Ok, time for one of my more 'controversial' threads. Yesterday once again Mr Ruddy was guilty of two or three glaring mistakes one of which led to the Arsenal goal. Yes he did receive that back pass onto his weaker side but I would argue that if he doesn't feel capable of kicking with both feet, then just wack the bloody ball into row Z ! Notwithstanding that he was also guilting on more than one occasion of flapping in mid air. He did make a good save from Sanchez I believe it was? I stand to be corrected there, but even so I think we would all have been disappointed if he had let that shot in considering it was just to the left of him. His kicking is atrocious and has got worse rather than better and despite what he has said in interviews he seems to lack confidence. I can't explain John Ruddy's dip in form no more than anyone else on here can but perhaps the time has finally come for him to be dropped and for Declan Rudd to be given his chance. It's always difficult to drop a 'keeper but it seems to me that poor JR is making a least one major mistake every match and this can't go on IMO. I still don't think that AN will 'rest' him just yet but JR could well be treading on very thin ice now as AN has shown that he isn't afraid to make bold decisions. What does everyone else think, should Declan be given his chance ? Should we look elsewhere in January ? Or should we stick rather than twist ?
He certainly hasn't being playing anywhere near to what he is capable for some time. It really depends on what he is like as a person as to what the best move is to try and get more out of him. Some people respond well to getting dropped in that they start to work harder again. I seem to remember this working quite well for Joe Hart. However, others respond better to being kept faith in. But I feel like that is what we have been doing and weve not seen any improvements. Perhaps Rudd doesn't push him as much psychologically as a more experienced keeper would?
Nothing controversial about this thread KIO, after watching yesterday's match someone was gonna post a thread like this... And yes, Ruddy's becoming a bit of a liability isn't he? No confidence and that has ramifications throughout the whole defense unit, a mistake waiting to happen... I'd give him until the end of the season though...
I'd drop him, but I thought that he should have been dropped weeks ago. I think Rudd is a really good keeper and could very well step up just as RyBen has once given his oportunity. Not only does Ruddy he look like he has a mistake in him every game, but when was the last time he made a save that was significantly better than routine? One that you thought, wow not many would have got to that one. His kicking since the injury has been anywhere from disasterous to on a very good day adequate. But it's generally poor and unless the injury has rendered it permanently weak, I can't believe he hasn't improved it more since then. Time for a boot up the arse at the very least. He might be well aware of all his mistakes but for me he needs to see that there will be a consequence if they continue. IDRWT Bah!
For some time several posters have been criticising Ruddy, and I know I've been one of the most vocal. He is a bit of a liability in terms of what he does, and he's not even a good shot stopper pulling off a worldy that helps you forgive the Calamity Jane moments, so I think he's probably the weakest 'keeper in the premier league at the moment. He definitely isn't the 'keeper he was before he got that major thigh injury. Just about the only thing Ruddy seems to be good at is his overarm throws! I also agree with Melchy that he should have been dropped a few weeks ago IMO, though I don't see Rudd in training so it's difficult to know what his shortcomings are, but when we've seen him in the Cups his shot-stopping has been excellent I think. The one thing I would say, though, is I don't actually think now is the time to drop him. Yes, he was typically inconsistent yesterday and yes, he was culpable for the goal both in his kicking and his rush out he could have done better with. However, I think after a very good result against a top team it sends the wrong message out, especially as he should get some credit for the solid organisation of the defence over the last few matches. Drop him after a bad performance against one of the teams around us. And don't forget that the wind yesterday was horrendous so part of his poorer distribution should be at least taking that into account - generally his distribution is his one strength so I'm not sure that is entirely fair. I say play him against Watford and if he costs us points then I would definitely like to see Rudd given a go.
I too would drop him - like a hot coal! Rudd is more than able to step up to the first team and let's face it, he can't do much worse the JR has managed in recent weeks. JR needs a psychologist in my humble opinion, someone to get his head right. It was reported before the game yesterday that he acknowledges the errors made this season and the subsequent cost, so yesterday's series of clangers will have done his confidence no good whatsoever and it is not something he can train for to improve.
This came up in the NCFC debate which they (EDP) have on Monday lunchtimes. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/q-and-a I pointed out what's already been mentioned above, i.e. he's been a bit shaky for several games now. It's not as if yesterday's howler was a one-off, think back three weeks to the Man City game I said: "Re the Ruddy / Rudd debate, JR single handedly cost us points vs ManCity and also Arsenal yesterday. A rest may benefit him...and NCFC?" Alright, Martin was suspended, which kind of forced the gaffer's hand, but Whittaker was dropped for someone showing better form and it's up to him to displace Wisdom and force his way back in. Why should a 'keeper be any different? They're all cogs in the same - crucial, wheel! No room for sentiment, you have to select your best eleven and at the moment, Ruddy ain't in it, I'm afraid.
Keepers come in for more than their share of criticism, IMO. Yes Ruddy could have done better leading up to their goal, but so could have Olsson and Bassong, who got into a muddle and then produced a poor back-pass to Ruddy. Ruddy's clearance did go to O'Neil, who could have done better controlling it, but all these things happened in an instant. Had Ruddy stayed in the goal mouth, his first responsibility would be protecting the near post and Ozil's shot would have gone in anyway. Watching the Spurs - Chelsea game on MotD, I noticed that both keepers failed to hold shots which they should have, but no comment was made because no goal was scored. I'm not saying that Rudd shouldn't be given a chance, but I'm willing enough to leave that decision to AN, though I suspect that he'll stick with Ruddy because of his considerable PL experience, of which Rudd has next to none. Do we really want to experiment in our present situation? I don't know what the answer is - I'm simply raising the questions.
Well, I have always been a big fan of his - until the last couple of months that is. Without actually checking back, I feel that he has cost us several points this season in the following games - West Ham, Man City and again yesterday (though I feel Arsenal would have scored at some point!!). I know he came out with his interview last week, but I am definitely in favour of Rudd being given his opportunity to show what he can do.
When Hart's form dipped for Man City he got replaced and came back stronger and better than before, so maybe give Rudd a chance and then maybe the same thing might happen for Ruddy as he will have to work harder to get back into the team.
Plenty of keepers have done it in the past. That is not to say DR would be an instant messiah and we rack up a string of clean sheets but if I was the gaffer I would be seriously tempted to throw him in to see if he swims or sinks. His performances in LC games suggest he would not be phased in any way.
What I meant by situation was our current relegation struggle, Thai. The LC is a very different challenge from the PL, though Rudd did do very well against a quite senior Everton side in the last round. I'd still be concerned that Rudd would be put under an enormous pressure as things stand now.
I get it Rick but all that experience is being blown away in too many games this season. This has to be knocking his confidence far more than if it was just the occasional howler. I am not so sure DR would be under the same pressure, or at least not from the supporters. Even the reaction on here last night was "****ing Ruddy", and I do not believe DR would get the same reaction in his early first team games. I would suggest him playing against one of the big boys (Utd or Spurs), games where anything is a bonus and lets see how he deals with it. Chuck him in with no pressure from AN and let him do what he does.
I say don't play him against Watford as I think we all see it as a critical fixture with a somewhat better chance of points and I'd hate for those to be blown by the now seemingly inevitable blunder. Rudd had a good spell with Preston where in general they seemed to think highly of him. I know it's at a lower level but the goal doesn't get bigger in the PL, time for a shot at the number one jersey. I'd like to see him get a run till January and then we might really know how much we need a new number 1. Can Declan cut it? We'll soon see! Bah!
I remember well the day that Rob Green made his debut. It was in the most important game of the season too - at home to Ipswich! Finished 0-0 and he looked the part
For me it wasn't just the error that contributed to the goal - I think O'Neil could have done better and it was not the easiest of back passes to deal with but his utter lack of confidence in controlling the box when balls are being crossed in. Earlier in the season I thought that his lack of confidence in the box was symptomatic of Rusty being aerially dominated week in week out but since Ryben is back in and winning a decent share of headers I think that our centre halves are affording him decent protection and yet he still had three flaps against an Arsenal side not exactly renowned for knocking the ball in for a big no.9 to batter home. God only knows what would happen if we played a team like Villa set up with a beast of a centre forward. I think a lot of us feel that if we are in with a sniff of a result come the 75th minute we are just minutes away from another flap leading to a chance for the opposition. It is such a shame because prior to his injury he was undoubtedly a class act. Whether his problems are physical or psychological something needs to be done and he must know that he is on borrowed time and that pressure cannot be helping him.
I don't think AN will drop Ruddy, but I think it is time to give Declan his chance. He's done well recently in cup games against premier league opposition, now may be the time to see if he can cut it on a regular basis.
What's with all this "RyBen" bollocks? We only have one Bennett in the squad at present, while Elliott is out on loan. Why don't we all start calling Seb Bassong "SeaBass" if we're going to be childish about stuff. Apologies, rant over. <Dons hard hat and gas mark expecting fallout galore>
Because that wouldn't follow the same 'CamelCase' format as 'RyBen' It should be 'SeBas', obviously. *tuts*
