I didn't realise at first what a fantastic save Bialkowski made from Smith's strike - not until I watched it again. That drive took a wicked deflection and Bialkowski still managed to get down to it and lift it away from an impossible angle. Frustrating though it was for us (and Smith), it was a sublime piece of goalkeeping - nice gesture from Flint too - very sporting and gracious congratulating him. http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/10166163/bristol-city-2-1-Ipswich Why do we always bring out the best in opposition keepers?!!!
R&W Have you noticed an improvement in our goalkeeping position ? Personally, I believe it's massive.
Yes I have. How much is down to simple ability and how much because we have 4 defenders protecting the position is not clear, but I am feeling a confidence in our defence and GK as 'one unit' which I havent done all season before Cotts left. Long may it continue.
The poor goalkeeper gets most of the blame for losses and yet the people in front of him must shoulder some of the blame. A confident goalie will generally have support from the guys in front of him, and perhaps that's where we are right now.
'How much is down to simple ability and how much because we have 4 defenders protecting the position is not clear' R&W - Not clear ? Did you ever play at the back ? A poor keeper, Fielding, screams uncertainty in a defence. I was lucky, I played a long time with a fantastic keeper and when he didn't play, our results in the main were chalk and cheese. Seems like the confidence a keeper gives is probably something only defenders understand and appreciate.
I'm firmly on the fence with this one RP. The change of fortune may be due to the change of GK, the formation, the manager, or any combination of those. It's not possible for me to isolate one of those because they all coincided. What I will say is that whilst we now have a solid defence, with O'Connell between the sticks, I would not want to jeapordise that by bringing Fielding back - or making any other changes behind the midfield for that matter. Yes, I have played at the back - but only when played out of position when we were short - I hated it and was terrified. I played up front sometimes, but mainly left midfield. I tried to avoid going anywhere near my own goal - far too difficult and dangerous work.
Do you mean Korey's first half strike, that really was some instinctive reflex save? Don't recall Agards taking a deflection, he hit it into the ground and made it easier for their keeper, had he put it even at middle of the goal height the keeper would not have got near it.
MTG Fielding is like a cat on hot tin roof and causes panic. Fielding is small, doesn't command crosses or his box. Fielding has no anticipation. Fielding is chicken. Other than the above they're very similar.
And all those stem from a lack of confidence. As a keeper I know that with confidence a keeper catches more, commands more and looks more comfortable
Mtg I agree, we have a much better keeper now Fielding is benched, a problem I've banged on about forever. Fielding's lack of confidence is a massive weakness, something he won't come back from.
Its very hard to disagree that our keeper situation has improved since O'donnell has come in. Frankie did a great job for us last season and some of the criticism on here is both wrong and disrespectful..
Twas one of the weak links that has been addressed. We have a top keeper that will go on to bigger and better things. As Banksy says about Flint,enjoy him whilst he is here.
