Big JR is in, have a look at the "did you know" under his write up - I can almost guarantee that half of those were made in the two games against us! READ IT HERE
"First clean sheet in four Premiership games" could easily read "fifth clean sheet in six home games this year".. Another solid performance from JR with a couple of very decent saves, I'm surprised it was sufficient to make team of the week though with all the goals flying in this weekend it was hardly a vintage one for keepers I guess. Agree with plaudits for Marshall, he has been brilliant this year
At the beginning of the season there was a lot of talk about him not being back to his best recently especially at home he is well and truly back to form and should be rewarded with a trip to Brazil in the summer.
I can't remember which "expert" it was, but I read an article a few weeks back discussing the England squad for Rio and the author was still banging on about taking Jack Butland along for the experience. I accept that the third keeper is highly unlikely to even set foot on the pitch during the tournament, but surely the positions should be picked on merit, and in that case how on earth could Butland even be considered based on this season's loan spells in the nether regions of the Championship with Birmingham, Barnsley and Leeds (where he has conceded 13 goals in his 5 appearances)? He even conceded five in his Premiership debut for Stoke (ok it was against Liverpool) so I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest he should even be considered for one of the 23 places up for grabs.
Agreed, just because a Prem club splashed some cash on him doesn't make him instantly amazing. He's getting mediocre reviews on his tour of the dregs of the championship, whilst Rudd appears to be impressing towards the top of league one. I'm not arguing for either to be included in the squad, I just don't see why Butland is considered the next big thing in English goalkeeping, and Rudd isn't even mentioned in passing, There's little to separate them really. I also don't see why Butland should be picked to go for experience when Hart, Forster and Ruddy are only entering their prime. We might not need a new keeper for ten years! And should injuries occur, you want the best men for the job in all positions.
I doubt Butland will get another England cap for a good while, the keepers ahead of him are too good and all pretty young, he's also not really that good, theres always a new big thing coming up in goal keeping and so frequently they fail to get to the level required such as Loach, Fielding or Carson. Its hard to predict and frankly until they are keeping clean sheets in the premier league or in europe you can't tell.
Ruddy should be nailed on IMO Butland shouldn't even be considered at present with the experience that he's got. And as much as I like Frazer Forster he shouldn't be in front of Ruddy either when you look at the Quality(or lack of) of opposition he's faced this season. For me it's Hart, Ruddy then Foster but as he's Woys bum chum from WBA then he's a shoe in for the second spot.
Foster has had a pretty un remarkable season, Ruddy has the most clean sheets of any english keeper in the PL. Id take Hart, Ruddy and Forster, who I still rater highly and is definitely better than Foster and Butland.
