How to solve a problem like McGregor?

[CMPUNK]

*Said Julie Andrews

I have been thinking this for a while (back end of last season) and it is becoming ever more prominent again this season.

I just don't think he is up to this level on a regular basis. With the wholesale improvements of the squad and the quality new signings, the goalkeeping position has in my opinion now become glaringly inadequate.

When we first signed him I really thought we where onto a winner, with him putting on some impressive performances. But as the season went on he just didn't seem up to the grade or consistent enough and that has continued this season.

Problem is that we don't have adequate enough back up. Harper is an acceptable forced back up but his career was only extended because of an appearances contract extension due to the cup run, McGregor's Red Card and injury. Definitely not a viable option when McGregor is fit. And Jakupovic is a great number 3 but not Premier League quality at all.

McGregor (in my opinion)

- Too laid back and acts as though it is cool to be that way but his laid back attitude means his reflexes are stunted.

- Lacks energy and that on the toes nature needed at this level.

- Can pull off some incredible world class saves and then fails with some of the most simple of tasks.

- Awful against set pieces.

- AWFUL with anything to do with the near post.

- Positional skills are off.

- For some reason when we signed him I thought he was tall but I was wrong. He just isn't imposing. Sure that can work for the top quality smaller keepers but they make up for it in eccentricity and energy.

- Is costing us points and that is starting to increase in frequency.

- Doesn't fill me with reassurance and surely that must be the same for many other fans. If he keeps performing like this then surely the defence will lose confidence in him also.


Your thoughts?

When we signed him it was either between him or Kasper Schmeichel. In hindsight......

 

[roseniorhisgranisfromhull]

I think Bruce needs to have a word, no doubt in my mind he's good enough but errors are creeping into his game. His mistake at Lokeren was horrific and Cisse's first goal yesterday should never have got passed him. Think it's a matter of concentration not ability though.

 

[CMPUNK]

You only have to search for McGregor's name on twitter and pretty much every comment is about how bad he played and how many mistakes and points he costs us in a season.


Would much prefer David Marshall, Alex Smithies, Anders Lindegaard etc

 

[BrAdY]

bollocks and your preferred targets are laughable

 

[Girt Bucket]

Give him a break, My evaluation is Greegsy has been up at nights, with the Referendum,

Ticking boxes, crossing boxes, his eyes will adjust and be able to see his own box soon enough. Not to panic.

 

[CMPUNK]

bollocks and your preferred targets are laughable

1. Your opinion is slightly biased since you have a gimmick on here as pretending to be him. Therefore I think you would still have the same opinion regardless of whether he scored an own goal every game.

2. You can't just say bollocks as your answer. You need to back up your opinion with some information or your opinion is null and void.

3. The names I mentioned are arguably better, affordable and potentially avaibile.

One keeping him out of the Scotland team.

4. I don't think it is even debatable that his form is sub standard. My assessment and desire for a new keeper on the other hand is probably harsh and debatable.

5. Search his name on twitter to see that the comments on there are pointing out his form.

6. Let's take just this week in to consideration. Unnecessarily Beaten twice at his near post and effectively costing 4 points. Yes Davies got the last touch but McGregor should have gotten to it and had Davies not been there it would have still gone in.

 

[GLP]

The problem isn't 100% the keeper - the defence is also at fault. We have gone from being excellent in this department to average IMHO. The reason for this is change of personnel (Still getting to know each other?) and the change to 4-4-2 from 3-5-2. I think as a team we look significantly better as a 3-5-2. But it's a fine balance between managing that goal threat and keeping that clean sheet.

 

[MarkinLA]

The problem isn't 100% the keeper - the defence is also at fault. We have gone from being excellent in this department to average IMHO. The reason for this is change of personnel (Still getting to know each other?) and the change to 4-4-2 from 3-5-2. I think as a team we look significantly better as a 3-5-2. But it's a fine balance between managing that goal threat and keeping that clean sheet.

BINGO, and I voted to get another keeper. Our defense doesn't instill confidence. Offense wins games but defense wins championships.

 

[Off The Line]

I think that if you watch the game again, you will see the amount of good things he did. One mistake cost us, but there was plenty of power in the shot.

 

[Fez]

I think his reactions are excellent, but he relies too heavily on them. His routine positioning and thinking let's him down too often.

 

[Amin Arrears]

I've raised this numerous times that he's a liability and every time got called a scottist ****. That said some of this rubbish you've come out with is bollocks.

Too laid back, stunted reflexes, lacks energy?

His reflexes are fine, he pulls off some sensational reflex saves, he's great under pressure, and he's plenty of energy and usually on his toes.

I say usually because he seems to drift into his own little world now and then. He's erratic and unpredictable which is the problem. You never know if he's going to run out and punch an opponent in the head, pass straight to an opposition striker, stand there having a think with the ball at his feet whilst he gets closed down, be Scottish, do a David James and come flying out irrationally, go in a mardy and start kicking opposing players etc...

 

[ILivedTheDream]

Maybe it is time to give the jak a chance. It might give McGregor the kick up the arse he needs. His small mistakes are costing us goals quite regularly. I honestly believe we win the FA cup if he saves their first goal, something I think most keepers would have done. We'd still be in Europe if it wasn't for his **** up away and he's just had a big part to play in throwing away 4 points in the league. I might be being harsh but I've been thinking he's not good enough for some time. I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[HCAFC (Airlie Tiger)]

I think that if you watch the game again, you will see the amount of good things he did. One mistake cost us, but there was plenty of power in the shot.

That made it 2-1, if Robertson tracked his man for the second it would have finished 2-1 and we would have won the game.

There's no point singling one player out for a mistake when plenty of others are making them as well.

 

[HCAFC (Airlie Tiger)]

Maybe it is time to give the jak a chance. It might give McGregor the kick up the arse he needs. His small mistakes are costing us goals quite regularly. I honestly believe we win the FA cup if he saves their first goal, something I think most keepers would have done. We'd still be in Europe if it wasn't for his **** up away and he's just had a big part to play in throwing away 4 points in the league. I might be being harsh but I've been thinking he's not good enough for some time. I hope he proves me wrong.

We would have lost to West Ham without his reflex save and we would have drawn with QPR (and be without a win this season) if he hadn't saved the penalty, so he played a big part in earning us 3 points there.

No point over analysing things, its a team game over 90 minutes, strikers missing sitters is as costly as goalkeepers making howlers but they don't come under this scrutiny.

 

[Amin Arrears]

That made it 2-1, if Robertson tracked his man for the second it would have finished 2-1 and we would have won the game.

There's no point singling one player out for a mistake when plenty of others are making them as well.

I do agree in part, everyone makes mistakes at times, but from a goalkeeper you want solidity and McGregor does **** up an awful lot. And when the goalkeeper drops a clanger it's a goal.

 

[DMD]

I do agree in part, everyone makes mistakes at times, but from a goalkeeper you want solidity and McGregor does **** up an awful lot. And when the goalkeeper drops a clanger it's a goal.

Sorry.

*Childish mode on*

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*Childish mode off*

As you were.

 

[Carmine Galante.]

Who'd be a keeper eh ?

You can do some sterling work and no one really pays too much attention.

One mistake and you're ****e and need dropping.


Can't recall who it was but a centre forward at the weekend had a gilt edged chance in front of goal, only for the keeper to make a great save.

All the commentator banged on about was what a miss it was, nothing about the save.

 

[tigerrev]

Lack of concentration could easily develop into lack of confidence. McGregor has started the season poorly and his mistakes against Lockeren, West Ham and Newcastle have been really costly. I wouldn't mind Harper being given a bit of a run in the 1st team - although McGregor is a better keeper when he is on his game, he unfortunately isn't on it at the moment.

 

[Kevin Francis]

I think his reactions are excellent, but he relies too heavily on them. His routine positioning and thinking let's him down too often.

This, a million times over. We have another Myhill on our hands (of sort) amazing shot stopping, but very little else to his game. He will come out and claim a cross though I will give him that. His reactions are second to none, if he has time to think about a shot from distance he gets it wrong more than a keeper at this level should. If a player is running with the ball and getting himself in a position to shoot, he doesn't get himself set or move his feet quick enough to be in the right position. It's like hes drawn into what's happening in front of him, forgetting his angles in relation to the goal behind him.
I do like him and he is capable, I think complacency due to a lack of any real competition are to blame for 75% of his mistakes. Either way it needs sorting because while he may be saving us points at times, it doesn't hide the fact he's also losing us them as well.

 

[ILivedTheDream]

I agree goal keepers make mistakes and they nearly always result in goals. I'm not denying that he has made some great saves either. He isn't above criticism though, how many of these mistakes is he going to be allowed before someone else gets a chance. Jakupovic has made less mistakes yet he got called to **** for it. I know he's a fans favourite but he's not untouchable.