Alan Julian has now dropped back to Non league football to play for Newport County. Wonder what he will be like there, it is the level that suits him. http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9742433.County_sign_up_Pipe__Minshull_and_Julian/ What do you think about this.
That maybe so, but when paying league 1 and two prices you expect to see league one and two players. UTG!!
What? Julian tried to better himself and in my opinion was clearly not good enough, hence going back to non league simple as that. I am all for people progressing but like in any business if you don't make the grade you are moved on, and when people are paying you or are paying to watch you that is fair enough is it not. We tried him, he was not good enough that is all I was saying end of, and as I said before good luck to him. Any news on the new manager yet things are getting a tad stale on here at the moment. UTG!!
Without being cynical I think in a year or two we will see the same sort of headline with Julian replaced by Flitney. Good luck to him, I'm GFCSTU on this one, gave him a go wasn't good enough and is back to a level that he is capable to play at.
Flitney is not that bad, I think he is OK at this level, not a first choice in my eyes, upto new year he was great and I was surprised as I was worried with the signing of him as a number 1 and I just wanted him just as a number 2, but he done well, I think he lost a bit of confidence and if he gains that back he will be OK again.
Personally I think Flitney is very similar to Julien, good in spells put equally poor at times too, certainly nowhere near the quality of the last 2 keepers we got out of this division with (Stannard and Royce).
I do agree he is no where near the standard of Stannard or Royce as they are great keepers but he is not bad, he is probably a back up for League 2, he is OK, but not great, If Gazzaniga was to go I would say that a new keeper is needed who can be number 1, but what would the manager want, will they stick with Flitney I don't know.
Royce wasn't as good as everyone makes out, he was also error prone, but not just not as much as Julian. Royce was very well protected during our promotion season with the two centre halves of King and Richards, but once he didn't have that protection he did look suspect
Yeah part of his success was the strength of King, not as much Richards, mainly King who was really good that season, the reason why he got in the team of the season for League 2, but if I am correct and remember right Royce did get 21 clean sheets which was the highest in league 2 that season so it is the keeper aswell who deserves credit, I think he was quite a good keeper and I think you need to give him more credit.
I think Richards was good that season but he has got better since, this season was the best season for Richards and sadly it was his last, I am a fan of him, but I do admit he was not as good at the start, I think mainly his worst seasons were probably the league 1 season where he missed King and the first season under Hessenthaler, I cannot remember as much about Richards in the promotion season sadly so I cannot say too much more.
I seem to recall that Richards played well in the last few matches of the season and in all the play off matches, but earlier in the season we had centre back on loan (Leigh Mills?) and I think Mark Bentley played centre back as well for a couple of months, so King had 3 partners that helped him through the season who all contributed, but I agree that once Richards got his place back he did very well.
note a simliarity that the last 2 keepers, flitney and jullian both came up from non league, whereas royce and stannard came down from the above leagues when too old. i personally think this is the way to go with goal keepers generally as younger goal keepers are still learning their trade and more prone to errors than experienced heads. there are exceptions before everyone throws names like hart and gazza at me!!
Yeah I think it is better to get either old keepers who have played at the top or in the Championship or young ones through the academy or released by big clubs, that way you get better players, keepers in non league are usually not that good as they are there for a reason.
