Both 'keepers came up through the ranks, they were always great friends, not much between them in terms of ability. Question is, who made the better career move? Randolph playing every week, brief Champion's league experience, highly rated and in the shop window or Elliott warming the bench but probably earning several times what his mate does?
Think Darren Randolph hasn't done his career any harm in moving to Motherwell. He seems to be a stand out performer from what you read and has been linked to both Glasgow clubs (though 1 would now be a step back..). I think he'll go on to a bigger club, where as I have to argue that Elliot has to be careful in the sense he isn't a keeper who will always be seen as a number 2.
Real shame Parky screwed Randolph around with the loan signing of Ikeme, poor management. Elliot got in the team over him as he was a Charlton fan.
He'll have to go to a smaller club- a bit like Liverpool's long-standing no.2 'keeper Bob Bolder did eventually.
It's a bit like comparing pardew to Parky. Parky moved down a division, slowly but surely building the club even before last night's brilliant win. pardew sliding down the table but can expect a huge pay-off for failure when he is sacked.
I wrote on the Sunderland page after we'd signed Jordan Cook that I fully expected Pardew to struggle this season. Always has a good full/half season, but then follows it up with mediocracy or a struggle. 8 years, Newcastle. 8 years.
Never really understood why people thought so highly of Randolph compared to Elliott after just a few games. Don't get me wrong, he's a great keeper and a top bloke, and I always get such a buzz when he's on the bench for Eire, but personally I thought Elliott was the better keeper. Gone off the latter a lot since he left us, seemed to keep using the 'I'm a Charlton boy, I love this club' line to distract from the fact that he was desperately seeking more cash. Can anyone here genuinely see either of the two becoming a Premier League number 1 in the future?
I can see Randolph making it in Prem but (sadly) not Robbie..... I think Champ is probably Robbie's level.
Being a shortarse is a terrible handicap for a goalkeeper. You have to be brilliant to reach the top level. A very few have done so. The great Eddie Hopkinson was only 5' 10" but players are bigger and taller in all positions since his day. Robbie is good, but not brilliant, especially dealing with long shots.
