Is he the best keeper in League One? [video=youtube;7WTPVSaCWHs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WTPVSaCWHs&feature=player_detailpage[/video] Some footage from his days at Notts County... [video=youtube;0vjZA3ED-gM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0vjZA3ED-gM[/video]
All jokes aside, he's a better keeper than Joe Hart and if he was in The Championship or above there would be calls for him to play in the national team. Keepers have a more difficult job in the lower divisions because they don't have the top defenders in front of them, like they do in the Premiership. That is what has masked Joe Harts performances over the last few years. Teams haven't made the chances against Man City that they are now. Forwards in the lower divisions still hit the ball as hard and accurate as they do higher up, and I'm sure Nelson would not be any worse and probably a lot better than Rob Green, Scott Carson and the other keepers that have played for England over the last few years, and dropped major clangers.
I cannot believe we were able to sign Stuart Nelson on a free transfer because quality goalkeepers are hard to find - even though we have had some decent goalkeepers playing for Gillingham over the past few seasons like Simon Royce, Jason Brown, Alan Julian , Paulo Gazzainga and Ross Flitney was very solid in goal for us before his injury. If Stuart Nelson made that save against Crewe Alexandra in a Premier League game I am sure that pundits would be talking about that save for the next few weeks, sadly the lower league's don't get the coverage or plaudits that they deserve.
Oh come on. Yes he is a good keeper at this level but comparing him to the likes of Joe Hart is a little OTT. The biggest difference between premier league quality players is not talent, one their day any player can be a world beater which is why we have so many cup upsets. No the real difference is consistency, it is ok to be able to make one top draw save a game but to make three or four every game every week is far more difficult. I am sure if someone pulled together the "best bits" of my 5-a-side career I would look as good as Messi
I absolutely loved Jason Brown as a Kid and thought he was the best thing since sliced bread (something I found fascinating as a child) but Nelson is just a different class to anyone we have ever had. To echo Vinney's thoughts if he was younger (Under 25) he would have been snapped up by a top championship club at the end of last season. Never think he will make a mistake and hope he plays on for many more years. To be honest I would be tempted next year to make him captain as Barrett may not be up to it and Nelson is the definition of leading by example!
Nelson is a very good Keeper,and like FOM has said im surprised we got him on a free Transfer.How many times in the last year or so has Nelson kept us in a game,or won us a game? That save at Crewe looks as good as the one he made at home to Rotherham last season.With his contract close to running out,I hope Allen and Scally will get him tied down to a new deal soon.
BSG I remember you saying the same to me last Saturday at Crewe - BUT - Nelson HAS been consistent for us. He DOES make 3,4 or more excellent saves EVERY game - including last season. There were several games where we got a lucky 1-0 win or a draw because of the saves he made. There were several games last season where a member of the defence ( usually Legge ) got the award for Man of the Match - when it could easily ( should ) have been Nelson. As has been mentioned, without Nelson's form our goal difference would be catastrophic even at this early stage of the season.
Can anyone think of any costly mistakes or Howlers from Stuart since he has been with us.....I can't?
That is actually the unusual part. When we got him, I remember a lot of Notts County fans saying how he was a good shot stopper but was hopeless at commanding his area, and prone to making a big clanger quite frequently. That just doesn't appear to be the case with us. Hope we're not jinxing him now...
Slightly unfair question - deserves a slightly unfair answer. A couple of weeks ago v Coventry, Nelson ironically made a mistake in dealing with a cross that he 'appeared' to fumble and led to the ball breaking loose in our penalty area , for the Coventry winning goal. Having said that - when it was 1-1 and Coventry was peppering our goal, Nelson performed miracles to stop us being blown away.
I've been avoiding this because I know it's going against the flow, Nelson is incredible with some of his reflex saves reaching balls he has no right to, unfortunately I also think he spills far to many balls and often stays on his line when he should come for a ball or comes out when he should stay. None of the above is meant as criticism of Nelson just my honest opinion, for this league I think he's one of the best, for premiership I think it's a league to far.
Nelson has been brilliant for Gills and we must keep hold of him next season. We have had some really good keepers over the last 20 years. 1st for me was Royce 2nd Nelson 3rd Brown 4th Bartham 5th Stannard.
Nelson is obviously brilliant, and clearly our best player at the moment. Interesting to think about who have been our best keepers. For me: 1. Brown 2. Royce 3. Nelson (but I think he'll go on to become #1 or 2) 4. Banks 5. Stannard, when in Division 3 anyway
Always, yes true he certainly has had a great run of form for us. However we can't say that he has always been so consistent, if he had been would he be at a L1 team now?
I rate Nelson highly, and he would certainly make my top 5 too, But would be behind Bartram and Brown, in our 2 play off seasons Bartram was very consistent, he did have an excellent defence in front of him it has to be said, certainly considerably better than Nelson has, but for his work in that period he would be my number 1.
[video=youtube;SJJNYG-bqFw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SJJNYG-bqFw[/video]
I think the two questions I asked will be in the match day programme for The Preston North End Game. I really do hope we offer Stuart Nelson a contract extension before someone else snaps him up.
