Yes, that story has been about for a while. I've never been a fan. He's had his moments where he's impressed me, but not often. He is one of the players I'd look to move on.
It's all started to go a bit quieter on the transfer front. Are we all in shock form the weekend? Do we think the weekend will influence any additional transfers or changes in transfer priority?
I think we will definitely have one more signing in because we have a loan space. Possibly two if Lafferty gets his move because then we will need a forward.
Maybe, but it was hardly an unstoppable effort. Migniolet will be cursing himself for letting that one by him. Do you really trust wes to score from the spot? or like me do you have palpatations and half expect him to miss? I can't believe we don't have someone better to take them. 4/6 after Saturday is hardly a stella return! Bah!
It was a poor penalty, I am not sure how it actually went in! Is it me or did he try that stupid little chip again? He sort of half did it this time! In other news Jan Vertonghen is injured for 10-12 weeks which has to be good news for when we play them.
In our first year back in the Prem last time, he missed with a carbon copy of that at Loftus Road, the good thing about that was, it promoted Holty to penalty taker! Edit:- It may well have been the year before that in our promotion year!
Remember the stupid little chipped penalty he did against Preston a couple of years back - plopped straight into Tracy's arms. I laughed out loud and then remembered he'd blown it !!!
Probably just me overthinking things, but I think we're as likely to see a central midfielder as a centre back in what remains of the window. Neil has spoken a couple of weeks ago about how he feels he has to balance (to crudely summarise) defensive midfielders with attacking ones, with little in between. I think that's why Dorrans and O'Neil have enjoyed spells in the team, they're both "capable" of sitting in midfield and maintaining some kind of defensive discipline, whilst offering more when we're building attacks than Tettey. I think that's where the Hiljemark and Fer rumours came from. Both are midfielders capable of performing in both boxes, with an eye for a pass. And would be an upgrade on the players Neil is currently using in that role.
Might not be the most popular suggestion on here, but for me personally my priority at this moment would be to sign a keeper we know we can rely on until the end of the season. I, like many of us on here, really want Declan to be the answer, my fear is that he isn't, and my fear is that we repeat what we did went when went down in the 90's with Andy Marshall in goal for the second half of the season after deciding not to replace Gunny. I don't know anyone to recommend, and I know there is no such thing as a keeper you can rely on 100% (especially not on our budget), but I am nervous about us approaching the business end of this season with our current goalkeeping roster.
I think it's a priority in the Summer if we stay up, but unless we were actively looking at goalkeepers already (don't see any evidence of that) then it's a bit late to start looking now.
I think that's a little harsh. He has gad some good games for us and was pretty decent in the playoff final. I'm not his biggest fan though he does let himself down defensively, but in a day and age where fullbacks are expected to get forward he wasn't the worst at it. Would suit an upper Championship team. Think he has given his all every time he has played.
Surely, if we were far less 'porous' defensively, much of the keeper's work could be eliminated / minimised?
That's a worrying thought Was in the Barclay when Marshall kept against the Toon must have been mid 90's made some brilliant saves but every time he released the ball it went straight back to them, somehow we won that night but .....
Perhaps if our defence had a keeper behind them that they felt fully confident in then they might become less porous as a result?
I totally disagree re goalkeepers. I think Ruddy is still a top keeper although admittedly his form hadn't been great this season. Rudd has proved himself to be a decent keeper too and I think the money needed to find a better goalkeeper would be better spent on outfield players for some time. I personally think that Rudd was poor this weekend, none of the goals were his fault but I dont think he made it hard enough for the opposition. I think Ruddy would have stopped 1-2 of those goals but I know many will disagree with me on that. Does anyone think we would be better off buying a better left back? That would allow us to move Brady forward again......
We've conceded 11 goals in our last three games with Rudd in goal, and three in the last game Ruddy played for us. In his short time in the first team Rudd has given away a silly penalty against Spurs that changed the game in their favour, he should definitely have been sent off in the first half against Bournemouth for his wild, reckless challenge on Afobe, he didn't even look like saving any of the five goals he conceded on Saturday and looks like confidence is swiftly ebbing away from him. And Ruddy had been pretty dreadful all season until he was dropped and had clearly become a liability. If none of that concerns you at all then I wouldn't mind a pint of what you're currently drinking
