i must admit that I was nervous about Frankie coming back, but judging by the comments on here he had a good game. I wasn't there and the highlights don't show him doing much tbh. So, would you keep Frankie as our no' 1 now? Or do you prefer O'Donnell? Perhaps O'Donnell should play in the cup game and keep Fielding for the league? Thoughts?
Tough one this FF frightens me to death. distribution and kicking poor,shot stopping excellent. O'Donnell better all round keeper. However bad mistakes prior to FF playing against Derby. He got dropped yet Flint did not strange decision from LJ.
Very well summarised-Great shot stopper but that's only part of the modern game- Joe Hart is another good shot stopper but has fallen out of favour- O, Donnell is better all round but I would keep Fielding for the cup game minimum.
Pick on performances. O'Donnell needed a reminder he's not Shilton, happy with Junior's decision. After yesterday you can't drop Fielding even though he's a disaster waiting to happen. Flint has been equally culpable as O'Donnell recently yet only O'Donnell was dropped. He has a decision to make with Flint, we'll see which way it goes. Junior's closest to it so shouldn't need help from us. Overall, sooner rather than later, he has to settle on his best 11 and set up. Read on otib 'he needs to keep the squad happy'. Happy isn't in my management vocabulary, performance trumps all and it's what players respond best to. Changes in personnel should be kept to a minimum. And anyway, it happens naturally with injuries, suspensions and loss of form.
I think also that OD is a better keeper all round, but maybe dropping him will be a good thing and he'll refocus! FF is a good shot stopper, but his ball distribution is horrific, and if anyone within a foot of him from crosses (maybe due to his height) he flaps or punches, unconvincingly, even when he can catch it.
Like a lot of fellow posters I'm always waiting for FF to make a huge mistake. I much prefer O'Donnell but he hasn't exactly covered himself in glory recently either. I've often wondered how FF makes his team mates feel and whether they are as nervous about him as a lot of us are....?
I agree with much of what you say. However with regard to the above, I think this works well for Man City whose outstanding first 12 are all world class, but is less relevant to Bristol City, who have maybe 4 players in their first 11 that are irreplaceable (and thats being kind) but the rest are all of a muchness. Consider Pack OR Reid Fielding OR O'Donnell O'Dowd OR Bryant etc etc Not a lot to chose between options. Only Tomkins and Abraham are nailed-on starters, with possibly O'Neil and Magnuson pushing for inclusion in The Undroppable Club. And to be honest thats a fair roll-call for a Championship side, where the list might grow by the end of...
I played in goal and know that for me, when I was having a bad time that my team mates game would change as they would feel that they would need to anticipate and potentially cover more- It does put added pressure on them. It takes a while longer for the defence to grow in confidence even when you have got your own back too- FF is a likeable character amongst them but that wont wash when they go across that white line-Trouble is at present is that we have 2 keepers capable of being error prone.
