The case for George Long.

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Woodwardfan said:
Based even on comments on here, I think it is fair to say that our new manager has a decision to make re Howard v Long in goal.

If the manager is full of self confidence and has confidence in the Board, I would not blame him for thinking longer term than Howard and giving Long a big chance.

That all depends on what he sees in training and in friendlies.

What have I seen? A genuinely great shot stopper in his own "arc", not prepared to venture beyond his own "arc". Quiet, hesitant, but technically superb for his age within his limited areas.

He has to dominate to the penalty spot, he has to venture outside his own "arc" or comfort zone and pull off some saves which sre unexpected; Long does the "expected" easily as routine but he never excites anybody with the unexpected. Also he has to talk to his defence, big time.

BTW Sitwell and anybody else, I've not watched him since he was 19 years old and I would imagine he's a man now and a lot different.!!
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What will sort out both Howard and Long is having a steady CB pairing , who have experience and organisational skills .

Is Howard fully fit and can he play a full season . We have a number of positions that need resolving to complete the jig saw , and lets hope the goalkeeper is not another one .

UTB
 



Woodwardfan said:
Rather than just ignore that post as usual may I say that it is trite.
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I just don't get it. My original response was to the incredible suggestion that we should stick with Long, despite weaknesses, so that he gets time to iron them out of his game. I mean, is that for real?

We have one objective - to escape division 3. If we develop some youth along the way then all well and good, but that's a means to an end and not the end itself.

You then pose the issue as a real question for Adkins. I could have posed my response in a more subtle way, but suffice to say if I saw Long in our net, I'd think Adkins had lost the plot.

UTB
 
A goalkeeper can win you or lose you a match far more easily than your main goal scorer, obviously, and it's no coincidence that the great teams had great keepers...
 
This maybe the most pointless post since Len left us, but I want the keeper for this season to be Long, and for him to be a huge improvement on Howard. *



*disclaimer - Doesn't mean he has the ability to make it so, but that's what I'd like.
 
If that performance against Rangers can be replicated over a full season we have ourselves the best keeper in league one.

Can it be?
Will it be a benchmark or a fond memory?
Has he got the self confidence and consistency?

Remains to be seen.
 
dannysufc_ said:
If that performance against Rangers can be replicated over a full season we have ourselves the best keeper in league one.

Can it be?
Will it be a benchmark or a fond memory?
Has he got the self confidence and consistency?

Remains to be seen.
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Didn't go to the Newcastle game, questions for those who did but hadn't seen him in the SPL play-offs.

Where you impressed or not?

If you where impressed had he progressed further than you expected?
 
GRUMPY BLADE said:
Didn't go to the Newcastle game, questions for those who did but hadn't seen him in the SPL play-offs.

Where you impressed or not?

If you where impressed had he progressed further than you expected?
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Tough one.
I think he's shown a huge amount of strength of character to recover from his disastrous second stint in goal for us and the subsequent terrible loan period at Oxford.

He was thrown into an awful Motherwell team on an awful run, he wasn't playing well at all as was no one else but then when it was shit or bust he came up trumps - two games on the bounce

Newcastle, it's hard to judge. The two goals he couldn't do anything about, the first he did well blocking the first effort but it was a rebound. The second was a corner, near post flick on and tapped in on the back stick.
Apart from that he had nothing to do.

It's going to take the Hull and Morecambe games before we can properly judge.
 
Lord Bos of Eckington. said:
Forget the Bladey Blade issue . The fact of the matter is , we are still short of a number of players , in key positions , to become a automatic promotion force in this league . You could add a goalkeeper to that list .

Are both Long or Howard good enough , to achieve our aim this season .My view is No.

UTB
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I think you are pretty much spot on Lord Bos, although I haven't seen George in action since his loan spell so would have to reserve judgement. Howard was becoming a bit brittle though especially towards the latter part of the season. Whether either will be up to it we will have to see. Key positions still need sorting though as you say.
 
Fiery Blade said:
In one word NO ! and his kicking is still rubbish !
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Did you go to the Newcastle friendly? If you did I really can't see how you can say that. As far as I recall in the entire game, one clearance kick went out for a throwin near the half way line (safely and looked deliberate). A few kicks out of hands set up attacks, Morgs free kick on the edge of the box being one. Goal kicks, although a little slow to take them were fine.

If you did go then fine, we obviously saw the game differently.
 
My first impression of George Long on Sunday was ' hmmm, he looks like a bloke now instead of a boy band member'. Once the game started, and bear in mind I have always been Sitwellesque in my opinion of George, and also consider, he was the least busy of the two keepers on Sunday (big breath!)......
I thought he looked a much improved version of what left us on his loan travels - More manly in appearance and self confidence, appeared (though its difficult to tell from the stands) to communicate better with his back four, was brave but unfortunate in the lead up their first goal and (despite some contrary opinion on here) his kicking looked fine to me.
All in all, a much better proposition than 12 months ago when I thought he'd struggle to make a living in the pro game.
One or two hesitant moments with 6 yard box issues, but no more than top class keepers suffer from time to time.
I'd say a fit Mark Howard has fight on his hands now, rather than being twice the better keeper than Long he was a year ago. A healthy situation as long as Howard can shake off his troublesome mid torso issues that seem to dog him far too much for comfort.
 
LSF said:
My first impression of George Long on Sunday was ' hmmm, he looks like a bloke now instead of a boy band member'. Once the game started, and bear in mind I have always been Sitwellesque in my opinion of George, and also consider, he was the least busy of the two keepers on Sunday (big breath!)......
I thought he looked a much improved version of what left us on his loan travels - More manly in appearance and self confidence, appeared (though its difficult to tell from the stands) to communicate better with his back four, was brave but unfortunate in the lead up their first goal and (despite some contrary opinion on here) his kicking looked fine to me.
All in all, a much better proposition than 12 months ago when I thought he'd struggle to make a living in the pro game.
One or two hesitant moments with 6 yard box issues, but no more than top class keepers suffer from time to time.
I'd say a fit Mark Howard has fight on his hands now, rather than being twice the better keeper than Long he was a year ago. A healthy situation as long as Howard can shake off his troublesome mid torso issues that seem to dog him far too much for comfort.
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Fuckin' ell, what an intuitive OP from yours truly again:)
 



LSF said:
My first impression of George Long on Sunday was ' hmmm, he looks like a bloke now instead of a boy band member'. Once the game started, and bear in mind I have always been Sitwellesque in my opinion of George, and also consider, he was the least busy of the two keepers on Sunday (big breath!)......
I thought he looked a much improved version of what left us on his loan travels - More manly in appearance and self confidence, appeared (though its difficult to tell from the stands) to communicate better with his back four, was brave but unfortunate in the lead up their first goal and (despite some contrary opinion on here) his kicking looked fine to me.
All in all, a much better proposition than 12 months ago when I thought he'd struggle to make a living in the pro game.
One or two hesitant moments with 6 yard box issues, but no more than top class keepers suffer from time to time.
I'd say a fit Mark Howard has fight on his hands now, rather than being twice the better keeper than Long he was a year ago. A healthy situation as long as Howard can shake off his troublesome mid torso issues that seem to dog him far too much for comfort.
Click to expand...


That's what I thought watching him play for Motherwell.
 
dannysufc_ said:
Tough one.
I think he's shown a huge amount of strength of character to recover from his disastrous second stint in goal for us and the subsequent terrible loan period at Oxford.

He was thrown into an awful Motherwell team on an awful run, he wasn't playing well at all as was no one else but then when it was shit or bust he came up trumps - two games on the bounce

Newcastle, it's hard to judge. The two goals he couldn't do anything about, the first he did well blocking the first effort but it was a rebound. The second was a corner, near post flick on and tapped in on the back stick.
Apart from that he had nothing to do.

It's going to take the Hull and Morecambe games before we can properly judge.
Click to expand...

Yes, we'll be Wiser after Morecambe...
 
I think he's improved of late, from a low base though.

You could stull see the same weaknesses in him game yesterday though. We need a new keeper.

UTB
 
You can see his confidence rising every game. A few question marks remain when we play the physical teams who pump the ball in the box but I think he's been fine of late.
 
Woodwardfan said:
Six months since the O.P. and not many detractors these days, not like 6 months ago above.

Pleased for the lad and the club and also the manager who made a big call.
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He has improved much more than I thought he could ,but so has the defence. I would still look for another keeper but we have other priorities first.
 



sitwell said:
He has improved much more than I thought he could ,but so has the defence. I would still look for another keeper but we have other priorities first.
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Your a hard taskmaster Sitwell !where are we to find a keeper better than George he's not the finished product yet but is a real good keeper
we have got priorities but keeper isn't one.We have another young keeper coming through,Ramsdale who's just signed his first pro contract,seen him a few times and he could be pushing George in a couple of years.
Howards contract is up in the summer so it is possible we are looking for a new keeper but to right George off is ridiculous.
 
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