No need for Tom Heaton at Bristol City with Max O'Leary doing the business Latest speculation has linked the three-cap England international with a move to Ashton Gate. Today's transfer gossip sees Bristol City linked with Tom Heaton of Burnley. I'd take that with a pinch of salt. That move would seem at odds with City's current transfer policy of signing young talent with Championship experience and their best years ahead of them. Indeed, is goalkeeper even a position the club needs to recruit in? Niki Maenpaa has been in great form since arriving for nothing in the summer while arguably Max O'Leary has been putting in even better performances after Maenpaa's injury. And while Frank Fielding remains out as he recovers from Meningitis and is still not expected back any time soon we've always maintained that Fielding has a role to play at the club given his high standing. When Fielding returned to first-team training he was given a sing-song and round of applause from the senior City squad, who recognise that the former Blackburn Rovers man is still an important figure in the dressing room and someone who understands what Bristol City is about, having been with the side for some five years now and having played a significant role in the golden 2014-15 double-winning season. Speak to anyone behind the scenes and they'll all say what a great character Fielding is, with the 30-year-old influential in the club signing up with the Children's Hospice South West as their charity partner as one example of this. We reported in the summer that there was interest from clubs in the north west in Fielding - according to our sources - and it may be that something happens there in the future but if it does, leaving a spot open for another City goalkeeper, it would be unlikely to be Heaton coming in. For a start Heaton needs first team football if he leaves Turf Moor with Joe Hart and Nick Pope having usurped him. And that's the same situation as Maenpaa who was brought in to play more at Ashton Gate after long periods without first-team football at Brighton. Further, we expect City to reconsider a move for Zack Steffen - the Colombus Crew goalkeeper - if they do look to bring in another player. Someone who closely fits what Mark Ashton and Lee Johnson are looking for: a good young talent with his best years ahead of him, with a high ceiling of talent that could see him become a full senior international. Unless Heaton comes to BS3 ready to play second-fiddle, how does he fit in? Finally, look at the breakthrough performances of Max O'Leary. The former Bath City and Soliihull Moors player has been a revelation. Three games, just one goal conceded and an EFL team of the week nomination already. And this against the backdrop of City having the fifth best defence in the league, with a whole new back five this season, and with plenty of room to further improve as the squad bonds more and with the players further developing. (The Robins, incidentally, have matched their six clean sheets in the league that they achieved in the first 15 games of last season.) And as O'Leary counts as a 'club-developed' player - vitally important over the next years ahead - why would Bristol City further block his route to playing? https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/no-need-tom-heaton-bristol-2156384
I think I'm with you on that thought Wiz and how nice it is that we seem to have the keeping situation under pretty much under control. It's nice to see Max get his chance, although not exactly under prime conditions, and to keep 2 clean sheets must be a tremendous boost to his confidence which only bodes well for his and our futures.
If the opportunity to sign Heaton is there, then it certainly ought to be considered. Max has done very well in his appearances, but is he likely to be our number one for now and for years to come? Our ambition ought to be to contend for promotion in the next few years, for which a top goalkeeper is pretty much a necessity, so it's asking a lot of Max to be that at such a young age. There'll be those that say he's earned the chance, and that's fine, but if he makes a/a number of mistake(s) that cost us and those same people then say 'the club should have signed a more experienced keeper', then they don't really have a leg to stand on. It's quite a complicated situation the club is in at the minute. Once Fielding and Maenpaa are fit again, does Max keep his place until he's injured/goes on a poor run of form, and in that case, which of the two comes in? Or, does one of them automatically come back in because of their greater experience? If Heaton were to sign for us then one of Fielding or Maenpaa would surely need to be moved on as he'd want as close to a guarantee of regular football as a club is able to give and the remaining player would likely be less than pleased with being a backup. That said, if Heaton is capable of getting back to the level he was at before injury then he'd be an outstanding keeper at this level, which can have a huge bearing on results, as Butland proved on the weekend for Stoke. The question would be, how much of a gamble would that be and would the significant sums involved be justified in taking that risk and also putting our existing keepers' noses out of joint. For what it's worth, I don't see it happening anyway!
Both of them are England Internationals, so naturally I'd be delighted if Max was capable of reaching those kinds of levels, but for fans to expect that is setting the bar very high. I'm just posing the question whether people would back him or take the opportunity to potentially sign Heaton, so no need to be patronising.
if you set out to do something, be something or what ever if you don't set the bar at the top you may never reach the top .. which would be beyond your set height. it is better to have tried and failed than to failed to try. if you set the bar at 6 instead of 10 and reach it whoopee you may just stop! if you set it at 10 and reach 6 you will always be striving for 7 or 8 or ….. from 1000 GK'S probably only 10% are in the top eschelon … probably the bottom 10% are above a bar height of 8? take other countries leagues [ uk 92 teams ] then goodness knows how many goal keepers there are? 60 - 70,000?
That's perfectly valid if you're saying 'Yes, I'm happy for the club to give him a go as number 1', and admirable in a way, but there will be many fans out there hungry for promotion just waiting for him to make a mistake/series of mistakes and use that as a reason to criticise the clubs for taking the 'cheap option' and 'not being ambitious enough'. I'm personally undecided as I don't think we've seen enough of him to make a judgement, but I trust LJ and the club to make the right call based on seeing him day in and day out in training and reviewing all the potential options out there.
You will always get a "group" of neggies at all clubs … be it we should have won 2-0 instead of 1-0 or we drew/lost because we didn't play so and so … they never are happy.... give them a free ticket to best seats, a result where we win 4-0 and they will moan more about someone 20 rows away sneezing or somebody with a town criers type voice bestowing encouragement to get a fifth! ….. or they had to pay for their pie! You cannot guage the quality based simply on a few 100% appearances … it needs the occasional hiccup, and how it affects the overall performances to say "he is worthy" if he played 10 games let in 6 goals and we finished with 16 points he would in my eyes rate as good as any other we have! ...on paper at least!
Don't want his to sound negative but I don't think Max is quite ready. I worry about crosses - and dominating the box. Also I'm not sure about his distribution I would like to see him go out on loan for a year So I think Heaton would be be a good signing - he did well for us last time around
I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking that. I’m seen him a few times trying to punch, push the ball away when it would be easier to claim it. Also his distribution is to be desired and been lucky enough to not been punished yet. But it won’t be long till managers spot to put him under pressure clearing the ball.
I agree , he’s done very well , but he’s not yet the finished article. I’ve noticed too that he has failed to catch crosses he should be taking with ease , just pushing them away, shots too he tends to parry rather than catching them, so far he’s been fortunate that we’ve managed to clear the resulting loose balls. I’m not sure Heaton is the answer though , I would imagine his wages would be an issue, and anyway it would be Jan before we could get him. Max has done well, but we need to be careful , I may be wrong , but I don’t think either of our first choice keepers are due back for a while.
