I can't see a single post on here suggesting he's not good enough for L 1 but neither is he too good for the club. I think the whole argument gets muddled with the fact he's a Charlton fan, that's great but doesn't mean he's any better than the other 2 goal keepers. He's made some great saves but also his positioning at times is suspect and I wasn't at the Millwall game. I don't think he'd make much of an impact at a higher level.
Robbie has no doubt made some incredible saves, but to say he could be England's number 1 is a little too far fetched in my humble opinion. Maybe he chose number 44 as it resembles his waist line....Seriously though, don't read too much into the squad number rumours as the truth will out eventually as it always does.
Earlier on in the thread, In Clive We Trust suggests that Robbie is not good enough for League 1. These sentiments are echoed in another Elliott thread from a few days ago. It is not as if Robbie is getting on in age and issues with positioning can be ironed out with the right coaching. Therefore, I believe that the key skills are there and that he can only get better. As for his weight; maybe he could shed a few pounds, but then again, Neville Southall and Oliver Kahn were chunky lads and two of the best there ever was. I am not saying that Robbie is of the same calibre, but if Carson and David James can play for England then I don't see why Robbie can't.
My personal issue about Elliot is that I haven't really seen him reach the next level. I thought he'd push on last season knowing that he was number one and his main rival, Randolph, had left for pastures new. Because he's a fan it seems he may have got a little complacent and perhaps knows the nature of Charlton fans in that he'd probably get less criticism than players who haven't got that tie with the club. In terms of the flak he gets about the number of long range shots that beat him, I must say I agree, although our centre backs last year were guilty of standing off opponents, inviting them to shoot. This was clearly exploited by opponents and I don't want to feel nervous every time an opposing player advances with the ball. He has the potential (and keepers don't necessarily reach their potential til their late 20s) to be a decent Championship keeper in my opinion, but no more than that.
I can confirm that Rob's agent has been asking the club for silly money to sign an extended contract, but the club would not play ball, and quite right too. I do know this is true. He also got his head turned a little by Pardew intimating that he would take him to the Toon. Sadly it all went to the boys head and he now thinks he is a lot better than he actually is. Proof is Pardew never came back in for him.
With all this criticism of Rob Elliott can't see how some can say he's over rated. His problem is he's been in the comfort zone too long. Question is will he stay & fight for his place or go, if the right offer comes along. That is if he gets the choice. Personally I think a home grown Charlton fan always has the edge over an outsider like Hamer or Sullivan, but at the end of the day CP is in the hot seat to drive us back to the Championship & we have to back his judgement, Saturday will be interesting 9& hopefully fun).
cant see cp wanting elliott if he has bought 2 new goalkeepers. no need for 3 decent keepers in this league
The problem for me with Rob Elliot is that when he was competing with Darren Randolph he was never clear enough as no 1 for everyone to get behind him. When Ross Worner came in last season Rob was clearly the better keeper, but then CP brought in Sullivan to cover injury and the clarity of who was the better keeper arose again with Sullivan keeping Rob out even when he was fit enough to play. If you have that level of dilemna and contract negotiations are difficult then what CP did was wise. Sign a better keeper. Rob may be Charlton through and through but so is the turnstile for the North stand and that doesn't let in the away side either. The club is bigger than just one player even if he is a local lad. We have got to go for promotion this year and we must use the best we can get - for me and apparently for CP that is now Hamer.
The reason I'm saying he's overrated and I'll back it is because some fans are putting him on a pedestal because he is a Charlton fan, or Charlton boy through and through as I keep on reading. The Rifleman and Scratching have got it just right, he isn't above the club and his status does not make him any better than say Sullivan or Hamer although we would need to see them peform over a longer period of time. The fact Robbie wasn't challenged that much last season, brought about a complacency which you could see in some of his displays, the defence didn't help either. It's a bit like appointing a manager who was a fans favourite and then finding your team slumps down the league table, but didn't we do that already.
Ben Roberts is very highly regarded at Charlton as a goalkeeping coach. Rob will not get any better anywhere else
As one of the main posters supporting Robbie on here, I can speak for myself (and perhaps others) by saying that whilst Robbo may not be a better keeper than the other two, he is seemingly of a similar standard, and with (in my opinions) the goalkeeper position being not so important as long as you have a decent defence in front of him, I'd far rather see a Charlton supporter/academy graduate playing in goal rather than someone who probably doesn't even know who are key rivals are/what titles we have won/who our club legends are.
If Robbie were a "real" charlton fan he wouldn't be holding the club to ransom over a contract. Asked for stupid money and when it wasn't matched he has put up a wall of silence- seemingly saying there is no negotiation from his side. If this is what a charlton through and through player does, then give me a team of outsiders!
I don't subscribe to your parochial view of players and their cult status. There have been some excellent goal keepers coming in from outside over the years who've not come up through the academy. Whether they know the history of Charlton Athletic inside out or not makes no difference to their overall peformance. It should always be quality before status and holding the club to ransome on contracts. I see both Wagstaff and Solly, both homegrown, have settled on contracts with the minimum of fuss and a goal keeper is not a prima donna or above the rest of the team. His attitude speaks volumes.
Ponders, I need to have some of what you are on ! Robbie for England, Christ the national team would need to be desperate, and I mean desperate. He's got two hopes, Bob and Maurice.
How is it that some of you guys know so much about what is going on behind the scenes? What if Robbie has been offered a crap contract and can earn better elsewhere? Is it not up to the player to garner the best deal possible? It is all conjecture at this point, but yet some of you see fit to slag him off, belittle his contribution over the years and basically chuck vitriol left, right and centre. Also, how do you know so much about Ben Hamer? He has barely played for his parent-club, is mostly out on loan, but yet he is all of sudden so much better than Rob Elliott.
