Is it time for Stockdale to take over from Schwarzer in goal ? Mark didn't have a bad season, but I thought he wasn't at his best when he came back from injury and his internationals. When Stockdale was recalled from Ipswich, he had some good games, but also made a few mistakes. It's been reported that West Ham may come in for Stockdale. If we are to keep Stockdale I think he must be given the start this season. Should we keep Stockdale or sell now and try and get a more experienced keeper, as Schwarzer will probably retire at the end of this coming season. What keepers would you buy ?
Schwarzer will not retire at the end of the season, he has said that he wants to represent Australia at the 2014 world cup. I know it's about looking towards the future but I can't see why any team that has a 'keeper with the quality and reliability of MS wouldn't start him.
I agree with fulhamireland. This time last year I was saying we should go with Stockdale if the alternative was losing him. Now, I'm not so sure. Although he's been great for us in the past, his most recent run in the team didn't look quite so reliable as I remembered him being before. The ideal is to keep both of them. If we have to lose Stockdale I'd like to see us try to sign Craig Gordon (who is available on a free, his contract with Sunderland having expired). I doubt he'd go anywhere to be a long-term number 2, but if Stockdale left us he'd figure that Schwarzer has only got a couple of years in him at the most. As Gordon is 29, that would leave plenty of years left over for him. I don't think it will happen, but he'd be my choice if Stockdale did leave. If Schwarzer left, then I'd say Stockdale deserves his chance, but I can't see Schwarzer leaving. I think Stockdale has to decide to leave, or to stay here as a back-up. It's tough on him, but if you just look at the performances of the two keepers, it's Schwarzer all the way.
Agree with fulhamireland and Captain on Schwarzer. It's not that Stockdale did badly when he came in, but I remember when Schwarzer came back from injury how much more assured the whole back four looked. Stockdale's a solid 'keeper, but he doesn't have the same sort of commanding presence that Schwarzer has. That said, MS made a couple of uncharacteristic errors in the later stages of the season - the ones I remember are the late goal at Villa Park and the third Swansea goal that seemed to go straight through him. Assuming those were isolated errors, then Schwarzer remains number 1 for me. We had a similar situation a few years ago with Maik Taylor who was number 2 at Fulham when he'd have been first choice at most other clubs - I can't see Stockdale standing for it for much longer. I suspect he'll also be wary of going on loan to the Championship again next season knowing that the minute Schwarzer gets injured he'll be back at Fulham for 4-5 games and then stuck on the bench again for the rest of the season. As to how good Stockdale really is, or how good he's going to be, I was surprised that Hodgson didn't put him at least on reserve for the Euros instead of the lad from Birmingham who's never played a Premier League game. I wonder if that suggests that Roy doesn't rate him as highly as you might think having seen him at close quarters at Fulham.
I was surprised Roy didn't pick Stockdale, but I think it's got more to do with rating the young Birmingham keeper than not rating Stockdale. Roy's goalkeeping coach works for Birmingham, and obviously put in a good word for the youngster. When he was named as standby, I don't think anyone expected him to actually be needed - he was probably just brought along for the experience until Ruddy pulled out with injury. From an England point of view (as well as a Fulham one) I'd rather see Stockdale in the squad than a teenager, however good he is. Then again, I've never seen the lad play, so what do I know?
David has a lot of family commitments at the moment so that may have part of the reason. And - I'll whisper this - he's also carrying a wee bit of extra weight. That said, I agree with everyone that this is a cross roads for him. Schwarz will be there next year for sure and going out on loan again doesn't really make sense for Stockdale so he either sticks it out on the bench or looks elsewhere now. The problem he has however, is that he's lost any profile he had and the club won't let him go for peanuts. I think he'll grin and get on with his job here, for now.
Wouldn't blame Stockdale if he was to leave. He's good enough to be first choice at a whole host of clubs in the league but unfortunately is behind one of the best keepers in the league. I'd prefer to give Stockdale more of a chance next season, resting Schwarzer for some games ie Carling Cup, FA Cup etc.
Just noticed that the Club, earlier this month, have given Csaba Somogyi a new 1 year extension - http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/PlayerProfiles/ProfileDetails/CsabaSomogyi.aspx And of course Neil Etheridge is signed up till summer 2013 as well. Also we've just brought in the youngster Roberts from Everton. Don't know if any of that makes any difference to Stockdale's position.
Stockdale's comments in this article from the local Ipswich paper suggest that he's not altogether happy - http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town/leaving_ipswich_town_all_but_cost_me_my_england_euro_2012_place_says_fulham_keeper_david_stockdale_1_1399458
Not sure if I'm reading too much into the "quote" in the last line of this article, but DS has had weight problems lately and I'm reminded that Jol earlier said that Club people would be keeping close contact with all of the squad (at home) in the close season - http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2012/06/22/64767-31234898/
I am not so sure of Stockdale being our long term future no1, as i have said in the past,having seen him play many times,for me he lacks positional sense, and any great command of his area, which possibly is the most important feature along with agility, and at what 26/27 this is something he should have now mastered.
But isn't that what his loan spells were supposed to give him? He has played a lot of football if you add them all up. He's got over 160 professional first team appearances under his belt if you include the time before we signed him. He's hardly inexperienced any more.
Yes that's why we sent him out on loan. We only called him back because of the injury to MS. He has played games but only in patches. He hasn't had a full season since he left Darlington. That hardly helps.
I think we can agree that Stocky maybe hasn't had an opportunity to develop himself, certainly not at PL level. Rooney is slightly younger and has played about 300 professional games, and he's had injury troubles in the past. My adulation for DS is waning though, he wasn't exactly inspiring when he came into the team last season.
I actually think DS done well for us when he came back from Ipswich to cover for MS and personally I though he was unlucky not to keep MS out of the team when he recovered form injury. He did make to odd mistake but so too has MS this season. I remember when he filled in for MS in 2010/11 during the Aussie Cup (or whatever it’s called) and again though he was unlucky not to keep his place then too. At the moment I think MS is a better keeper but I also think he may only have one season left in him. I know he wants to play at the in 2014 WC but so do I but that does mean i will...We don’t always get what we want. Moving forward I think if Big Maart sees Stockdale as a long term replacement for MS then he either needs to loan him out to a PL team so he gets the experience or put no 1 on the back of his shirt and start him more often. I think if DS spends the season on the bench he will be gone by the end of it. Personally I’d be happy with Stockdale in goal next season, but I hope MS is in goal as DS is out on loan at another PL club. Then DS to be NO 1 for the 13/14 season.
Can't Fulham just play the Stoke way (or more recently Spurs way) in terms of goalkeepers? One for the league (MS for me) and one for the cups? Would allow both to get game time and hopefully keep them both happy.
