He needs game time to settle his nerves. Both keepers need to be fit and on top of the game - the last thing we need is any flappy panic if they are called upon (see Jakupovic before his transformation to Hero status).
I thought Long played pretty well on Tuesday. Spilled one early on then made some great punched clearances. Also distributed well when the plan was to drop the ball behind the back 3 for KLP to run onto.
Come on Howden. Long is a second away from another disaster and his distribution is questionable. Straight into touch on more than one occasion.
So would I, but GM is obviously showing the squad that if you get your chance and don't do anything to warrant it..you don't get dropped
I agree...I'd rather have Ingram, but GM is obviously showing the squad that if you get your chance and you don't mess it up, you keep your place. Which is a good think imo
Long obviously does his best but as we saw again at Sunderland recently put one 3 foot either side of him and he seems to watch it go in without any real reaction...very odd.
Tbf Ingram is much more solid and composed .. Long always looks panicked which I'm sure rubs off on the defence.. last night there was a 5 to 10 spell were he fumbled a couple back to back ( not difficult ones either) then hoofed it straight out of touch .. for me Ingram should be starting every time. Add to this Ingram controls his box 100% better then Long who regularly flaps at crosses or doesn't get there at all .. it all puts pressure on the defence
I would say that's different as I have every confidence in Coyle. But having said that, and even after I picked Coyle as my motm last night, I'd still pick Emmanuel to start at Portsmouth on Saturday.
There's nothing wrong with Long's distribution save for lacking match sharpness. He doesn't drop into the U23s games, so it's no surprise some of his kicks go out of play. On many occasions in previous seasons he collected the ball and kicks out of his hands straight to the feet of our forwards, even some of the world's best goalkeepers can't analyse distance and accuracy in that space of time. You only notice keeper errors because they're the last line between the ball and the goal. He didn't look nervous to me, just lacking sharpness and that'll come with time. He's more than capable at this level. The issue for him is, so is Matt Ingram, but as Howie said, if there's no reason to drop him, why drop him? If he makes a mistake, he'll get dropped. Until then, it's hardly fair to shunt him out the way.
Myth. He frequently asks players to leave it so he can come for the ball. He has a tendency to punch, but that's usually because our centre halves get crowded out and that's always the best option if you're not favourite to catch it. But that's part and parcel of goalkeeper decision making, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Same as a midfielder trying a pass, it won't always come off. It doesn't mean that the midfielder can't pass a ball or play somebody through. Commanding a penalty isn't claiming every ball that comes into the box (which, contrary to popular belief, he actually does more often than not), it's about awareness, calmness and trust in your teammates. You look at somebody like Greegsy, who was always bawling people out, but Long isn't that kind of keeper, in fact being aggro isn't a common trait in keepers anymore. Ingram isn't that type either.
AS are the form side too..... Ingram stays on his line too much, reminds me of Tony Norman.... Subbuteo!