Mark Howard

[blader]

Anyone care to offer how he's been playing so far?

It all seems very quiet on the keeper front, does this mean he is our first-choice keeper for the season? How does he compare to Simmo? (unbiased opinions please, Simmo wasn't completely useless despite his faults!)

 

[Foxy]

Anyone care to offer how he's been playing so far?

It all seems very quiet on the keeper front, does this mean he is our first-choice keeper for the season? How does he compare to Simmo? (unbiased opinions please, Simmo wasn't completely useless despite his faults!)

He's not done anything wrong in my opinion, but then he's not rally been tested extensively.

I know he's fairly well rated and his communication is a big plus... he never shuts up

A few were concerned as he like to come out and rabbit punch crosses... not seen it go wrong yet and he does seem to command his area pretty well.

Made some good stops, and his distribution is good (likes to throw, but also has a cracking long straight kick on him).

 

[broomhillblade]

If he can put in a warm-up routine like Budgie, he'll have cracked it. ;-)

 

[Bradford Blade]

Look forward to seeing him Sat. Morecambe was ok, but didn't really get too tested. Seems to have plenty of potential though. IMHO, better - on the whole - than Simmo (and I quite liked Simmo after his 'crisis of confidence')...

Time will tell I suppose

 

[mattbianco1]

He's better than Simmo... Does that help?

 

[mattbianco1]

How is he at taking penalties?

 

[Bradford Blade]

How is he at taking penalties?

LOL, but more to the point, how is he at saving them???

 

[JohnDenver]

He's better than Simmo... Does that help?

Sort of.

I'm guessing he can't pull off the odd wonder save like Simmo did from time to time. But if he doesn't give daft goals away once in every three games he'll still be a better keeper.

 

[Kenilworth]

It's kinda obvious but keeping clean sheets is the name of the game
The defense has to work as a tight unit and not give anythign away cheaply.
A lot of goal keeping is around effective communication and making sure those in front of you are alert to and in a position to deal with any potential threat of danger. The keeper actually making a save should be the last resort - if you can restrict the number of chances afforded to the opposition you keep more clean sheets. Charlton did this last year and their keeper wasn't a world beater.
Hopefully Howard will prove to be effective in helping the defense make fewer mistakes and through that build a platform for winning the majority of our matches.

 

[Balham]

Kenilworth spot on there: Charlton conceded 36 goals last season where we conceded 51. Ben Hamer is not a good goalkeeper at all, it was built on defensive positioning and solidity: their centre-halves should have been named their players of the season - maybe after Johnnie Jackson.

I'm happier with a goalkeeper who communicates with his defence than one who pulls of wonder saves every few matches. It's much better that we stop the chances than rely on a wonder save.

 

[metalblade]

I think his stare might put a few off their shooting

 

[thevoot]

So is this guy any good?

Colchester last week had one shot on target, which went in.
Bournemouth today had three shots on target, which went in.
(according to BBC stats)

So he hasn't made a save in 2 games.

Am I being harsh? Just wondering as an exile who hasn't seen him yet......

UTB

 

[DazBlade88]

I'm a bit unsure about him. I didn't see the Colchester game but I thought he looked a bit shaky today.

I don't think he could have done much about the first goal, but I don't know what happened with the third. I was sure he could have got to it but he didn't seem to really attempt to make the save.

 

[Deleted member 875]

I'm still not fully sold on him.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Can't blame the keeper for any of the goals today. Particularly the first two, he had no chance with those. We've simply defended very poorly for all 5 goals we've conceded this season. They were all avoidable.

 

[Racy]

Howard is at best very ordinary

Watched him at Shirecliffe and his handling is very ordinary especially driven ground shots, he spills a lot

His command of the six yard box is very poor on par with Simmo

On the plus side his distribution is above average so is his throw outs.

What about giving young Long a run in the side don't judge him on the Exeter performance from what I've seen in the reserves and on the training ground he could be top drawer

 

[super_pig]

didn't have any chance with the goals .. two close range headers and third took a massive deflection

 

[sitwell]

i think hes a massive improvement on Simmonsen.

 

[JohnDenver]

Just noticed that PNE have signed Simonsen. The bugger will like play Gordon Banks at the Lane, it's inevitable.

 

[Houso]

i think hes a massive improvement on Simmonsen.

Personally think the two are pretty much on a par.

Simo had slightly better shot stopping, Howard has much better distribution. Both are flappy and make long for the days of sure hand keepers akin to Kelly and Tracey.

 

[cahill]

Needs to be given a chance, time will tell, doesn't fill me with dread every time a cross comes over unlike Simmo who you felt had a 50/50 chance of dropping a clanger. Seems to talk a lot to his defenders and his distribution is better

 

[BladeInBC]

From the highlights it looked Howard thought the third was going wide. Definite mistake. Not to blame for first and the second is dubious as to whether he should have been able to get in front of the Bournemouth player because he clearly couldn't see it coming.

 

[borbokis]

Has anyone mentioned he has a first name as a surname yet?

 

[metalblade]

Poor defending should have our line at least on the penalty spot no keeper will save many headers from 6 yards out, and for the 2nd goal it is just basic defending for a corner, for the 3rd he may have been a bit slow getting down but that would be harsh as it come through a crowd of players.

 

[Racy]

Needs to be given a chance, time will tell, doesn't fill me with dread every time a cross comes over unlike Simmo who you felt had a 50/50 chance of dropping a clanger. Seems to talk a lot to his defenders and his distribution is better

I'll bet Collins and Mcqire are dreading crosses coming in because it will be down to them to deal with them Howard will be rooted to his line

 

[s35blade]

to be fair to howard in first half he claimed some good balls from free kicks he was weak at corners but didnt cost us goals. i think he is virtually a like for like replacement for simmo

 

[Racy]

The bottom line is any keeper who commands his six yard and can consistently take crosses under pressure will be playing at he highest level not league1.

Plenty of good shot stoppers about.

 

[Paulus]

to be fair to howard in first half he claimed some good balls from free kicks he was weak at corners but didnt cost us goals. i think he is virtually a like for like replacement for simmo

Not a like for like - he is probably on about a fifth of the money, so on that basis he's a bargain if he is as good a keeper as Simmo. From what I have seen (Coventry and Bournemouth) he doesn't look a nervous bloody nelly, I certainly don't think that any of the goals we conceded in these games was primarily down to him.

The reality is you work out how good a goaly someone is over a decent period of time not over a couple of matches. Any keeper can have a blinder and a nightmare. Over time you begin to notice any weaknesses and you certainly notice how often they make errors of judgement and downright howlers. A good case in point is Pepe Reina,if he had started at Liverpool this season then their fans would be near despair at the moment but in reality he has been one of the top keepers in the country based on his performances over the last few years.

I'll sit on the fence for the time being.