I have often been known for analysing things too much, and go in to too much detail when it really isn't necessary. I was thinking the other day, our recent run of good form has fallen exactly in line with the arrival of a certain Polish goalkeeper from Manchester (it isn't worth the hassle writing his name again). I don't think this is coincidental, and believe he is the reason for our lofty 13th position. Everyone raves on about that lad from Fulham whose name I'm not going to bother trying to spell, and rightly so. He was absolutely fantastic. But, you don't often hear much of a certain Polish goalkeeper from Manchester (CPGFM). Whilst bored at work (don't tell my boss), I wondered whether this could be backed up with numbers; and it certainly can. Based on CPGFM's 12 games, we have a win percentage of 41.67, goals conceded per game of 1.16 and 25% clean sheets. If we compare this to the rest of the season, we have a win percentage of 31.25, goals conceded per game of 1.47 and 22% clean sheets (these lower values can't all be put on Loach's shoulders, as I am sure Gilmartin played a few times, I just can't remember when). I appreciate this is the 12 games of CPGFM against the remaining 32, but still believe it is significant. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of Scott Loach, and was really excited about his prospects when he broke into the team a couple of seasons ago. But, if anything, his development seems to have gone backwards, and I think he even admitted this himself. CPGFM has been of a different class though, and has taken us to the position we now lie. I firmly believe we would be sitting lower had it not been for some of his "spectacular" saves. Which brings me on to the next point. Almost every match report - involving CPGFM - talks of at least 1 "spectacular" save, to keep Watford "in the game". Not only does he appear to control the 18 yard box, but his displays seem to bring a level of confidence in the defence we haven't seen since Foster (or, potentially Poom, before he was admitted to that retirement village). Scott Loach has always divided opinion, but has, on several occasions, been given the benefit-of-the-doubt (again, rightly-so. It is often forgotten that he is still a youngster, particulalrly in terms of goalkeepers). But, when so much is at stake (would Watford FC survive financially should they be relegated?), a position as important as goalkeeper needs to be filled with the correct individual. So, can we sign CPGFM? Would he want to sign? And, what would/should happen to Loach
Great thread BBW. I wanted to rep it but im not allowed . I too am a big fan of Loach and i think having CPGFM in the squad will have helped him no end. He has a mentor again from whom he can learn and absorb so much information and experience. I think every player needs a mentor and SL has been lacking one recently. Alec Chamberlain is good, dont get me wrong, but he is very old now and i dont think he has quite the experience that CPGFM has. As for Alexander Kacaniklic, he was the answer to our attacking prayers. We all asked for a decent winger and the footballing gods (Sean Dyche and Ross Wilson) answered. I have no doubt that under CPGFM we have been much improved after his first 3/4 nervy games (mistakes at home to Burnley and Saints). He certainly commands his area more than Loach and his distribution it marginally better. However, i would still urge our players to spread out and allow the keeper to throw/roll the ball to them. It speeds up our attack and as we saw last night, we can play very well on the counter or quick break. As for the purchase of CPGFM i would love it to happen, but i dont think that it will. As pointed out by the Wobby Owl, he is more likely to go to a low level prem club, or a high paying championship club. Also with regards to loach, i would rather see him stay, and offload Gilmartin (never rated him at all!!). Bond is still 2+yrs away from being regular second choice keeper and if we could sign CPGFM on a 2-3yr deal it gives Loach time to develop under his guidence and Bond to develop fully.
What we have seen with him is a very very good shot stopper, although that is one of SL's better traits. We have also seen a much more confident relationship with his defence and a much much better distribution. He can actually move the ball out quickly either with a kick or rolling it out - this is something that I find the most frustrating with SL. He rushes out to the edge of his area as if he was going to release it and then just stops....
What is CPGFM???? Sounds like some sort of hidden code that only Watford fans should know or something??? Ha Ha
I hope the club tries everything to sign TK, he has made a huge difference to our recent form and would love to see him in our team for many years to comeIf we are able to sign him we do need to hold onto SL as back up.
Just cant see watford splashing the cash around to buy TK. Yes he's a good keeper but Man Utd always seem to add a hefty amount to the price so, for me, it will be Loach again next year. Wouldnt mind seeing him play the last 2 games tbh, now the season is over.
I believe he is out of contract this summer, so the fee is not the issue. Our problem, I would expect, is that he will be sought after and so we will have to compete on wages which could prove to be difficult. Keeping everything crossed that isn't the case, and as with Nosworthy and Taylor before him, that he is OK to take the reduced wages.
If Tomasz Kuszczak gets chosen for Poland in EM2012 there will never be a snowballs hope in hell of luring him to Watford for next season.
I think we might actually have a chance of getting Kuszcak. Money will put us at a disadvantage, but in the last eight seasons he has only started 72 league games, or 9 a year, and before he joined Watford it was only 60. In my opinion there is not a single club higher up the league than us where he can be confident of being the established number one. Even if there is, the fact that we clearly can't afford to buy another established keeper might perversely increase our chances of signing him.
Basically, Loach is so poor that any goalkeeper of reasonable skill standing between the sticks would shine and look good. It is no co-incidence that our form has shot up with the arrival of TK who in my opinion is no better or worse than Tony Coton and a host of other watford keepers. Its just that our senses have been dulled by a quite mundane, lower skilled, below average keeper like SL. All you people who are fans of his will hopefully look forward to his return next season to continue watching his hapless displays!
TK has done well though I'd be a little surprised if he started next season with us. Should that happen I can see Loach moving on. After the reputation he built in his early years, would he be happy being a Championship number 2 or would he feel a fresh start somewhere else would reinvigorate his career. Hard to say what sort of transfer fee he might fetch after a spell in the reserves...
Im sorry but i take exception to that!!!! Loach has made 2 cock ups this season. Thats not great, but then if you compare TK's cock ups then you see he has made 2 in less than half a season- Burnley and Saints. You say that Loach is hapless, thats crap!! He is still young for a keeper and has been his own teacher for the last couple of seasons where as most young keepers have an experienced keeper to take them under their wing and mentor them. He has had to teach himself! When you think the only coach he actually has is Alec Chamberlain and whilst he is a club fav/legend, he was not that great a keeper.
Hmmm, not so sure about the equal mistakes comparison there, babyhornetdan. I would say Loach would make some sort of mistake every game, and fairly often these mistakes would end up costing us the game. But, generally I agree with you. The mistakes Loach makes are made - I feel - as a result of naïveté and inexperience; mistakes that he will learn from and eventually make him better. The only problem is, this development seems to have taken a very long time (150 appearances), and he is regularly making the same mistakes. Maybe this is a sign he isn't quite as good as many of us feel?
Strange isn't it that that sentence could equally apply to either keeper, yet it is associated mostly with TK. Sad to say, but I suspect that we may lose both in the summer, unless SD can pull off a master stroke and sign TK permanently - a tall order given the financial constraints we operate under. I'm of the opinion that Loach will improve as a result of TK's loan signing, but am afraid the unthinking boo-boys have got their claws in too deep and he will be off as soon as he can as a result - just to save his career.
If we cant get TK (and we probably wont be able to) then Id like to see us go for Bournemouth keeper Shawn Jalal
And if we're raiding Bournemouth, I'd like to see us sign Tubby. Or whatever he's called: I'm sure L*t*n's dozens of fans will remember his name.
As AK has already said our chances of signing TK permanently would take a massive drop if he plays well for Poland this summer - fortunately the Poles have tried out 68 players in their warm up for this competition so his participation is far from certain. The main reason why TK. was brought in was,I think,so that Scott would have the chance of training with a quality keeper, who has himself trained with Edwin Van der Saar, - perhaps this has born fruit, shouldn't we wait and see what the result is before condemning SL in advance ?
