goalkeeper but keepers are that last line of defence and decent keepers will almost always stop a lot that gets through.

 

[robbiez666]

Actually, as I'm writing this I can't decide if our problem is the lack of work ethic or a lack of football intelligence.

A lot of both I think. There's a distinct lack of movement and desire for the ball from most of the team.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Our team, in general, lacks belief (together with some technical and physical deficiencies). For me neither of our goalkeepers command their area. Couple this with a truly awful defence in front of them and a soft midfield and we are always going to have defensive problems. Can Hammond fix the MF? Don't know. CH and goalie still needed in my opinion. As for distribution it would help if the forwards and MF didn't play statues.

 

[Bladebri]

To be fair, I'm not convinced he will be anything other than a bog standard, very average league one player.
Just look at his career. Aside from a three year stint at St Mirren where he racked up 53 appearances, Sheffield United is the ONLY club where he has been a regular number one and for his age, it shows he really isn't good enough.

Compare the amount of games George Long has played in his young career (and he is by no means a finished product) against Mark Howard and the picture says it all.

Howard will only ever be a back up keeper, no more.

We do have areas of weakness on the pitch that needs addressing, and a goalkeeper is up there as a priority. Having a good keeper can be the difference between getting points or not.

A good keeper inspires confidence in the rest of the team.
Yes - before someone points out - it works both ways and a good defence can inspire confidence in a goalkeeper but keepers are that last line of defence and decent keepers will almost always stop a lot that gets through.

I still feel he can do a good job in this league, yes I understand the points you raised, come when we get into the championship I totally agree that we will need a better keeper.

 

[alcoblade]

I'd hesitate to expose Long when there is so much tension around.
.

Him being rubbish should be more of a concern.

UTB

 

[Tyler Durden]

A lot of both I think. There's a distinct lack of movement and desire for the ball from most of the team.

I think that's probably the case, which in a division where you have to both fight and let your quality show is a bad combination.

 

[Jonboy60]

I started the season defending Howard on account of the fact that he has the worst back four in recent United history in front of him, and I still believe that's a factor.

But regardless of that, he's just not a good goalkeeper, his distribution is appalling, as is his positional sense and on bad days, he even fucks up with basic shot-stopping.
There needs to be a mass cull in January and I'd like him to be a part of it quite frankly.

Do we not have a goalkeeping technician at the club.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Him being rubbish should be more of a concern.

UTB

Long is a strange one: there's plenty he does well but aisi he has one huge shortcoming, which turns into two, ie he won't command his box - through balls and corners - which is bad enough, but that leads to uncertainty throughout the defence and the team in general.

Hard to see that changing now which is odd bc it shouldn't be so difficult to work on.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Do we not have a goalkeeping technician at the club.

We probably do but he's not helping much. Maybe we should see what Alan Kelly's up to. Then again he'd probably go straight into the squad.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I started the season defending Howard on account of the fact that he has the worst back four in recent United history in front of him, and I still believe that's a factor.

But regardless of that, he's just not a good goalkeeper, his distribution is appalling, as is his positional sense and on bad days, he even fucks up with basic shot-stopping.
There needs to be a mass cull in January and I'd like him to be a part of it quite frankly.

Yes, I too have been a supporter of Howard, especially due to a couple of seasons of unsettled CH';s - but it's just getting a bit too regular now. Ideally you need a decent GK who more often than not can get his CH's out of trouble - seems that Howard is not doing that.

Think you are a bit off with the cull - we could seriously be heading for a Charlton type clear out in the summer - just think January will not be right. Even in this shit league we will be there or there abouts and Adkins will bottle any mass cull at that time. We may try and move players on who are out of contract in the summer, but a cull is definitely on the cards at some time.

UTB

 

[Tyler Durden]

Yes, I too have been a supporter of Howard, especially due to a couple of seasons of unsettled CH';s - but it's just getting a bit too regular now. Ideally you need a decent GK who more often than not can get his CH's out of trouble - seems that Howard is not doing that.

Think you are a bit off with the cull - we could seriously be heading for a Charlton type clear out in the summer - just think January will not be right. Even in this shit league we will be there or there abouts and Adkins will bottle any mass cull at that time. We may try and move players on who are out of contract in the summer, but a cull is definitely on the cards at some time.

UTB

I think you're probably right, a month doesn't quite cut it for a task of that scale, the time taken for all the required negotiations is too short. I imagine that one or two will the Clough-style cold shoulder in the second half of the season though, assuming we get some new faces in January.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Fwiw Alan Kelly is quite active on Twitter. Tweets a lot about Ireland as you might expect.

Just checked, afaict he's at Preston and has been there at least 4 or 5 years.

 

[robbiez666]

Howard doesn't seem to move his feet well. If the ball moves or if there's a deflection he's too slow to react. He's too static and not on his toes.