I don't really know who that would benefit given that he's 32. Unless, to quote FM, he sees us as a 'stepping stone'.
I don't care what you are. Those are really hard for a keeper to deal with unless they are on the top of their game and very agile. It's just a good ball into the box that's not dealt with . **** happens. Someone isn't to blame for every ****ing goal. No one was to blame for it.
Big on the semi-pro. You may not be the only one. I disagree. It becomes 50:50 and the keeper can easily get caught out in that situation. I blame the CBs for coneding the free kick 😄
Regarding Boruc's error or not error vs. West Ham, I just can't accept that's not a clanger. Those kinds of goals can be hard on the keeper, when balls are whipped across the face of goal with great power and curve (like Puncheon against QPR, Cesar had no chance), if done right it's almost impossible for the keeper whether there is a touch or no touch. However, that was just not the case, it was a gently lofted straight-as-an-arrow 40 yard free-kick which bounced literally two or three yards away from him inside the six yard box and then in. He literally needed to take a few steps and catch it uncontested, regardless of how unfit he was, it wasn't like he needed to sprint ten yards and then claim the ball over a jumping centre-back... Horrible misjudgement. It was basically the opposite of Gazza's error against QPR, Gazza came when he had no chance and left the goal gaping, Boruc stayed rooted and actually stepped away from the trajectory of the ball and left the goal gaping. I don't think either error was catastrophic and neither should the errors keep them out of the team, but at the time I thought it was a huge mistake and I've just watched it again several times and I just can't come round to it not being a clanger. As for Friedel, unlikely but yes please!
Having read through the criticism of the keepers I a amazed not to read any questions about the defenders. It wold appear the defence has been slightly improved in the last couple of games. Has this anything to do with them getting used to the person behind them?
Gazzaniga could be at the decisive point where he can go one of two ways. Indecision is beginning to set in which will be followed by fear creating more indecision. Adkins' call...does he stick with Gazza believing he will improve with games or replace him which will do nothing for his confidence but may be best for results (critical at this stage). Does he put Gazza's needs above those of Saints, believing that it it will be best for us in the long term. Unless Adkins has huge faith in Boruc, I would stick with Gazzaniga after giving him a severe treatment with Nigel positivity (however remember that I have never entered football management for a reason).
Gazza is clearly the worst goalkeeper in the premier league we need to play Boruc and generate some stability with him. I can only think of one save from Gazza which I thought was an example of good goalkeeping, the save from a point blank header against everton. Aside from that his saves have been simple and league two goalies would have been expected to keep them out. Perhaps I have missed some of his good goalkeeping but he has mostly picked the ball out of the back of the net. You can't pick a goalkeeper on his distribution and timewasting, we have 10 other players for that. I genuinely think that people want to keep Gazza in the team as they like his friendly personality and handsome looks over Boruc's rugged looks and perceived psychopathy.
No problem with a psychopath goalie...may even be an advantage...though prefer it directed at the opposition. I will abide with Nigel's decision on this...if he plays Boruc he must feel that Gazza is not good/confident enough...if he sticks with Gazza he must be unimpressed with Boruc. Think he's between a rock and a hard place.
There seems to be a disagreement about goalkeepers decision making. Crosses or free kicks into the box should be done to cause as much confusion as they can with the keeper. That as they say is the job of the crosser/free kick taker. (set pieces) No one should under estimate the difficulty of the decision making process for the keepers at this time. In the premier league you will have your blockers that will be there to cause as much mayhem as is possible, just to get into his way. To stop him coming out to gather the ball or at least, to make it as difficult as they can. A confident goalkeeper will let the opposition do all the worrying. He will not do the same thing all the time, he should be aware of where his own players will be in the event that he can gather for a quick counter. When the ball enters the box his decision making reduces to micro seconds. To gather, to punch or to stay. A good goalkeeper will decide immediately where that ball is likely to land in clean flight. The six-yard box is his domain, anything in there is his, or should be. Whether it is to gather or to punch. Anything out side of the six yard box and in particular between the penalty spot and his box is the real danger area. The likelihood of a clean gather reduces tremendously at this point the punch is usually the most effective. Kelvin in particular was poor on these. If a keeper decides it is going to be his ball in any of these area's then he has to make it his come hell or high water. No excuses, that is why so many stay on the line when outside the box, it is usually the better option in the long run. Trouble is if they always stay then the opposition will know this, so this is why a goalkeeper has to vary his tactics and is the cause of the mistakes. If you are weak on crosses your opponents will be aware and will play to your weaknesses.
I personally think that Gazza isn't good enough he made more than 1 mistake on saturday and didn't look confident in anything he done. I'd like to see Kelvin given another chance but none of the 3 available feel me with much confidence
Gazza's problem is that stupid rats tail of a pony tail! I can't take him seriously. Sorry but he looked like someone had attacked him blind with a blunt razor. On topic, I can't decide who I want in goal. All are pretty indecisive when it comes to commanding their box. Davis is probably the best at it. Gazza only problem is his positioning and when he attacks the ball oh and is issue of parrying every shot instead of catching it. Boruc is just shocking in my opinion. Overweight and over hyped.
I don't think anyone underestimates that Beddy, in general it can be incredibly hard for keepers. In some situations with some deliveries, there is very little option for the keeper and they are damned if they come, damned if they don't, but I think the cases we're talking about you describe perfectly. Gazza came for two or three balls between the six yard box and the penalty spot, as you dub it, the 'danger area' and got nowhere near. Boruc let a ball bounce untouched in his 'domain', the six-yard box, and straight into the net. Both fairly cut and dried in my book, neither were exactly instances where the keeper rushed out and came within literally inches of punching the ball off of the attackers head, but the ball just evades him and flies into the net, his judgement only milliseconds off. And I do worry for Gazza with what you go on to say, it was so clear in that game how much trouble he was having that I don't think any teams will miss it, and he will start to get hounded. I fear it may end up like De Gea, where he makes a couple of errors coming for crosses, so all the teams start targeting him and the media go on and on about his weakness from crosses, so he just gets bullied more and more and it kills his confidence which makes it worse and it's just a snowball effect. Hope that won't happen for our Paulo though, and it's the main reason I'd consider taking him out of the team mainly just to protect him. As for his haircut... Goodness gracious. Surely he must get a lot of stick for it in the dressing room? Would be curious to know if there's a story behind it or if he's just watched The Phantom Menace a few too many times.
Mikey you seem to forget that Collins was stretching for the ball right on the 6-yard line. That's the reason Boruc didn't follow the trajectory of the delivery. It can happen to any keeper. They all seem to just assume the player is going to get a touch in that situation, and Cesar did exactly the same thing on Saturday. [video=youtube;vUnaWjpfcNw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUnaWjpfcNw[/video] If you ask me, it's Fonte's fault.
I don't forget that, but it makes little difference in my eyes because he could easily have got to the ball before Collins, so there would have been no problem at all. He literally could have taken two steps towards the ball and claimed it barely challenged. He actually backed away from the ball in the end. please log in to view this image Look at those two images, the first highlights where Boruc is standing before he moves, the second where the ball bounces, that is literally a foot away. In the 35 yards the ball has traveled to that point, Boruc does not move, in the last 5 yards he takes a step away from a ball which is coming almost directly to him. The ball traveled for approximately two and half seconds in the air and did not deviate, not exactly a powerful whipped delivery which swerves and gives the keeper a split second to deal with. Someone will have to come up with a much more convincing argument than that an opposition player might, but didn't, get a touch on a ball that could easily have been claimed with very little effort or movement and then perhaps take a bit of a knock from onrushing players, to dissuade me from believing he has had an absolute shocker there. As I've emphasised many times, that kind of situation can be horrible for keepers. If the ball is dropping in no-mans land with players rushing onto it, the ball can go in almost any direction towards the goal, it's vaguely possible you might be able to reach it but there's a split second to decide, the ball is flying in with great power and curving away from you or towards the corner of the goal... How do you deal with that? I certainly wouldn't want to. And again, Cesar did the same against us, but that was from a whipped curving ball that Lallana almost got a touch on 12 yards out from goal and then it ended up hitting the post... Cesar had literally no chance of getting to it, he would need move about 12 yards in half a second, he had to stay at home and hope for the best. Boruc had to move about 1 yard in two seconds. No matter how unfit you are, my arthritic grandma could manage that, although she might not have been able to catch the ball... And Collins might have killed her.
In Boruc's defence, that was his first game for us so I can understand a little uncertainty and/or miscommunication. There is also no way our defenders should allow a ball to bounce there. Having had a run of games Gazzaniga should be more comfortable but he seems to be getting found out - the (admittedly very biased) BBC London commentary I listened to at the weekend had him down as a very weak link in the side. All keepers make mistakes but Boruc has consistently played at a higher level than Kelvin or Gazza which is why I'd probably pick him. Consistency at the back does help though so I wouldn't be too upset if Gazza continues for now.
Sorry Mikey but I can't agree. The perspective on those screen grabs gives a misleading impression of how close the ball is to Collins and Boruc respectively. Boruc would have had to dive out from the goal towards the pitch of the ball, which would be highly unorthodox and in most situations, where players are attempting to head the ball, would be suicidal, both in terms of preventing a goal and personal safety! He was already retreating towards the goal-line before the ball came in, which you can say is a mistake, but he's clearly decided he's not going to reach it.
I think both errors are similar at a similar level. It was Boruc's first game, but he's been playing in goal at a high level for almost 10 years now, he should know what he's doing regardless. Gazza has had a few more games in the team, but is only 20 years old and the sum of his experience is 20 games in League Two and 5 games in the Premiership. You can't really excuse either of them in my view, but there is no reason to condemn them either, one or two mistakes does not remove a player's quality. And I pretty much agree, I think Boruc is the best keeper of the bunch, but we're coming off of our best back-to-back performances of the season, so stability and consistency could be key. Either way I'll be fine with whoever Nigel chooses.
