In the premier we were always known (well the 10 years before relegation) to have a good shot-stopper (Niemi springs to mind). With the current season looming would you keep Kelvin Davies, and if so how long (or how much patience) would you give him before calling for him to be replaced. I personally think he should be given time in the premier league and even if he has a few misfortunate games, wait to review his season at Christmas. Also Bartosz has left Southampton. He joined us in 2006, was loaned out for short periods, and never really shone for us. Are you pleased to see him leave? Perhaps Saints will bring in a really good up and coming goalkeeper, give him a bit of training, wait for Kelvin to have a good run out in the premier league, then ditch him and replace him..
I believe that Adkins made the right decision to let Bialkowski go, to be honest. However, what we need is someone who is younger, but who can immediately provide competition for the #1 shirt.
If he didn't get injured at Newcastle, he'd be a PL keeper by now, would have left us a while back. In his first run in the team he was quality but hasn't looked the same since, an opinion I'm not basing on just one game. However, I do now believe Kelvin is better and we can sign a better backup.
As a former keeper you must respect Adkins decision on this over any position. Kelvin of course deserves a chance in the prem. after all the goalkeeper is the one role which does not require any adaption. I can't remember any major errors from him and bar a few spilled shots around the Christmas period he had deserved his place as keeper of the season
Agreed. His run in the 2007 (?) play-off run was fabulous. The 6-0 win at Wolves he was great. They battered us that day and we had six shots. Bart was ace. Burley made a mistake brining in SKD for the second leg of the play offs. But since then not been the same. Loved having him around and hope he has success, but right time for him to go.
Hope the move is a good one for Bart. He should be a first team goalie somewhere he has been wasted on the bench and it shows in his lack of confidence.
Strengthening of other key positions in the first team is probably the priority. Maybe we will get a loan keeper or maybe an experienced back up eg. Taylor from Man City who has not prospect of playing there.
At his best, he was brilliant and could've easily be our #1 in the Prem, but he lacked the consistency and confidence that's required of goalkeepers. Shame really, I thought after the run of games he got a couple of seasons back due to Kelvin's injury that he was in for the long run, but Pardew decided against it. I've always rated Bartman, and considering he was ahead of Szczesny in the Polish youth ranks, I can't help but feel it's an opportunity missed for him here, not through the lack of trying of course.
I think a big factor in the decision to let him go is probably that he wants first team football. He really deserves to be playing more than he has done. I think he could get into most Championship teams, and hopefully he'll find his way to the Premier League. That run he had in 2007 was awesome, especially in that game at Wolves.
What a strange way of phrasing the question. Its like saying that you know he's not good enough but you'll give him a few games out of sympathy. I think he is one of the best goalkeepers we have ever had. His positional sense is second to none and his shot stopping was one of the key factors in our two promotions. I know he is criticised sometimes on his distribution but I also happen to know he's doing what he's been asked to do. Bart was often too cavalier in his throw-outs causing the defenders problems. The only area of his game in which I'm not 100% convinced about is his ability to deal with crosses. That said I can't think of any major spills this year. He has made a couple of very visible mistakes in the past and for some reason everyone seems to remember those rather than all the good stuff he does. I think its because he makes so many good saves that we now expect it of him and because of the excellent positions he takes up he can often make the difficult look easy. Regarding Bart. Apparently in training he is exceptional. However, on the main stage his handling can be suspect and he spills too many balls. Forget about the Blackpool goal, that can happen to anyone. In the year that Davies was injured, Bart was outstanding and was very unlucky to lose his place.
