Max is a good keeper, he makes mistakes all keepers do, he has areas to improve, distribution is his weakness imo, but he’s improving all the time and he’s relatively young for a keeper. He’s already as good as Bents at shot stopping, and doesn’t deflect saves straight to attackers, and is far better at commanding his area. All that and I imagine his salary is nowhere near as high. I really don’t get why some criticise him so much. He’s a good young keeper.
To be fair it was early doors and he might have been thirsty still and was having a sip in the goal to set himself up for the ninety minutes West Ham were fiddling around up by the half way line and everything is fine, so he has a drink next thing oh **** Bowens on the penalty spot with the ball!!!!
I totally disagree with him commanding his area and yes his distribution is poor. No problem with you not getting why I criticise him.
Can I ask, do you not think he’s better than Bents?, because he certainly didn’t command the area, hardly came off his line at all, his distribution was equally crap, and whilst a good shot stopper, often just batted the ball into dangerous areas, at least Max pushed the ball away often when he saves it.
Ashton, what has Bentley got to do with my view of Max ? It's as relevant as me telling you he was a better bowler than batter. I'll be clear about my view of Max : A very nice young man. He's poor dealing with crosses and commanding his box. He's not the bravest. He's OK at shot stopping but very poor with his distribution. FYI. I rate the 18year old keeper at Paulton who's better than his father (SP) at the same age and his distribution with both feet is incredible. I've tried with City to no avail. Watch this space.
I have often thought that there has to be many exceptionally good players playing in local league within a 50 mile radius of Bristol that are totally untapped or even scouted. The added bonus of having a bunch of local hungry young players joining Bristol City and possibly fulfilling their dreams would be a welcome change for all parties. Paulton used to play in the old Western League if my memory is correct, so at what level do they play now as I have lost touch with some of the more regional divisions but used to watch games in Andover when they were in that league back before I left for Canada in 1975. You have forced me to check google which I probably should have done anyway. Southern League it is and when I lived back there that was, along with the Northern League, the feeders for teams to replace anyone who was voted out of the Football League by all the other club owners if the team was in the last place in the 4th Division. I bet there was no money exchanged to get someone's vote to keep yourself in the Football League.
Very harsh on Max, Dickie was caught ball watching and had absolutely no idea where Bowen was, so Max had no chance to come out. He’s entitled to expect more from his defenders for this goal.
Paulton play in the Southern league south division one, they will play v Manor Farm, Yate this season. Their players at early ages get scouted, their players at u12 up are seen by scouts regularly in the JPL league. Their U18's play in the Thursday floodlight league, scouts all over that. A Cardiff City scout is their u18 manager. The defence was working as a unit got compact and in a good shape. The ball sails over their head and the team should expect their keeper to easily pluck a easy ball out of their air which Bowen takes on the ground. O'leary should be part of that unit moving up and down, and he wasn't. The context would be O'leary should be past the penalty spot controlling the space behind the defenders, He is no and where? He isn't a Frank, but that was useless. If he was in the correct position he makes a simple catch for a pass Bowen will control with his feet in what is O'leary's zone.
Spot on Clifton. I know you won't agree but.......As for Shay Given....... I look at Keeper's like I do referees. They take that road because they can't play football. Harsh and bigoted I know, but it's the way I feel. I'm very close to SP, I rib him all the time after he told me he only played in goal as his 2 older brothers made him when they were growing up. Nevertheless he had the last laugh, playing over 500 games as a senior professional.
IMHO Max is a great shot stopper. Some of his saves have been outstanding and have been recognised as outstanding by pundits and fans alike. His distribution and command of the area are suspect and he commits errors - sometimes basic ones. However, if you fixed his errors and vulnerabilities then he’d be playing in the Prem, not for a mid table Championship side. He’s a good servant and imho has saved us more times than cost us.
Armchair fans will be happy The FA Cup third-round replay between Bristol City and West Ham United will be shown live across the BBC. The tie will take place on Tuesday, 16 January live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. The original game finished 1-1 with Tommy Conway cancelling out Jarrod Bowen's opener at London Stadium. ITV will show live coverage of Nottingham Forest's trip to Blackpool the following night after the original tie finished 2-2 at the City Ground. The winners of those ties will face each other in the fourth round, with ties to played on the weekend of 27-28 January. Watch all of the latest FA Cup highlights and reaction here FA Cup third-round replay TV details Tuesday, 16 January Bristol City v West Ham United at 19:45 on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Wednesday, 17 January Blackpool v Nottingham Forest at 19:45 on ITV4 and ITVX
I’m a member - have been since before and after end of covid. I’m thinking of coming down for this one.
R&W So am I but I'll be watching on the box, my grandson has school next day. In a way I'm relieved not to drive in all that bloody traffic and then pay £20 plus for a parking space, a 20 minute walk from the ground.
My youngest daughter’s fiancé is a hammers fan - he wants to come and he was very complimentary about how we played. - but he would be I suppose…..
He’s a good guy. He’s trying to get in with his future in-laws rather than being a dedicated Hammers fan methinks…
