https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...-the-season-between-the-sticks-for-sunderland Im still undecided. Whats everyone elses thoughts??
Burge isn't as bad as some people make out. He's a steady L1 keeper. I think some people expect 3rd tier keepers to be flawless when in fact there is a reason they are in the 3rd tier. Patterson looks good, but he is very raw. I'd rather we had signed a new no.1 and sent Patterson out for a season long loan.
I would go with Patterson, Burge is not a bad keeper for this league, but Patterson looks to have the ability to be at a much higher level, so he should start the season, knowing that Burge can step in if his confidence that’s a dip or he needs a break. Sending him out on loan to anything below League 1 would not be good enough for the lad, remember that Pickford was at Bradford in League 1 at the same stage in his development, I am not saying that Patterson is close to Pickford, so if he has what it takes we should play him.
I’d rather we sign a new goalkeeper and get shot of Burge but it’s clear that won’t be happening this season. Patterson would be ahead of Burge for me but I think Johnson will go for experience.
Burge is a good keeper at this level who played behind one dodgy defence after another last season ... ... for each mistake he made each of the defenders made more. I can remember Sanderson, O'Nien, Wright, etc all making mistakes and don't get me started on Power, McFadzean, Vokins, etc.
It's a tough one, depends who's going to install confidence in the defence as I believe they're both decent shot stoppers. Can't really tell from preseason who that's going to be. Personally I'd go with Patterson as I like to see potential given a try. If it doesn't work out so be it. Burge might not work out either if he falls into another slump. 70% sure we'll go with experience and maybe that's the right call. Not an easy decision.
Patterson, would be my choice, he is unorthodox yes, similar to Pickford, and has the potential to develop along similar lines. We need to have courage and develop our own players at every opportunity, and this is one we should not miss.
Patterson is miles the best keeper. No chance LJ starts him over Burge though, he really rates him for some reason
Burge should start in the league, for me. Give Patterson the two August cup games and see how he does. What we cannot do is go back to a process where one mistake means we swap keepers, rinse and repeat.
Patterson for me he will only go from strength to strength the more games he has, with more coaching as no 1 he has the potential to be another Monty if he works hard and doesn't become a piss artist.
Patterson holds shots better and is much, much better with the ball at his feet. He just needs to learn when to not come out of his box and get involved like he did against Hull. I’m actually in a minority that think Burge is ok, but I’d go with Patterson from the off.
I doubt Burge would still be here if it wasn't for the automatic contract extension that was triggered, so I would go with the keeper we have played through preseason.
I don't think there's that much to choose between them at the moment, but Patterson's got far more potential than Burge, and if you don't give the kids the game time, you can't expect them to develop, so I'd go with him. It's a risk that he'd make a mistake in front of the crowd, and lose confidence, but they've got to step up at some point. On the other hand I reckon Burge would do an ok job, and I expect that's the way LJ will actually go.
