I just love all the smug comments from Tractorbhoy and PTC as usual. I make no apology for showing my passion for everything ITFC and I will keep being critical of Jewell and Clegg when I feel that it is justified! So better not to rush to get a keeper now but rush and get someone in just in time for the season to start! And Yorkie if you are content to see ALB as our No1 Keeper then I suggest that you haven't seen us play much!
I suppose the most frustraing thing for me is that there is a quality keeper out for free and would probably be within our wage budget in Heaton. I am concerned that there will be no activity because Cleggy will be brown nosing at the olympics when this is probably the most vital time for him to be 100% dedicated to the club. Dickie Wright on a play as you play deal would do for the short term, but nothing more. Also we must have a young kid at under 18 level at the club between the sticks, why the hell don't we take them along as back up to ALB for the tour.
I agree Guru! And to compound things even further, Jewell decides to release Cody Cropper who was the only other keeper at the club!
Come on JWM. Just a week ago you were full of praise for Clegg just for starting contract talks with a few players and now in the space of 7 days he's become a disaster again because we haven't signed a keeper. We only had 1 keeper a week ago - what's changed since then? If we sign 2 keepers in the next week will he be back to being a genius again? Let's keep things in perspective. The training tour to Holland is just that - a training exercise. It's a chance for Jewell to look at the squad and try a few players out in friendly games. Whether we win the games or lose them matters not one jot in the grand scheme of things. We're obviously trying to sign a keeper and we'll have someone in place in time for the start of the season, so let's not panic over some scaremongering article in the local press. It's obviously just a slow news day.
Times have changed. I remember when the only signings we made all summer were Paul Mason from Aberdeen and Ian Marshall from Oldham and people were excited!!
what the hell did I say that was smug? - I said that I found your comments entertaining, which I think they are because you always show such passion, although it lurches from very enthusiastic to extremely dismal. I also said I would prefere to have a decent keeper in before the start of the season rather than an average one now and that although its not an ideal situation I also dont think its a shambles. Wheres the smug in that?
I dont know too much about him but thinking he was only number 2 to David Marshall and has now been replaced by Joe Lewis is Heaton that great? 26 years old, only 50 starts for a club at championship level and the rest of his 92 appearances have been for Wycombe, Rochdale and Swindon. Im not saying he isnt that good but people appear to have him as the best available target but his stats would suggest to me that he is in no way standout. On the under 18 squad, I dont know who our keeper is but surely it would better to get him full games for the under 18 squad then let him sit on the bench in Holland.
All I am saying is that I find our inability to find a permanent keeper plain bizarre. It was so obviously the number-one priority at the end of last season. How can we be going on a pre-season tour with only one keeper? Absolute Madness imo. Obviously most of you lot think that this is an acceptable way of running a professional football club!
no, what you were doing is having a go and in no way have you backed up your smug comments. Moving away from that, I would love Neil Alexander to come back here - my favourite keeper since Davies but he left because he didnt like the area and preferred Glasgow (albeit it could of been a cover for I want more money or I want to play for Rangers) How do you know we havent found a new keeper? Just because it hasnt been reported doesnt mean we havent made enquiries. He may be on holiday, he may be considering his future, we may still be agreeing a transfer price. IF we have no options or possibilities then I agree we have got a major issue. Even if we are after a premier keeper on loan for a season (no recall) then I hope we have our eyes on 1 to sign as ideally we want 3 keepers for the season. On your last point, its not an ideal way to run the club but I take it you would rather us sign ANY keeper just to take on tour rather than have the right one. What we are doing is annoying but I would say the greater madness would be signing someone just to take 2 keepers on tour. I was actually bored at the weekend due to the weather so have a trawl through some other clubs pages and guess what, 50% of them are having the same worries as you. Until today forest only had 1 defenders, today they have NONE as Gunter has been sold to Reading. Liverpool are going on tour without either of their first team keepers (Reina on holiday due to euro competition, Doni missing, reason unknown) They are taking Brad Jones and 2 youth teamers. More than we have but not what you would expect from a club of their stature. Pompey (extreme circumstances I know) are going on tour without a single 1st team player! I know we dont care about other clubs but whilst some are happy 85% of clubs have done little or nothing in this window and are still trying to get players in. At this level Leeds & birmingham have signed a few players but other than them it has been rather quiet. You have reasons for concern but its hardly a shambles YET!
I think the point is, we all know we're looking for a keeper. Yes, we've missed out on two of our targets, but the indications are that Jewell wants a good keeper and not just someone to make up the numbers. The rumour is that we're in the hunt for Myhill, who I think would be an excellent signing. Now, surely it's better to take a bit longer over the search in the hope of getting the right man, rather than leap in at the first opportunity and just go for whoever happens to be available and willing to come to us. Getting a good keeper in at some point during the next 3-6 weeks is surely better than getting an average one in now just to make up the numbers on a pre-season tour that no-one will give two hoots about once it's over. The time to get angry about a lack of signings is when the transfer window has closed and it's too late to do anything about it. At the moment, there's still plenty of time and if we have to start the season with ALB in goal, then so be it. Let's at least wait until 31 August and then start moaning.
Disagree totally, if we have an 18 year old kid and only 1 keeper it would be best to take him to gain experience and learn with the first team. Heaton shared duties with Marshall and kept goal for Cradiff in their Carling cup run. Also if you look at what the cardiff fans opinion of the keeper situation, i bet you won't find one that would prefer Marshall over Heaton!
Guru, as I said I know nothing about Heaton, other than seeing him on TV for a couple of matches and I will accept what the general consensus is. I will disagree about the under 18 situation but I can see your logic.I suppose the other question would be have we only 1. Thinking they are involved in friendlies it would be a bit strange to take 2 with our first team and leave the under 18's with none. Again I dont know the answer to this so it is mere speculation on my part. Regardless, I would rather he got matches under his belt but each to their own views.
