In the 20 Premier League games Sebastian Bassong has started for us this season, we conceded 24 goals. In the three he hasn't, we conceded 15. That's a goal to game ratio of 5 without Bassong and 1.2 with him. Insane...
Bassong, Whittaker and Ruddy are huge misses for us. Ruddy we can't do much about but need the other 2 back asap
Agree entirely. Someone said they'll be back for Spurs so let's hope we can kickstart our season again a week Wednesday.
I wouldn't say I have a lack of confidence exactly, he is a decent keeper. For me it is just that I feel we are definately weaker without Ruddy. There are goals going in now that I don't think would have with JR on the pitch. Ruddy is just better than Bunn. There are plenty of sides out there that don't have a keeper as good as Bunn and so we are very lucky.
Ok, on the Bassong point, it is a mix of co-incidence, luck and the fact that he is a terrific defender, my player of the season thus far. On the Bunn point, the problem is that he is a decent 'keeper but not as good as Ruddy. He hasn't really done anything wrong he is just let down by players in front of him. Of course, with Ruddy in goal today we'd still of been tonked, but Ruddy pulls out those brilliant saves that can turn defeats into draws and draws into wins. Bunn just doesn't do that, he is a solid 'keeper though and definatley one of the last people should criticise for today's result.
Bunn is not let down by his defence. He does not come for high looping balls, stands on his line and effectually allows an attack to be more penetrative than it should be. Ruddy, however comes for those high balls and either gathers (comfortably) or punches clear (beyond the in thronging midfield). Since Bunn's arms/body/presence are that much more diminutive than the big man, there is less defensive nous than if he plays. Shot stopper - Bunn he is. All round goal tender he is not. Norwich today were ****e, but I wonder whether some of our recent losses might have been less had the big man been between the sticks.
I agree totally. It's even noticeable during the pre-match warm up. When Rudd and Watson are lumping high balls into the area Bunn will just stand there and let them drop into his arms. If he is doing this in the warm up, with no defenders in his way or forwards attacking the ball as well he's going to struggle in an actual match situation. In contrast Ruddy will come to the ball in the warm up in exactly the same way as he would do in a match. I don't think its a case of Bunn is a bad keeper, it's more that little things like this mean that the defence don't have quite as much confidence in him as Ruddy. They know that Ruddy will come charging through players to claim the ball, whereas Bunn won't so there's that added bit of pressure to make sure they get their clearance right first time
On the OT I don't think that it is entirely coincidental.Bassong is a centre back who is amongst the top six in the Premiership and rates alongside Ruddy and Holt as our best acquisition.I think we should be targetting QPR as our next potential three points.After going ahead against the Hammers they conceded a huge number of shots on target and could have ended up 6-1 losers.
We're unbeaten so far this year CT and 'Arry has tightened our defence up massively Word is M'Vila might sign today and if Arry gets olsson and / or odemwhinger from the baggies we will step up a gear at last Don't forget there's a big motivation on putting one over you lot too Hard(er) to beat now
'arry is all smoke and mirrors.I was shocked at West Ham's second half possession.You certainly got the rub of the green.
Indeed we did but confidence is finally growing Re you potentially signing lee camp. He's ok but a moody ******* and many at QPR were pleased to see the back of him especially after his public courting of the forest fans during a match playing for us Best days well behind him and I would have thought you could do a lot better tbh. Is he cheap free or a loan move?
Morning Wubba, Camp is on a free but I'm not convinced we're after him! Mark Bunn is a decent stand in, no Ruddy that's for sure, but Ruddy is due back in about 8 weeks so Camp would only be a short term solution!
Camp on a free I guess is ok but personally I think he's too short, past it and has a bad attitude Anyway snowed in today so not much else to talk about
The problem with Bunn is that has been on the end of some horrific score lines the last few weeks. Being a goal keeper is more based around confidence than most positions on the pitch, it is up there with the strikers. When you have let in so many it starts to effect your confidence and self belief, I think to be honest that it would good to give Bunn a break and let Rudd have a go between the sticks. Rudd has impressesd me he was played and I'm not quite sure why he hasn't been given a chance.
Bassong's signing was a massive boost to us and was instrumental in our 10 game run. We need something against Spurs to steady the ship and I would settle for 0-0 and a drab draw. The Saints game tonight will be interesting