The club have given him permission to talk to Southampton. Is this a big loss? I thought he had been at the club for a while? I've always rated him highly without really knowing a lot in truth, I guess just from the fact that he is the England GK coach.
i suppose there are plenty of people who would say that the whole hughton reign seemed to go on for longer than it actually did
That decade under hughton was the worst in living memory, But my grandad says in the dim dark past there was a Rodent who was worse still and he was here for a century! As for Dave Watson, its difficult to say if there is any real loss there. I can't imagine big JR will be to upset having missed out on the WC squad. I can't say that I could see any great improvement in Ruddy, Bunn et al either. You'd think he was good if the national team wanted him, but I won't ever know! Bah!
i'm of the opinion ruddy's game stalled under watson's stewardship. injury hampered him, definitely, but there wasn't any progress made and i agree, ruddy probably doesn't hold watson in particularly high regard baring in mind he lost his england place at such a crucial time, despite having the england coach looking at him week in, week out. that must really grate.
Doubt very much that taking Foster was Waston's choice, Hodgson worked with him at West Brom and clearly wanted one of his men in the squad despite having played not played a single games for him in the two years before. Hodgson's management of Goal keepers has been very poor during his stewardship, Hart does on balance deserve to be number one but Hodgsons complain that none of the other keepers have any experience is his fault not theirs and bringing in the bang average Foster was not the right move, playing him in a dead rubber against Costa Rica was worse should have lets Forster have a go, he deserves it.
i'm not saying it was watson who makes the final choice, but it would very much be down to him to advise the manager and coaching staff who he sees as the best three keepers to select! there's no question at all that ruddy will have been disappointed given his coach is also the england coach.
just to add, although i don't think foster should have gone, i felt he played pretty well against costa rica and shouldn't be criticised if he performs well
True was incredibly ropey in the Friendly he played though, would have been terrified to se his name on the team sheet for a game that mattered, Would have felt much better with Forster playing, especially as he's proved for Celtic what a go big match player he is.
Its one thing playing well in a meaningless game when the result doesn't matter, different when the pressures on and your performance actually counts.
