Gavin Bazunu

[Jack]

15 minutes ago, James said:

Out of interest, what has he done to make you think he has loads of potential? Personally haven’t seen anything that suggests that.

95% short pass completion 

[Huffton]

12 minutes ago, James said:

Out of interest, what has he done to make you think he has loads of potential? Personally haven’t seen anything that suggests that.

He was very good for the skates (although obviously at a lower level). Pitching him straight into the prem from L1 was mental and probably set him back at least a season.

However his distribution with his feet has improved a lot. His start position is generally good when we're pressing but need a get out pass. He's not afraid to come off his line like McCarthy and when he makes that decision he sticks with it. Yes occasionally it the wrong decision but I'd rather that than have Mcarthy glued to his line like a rabbit in the headlights.

But yeah, still think its time now to give Lumley a go.

[Badger]

15 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Unlike other shit players we've had where we can frantically post "he clearly has talent, remember that *Insert one off moment or quality in their time here*"(see Ramirez Villa game, Maras pass against Leeds) We cant really do that with Baz can we. 

The only stand out moment with Bazunu for me has been his save at West Brom from a close range header. From our position at the other end it did seem a certain goal. On seeing it again on highlights it could be said it was a nice height for him etc, but he still had to get to it, and get it away (without putting it back towards an oncoming forward). 

[Osvaldorama]

Would any other club back a shit goalkeeper to relegation, and then again to miss out on promotion?

Suicidal management from the top down. 
 

Compound that with buying a crocked striker and we have absolutely fucked both business ends of the pitch. 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

48 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

just incapable of making those point/game winning saves you need from a GK

 

1 hour ago, James said:

Every keeper makes the occasional ricket - Boruc certainly had a few in the locker but you could forgive those as he won us more points than he lost. Baz has made his fair share of rickets this season (Plymouth home, Watford away) but doesn’t counterbalance those with the ability to make saves of any consequence. 

 

29 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Unlike other shit players we've had where we can frantically post "he clearly has talent, remember that *Insert one off moment or quality in their time here*"(see Ramirez Villa game, Maras pass against Leeds) We cant really do that with Baz can we. 

The save from Salah v Liverpool last year.  I think it was voted the EPL save of the week/month.  It showed he had anticipation, speed and bravery in racing out towards the edge of our penalty area to smother the shot, knowing he would probably get one or two boots in his face.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

 

 

The save from Salah v Liverpool last year.  I think it was voted the EPL save of the week/month.  It showed he had anticipation, speed and bravery in racing out towards the edge of our penalty area to smother the shot, knowing he would probably get one or two boots in his face.

shame we conceded 3 others in that half and lost the game. As others have said, what points has he won us? Genuinely cant think of any. Dont they say a good keeper is worth 12-15 points a season? He's costing us that.

Edited April 2 by Turkish

[Wade Garrett]

21 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Would any other club back a shit goalkeeper to relegation, and then again to miss out on promotion?

Suicidal management from the top down. 
 

Compound that with buying a crocked striker and we have absolutely fucked both business ends of the pitch. 

Makes me think that Sports Republic are more concerned with turning a profit on players than our league position.

[Miltonaggro]

3 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Makes me think that Sports Republic are more concerned with turning a profit on players than our league position.

That’s the one area of consistency since they rocked up. 

[The Kraken]

14 minutes ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

 

 

The save from Salah v Liverpool last year.  I think it was voted the EPL save of the week/month.  It showed he had anticipation, speed and bravery in racing out towards the edge of our penalty area to smother the shot, knowing he would probably get one or two boots in his face.

The fact one has to go back to last season to highlight a “how did he save that?” Moment kind of says it all. He just really doesn’t make enough saves. Antti Niemi seemed to make at least one worldly a game, Baz seems a one a season man.

Edited April 2 by The Kraken

[James]

5 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

The fact one has to go back to last season to highlight a “how did he save that?” Moment kind of says it all. He just really doesn’t make enough saves. Antti Niemi seemed to make at least one worldly a game, Baz seems a one a season man.

Yep. Alan Blaney also once won PL save of the season….

[Holmes_and_Watson]

49 minutes ago, James said:

Out of interest, what has he done to make you think he has loads of potential? Personally haven’t seen anything that suggests that.

Made a really good save in training, during that break when Nathan joined us. Nathan made a thing about the lack of vocal response from the squad about how good it was. 🙂

There was a flurry of comments about "high ceilings" as if we'd all turned into decorators. With Baz, it's his Man City background (so, he must be good), his appearances at his age, and a bit of Football Manager.

He is super cool receiving the ball. Excellent distribution too. Quick to get out and clear and very much part of our possession game. All attributes that the next development of a posession based sweeper keeper set up would love to have.

Just seems to be let down by never quite getting to certain types of shot. Not just the ones where a save would be excellent either. And it costs us. And it doesn't save us when others in the side, and RM's choices aren't doing us any favours.

The more we move from that passing game, where his strengths are, the less use he'll be to us. But he'll still play.

[Fan The Flames]

3 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Why do you say that? One point at this state is irrelevant.

Every point matters and not giving your rival 2 more points matters even more. 10 points short with two games in hand was more doable than it is now.

[Whitey Grandad]

5 minutes ago, Fan The Flames said:

Every point matters and not giving your rival 2 more points matters even more. 10 points short with two games in hand was more doable than it is now.

Or we might have scored ourselves and picked up all three.

[Turkish]

25 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

The fact one has to go back to last season to highlight a “how did he save that?” Moment kind of says it all. He just really doesn’t make enough saves. Antti Niemi seemed to make at least one worldly a game, Baz seems a one a season man.

It was November last season too, so it's 17 months since that save, in a game we lost 3-1 anyway. 

[Fan The Flames]

3 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Or we might have scored ourselves and picked up all three.

Not with that pass. It was a poor pass and it was risky.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

12 minutes ago, Turkish said:

It was November last season too, so it's 17 months since that save, in a game we lost 3-1 anyway. 

After watching McCarthy stuck on his line and his crap distribution, initially I thought Baz's distribution was a real plus and he would get better at shot stopping. But he hasn't. He doesn't save anything which is really depressing.  And he in recent games, he seems to be flapping more and spilling simple crosses which can't help the defence's confidence. 

Problem is, is this really the time to bring in Lumley? I don't think so. 

[bpsaint]

He’s just a shit Angus Gunn, and that’s saying something.

[Galway saint]

This thread is now 41 pages for a single player which of itself shows how long the debate has been running. 

It’s all been said before but I feel after Monday we will a see a change in goal on Saturday. 

We have to stop shipping goals at the current rate and Baz isn’t up to it so with automatic promotion gone I think they will try and bed in Lumley ready for the playoffs. 

If he can drop KWP then he can drop Baz.

 

 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 minutes ago, Galway saint said:

This thread is now 41 pages for a single player which of itself shows how long the debate has been running.

Waiting for Goalie: The thematic sequel to Waiting for Godot, where two long suffering fans wait for their 'keeper to make a half decent save. 🙂

[Bad Wolf]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Makes me think that Sports Republic are more concerned with turning a profit on players than our league position.

Well of course they are. Why wouldn't they be? Pretty sure they've basically openly admitted that. But their best chance at turning a profit is getting us back to the top flight.

[Badger]

Wasn’t Lumley regarded as crap at his previous club(s) ?

Can’t say we’ve seen enough of him for an informed opinion, other than at the Watford cup game thinking Bazunu might have been crucified on here had he conceded the free kick that Lumley had.

Another coup by our recruitment team perhaps. 

[SaintsBarry74]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

He is super cool receiving the ball. Excellent distribution too. Quick to get out and clear and very much part of our possession game. All attributes that the next development of a posession based sweeper keeper set up would love to have.

All of this doesn't matter when he's leaking goals out of his arse - he broke the record in PL for most goals let in that should have been saved. Simply put he's consistently the worst shot stopper in the league by a wide margin to the average GK. It's honestly gross neglegience at this point to keep starting him.

He's so shit I believe the club is lowering his value by playing him.

[Bad Wolf]

4 minutes ago, Badger said:

Wasn’t Lumley regarded as crap at his previous club(s) ?

Can’t say we’ve seen enough of him for an informed opinion, other than at the Watford cup game thinking Bazunu might have been crucified on here had he conceded the free kick that Lumley had.

Another coup by our recruitment team perhaps. 

Yep. Lumley has been largely awful for the level he's played at and only looked any good against lower league teams.

[Andrew Watson]

From a good mate a big QPR fan, I was told that the Rangers fans rated him their worst keeper for years.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

22 minutes ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

All of this doesn't matter when he's leaking goals out of his arse - he broke the record in PL for most goals let in that should have been saved. Simply put he's consistently the worst shot stopper in the league by a wide margin to the average GK. It's honestly gross neglegience at this point to keep starting him.

He's so shit I believe the club is lowering his value by playing him.

In fairness, I did then go on to point out that he seems to let in a lot of just a little more than standard saves.

[Galway saint]

14 minutes ago, Andrew Watson said:

From a good mate a big QPR fan, I was told that the Rangers fans rated him their worst keeper for years.

so our no 1 is saints worst keeper in years/decades and our no 2 is QPRs worst keeper in years - fucking great ! you could lot make it up. we should get rid of whoever is in charge of recruitment…

 

 

 

[skintsaint]

49 minutes ago, Galway saint said:

so our no 1 is saints worst keeper in years/decades and our no 2 is QPRs worst keeper in years - fucking great ! you could lot make it up. we should get rid of whoever is in charge of recruitment…

 

 

 

Don't forget our no 3...sitting on 50k a week doing FA. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

It’s quite shocking really that we have had to accept him in goal unchallenged for two seasons .. I think he’s got off quite lightly considering .. it’s like having dexter blackstock in goal for two years .

i said this last season that having him in goal and che up front makes it really really difficult to win tight matches .. Adams we kind of get away with a bit more in the championship as we create so many chances  but The comments above about baz letting in any half decent attempt and looking like a outfield player in goal are bang on, it’s a huge handicap for us 

Edited April 3 by pimpin4rizeal

[stevy777_x]

4 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Don't forget our no 3...sitting on 50k a week doing FA. 

And our number 4 out on loan has kept 7 clean sheets in a row lol

[pimpin4rizeal]

6 hours ago, Bad Wolf said:

Yep. Lumley has been largely awful for the level he's played at and only looked any good against lower league teams.

How are his shot saving stats compared to baz .. be interesting if any one can be bothered to dig them up 

[SaintsBarry74]

3 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

How are his shot saving stats compared to baz .. be interesting if any one can be bothered to dig them up 

Joe Lumley ranked 55th out of 55 in the Championship 22/23.

horrid.

 The worst shot stopper in the league last season. Who the fuck is in charge of our recruitement??

[coalman]

41 minutes ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Joe Lumley ranked 55th out of 55 in the Championship 22/23.

horrid.

 The worst shot stopper in the league last season. Who the fuck is in charge of our recruitement??

We hire keepers who can't save, full backs who can't defend and strikers who can't play at all. It's like Football Manager on opioids.

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Joe Lumley ranked 55th out of 55 in the Championship 22/23.

horrid.

 The worst shot stopper in the league last season. Who the fuck is in charge of our recruitement??

Fucking hell, that's priceless 🤣

 

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, coalman said:

We hire keepers who can't save, full backs who can't defend and strikers who can't play at all. It's like Football Manager on opioids.

Maybe our analyst team had these tables upside down. It's the only sense I can make of it.

[saintant]

It does defy all logic that we search for a new keeper as cover because the number 1 is not a great shot-stopper and sits rock bottom of the Championship stats for this season whilst the number 2 is being paid £50k weekly to go through the motions at training and the best we can come up with is someone who sat rock bottom of the Championship stats for the previous season.  Is the tea lady in charge of recruiting goalkeepers?

[Miltonaggro]

2 hours ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Joe Lumley ranked 55th out of 55 in the Championship 22/23.

horrid.

 The worst shot stopper in the league last season. Who the fuck is in charge of our recruitement??

The scariest thing is that big Joe is still statistically slightly more effective than Bazunu

[Miltonaggro]

47 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Maybe our analyst team had these tables upside down. It's the only sense I can make of it.

Excel on Rasmus's laptop malfunctioning. 

[coalman]

9 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Excel on Rasmus's laptop malfunctioning. 

=IF(RANDBETWEEN(1,100),RECRUITPLAYER)

PUBLISHBLOGPOST()

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, coalman said:

We hire keepers who can't save, full backs who can't defend and strikers who can't play at all. It's like Football Manager on opioids.

They've looked at the editor to see what the PA is going to be, and ignored everything else. 🙂

[saintant]

18 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Excel on Rasmus's laptop malfunctioning. 

If it aint broke, break it! This sums up Rasmus who is clearly not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.

[sledger]

couple of months ago at an away game iwent up on terrace early,cant remember why,but most of us dont get to see the keepers warming up because we are to busy p+ssing it up.At this game he was horrific in the warm up,dropped the ball missed saves so the fact that he is bad in the game should come as no shock.

[Chez]

5 hours ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Joe Lumley ranked 55th out of 55 in the Championship 22/23.

horrid.

 The worst shot stopper in the league last season. Who the fuck is in charge of our recruitement??

dunno, but he's just got himself another contract at Saints, so I think it pretty safe to say it will be Baz, Lumley and probably Lis as our three keepers next season.

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

If it aint broke, break it! This sums up Rasmus who is clearly not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.

He’s a fucking onion.

[Nordic Saint]

6 hours ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Joe Lumley ranked 55th out of 55 in the Championship 22/23.

horrid.

 The worst shot stopper in the league last season. Who the fuck is in charge of our recruitement??

We now know how our goalkeeper recruitment is done. Somebody needs to teach them how to read the list the right way up.

[Turkish]

15 hours ago, Badger said:

Wasn’t Lumley regarded as crap at his previous club(s) ?

Can’t say we’ve seen enough of him for an informed opinion, other than at the Watford cup game thinking Bazunu might have been crucified on here had he conceded the free kick that Lumley had.

Another coup by our recruitment team perhaps. 

Just like strikers and centre backs our glovesman recruitment has been absolutely ridiculous for years. Signing Gunn for £10m when we already had Forster and McCarthy. Giving McCarthy a long term contract which made him one of the clubs highest paid players whilst never really being a competent keeper and is now third choice. Signing Lis then loaning him out, signing a keeper who had never played above league one level and expecting him to immediately become a premier league level keeper. Then having back up so bad you have to stick with him despite him being not up to the job, it’s an utter shambles when you look at it. How hard is it to pickup a fairly experienced and competent goal custodian that might make the odd point winning save?

Edited April 3 by Turkish

[S-Clarke]

43 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Just like strikers and centre backs our glovesman recruitment has been absolutely ridiculous for years. Signing Gunn for £10m when we already had Forster and McCarthy. Giving McCarthy a long term contract which made him one of the clubs highest paid players whilst never really being a competent keeper and is now third choice. Signing Lis then loaning him out, signing a keeper who had never played above league one level and expecting him to immediately become a premier league level keeper. Then having back up so bad you have to stick with him despite him being not up to the job, it’s an utter shambles when you look at it. How hard is it to pickup a fairly experienced and competent goal custodian that might make the odd point winning save?

You can go back a tiny bit further to the ridiculous re-contract of Fraser Forster, after he'd only just signed one. That financially lumbered us for years.

Our goal keeping recruitment has been bat shit crazy for many years now. If Rotherham can find Viktor Johanssson then why can't we find one of those? This 'finding the next young gem we can sell for a profit' approach is killing us dead.

Edited April 3 by S-Clarke

[Toussaint]

On 01/04/2024 at 21:44, benali-shorts said:

He has the agility of a dead prostitute. 

Q. What is the difference between a Ferrari and a dead prostitute? 

 

A. I don't have a Ferrari in my garage

[david in sweden]

43 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

You can go back a tiny bit further to the ridiculous re-contract of Fraser Forster, after he'd only just signed one. That financially lumbered us for years.

Our goal keeping recruitment has been bat shit crazy for many years now.  If Rotherham can find Viktor Johanssson then why can't we find one of those?                      This 'finding the next young gem we can sell for a profit' approach is killing us dead.

Agreed about Forster (Clarkie) and  the subsequent deal for McCarthy was much the same scenario, but goalkeepers take time to develop and very few young

goalies are good in the first season or two - sometimes longer. Perhaps Joe Hart was an exception and eventually made it to the England spot, likewise Pickford.

Getting a good young talented goalie on board is difficult when you have to say ..come and be our no.2 goalie - and we'll let you play a few Cup games.

In time Gunn became no. 1  at Norwich,  and Polish "Bart" was a disaster in most of Saints games, but has played for Championship sides for more than 10 years 

and it took Gazzaniga a few years to get a regular spot - anywhere.   I've always thought goalkeepers get better after 30 !, ..and it's often the case.

 

Signing Bazunu was a gamble, and Turkish also made the same point about signing Angus Gunn who was really out of his depth, and that 0-9 game finished him.

Burnley signed young Trafford (?) for 18 million and he's had big problems, (also from Man City,) but the transition from U21 or Championship to Premier League

is an enormous gap and is much greater than a mere 3 league places.  Last year's  3 promoted sides have struggled, but the relegated sides have flourished.  

Bazunu will improve.... but it may take time - if we can keep faith with him, but we need a first class coach to help him in that position. 

[Turkish]

45 minutes ago, david in sweden said:

Agreed about Forster (Clarkie) and  the subsequent deal for McCarthy was much the same scenario, but goalkeepers take time to develop and very few young

goalies are good in the first season or two - sometimes longer. Perhaps Joe Hart was an exception and eventually made it to the England spot, likewise Pickford.

Getting a good young talented goalie on board is difficult when you have to say ..come and be our no.2 goalie - and we'll let you play a few Cup games.

In time Gunn became no. 1  at Norwich,  and Polish "Bart" was a disaster in most of Saints games, but has played for Championship sides for more than 10 years 

and it took Gazzaniga a few years to get a regular spot - anywhere.   I've always thought goalkeepers get better after 30 !, ..and it's often the case.

 

Signing Bazunu was a gamble, and Turkish also made the same point about signing Angus Gunn who was really out of his depth, and that 0-9 game finished him.

Burnley signed young Trafford (?) for 18 million and he's had big problems, (also from Man City,) but the transition from U21 or Championship to Premier League

is an enormous gap and is much greater than a mere 3 league places.  Last year's  3 promoted sides have struggled, but the relegated sides have flourished.  

Bazunu will improve.... but it may take time - if we can keep faith with him, but we need a first class coach to help him in that position. 

Bazunu might improve but at what cost? Are we going to stick with him for a few more years costing points then if when he’s finally good enough flog him, which we know is going to happen. The reality is he’s probably at least 5-6 years away from getting anywhere towards his peak to the point where a top club would want him that can afford to pay what the fee will be. Plus unlike other positions you can only play one goalkeeper soo ok no guarantee even  if he is ever good enough anyone would want him. how many more points are we going to drop between now and then?

 

Man City must love dealing with us, with the money they’ve made from us we’ve basically covered Haalands transfer fee. 

Edited April 3 by Turkish

[SaintsBarry74]

I'm not sure why the academy decided GK was the right fit for Bazunu. Perhaps it's because he lacks pace? Personally, I think he might excel more as a CM or CDM. He's excellent with his feet, but he definitely doesn't seem to possess the basic attributes of a goalkeeper.

Combined with Lumley, it's shocking business really.

The worst goalies in tier 1 & 2 - you'll never sing that!