I don't have anything personal against John, he's clearly a good lad, however I don't understand this odd unbridled support of him from many fans, which possibly someone could clear up for me? Last season he came in and did nothing spectacular. He was a little louder than Elliot which I liked, but he wasn't the shotstopper we needed, neither was he a come and collect keeper, his distribution was pretty poor. He was average basically. Decent backup, just as he is right now. To qualify this however, Hamer hasn't been perfect. He makes some strange decisions on occassions, but has been generally solid, and has made some big goal saving stops. I think this is a position that will need addressing properly over the summer if we were to get promoted
The Hammer has improved as he has got used to the team (he needs to work on his crosses, he dropped about three on Monday) but Sullivan needs to play FA Cup games as, if he needs to come into the first team for any reason, he shouldn't come in cold.
I was impressed by suli- no coincidence when he had his run of six odd games we picked up a few clean sheets. As for decent shot stopper- check out the Oldham highlights. Some cracking saves that would have garnered more attention if it was a premiership game. That said, as AH says, the hammer is improving. I see no need to drop him.
I am consistantly suprised and dissapointed by this board's general opinion on Hamer. People seem to have little confidence in him, when he has not made more than 1/2 mistakes all season, and is an equal 20% of the back 5. Yeah he can appear a little arguementative, and has had to have a couple of grabs at 1 or 2 crosses, but I think people forget that cleanly claiming a cross in the middle of a crowded penalty area often requires more composure and skill than a 1 on 1 situation oryour average save. Hamer's distribution is great, some people call it slow, but we play a possesion game not a constant counter-attacking one, and rather than kicking it up to BWP to see if he can be arsed to run after it, Hamer will wait for a RB/LB to collect, and so he should. Hamer has the potential to rise with the club and I have full confidence in him to do so, and I think he has done enough to stop "frigtening the life" out of some posters on this site. Hamer > Elliot
Agreed with you're sentiment up until here. Elliot hugely underrated, and noticeable more so once he was gone.
Hear hear Jap...!! I really rate Hamer and I truly believe that he can be our goalkeeper for the next ten years. For me, heâs head and shoulders above Sullivan and the departed Elliott. It is clearly evident to me that he is not the finished article, yet heâs growing as a keeper with every appearance he makes for us. In what must be the biggest game of his fledgling career, I thought his handling was absolutely first class on Monday night. There were at least four or five efforts on our goal with a fair bit of fizz behind them that bounced just in front of him, with Hudd players flying in for the rebound. However, each one was gobbled up with consummate ease. Yes, heâs a little rough round the edges where crosses into the box are concerned, but heâll more than do for me.
Where's your coat? Sorry folks, but Hamer still worries me (although less than he did). He put up a really good performance on Monday night, and the save from Parkin late in the game was top notch but still got himself horribly boxed in at one corner with no earthly chance of getting the ball and then seemed to crouch down to watch that ball fly over him and hit the bar, when it seemed easier to jump and tip it over, or even catch it.
I thought we kept religion off this board! Sullivan worries me. I posted as much at half-time during the Halifax game. Hamer also worries me. Oh to have a Deano between the posts.
Noticed on twitter a lot of people speaking very highly of him. I h by seen him so maybe you could help clarify a myth I appear to have created. He looks like he should be in a boyband- so what's his communication like? I like my gk's to be schmeichal(sp) esque with vocals.
Hamer is becoming a class keeper. He's pulled off some stunning saves, and we've not conceded half as many goals as the previous season. Admit he did start off slow, but cannot fault him now. Sullivan is liked, because when he came into the lineup last season, we started getting some clean sheets, and was a far more vocal keeper than Elliot. I could often hear Sullivan scream "MINE" at the defense when crosses floated in (last season). And I sit quite far back in the North Upper.
I wasn't near enough to hear him so don't know about communication. What I really noticed was his immaculate handling, especially of crosses. Better than Robbie was at that age.
I think Hamer is very good...and could become excellent in the next few years. He makes mistakes but then look at De Gea, Reina, Cech...I could go on. All of them will miss a cross, or drop a shot, or let one between their legs. It happens, and 'keepers mistakes are more readily highlighted. He's playing his part in fantastic team - allow him the odd error.
Hamer, to be fair, is playing behind a very good centre back partnership, which must make his life a lot easier. I suspect if Sullivan had been first choice keeper this season, results would have been similar
I think Hamer is better than Sullivan, but I agree it's a great help having a good defence in front thats for sure. Hamer has been a part of successful campaigns previously so I suppose with a good team he will grow. My fear is the unpunished mistakes with him, I can forgive a mistake, but it's putting yourself in the position to make one that worries me (this is reasonably hypercritical by the way, because he's done pretty well)
The position of goalkeeper can not be played without putting yourself in positions that could lead to mistakes. In Hamer I trust.
