Alnwick to replace Harps

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp..._Alnwick_instead_of_signing_a_new_goalkeeper/

NEWCASTLE will not be signing a direct replacement for Steve Harper this summer in order to enable teenage goalkeeper Jak Alnwick to step up to the senior ranks.

Harper ended a 20-year association with the Magpies when he made his final appearance for the club in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of last season.

His departure leaves Tim Krul and Rob Elliot as Newcastle's only senior shot-stoppers, with the former expected to miss the start of next season as he completes his recovery from a shoulder injury.

However, rather than looking to bring in another experienced goalkeeper, Magpies manager Alan Pardew is ready to put his faith in Alnwick, an England under-20 international who was an unused substitute in Harper's final game.

"You can always look at your squad in any department and want to strengthen here and there, but there comes a point when you've got to look at what you've got and promote within," said goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman.

"You've got to have belief in these young kids, that's the point of producing them. Jak Alnwick as an example has been putting in performances week in, week out, and not just in games for the under-21s, but also on the training pitch."He trains with the first team pretty much every day and I always think a good gauge of how good these kids are is the respect they gain from the other professionals.

"When you've got people like (Fabricio) Coloccini and (Yohan) Cabaye who have respect for this young goalkeeper, that tells me we've got a boy with something who can progress into a top keeper. We've got a very good goalkeeper coming through, and the department as a whole is healthy."

Woodman joined Newcastle in December 2010, having previously worked with Pardew at both West Ham and Charlton.

One of the pair's first big decisions was the promotion of Krul ahead of Harper at the start of the 2011-12 season, and the Dutchman has more than justified their faith as he has developed into one of the most consistent and effective goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Woodman was also a key factor in the arrival of Elliot, and the experienced coach is delighted to see Newcastle's number two now firmly established in the top-flight.

"It's been a brilliant season for me with the goalkeepers," he said. "I think Tim won all the Player of the Year awards, so I take that as a sort of pat on the back for the job we did together. He's had some pretty big injuries this year, Tim."Rob Elliot, I'll shout this loudly, people still haven't seen the best of him yet. He's got so much more to come and I'm glad he's surprised a few people.

"He hasn't surprised me at all, I know he's a top keeper, I know we've got a very good player there, one I genuinely think is on the brink of international football with Ireland."And I do believe he's got a lot more to offer this club and I'm glad that people have looked at and grown with him. You can feel there's a real warmth towards Robbie."

 

Fantastic news both for us and the lad!

 

Saw Alnwick a long time ago and thought he was a star in the making. A very good keeper. We were blessed with Forster at the time too. Another local boy.


Fraser Forster.
Date of birth 17 March 1988 (age 25)
Place of birth Hexham,
Height 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)

 

Good we have to try and promote from within across all areas. not the glamour approach many want, and obviously carries greater risk, but if you stick at it long terms the rewards are even richer. Villa are the example I'd like to see us and other English clubs follow. Produce your own and cherry pick the best from the lower levels. The money then stays in our game.

 

Good decision for me, seems pointless spending money on a third choice keeper as they barely play and it means he'll get experience of being on the bench when one of Elliott or Krul is (inevitably) injured.

 

In terms of a 3rd choice, no problem with it. Still not sure a club like ours should have Rob Elliott as backup.

 

Another option for me would be to promote Alnwick's understudy from the U21s to our third choice for the season and send Alnwick on a season long loan as that would be more beneficial to his long term development.

 

Elliott isn't good enough as back up at any PL club for me. Look at Wigan, they went down and both their keepers were better than Elliott.

 

Not sure we've got the funds, but we should be buying a decent keeper and letting Krul/A.N. Other fight it out. There's at least two in Holland out of or nearly out of contract.

 

This, Krul, Forster and Alnwick would of made our Goalkeepers the perfect trio for me.

 

Great for Alnwick and good to see the club trusting the youngsters. Will be better in the long term.

Elliot still worries me - and bearing in mind he'll start next season as Timmy will still be out for the first few weeks. So Alnwick will be straight onto the subs bench from game one.

 

Cheaper option that's all

 

Really? Is it not called using your youth system? The correct option for me.

 

Yep, it was indeed 'meant' to be part of Ashley's grand plan to develop players from within, as well as make astute signings, allowing for the odd sale of a senior player when the price is right. It's what he set out early on and to be fair it's not too far off the mark of what has happened. If anything, we've not yet seen the full benefit of the youth squad, but in the next year or two, a few of those look as though they will be ready.

 

Yes it is. I am all for bringing youth through however we are weak in this area fat boy Elliott is not good enough
So in theory we have krul and a kid
And could put us in jeopardy if krul gets injuried for a long period we could have issues.

 

No need to insult Warm Pouch like that!

 

As well as buying a host of foreigns helping us to lose identity and soul
Look at the derby for example

 

I'd like Elliott replaced. However you cannot link it to bringing through a top young lad you have high hopes for and your senior players rate, as a number 3. You've moved onto a seperate issue altogether, i.e. how good is your back up keeper. The youngsters we bring through the better.

The Elliott issue is completely different. They rate him and he will remain number 2, we just have to get on with it.

Less of the fat boy too, I'm in fine physical shape at present

 

Fair points tiger, tbf you are right my beef is the back up quality with slin jim Elliott
Like I said we all love a player coming thro the ranks "one of us" their is nothing better but the cheap option is not replacing Elliott.

I

 

This is true ^

Bringing Rob Elliot to replace Frazer Forster was the cheap option and also an uneducated and embarrassing decision too.