One thing that I did like about MP was I think he made a real effort to get the young players playing time. Even sometimes in close games he'd still give them 10-15 minutes at the end. Koeman doesn't seem to be into that as much. Which isn't to say Koeman hates youth or anything, just that he perhaps has a different approach. I don't know what is going on with Reed. I think it's possible that Koeman maybe wants to keep him under wraps, have him work on something really hard in the off-season (probably his passing) and then spring him on the league next year as a surprise. Or that he feels playing Alderweireld might encourage him to stay, or that he deserves the starts because of what he's done for us on loan. I think Gazzaniga probably just doesn't have a future here. Or at least not in the near term. So Koeman feels no urgency. Maybe he gets a loan next season. But I think we will be looking for a GK in the summer, and Gazza will be frozen out.
Davis hasn't let in many . He's also let in 2 penalties. I think he's looked ok. Fine for a back up keeper. I wouldn't mind giving Gazzaniga a go though, if he's improved. But not until after the next game going by this: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/12934838.Kelvin_Davis_to_hit_Southampton_landmark/ The main issue is that you have to play your best defender in defence. Especially when he's an average DM and the defence was rock solid when we were going with the best four defenders in defence. Reed is clearly better there than Alderweireld at DM as far as I'm concerned. And I rate S.Davis higher than Alderweireld at DM. Another problem is the weird balance of the side in general. Mane is best at attacking centrally or on the right. He's best at defending from the right. Yet Koeman is putting him on the left. When Tadic was fit a lot of the time he didn't get in the side or was shoved on the right. Some real baffling stuff from Koeman at times. Koeman's been found out badly in the later part of the season with his selection policy. If I was Reed I'd be furious I'm not getting picked at DM with Schneiderlin out. This is without mentioning the fact he sold a very good squad player in Cork and cost us more points by letting Boruc go on loan without a clause that we could bring him back if Forster got injured. Still very happy with our position considering where we were a few years ago. That being said Koeman has made some dreadful errors at times with his team selection. If he hadn't then we may still be pushing for a 4th place finish. The worrying thing is he doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes.
Both of these arguments are highly debatable. Davis was getting stick just for being our reserve goalkeeper, before he'd even had to put on a pair of gloves, and it's been like this for a couple of seasons. And to suggest that a) our defensive performances have dropped "a hell of a lot", and b) that this is due solely because of Forster's absence, are both far too overly-dramatic statements to be making. It's not like we've been thrashed 5-0 or anything. Anyway, the Forster argument is a digression. You make a contradiction about Davis. You say you don't blame him, but then go and imply that he has been guilty of mistakes and therefore worthy of being dropped. I agree with you about Yoshida. He's playing well. But my overall point is, every player makes mistakes, Fonte, Morgan, Wanyama, everyone. You can't drop a player just for making a mistake or two, especially when they haven't played regularly for several years. Give the guy a break. And if Gazzaniga has improved, wonderful, but now is not the time to take a chance on him.
Depends on the "grade" you are insinuating. He definitely has not made the Premier League grade yet. Just because he was transferred means sod all. Remember that ****e keeper we got from Spurs instead of the Bale cash? Had he made the grade?
What no one here can see or say with any level of knowledge is what having either keeper does for the team in front of them. Some keepers affect their defenders differently with how they talk, how they position themselves and the presence they have. This is one reason why I stood up for Fraser so much when people were under valuing him earlier in the season. Peter Shilton at his peak was a great example of this.
You're comparing someone who never played for the club with someone that has played PL football? Really?
Apart from Gazzaniga was actually a very promising young talent when he joined us. He did well for Gillingham. His problem is decision making, positioning and trusting himself. Doesn't help when the crowd start getting on your back. Guly fell to pieces when the crowd got on his back. Pelle did the same earlier in the season and took a long time to recover. It's even worse for a young keeper to have the crowd winding you up. He has the athletic ability, size and reactions to be very good. He has a huge kick, but his distribution was poor for us. Mainly because the crowd were panicking whenever he touched the ball..it got to the point where he was just blasting everything long
It's amazing what a few poor results can do. Davis has been solid, he conceded two penalties last time out which was unfortunate, but not his fault. He has done nothing to warrant criticism whatsoever
Davis has done little wrong but it is undeniable that we are better with Forster in the team. I am glad people at least get the chance to appreciate him.
Well he did play for the club. They are/were both Southampton goalkeepers. He didn't get in the first team cos he was obviously ****e. Gazzaniga got in the team because of injuries to our two preferred keepers, and he too was utter ****e. So the comparison is valid, two ****e Southampton goalkeepers.
Gazzaniga hasn't looked ****e playing for the u21's this season. He was **** before because he wasn't ready. I'm not saying he's ready now but he looks a lot more commanding of his area. I'm still hopeful he will play for Saints again in the PL. Out of interest, have you seen him playing for the u21's this season or are you forming your opinion based on a few years ago?
You haven't been a match thread when Forster was playing have you? Every single mistake he was ripped apart and people calling for him to be dropped. Now he isn't playing people are seeing how much Forster helps our defence.
I think Kelvin should see the season out he has done nothing wrong so far, im surprised we haven't loaned Gazza out to a championship/league 1 side he needs games. Yoshida has been fine this year but in the last 3 games we are conceding more goals than we have done all season. Reed should be playing for sure. More than happy to go 3 at the back but we cannot afford to coast to the end of the season. If we do coast we could end up finishing 8th , lets be honest though wherever we finish its been a great season and a bit of luck in the last 3 games and a 5th/6th finish is still very likely.
I agree, however I must say that we are more solid with Fraser and that's confidence in him is shown by the defenders. He does have a greater presence than SKD. I'm ok with SKD, but it has shown me how good Fraser is. Remember it is not just the saves or mistakes that count.
And he wasn't as ****e as people make out. The error less perfectionists amonsgt us will recognise that he made some errors last season. He also had some ok games too. I pity the fools who have never made an error and learned from it.
in terms of Fraser i think hes great, hes made a couple of clangers (every keeper does) but he has genuinely made some world class saves this year
