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The new keeper will be ......


david in sweden

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....a surprise decision for many of us. I'm not ITK, but have had some thoughts myself on the subject.

 

Much has been said in Kelvin's honour, but this is surely his last season. A great club servant, and I hope he can stay on in some capacity.

 

Sorry!.....but still Gazzaniga doesn't convince me, and any amount of good saves in U21 games is not good preparation to be back up for Forster.

Gazza should go out on loan to a Championship side and come back with a dozen clean sheets...then I'll listen to arguments.

 

Certainly, Fraser Forster has returned and shows he's good enough to get the No.2 England spot behind Hart for Euro 2016.

 

A fair amount of (unfair) criticism has been levelled at Stekelenburg during his loan period awaiting FF's return, but stats. show he really isn't as bad as some people are trying to make out.

 

Stekelenburg played the first 17 games and we conceded 19 goals. He also kept 6 clean sheets in the process.

Even his worst critics would have to admit there were several goals conceded - from defensive lapses - that he had absolutely no control over.

 

Forster, since returning has played ......17 games (to date) and we have conceded 16 goals ....

That much vaunted 6 clean sheets he kept after his return - hasn't been surpassed since, he still has only 6 .

 

Not sure who's in Koeman's plans,(?) and I'm sure the " Black Box " has a few candidates in there, but IMHO we could do worse that keep Stekelenburg.

 

If we are to be a serious competitor for European games then we need real cover for an eventual injury problem (should such occur again).

Not so long ago, several Prem. clubs; Arsenal and Spurs come first to mind...had three interantional keepers on their books.

 

This situation can't be ignored and whilst we look for new signings in defence, or midfield let's not forget that there aren't too many other Forster's around.

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Problem with Stek is that he just doesnt save any half good shots! How many goals did we concede with him in goal that Forster would've saved? I reckon at the very least 5 or 6 of those 19 goals Big Frase would've got. Be interesting to go back and see some highlights of some of the goals conceded from the start of the season.

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Stekkers will leave and get himself a first XI position somewhere. Bentley from Southend has been rumoured before on here (can't recall the source) as he is out of contract this summer and has been decent but raw for the Shrimpers this season.

 

Maybe McQueen is having a word with him...

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Gazza still makes howlers. I don't think he will make the grade but as said, send him out on loan into the Championship and see how he does.

 

He'll be fine - but he does need a run in a first team on loan, I agree.

 

I would be happy to sign Stek permanently as a back-up; however I'm not sure he wants to be back-up, hence why we got him in the first place?? But, I have zero knowledge of who else would be happy to be back-up to Forster, who is an excellent goalie.

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The problem is stek never looked capable of pulling of an amazing save here.I know it's strange to say but he just never gave me the confidence .

 

Will be interesting to see who we bring in ,a big character to replace kelvins effect?

 

I don't think it's strange to say at all. I think he is bang average at the absolute best and I seriously hope we don't extend his time with us. He hasn't made any real howlers that I can recall (this added to the fact that he can kick a ball in a straight line a fairly long way consistently which - ridiculously - neither KD or Gazza can makes him the best of 3 very bad options), but neither has he done anything outstanding that I recall and unless a shot presents him with a routine save, it presents us with a goal against. Feckin awful for this level really.

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Hard to believe Stek played in a World Cup final, he's been absolute bobbins for us. That free kick he conceded at Chelsea, awful goalkeeping. Having a top class keeper behind your defence really does make all the difference and it's no coincidence that our good run started with Forster's return (and ended last season with his injury). Davis, we love him but he needs to hurry up and retire, taking up too much space and Forster looks daft wearing 44.

 

Our goalkeeper situation since returning to the PL has been pretty bad, we really do need a good backup.

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Stek is a good keeper but I don't think he inspires much confidence in his defence. They just seem much more close knit with Forster in goal.

 

I was done with Gazzaniga quite some time ago - he's had long enough to prove himself and he hasn't done it

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Our goalkeeper situation since returning to the PL has been pretty bad, we really do need a good backup.

 

this has been my complaint since we were promoted from the Championship.

 

Yes Kelvin did well for several seasons before, but he was never genuine PL standard. We were on the way to getting Butland, but Brum wouldn't sell.

Instead we got Gazzaniga, who has still not convinced the majority on here.

 

When the panic set in, we got Boruc....who was a mixed blessing in many ways. Four years on ....and we are no closer to getting good cover.

 

I don't say Stekelenburg is the perfect choice, but as quoted in the OP....... his record is better than many give him credit for.

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I think people need to be clear on what their asking here:

 

- We need an adequet number two who can stand in should/if FF gets an injury or needs a rest/play in cup games. Realistically this is not going to be a top quality keeper, but an average one, and one who will be happy to be No2 (how many clubs, apart from the top 4, have a 'top quality' number 2 - the fact I cant think of many no2's from the top of my head answers the question. In that regard Stek will be fine

 

- We need a young keeper who can realistically challenge FF in the future. I think the consensus is that is not Gaz. If so sell him and get a quality young keeper in. CChallenge is, for a young keeper to realise his potentila he needs to play games. Therefore he MUST go out on loan and play competitive football for a couple of seasons. Joe Heart did this. Secondly, if we really are committing to a young up coming keeper we need to have the guts to play him when we feel he is ready. Again as Man City did with Heart (cant remember who they sold but they got rid of a good experienced number 1 and put faith in Heart).

 

Conclusion - buy Stek as number 2, Sell Gazz, replace with a keeper who is approx 21-22, who is already first choice at a Championship side (who can be loaned back without issue).

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I thought Gazza did alright in the full game he had at Palace, 2 keepers would have saved the goal, he pulled off quite a few good saves in tricky conditions, felt a bit sorry for him when he was resigned to the bench next game.

These guys need game time I would have him over Stek who I don't think I have seen make a save of note, as for Gazza being a stumblebum, Spurs first goal on Sunday was a joke, Forster should have had that all day long.

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Didn't Stek make a pretty good save against Vitesse at St Mary's? I know, ONE save etc. but he's got it in his locker somewhere. I'd be happy enough with him as #2 'keeper next year. Certainly an improvement on anything I've seen from Kelvin or Gazza.

 

Having said that, he's obviously not long term competition to Fraser, so it would be good to find someone who is.

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Very happy with Stek as backup but failing that I'd also be fine with Gazza stepping up. Having watched him in a few under 21's highlights recently, he's pulled off some outstanding saves and his distribution is still top class. There's a great goalkeeper in there somewhere. I think it all comes down to confidence with Gazzaniga and putting our faith in him in cup games and having him on the bench would go a long way to getting the best out of him.

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Very happy with Stek as backup but failing that I'd also be fine with Gazza stepping up.

 

Having watched him in a few under 21's highlights recently, he's pulled off some outstanding saves and his distribution is still top class.

 

yes he has .........in the U21's . Think the pace /skill level in the Prem. is something else......which is why I'm so dubious .

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I still think we're going to sign Stek. Contract is up, knows the club and the coaches, did pretty well for us as a backup and lots better than Gazza. We could even give him a pay rise for working fewer Saturdays.

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Didn't Stek make a pretty good save against Vitesse at St Mary's? I know, ONE save etc. but he's got it in his locker somewhere. I'd be happy enough with him as #2 'keeper next year. Certainly an improvement on anything I've seen from Kelvin or Gazza.

 

Having said that, he's obviously not long term competition to Fraser, so it would be good to find someone who is.

 

He's as good as a reserve keeper in the Prem needs to be.

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If the Saints management doesn't see potential in Gazza why did they extend his contract last September for another 4 years?

 

They obviously do, he's just not ready yet. If he's not ready in the next 4 years he's probably never going to be, as he'll probably never get the chance at another Prem club. The Championship is full of not quite there young keepers.

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Wow, people have high expectations of the kind of player we can expect to want to sit on our bench indefinitely. I'll be very surprised if that's what Stekelenberg wants and he knows he cant dislodge Forster as first choice. I'd be happy to keep him if his aims are that low though. I would have thought a promising lower league keeper would be more likely though.

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Wow, people have high expectations of the kind of player we can expect to want to sit on our bench indefinitely.

I'll be very surprised if that's what Stekelenberg wants and he knows he cant dislodge Forster as first choice. I'd be happy to keep him if his aims are that low though. I would have thought a promising lower league keeper would be more likely though.

 

there is a certain logic to both arguments, but .what if ?...we were to lose Forster again for a longer period :scared:.

 

just when having a good run of games mid season, or having made the group stages of EL..and then who do you have? ......

 

Gazza may be better.....nearer the end of his contract, but until then he need experience in a real team in a good league, and not in the Disney World U21 set-up.

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More threads talking about us signing Stek. from Fulham. Seems logical as he's been with Saints almost a year and knows /everyone/ everything he's getting into.

 

Have noted previous comments suggesting he is boringly unspectacular, but HDAJFU whilst Forster was out and not a bad one either.

 

STATS.

Prior to FF's return...Stek played 17 Prem.games. In that time we conceded 19 goals (not all his fault by way)...and he kept 6 clean sheets.

 

After returning Forsyth played out the season with 18 games (a super run of 6 clean sheets, but none since). and then we conceded 17 goals....

 

so there's not a lot to choose between them. Obviously, FF is still first choice, but choosing Stek over Gazzaniga as no.2 is surely a no-brainer.

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More threads talking about us signing Stek. from Fulham. Seems logical as he's been with Saints almost a year and knows /everyone/ everything he's getting into.

 

Have noted previous comments suggesting he is boringly unspectacular, but HDAJFU whilst Forster was out and not a bad one either.

 

STATS.

Prior to FF's return...Stek played 17 Prem.games. In that time we conceded 19 goals (not all his fault by way)...and he kept 6 clean sheets.

 

After returning Forsyth played out the season with 18 games (a super run of 6 clean sheets, but none since). and then we conceded 17 goals....

 

so there's not a lot to choose between them. Obviously, FF is still first choice, but choosing Stek over Gazzaniga as no.2 is surely a no-brainer.

 

Forster is miles better than Stek. If someone can be bothered to put together a shots on target to saves ratio, I'm sure the Stek would be pretty poor.

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After returning Forsyth played out the season with 18 games (a super run of 6 clean sheets, but none since). and then we conceded 17 goals....

The goal by Shilton clinched it, not sure I think Eric Martin is the answer to our goal keeping conundrum though, he's 70 now and probably a bit too old even to sit on the bench.

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The goal by Shilton clinched it, not sure I think Eric Martin is the answer to our goal keeping conundrum though, he's 70 now and probably a bit too old even to sit on the bench.

 

Yes ! ...not the first time I've made that mistake either. :blush:....too many f-ing F's in the goalie lists. My daughter says Alzheimers kicking in early ....:lol:

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You're dreaming if you think we're going to have a better back up than a Dutch international with 54 caps. He was brought in to cover for Forster's injury and we'll be lucky if he agrees to stay on as No2.

 

This, absolutely.

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