Gavin Bazunu

[coalman]

10 hours ago, SambaMaverick said:

We faced 150 shots on target last season (the sixth-fewest, only slightly worse than Man United), 81 saved, 73 goals conceded (a save rate of 52.7%, the worst in the league)

We had 132 shots on target, scored 36 goals. We had the fourth-worst shot/goal rate (0.08 shots/goal).

Much as I know this forum loves a bit of xG. The xG stats for last season are illuminating both in defence and attack

https://xgscore.io/xg-statistics/epl

xG scored: 42.1
Goals scored: 36

xG conceded: 62.7
Goals conceded: 73

Which confirms what anyone who spent any amount of time watching Saints could see with their eyes. We couldn't finish our chances and our opponents could. The reason we came last is we didn't create enough chances and gave too many away. No other team had a similarly poor ratio of goals scored to goals conceded except Bournemouth.

Much as I want Bazunu to succeed, there were times where he conceded goals he could (should) have saved, however we gave up a lot of chances. Much as I want(ed) Adams and co to succeed they couldn't hit a barn door with the proverbial banjo, however we also created almost nothing for our strikers. Even if we'd scored and conceded as per the average xG and xGC we'd still have been relegated. Or in layman's terms - we were proper shit last season.

I will now go and fetch some popcorn for the inevitable xG centithread.

Edited 24 July, 2023 by coalman

[The Cat]

8 hours ago, Dirkdiggler said:

That’s because they guy running it wasn’t interested is coaching lads to become good he wanted off the shelf team ready keepers.

A major short sightedness IMO the club should invest in coaching unpolished gems. There’s plenty out there who could come good given the opportunity and coaching. 

4 or 5 years ago Saints suddenly gave 6 week trials to a load of goalkeepers from around Southampton as they realised they were light in this area.

One kid went on to get signed but left at U16, the rest were frankly hopeless and it was a bit of a waste of time. 

It's a very difficult position to master at a young age as you need so many different technical attributes. This is why a lot of keepers don't become exceptional or play regular top flight first team football until they are a bit older.

[Weston Super Saint]

2 minutes ago, coalman said:

Much as I know this forum loves a bit of xG. The xG stats for last season are illuminating both in defence and attack

https://xgscore.io/xg-statistics/epl

xG scored: 42.1
Goals scored: 36

xG conceded: 62.7
Goals conceded: 73

Which confirms what anyone who spent any amount of time watching Saints could see with their eyes. We couldn't finish our chances and our opponents could. The reason we came last is we didn't create enough chances and gave too many away. No other team had a similarly poor ratio of goals scored to goals conceded.

Much as I want Bazunu to succeed, there were times where he conceded goals he could (should) have saved, however we gave up a lot of chances. Much as I want(ed) Adams and co to succeed they couldn't hit a barn door with the proverbial banjo, however we also created almost nothing for our strikers. Even if we'd scored and conceded as per the average xG and xGC we'd still have been relegated. Or in layman's terms - we were proper shit last season.

I will now go and fetch some popcorn for the inevitable xG centithread.

No need. Everyone fell asleep before the end of the first paragraph

[Convict Colony]

10 hours ago, SambaMaverick said:

We faced 150 shots on target last season (the sixth-fewest, only slightly worse than Man United), 81 saved, 73 goals conceded (a save rate of 52.7%, the worst in the league)

We had 132 shots on target, scored 36 goals. We had the fourth-worst shot/goal rate (0.08 shots/goal).

thanks amigo, i knew about our shot saving was horrific but good to see the stats confirmed what my eyes showed me that we were rubbish at scoring as well.

[Saint_clark]

11 hours ago, SambaMaverick said:

We faced 150 shots on target last season (the sixth-fewest, only slightly worse than Man United), 81 saved, 73 goals conceded (a save rate of 52.7%, the worst in the league)

We had 132 shots on target, scored 36 goals. We had the fourth-worst shot/goal rate (0.08 shots/goal).

This is the stat that sealed it for me. Our defense looked leaky, sure, but they still protected the keeper better than 13 other teams in the league. Bazunu let them down because every time he faced a shot it was essentially a coin flip as to whether it went in or not. 

[coalman]

10 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

This is the stat that sealed it for me. Our defense looked leaky, sure, but they still protected the keeper better than 13 other teams in the league. Bazunu let them down because every time he faced a shot it was essentially a coin flip as to whether it went in or not. 

Whilst it is indicative I don't think Bazunu is as bad as that stat made out. The number of free headers from crosses of players clean through unmarked given up by our defence also contributed to the quality of shots we were conceding.

[Whitey Grandad]

14 hours ago, Turkish said:

But were you entertained?

Apart from a couple of games, no.

[Saint Gifford]

Stats can be made to look like however you want. Ramus is pretty good at that. It’s the story that sits behind the numbers that matter. 

TBF, there are 11 players on the pitch with an army of Managers and coaches. Just my opinion but I think unfair to lay the blame of a game, cup run or season at 1 player. 
 

Like most, I think fans believe it was a balls up across the whole piece last season which leaves us where we are. 
 

 

[SambaMaverick]

7 minutes ago, Saint Gifford said:

Stats can be made to look like however you want. Ramus is pretty good at that. It’s the story that sits behind the numbers that matter. 

TBF, there are 11 players on the pitch with an army of Managers and coaches. Just my opinion but I think unfair to lay the blame of a game, cup run or season at 1 player. 
 

Like most, I think fans believe it was a balls up across the whole piece last season which leaves us where we are. 
 

 

Most other deficiencies have been / are being addressed.

Are you happy for Bazunu to have a free run at being the first-choice goalkeeper this season?

[Saint Fan CaM]

13 hours ago, SambaMaverick said:

We faced 150 shots on target last season (the sixth-fewest, only slightly worse than Man United), 81 saved, 73 goals conceded (a save rate of 52.7%, the worst in the league)

We had 132 shots on target, scored 36 goals. We had the fourth-worst shot/goal rate (0.08 shots/goal).

And that right there is indisputable proof why we were relegated bottom of the league. Plus we didn’t sign a decent striker after Ings left. Plus we hired not one, but two, out of their depth Managers in Jones and Selles.

[AlexLaw76]

Bazunu is crap.  He was crap last year, will be crap this year.  Angus Gunn will have a better season, and we will still have fans saying 'there is a player in there'

I hope he proves me and many others wrong, but it aint going to happen.  The only improvement will be less of his errors as we will be the dominant team more often. But to go up top 2 (or even the playoffs), we will need a keeper who will win us games/points.  He just aint that.

Edited 24 July, 2023 by AlexLaw76

[skintsaint]

22 minutes ago, SambaMaverick said:

Are you happy for Bazunu to have a free run at being the first-choice goalkeeper this season?

I am. Simply because the alternative is even worse at this stage.

[Turkish]

5 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Bazunu is crap.  He was crap last year, will be crap this year.  Angus Gunn will have a better season, and we will still have fans saying 'there is a player in there'

I hope he proves me and many others wrong, but it aint going to happen.  The only improvement will be less of his errors as we will be the dominant team more often. But to go up top 2 (or even the playoffs), we will need a keeper who will win us games/points.  He just aint that.

he clearly has talent! Remember that Goztepe save!!

[SambaMaverick]

1 minute ago, skintsaint said:

I am. Simply because the alternative is even worse at this stage.

Signing someone else?

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, SambaMaverick said:

Signing someone else?

You think we will? I very much doubt it unfortunately.

[goodymatt]

It’s too easy to think of big howlers off the top of your head: Wolves away - dived wrong way. Villa away - saves upwards for it to bundle over the line. Liverpool and West Ham away - headers from outside the box. Brighton at home bundle, Goztepe dived wrong way, reading and Leeds both went under him.

I’m sure there are more. Sometimes unlucky, sometimes another players error didn’t help. He’s been here a year and he has made too many mistakes. 

Yet internationally he’s saved a Ronaldo penalty, got MOTM against Germany and seems to be well respected. Player of the year in League one for Portsmouth.

Something might just click, but as I have said a few times now there remains a risk that we don’t really need to be taking. Less so at this level but still a lot riding on it with our objective of promotion.

 

[Turkish]

This is one of those rare occasions when everyone seems to agree on something!

[CamSaint]

I'd be surprised if nothing happens with regards to goalkeepers even if McCarthy stays. Last season McCarthy picked up an injury towards the end of December and didn't feature again in a match day squad until March 1st when he played in the Grimsby cup defeat. During that time we had 14 league and cup matches (12 under Jones and 2 under Selles. Willy played in the FA Cup game against Blackpool but was on the bench for the other 13.

Now that Willy has gone, we have no 3rd choice keeper which was glaringly apparent on Saturday when we had no sub keeper on the bench (presumably McCarthy was injured) as the U-21s were also playing. The obvious solution would have been to keep Lis, but as he has gone out on loan I would have thought we would need to bring another keeper in. Maybe we're waiting to see if McCarthy goes before taking a decision on the level of a new addition.

With regards to Bazunu, since Martin has brought his own goalkeeping coach with him, he ought to be able to look at Bazunu with fresh eyes (not having been responsible for coaching him last season) & could recommend a change if he thought fit. I guess the biggest stumbling block may be if Wilcox has a high opinion of Bazunu from his time at City. Either way, I'd be surprised if there wasn't some movement with regards to keepers before the window closes.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Baz needs some decent competition to keep him sharp. McCarthy is not that man…we need better.

[musesaint]

Bazunu is not as bad as many people say. McCarthy is far worse. Time to face up to the fact that we are now a Championship team. We aren’t going to attract top shelf goalkeepers. 

[Miltonaggro]

2 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Baz needs some decent competition to keep him sharp. McCarthy is not that man…we need better.

I remember when we signed Boruc from Fiorentina for a nominal fee.  He was 32 and with something like 350 first team games and 60 caps.  Mad as a box of frogs, but first choice under Pochettino and on his day exactly what you want in a keeper - commanding, strong, and great craft.  Thought he was the best keeper of our recent Premier League era.  Prone to a serious brain implosion in about one of every six games, but his type in this side now would likely be a huge improvement if we are serious about being in contention.  

[Convict Colony]

I dunno I have a tolerance for crapness with a young keeper and that tolerance is even higher when his more expensive back up is just as crap and can't kick a football.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

he clearly has talent! Remember that Goztepe save!!

Where does all this “got talent” pony come from. Young keepers are prone to errors, but they also make good saves. They’re inconsistent, until they learn their trade. To be fair to Baz, he can’t be accused of being inconsistent, he’s consistent, consistently pony. 

Baz 🤡, just makes routine saves,lets the rest in but doesn’t make up for it with wonderful saves. I can’t remember coming away from a game & saying “we owe that point to baz”, I can’t even remember saying “we’d have lost by more if it wasn’t for baz. In fact one of our rare wins was despite baz, after his last minute superman impression. He’s not shown anything so far that makes me feel he’s “got talent”. He may well do, but why take the chance? He’s had his chance and blown in, time to drop him🤡
 

 

Edited 24 July, 2023 by Lord Duckhunter

[Convict Colony]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Where does all this “got talent” pony come from. Young keepers are prone to errors, but they also make good saves. They’re inconsistent, until they learn their trade. To be fair to Baz, he can’t be accused of being inconsistent, he’s consistent, consistently pony. 

Baz 🤡, just makes routine saves,lets the rest in but doesn’t make up for it with wonderful saves. I can’t remember coming away from a game & saying “we owe that point to baz”, I can’t even remember saying “we’d have lost by more if it wasn’t for baz. In fact one of our rare wins was despite baz, after his last minute superman impression. He’s not shown anything so far that makes me feel he’s “got talent”. He may well do, but why take the chance? He’s had his chance and blown in, time to drop him🤡
 

 

Man United away 0-0 - he was man of the match and made some worldies

[skintsaint]

33 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Man United away 0-0 - he was man of the match and made some worldies

https://www.premierleague.com/news/3489777

[Greedyfly]

He's pony.  This is all.

[East Kent Saint]

To sum up and end all debate . He makes saves but also lets in loads of goals due to being in the wrong postion or a crap defence in front of him .

[Badger]

20 hours ago, Turkish said:

We replaced Dave Watson with Andrew Sparkes and now he’s been replaced with Russell Martins guy, Bazunu is still shit

This is a bit worrying as I’ve read several comments from Swansea fans about how crap their GK was.
 

And I think he’d gone to Swansea from MK with Martin (and presumably his GK coach). 

[Convict Colony]

2 hours ago, skintsaint said:

https://www.premierleague.com/news/3489777

Forgot about the liverpool save, was a good one.

[Luke SkyWalker-Peters]

Bazunu was awful last season, McCarthy was worse.

Bazunu is young and inexperienced. I'd like to see him given a go in the first month before the window closes at the least, because he might improve considerably with new coaches and an easier league. I firmly believe that his ball-playing will help us play the way RM wants.

However, due to how bad McCarthy is, we must get a keeper that we would feel confident starting. Someone to compete with Bazunu for the shirt. We can't have another Cabarello or Harry Lewis cheerleader 3rd keeper, as sitting on the bench and never seeing the pitch should be McCarthy's job this season.

[Dirkdiggler]

18 hours ago, The Cat said:

4 or 5 years ago Saints suddenly gave 6 week trials to a load of goalkeepers from around Southampton as they realised they were light in this area.

One kid went on to get signed but left at U16, the rest were frankly hopeless and it was a bit of a waste of time. 

It's a very difficult position to master at a young age as you need so many different technical attributes. This is why a lot of keepers don't become exceptional or play regular top flight first team football until they are a bit older.

Tbh that’s indicative of the coaching rather than the players. If given 6 weeks of proper training then they’d have been able to bring through more than 1.

Having been involved in youth football for 8 yrs there’s a lot of rough diamonds out there that given the correct coaching would make solid players.

My experience of the clubs youth goalkeeping coaches is that they’re not interested in coaching and development at all.

[Turkish]

21 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Apart from a couple of games, no.

Where would last season rank v Puels season in your mind, which I believe you once said was the worst ever season ad you weren’t entertained?

[notnowcato]

Appreciate it’s slow news at the moment but I’m sure the topic is Baz

[Turkish]

21 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Where does all this “got talent” pony come from. Young keepers are prone to errors, but they also make good saves. They’re inconsistent, until they learn their trade. To be fair to Baz, he can’t be accused of being inconsistent, he’s consistent, consistently pony. 

Baz 🤡, just makes routine saves,lets the rest in but doesn’t make up for it with wonderful saves. I can’t remember coming away from a game & saying “we owe that point to baz”, I can’t even remember saying “we’d have lost by more if it wasn’t for baz. In fact one of our rare wins was despite baz, after his last minute superman impression. He’s not shown anything so far that makes me feel he’s “got talent”. He may well do, but why take the chance? He’s had his chance and blown in, time to drop him🤡
 

 

I think you might have missed the sarcasm duckie 

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

I think you might have missed the sarcasm duckie 

 

I knew you were being sarcastic, I was just wondering where this “got talent” pony came from, because some people actually seem to believe it. They can’t seem to bring themselves to accept he’s pony, the fact he’s not head and shoulders above AM shows the level of  “talent” he’s shown so far. 

[Turkish]

10 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I knew you were being sarcastic, I was just wondering where this “got talent” pony came from, because some people actually seem to believe it. They can’t seem to bring themselves to accept he’s pony, the fact he’s not head and shoulders above AM shows the level of  “talent” he’s shown so far. 

Probably the same people who say you should never criticise the club and those that do should go and support someone else. A cult like belief that everything the club do is right and you are a lesser fan if you say anything to the contrary. There are a few of them on here

[Greedyfly]

Was pony again last night. Wonderful. 

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, Greedyfly said:

Was pony again last night. Wonderful. 

I think what last night did do was just confirm that currently we really have no viable alternative to Bazunu. It's becoming a bit of a crisis to be honest and the club have shown no inclination to act. 

[Greedyfly]

45 minutes ago, Greedyfly said:

Was pony again last night. Wonderful. 

Just realised AM was the pony last night.  So reassuring 

[Miltonaggro]

After last season’s debacle, recruiting a solid keeper early in the window was always going to be perhaps the best signifier that Sport Republic were true to their word in terms of owning silly mistakes and acting on them. At present, going into a critical season, it appears that our first team’s role as a high end non-competive work experience placement will continue. 

[LaptopSaint]

Get off his back, lads. He's obviously our number one. 

Let's continue the conversation at Christmas.

 

[Saint_clark]

3 hours ago, LaptopSaint said:

Get off his back, lads. He's obviously our number one. 

Let's continue the conversation at Christmas.

 

So we should all be happy to have him costing us goals every game then. 

I didn't see anyone giving Adams, Armstrong, Mara and Onuachu a break last season. 

[Lighthouse]

5 hours ago, Greedyfly said:

Just realised AM was the pony last night.  So reassuring 

 

[Greedyfly]

5 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

 

I watched it first thing this morning so clearly still blurry eyed.  Does highlight how shit both are mind!

[Lord Duckhunter]

On 26/07/2023 at 10:11, LaptopSaint said:

Let's continue the conversation at Christmas.

 

Christmas will be in August for Plymouth, Sheff Weds, QPR & Norwich if that clowns in nets. Can we discuss then? 

[skintsaint]

33 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Christmas will be in August for Plymouth, Sheff Weds, QPR & Norwich if that clowns in nets. Can we discuss then? 

Might work better if he was wearing clown shoes, help stop them low shots trickling past.

[Convict Colony]

Am predicting Baz plays well and makes no mistakes for the month of August.

Let's revisit this statement in September 👌

[revolution saint]

12 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Am predicting Baz plays well and makes no mistakes for the month of August.

Let's revisit this statement in September 👌

Read your post wrong - ignore.

Edited 27 July, 2023 by revolution saint

[Wade Garrett]

Another goal conceded yesterday that a competent keeper would save.

 

[Miltonaggro]

14 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Another goal conceded yesterday that a competent keeper would save.

 

To be honest a fair few incompetent keepers would have stopped that.