Enough. Please don't start Ruddy again. Undeniably he has made some astounding, game changing saves, but clearly his heads not right and it's time to change before he starts to cost us points again a la last season. Sorry mate, move aside.
Sad that it has come to this, but my way of thinking is that a fresh start might be best for both parties here. IMO, he has never been the same since his injury a few years ago. He has lost confidence completely. To me he is a mere shadow of himself. Sadly, I think the longer he stays and plays for us, the more of a liability he will prove to be. I would love to be proved wrong though.
Agree with both of the above, we all were relieved when Dec was given a chance last season because of Ruddy's form, From the very brief highlights of Saturdays game, it would appear big John has not rediscovered his mojo, when was the last time any of us can recall him having a stormer and thinking that he basically had single handedly won us some points? Think Marshall for Cardiff. Has there been a performance like that in the last 3 years? I hate to join the band wagon, but Ruddy is in a decline that means that we must replace him, hopefully sooner (Though of course I'd love for JR to prove me wrong with a long sequence of clean sheets and excellent performances, I just can't see it happening!)rather than later McGovern will get his chance and show us what we've been missing. Bah!
AN hasn't been afraid to make bold decisions in the past so it wouldn't surprise me if McGovern started against the Wendies. Indeed you could say putting Jacob Murphy in the starting eleven on Saturday was a pretty bold move, how many on here would have called that ? It's not nice when someone at the club who was once so highly thought of starts to get hammered by the fans like this, but I think I was the first on here to suggest a move away for him would be best for all concerned. Thanks for everything big John, but I think your time as NCFC's No.1 has finally come to an end
I predicted McGovern to start vs Blackburn because I thought AN might be ruthless enough to do it. I guess in playing him he is giving him the rope to hang himself. The question will be how many chances will he afford JR before McGovern gets the nod? Unless of course McGovern is training like a Theoklitos in which case how's Jonesy looking? Bah!
Very sad indeed, as Maestro said, since his injury he has failed miserably to find form, I also believe he has had marital problems and the incident where he lamped DM's nephew after a night on the town. Sorry John, I have stood by you in the past but enough is enough!
I did, , see the prediction league! I do think Ruddy came back better after Rudd's spell between the sticks, so I'd be tempted to take him out of the firing line to try and inspire that, if nothing else. McGovern is full of confidence and deserves a chance. Obviously the understanding between a goalkeeper and defence is of great importance, but I'm not sure Ruddy is doing a lot to instil confidence in them anyway, and when he does come to claim things it feels like it's 50/50 as to whether he fumbles. I'd make the change, but perhaps he's got until he costs us points.
Ruddy will start the next match no question. If AN drops him now his already fragile confidence will be utterly shot to pieces and he may as well start training with the U-21's. JR must have shown enough in training and pre-season for AN to start him. Don't forget McG is a known quantity to AN have played for him previously. I can only think that maybe McG is being given time in training to develop some form of understanding with our back 4 which JR will already have unless as previously stated he is training like Theo in disguise. Sadly I have to agree with the other posters on here - never the same player since his quad tear and I don't think all of the issues in his personal life have done much to either help him mentally or gain sympathy from the fans. My feeling is that he will play against Shef W, cost us points through yet another flap and then get chopped out.
I'd rather he had his confidence broken by being dropped rather than adding to his list of calamities and gifting the Wendies some points. If he is still worth even a place on the bench, he will bounce back and train harder to regain form and his place, unfortunately I think he is beyond repair and doubt there are many championship teams who would come after him as first choice these days let alone Chelski! Bah!
Yes, I'm pretty much in agreement with the previous posts, as from the little bit of Blackburn's goal I saw in the highlights show, he could even have come off his line and prevented the cross from even reaching Stokes. He was a very good goalkeeper, but sadly that is n longer the case and he certainly cost us points last season.
I think he gave that up as a lost cause over a a year ago!! I'm sure he still posts on here, but has changed his avatar/screen name!!!
I agree totally GM. I'd not have played him on Saturday and after his less than convincing performance I'd drop him for next week but I don't think AN will for the reason cited. Keepers are a bit like England middle order batters - they tend to get the benefit of the doubt even if they perform poorly over a prolonged period.
England's middle order is pretty good nowadays, on the other hand JR has seen better days but is still a competent keeper in my view. I think his confidence has been undermined and I am in no doubt that his bad injury has impeded his ability and agility.
Anyone whos interested in Remi Matthews performance, couple of good saves in there. I think slightly unfortunate with the goal.
As I said on the match day thread, I agree. He's just too mentally flimsy. He just doesn't seem to be able to sort it out, and has been given plenty of chances to. Give McGovern a go, it's a big game next week. We need someone to stop Hooper bagging a hattie against us.
