If he's no longer a great kicker then what have your lot done to him? [video=youtube;-SHTGdf1oFs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-SHTGdf1oFs[/video]
It also shows his excellent time-wasting skills, that have never been in doubt. Love the way he kept the ball against the team in red and then flicked it between the strikers. I think he's getting a bit of a rough deal here to be honest.
I think he was played too soon as a panic measure when the defence was basically not playing well. It must have been impossible for them to have any confidence in him and vica versa. Not a great way to start a career. He looked very low on confidence from the start.
Nobody has done anything to him, brb. He's still great with his feet. In fact last season I think he set up an assist by pinging a long ball out of his penalty area when under pressure. It was pinpoint accurate. To be honest, he could give a few outfield players lessons in how to do an accurate lofted pass. They always reach their target. That aside, he's a fair keeper too. I hope we keep him because he should improve as he is only a nipper. He just needs to cut out the errors of judgement. He can also be a proper 11th player that can be relied upon to pass to. Believe me, we know the difference. Just 5 minutes watching Super Kelvin Davies, being passed back to, can age a Saints supporter prematurely.
He has sometimes been guilty of trying the difficult when an easy option is available though, and that includes his kicking. There was that infamous kick out to Yoshida against Swansea which led to a goal against us of course.
Maybe my memory is going because I just can't recall any great kicking from him. Boruc is the worst of the lot though. You can never relax with him but he seems to get away with it which is a good trait I suppose.
I think Boruc's kicking is pretty good! He can clear well with both feet, he hits it flat and long from his hands, maybe he doesn't always hit the target but he never gives the impression he's going to scuff it to a striker or anything, and his clearances rarely go straight into touch.
It is true he sometime does have a lack of good judgement...... although to be fair it is more because of the standard we now play compared to things he could/would get away with in the lower leagues. So yes it is fair to say that his main problem is lack of experience.............
You and I are obviously watching different games. I would put him as one of the worst I've seen at this level (only kicking I'm talking about, specifically when the ball has been passed back to him). I would agree that he is equally bad with both feet Boruc has excellent reactions which he needs given some of the tangles he gets in, and one-on-one I don't think there is anyone better. Kicking and general distribution is random though, excellent sometimes and simply awful at others but nearly always gives me the exact impression that he's going to scuff it.
Well I don't know what to say! Has he ever scuffed one? I don't remember ever seeing that. His kicking is certainly better than Davis's (though that's not saying much).
Rabbit telling us that a young, raw, undeveloped player is absolutely nowhere near good enough to ever play for Saints, then getting frustrated and thinking people don't understand his point when they disagree...... ......now where have I heard this before!?
I think your memory must be going then Lff. Boruc's kicking is OK. It's Davies who is poorest in that department. Don't you remember getting the shakes when the ball was passed back to him..? Yes, I'd go along with that. Yep, different games from me too. I find his kicking reliable-ish and certainly not random. It's kelvin who gives me the willies..! Neither have I. I would categorise them thus, based on what I've seen up until now, and ironing out the extremes: Best Shot-stopping Goalkeeper: Boruc, Davis, Gazzaniga Best Distributor and Kicker: Gazzaniga, Boruc, Davis Best Overall at present: Boruc, Davis, Gazzaniga I put Davis in front of Gazzaniga in terms of overall best because he has the experience to make the better goalkeeping decision, but it's close between them, in my opinion. If/when Gazzaniga learns he will be a hell of a goalkeeper. For me, Boruc is out there for his shot-stopping and command of his area, the confidence he gives the players, and his half decent distribution.
I'm giving up because, shock, I don't think Davis is as bad as people make out. I think people remember a couple of howlers and then tend to generalise, I'm sure I do that to some extent.
I think Boruc scuffed one into the Kingsland against Arsenal, but you could probably put that down to the turf (he fell on his arse) and rustiness.
He's not that bad. He played at a time when our defence was a shambles he should not be made a scapegoat. Have we forgotten Leeds away?!
The QPR game in 2006 is the one I always remember. He attempted to shield the ball out for a goal kick, but the forward tackled him and put it into the empty net. We lost 2-1.
Hey don't get the wrong idea, I like Davis and think he's a great pro and a fine backup keeper. I just don't rate his kicking!
