Right if he can create more then just loft crosses into the box then that's good, we need a secondary assist source in the team Wes can't do all the work, if we sign up this Quo Vadis guy too that's the midfield covered, I don't know much about these players but I hope they have some technical pedigree, vision and intelligence. Interested to see if we get in Sorenson from Juventus, I'm worried about the defence more then anything still think we're two players short in that department, it's a long season and in the first two weeks we've had suspensions and injuries. As for Hooper, I thought Adam's was interested in having a varied group of strikers at the club four is a good amount and brings options.
After seeing Rudd yesterday I'm not sure actually it I'm to comfortable with hime being back up and id be much happier with Bunn on the bench. Rudd just didn't seem confident at all with ball coming into the box, like Ruddy is, and whilst this shot stopping is excellent his command of the area seems poor. I think he could really use a loan to a lower championship club with a view to working on that part of his game. That said if I was Bunn, I would have no interest in sitting on the bench in the championship. Also good to see McGrandeles coming in, if the only complain is that and 18 year old isn't strong enough that's excellent, rarely do you see and 18 year old who is fully filled out.
Thing is, whenever Bunn has played the complaints have normally been similar. He's not the tallest for a 'keeper and doesn't command his box well, he's just a shot stopper. However, Rudd has the height, can get stronger and get better at controlling his box. I'd rather we saved the wages and let Bunn go. Agreed the more games Rudd gets the better he'll be, but he's had a season at the top of league 1, for which he got rave reviews. Is he really going to benefit that much more from a loan to the bottom of the championship? And what team 4 games into the season doesn't have their first choice goalkeeper sorted?
I know that Rudd needs games to improve I'd just be terrified if he was our first choice for an extended period of time. Rudd need to add mass, which to be fair he seems to be doing, Bunn is just a more complete keeper right now for the long term absence of ruddy. I know we need to give player time on the pitch to develop but this season is our best chance to get promoted straight back and an overly sentimental decision around Rudd could jeopardise that.
Whilst I agree that this season is our best chance of going straight back up and we need to be fully focused on that. I also think it is important for the long term future of the club & our youth system that younger players are managed properly and given chances. This is one of the reasons why I think Adams was appointed. Rudd is now at the point when he needs to be pushed and I can't remember when he has been given a chance that he has let us down. From reports he seemed to do everything that was expected of him against Crawley and it would appear that he made a couple of excellant saves that contributed to us winning instead of losing. If Rudd, Redmond, R Bennett and Co are seen by younger players to be achieving their goals, which I would assume is at the moment to become regular city players then this would have a very positive effect on our younger players and continue to encourge young high quality players to sign with us in the future. If I was Rudd and I wasn't the number 2 this seasons then I would look to leave. I guess sometimes you just have to have a bit of faith and take a chance. I think Rudd's confidence will increase by being seen as No 2 keeper and this I think will significantly improve his game.
Are we seeing a 'return to picking up promising youngsters from lower leagues????' I'm beginning to feel that relegation may turn out to be a 'blessing in disguise' - certainly true if the crowd at CR gets behind the team as it did against Blackburn!!
I'm really pleased with the signing of McGrandles and the likely signing of Odjidja. Sorenson would finish off a very good window, IMO.
Bunn a complete goalkeeper - are you having a laugh? Too short to come for crosses and to save any shot in the corner especially the top corners. He is 30 this year and in 14 seasons as a pro made 75% of his appearances at Northampton and even there he only played 90 times in 7 seasons. Before coming here he played 6 times in 4 seasons at Blackburn and every time he appeared for us you could see why Blackburn let him go. Rudd, 7 years his junior, has already made 90 club and international appearances including a full season at PNE last year. He hardly put a foot wrong against Crawley - in fact he kept us in the game at one stage. This idea that any player brought through our academy has to go out on loan until they are about 26 has got to stop. When I said on another thread that Murphy should be an important member of our squad this year I got the usual ' far too young - send him out on loan ' We buy an 18yo from Falkirk and 19yo Redmond and it's orgasms all round!! Completely ridiculous.
I by no means think Bunn is a great goalkeeper, but I think that assessment of him is very, very harsh. Yes, he had some glaring shortcomings almost entirely down to height, but frankly I thought he was excellent under the pressure of the situation and is a good shot stopper. Bunn, IMHO, saved Hughton's first season because there aren't many second place 'keepers who would be able to come in and play well in those sorts of conditions. And yes, there's a reason why Bunn has been a second choice for most of his career (probably down to his excellent temperament as well) and also I want to see Rudd come through because he is clearly a class act. However, to quickly dismiss Bunn's achievements and experience in that way is doing him a gross disservice. I would be more comfortable with Bunn in goal than Rudd for long stretches (not necessarily for a game or two should Ruddy get sent off) simply because of his experience and his control. That's the price you have to pay if you lose your first choice goalkeeper, unless you are Chelsea or Arsenal and can call on a world class reserve keeper
some weird comments about bunn on here! he was signed as a premier league back up to an england keeper. he ended up playing a lot more football than was expected and although he did well overall (in my opinion to stay up without ruddy that year was a great achievement) he is always going to be limited by his height. the number of long range efforts he conceded was staggering, something like 60% of all the goals he conceded were from 20 yards+ when we worked it out. the reason he has been told he can look for another club is because his wages, baring in mind he won't play, are too big for a club outside the top flight. if he wants to play games he has to leave or he could probably go to another premier league club and be decent back up for them, but its quite right that rudd, a younger and more promising keeper who is not on big wages should take his place in reserve this season - it makes sense in every way you look at it.
That's essentially what I was trying to get at Superman. However, I would say that if Ruddy were to get a long term injury again right now, I think I'd prefer to have Bunn in for a long stretch than Rudd. Ifs and buts, I'm sure Rudd would do fine given our squad. But I think Rudd is still better suited to being on the bench as a back-up to play one or two matches due to a suspension or in the cups
Pete O'Rourke ‏@SkySportsPeteO 1m Norwich have made a move for Arsenal defender Ignasi Miguel. #afc #ncfc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignasi_Miquel (Wacko, it let me edit a post!! )
Would be a perfect three month loan deal whilst Bennett is out. Always looked tidy whenever I've seen him play, which admittedly isn't very often.
