You would hope we at the very least have access to one! Not sure of the benefits , but it certainly cant be of any harm!
I wouldn't offload him - whilst his weakness may be someone else's strength, his strength may be their weakness. He is one of the better shot-stoppers around & I can't see that we'd be able to afford anyone better. I think SD has to work on how better to 'protect' his weakness - eg more tall timber at the back when defending set pieces. Forsyth may yet prove his worth!
SL is a good keeper - he made a number of saves at the weekend and even with the goal he appeared to call and AM tried to duck out of it as a result and that's what caused the problem. My opinion is that he is growing and trying hard to fix those areas of his game in need of work and I've def seen improvements in his game - trying harder to take more control of his area. Against Blackpool the week before he helped greatly in the team gaining a point. One that without him was unlikely. The back 5 has improved as a unit this season - particularly since Noseworthy's arrival - so let's hope he stays and I think SL has benefitted from his experience. Our other GK options at present? Nil Bond is 1 1/2 seasons away from being ready and throwing him in now could ruin him whilst RG needs more loan time to be match sharp and we will only know if he is good enough when he comes back and get's a run of 6 matches.
I'm assuming that's the way SD is thinking, which is why RG is at Yeovil and not warming our bench and I've no problems with that. What would you do if SL picked up a bad injury and was out for an extended period - possibly the rest of the season. Recall RG and have him as first choice with JB on the bench or bring someone in on loan? If you do bring someone in on loan, what message is this giving to RG? I don't think it would be such a problem with JB as he was prepared to be 3rd choice anyway.
In that senario then if you bring a keeper in on loan it depends on the level - i.e. if the loan cover is deemed to be of a high championship or even Prem level then RM will be ok but if he sees someone come in he believes is at the same level as him then it would be harsh and he would be upset I think.
Personally, I'd keep Loach but what I would like to see is maybe let RG go, and bring in an 'old' head, where the opposite team is a bit more physical in the box at corners. Not really sure what happened Monday - maybe he wasn't prepared for the Cardiff game, with their long throw and the pressure in box at corners, but then that would say more about the coaching staff not doing their homework and teaching Scott how to deal with them. Many keepers have struggled against the likes of Stoke and these tactics, SL isn't the first!
Interesting you should mention that Kev, as I watched the Stoke v Villa game and Guzan seemed to deal with most of it very well. He's American, probably played American Football at school, maybe as a wide received and would be used to those sort of throws - perhaps we should send SL for lineout training with Sarries.
I also think Guzan probably spent all week in training learning how to deal with those throw-ins. If Alec et al didn't do their homework, Loach and the defence would have always struggled with that tactic! A lot of fingers are pointed at Loach, but if he is not progressing, maybe it also has to do with the training. Chamberlain, a great keeper, but a great player doesn't always make a great coach - and was Alec one that MM didn't want to take with him?
Never a truer word spoken in jest! That idea might have some merit! would toughen him up a bit for sure
Not sure that would help - I don't think that players are allowed to lift their team-mates during a game! And all it may achieve is Scott ending up with 'wedgieitis' Or they could try sending him to Melbourne for some Aussie Rules training - "the big men fly".
No sending off in Aussie Rules, so no! It would simply teach him how to jump higher as well as lose the fear that he apparently has of getting a bruising.
Only problem for SL going for Aussie Rules traning is him squeezing into the tight shorts and growing the required Mullet!
Was thinking more of him using AL techniques in soccer You know the punching , scrapping etc Actually I think this idea has merit , but rather than send him to Oz , is there any amateur AL leagues around London he could go too
Probably yes in London, definitely yes in Glasgow , Edinburgh and Aberdeen - those three somehow manage to form a national competition up here, mostly using ex-pat Aussie players, one or two who have played the game professionally.
2 things wrong with that.......I believe that MM did approach Alec to take him to Cardiff and if Alec is such a poor coach, how come Ferguson allowed Foster to come to Watford for not 1 but 2 seasons on loan. Surely Ferguson would have known Chamberlain's abilities as a goalkeeping coach?
Well, my 2 counters to that would be; 1. I did ask the question - I don't know who MM came in for and failed in getting, other then Dyche 2. Alec was still playin up to the end of 2007, Foster was here 2005-07, so Chamberlain was Fosters understudy, so although AC was doing some coaching, he was playing as well, and still had only 1/2 years coaching experience so Fergie might not know how good Chamberlain was as an actual coach! I'm only stating the fact that SL hasn't progressed as much as we would like - is it down to the player or the coaching?
