Alex McCarthy

[Heisenberg]

Didn't have loads to do today, but gave me confidence and probably the team.

 

Came nicely for few crosses, gets down quickly and good kicking.

 

Wont see FF for a little while.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

 

Wont see FF for a little while.

 

Don't bank on it - Pellegrino will drop him v Palace because that's what he does when players have a good game!

[saintalan]

Didn't have loads to do today, but gave me confidence and probably the team.

 

Came nicely for few crosses, gets down quickly and good kicking.

 

Wont see FF for a little while.

 

This, although not sure he will keep him in, but he should. He was very assured.

[Toomer]

Don't bank on it - Pellegrino will drop him v Palace because that's what he does when players have a good game!

 

If he drops him for Dracular Tuesday after that performance he wants hanging.

[SaintAndy14]

Agreed. Looked good and encouraging to see a GK coming quickly off his line to sweep up! Hopefully won't be dropped.

[saint1977]

SKD in as coach

Fraser dropped...

 

V pleased for Big Mac

 

Good lad Alex, came for the ball and our makeshift defence looked miles happier. He’ll make errors as all keepers do but tries to do the right things and gets my vote. SKD should verbally hammer Fraser in training every time he gets gluefoot - undo some of the bad habits, Needs to be fitter, McCarthy looked so much sharper than him today

[stknowle]

He......CAME FOR and.......... CAUGHT crosses. WTF is going on?

[bpsaint]

There was a cross in the first half that he came for and got a slight touch to take it off the head of Rashford and clear of the area. Then you’ve got Fraser who won’t even come collect a cross 6 yards out resulting in a goal for Huddersfield.

 

Hopefully MP keeps him in against Palace.

[whelk]

Adrian told us all he is 10 times worse than FF. he know he does

[Saint86]

Don't bank on it - Pellegrino will drop him v Palace because that's what he does when players have a good game!

 

Yeah... because PEH has been dropped over the last couple of games...

[captainchris]

Didn't have loads to do today, but gave me confidence and probably the team.

 

Came nicely for few crosses, gets down quickly and good kicking.

 

Wont see FF for a little while.

 

Oh come come .....

McCarthy will be ‘rotated’ out next game along with all our best performers.... Just watch ...

[whelk]

Don't bank on it - Pellegrino will drop him v Palace because that's what he does when players have a good game!

 

I thought you were a normal poster but alas appear a hysterical little girl like many others.

[Lord Duckhunter]

**** me, can we finish with the "he's going to be rotated " joke. It's wearing a bit thin. If he stays injury free he'll be in nets Tuesday.

 

 

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[Crab Lungs]

Any goalkeeper who has the fundamental basics is better than Forster, been saying it for fukkin years. So glad he’s dropped. Well done Alex

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I thought you were a normal poster but alas appear a hysterical little girl like many others.

 

Strange post. Pellegrino has a reputation of dropping players who put in a decent shift. That’s a fact so why you want to resort to puerile insults is bewildering to me. Sorry I ventured an opinion. Hope you feel better for throwing s few insults my way. Apologies if I upset you.

[Plumstead_Saint]

Strange post. Pellegrino has a reputation of dropping players who put in a decent shift. That’s a fact so why you want to resort to puerile insults is bewildering to me. Sorry I ventured an opinion. Hope you feel better for throwing s few insults my way. Apologies if I upset you.

The same "reputation" that you and you and a few other OTT posters on here gave him?As you did to Puel? And to Koeman?

[davefoggy]

Finally, FF gets dropped! Best Xmas present ever. And to all those who continue to back FF, it didn't work out too badly tonight did it?? A rare clean sheet

[Chez]

He seemed very confident and vocal. Just what the back four needed. I have no idea why he has not been selected ahead of FF prior to this. Has he got a ric in him or something?

[OttawaSaint]

I dunno. How many days is it since McCarthy stopped Saints to a win? (430?)

 

Have a funny feeling about the Palace game*

 

*cheeky insurance bet placed

Edited 30 December, 2017 by OttawaSaint

[9-3]

Think FF was far too complacent. Signed a massive contract last year for five years on big, big money.

I question David Watson our goalkeeping coach. When the goalkeepers come out for a warm up it seems to be all about him taking all the shots and free kicks at the goalkeepers, don't see any dialogue at all, just him pumping the balls at the keeper.

On a match day when FF makes a mistake he just sits in his seat and shows no emotion to his mistake.

FF has fell well short this year, I know he has made some good saves, but overall, the ones he has missed has outnumbered has the good saves by a mile. Give Alex a run now, he deserves his chance and looks more alert than FF.

[Colinjb]

Alex looked decent. Nothing much to do at Old Trafford (MUCH to the credit of others) but what he did he looked comfortable... and he commanded his area well, very well.

 

Deserves a run in the side now.

[austsaint]

Did well. He just looks a more agile, mobile keeper than Forster. Comes off his line well; gets down to the low ball and his distribution is good. If Forster had been an outfield player he would have been dropped weeks ago, and he should not be re-instated anytime soon.

[Pedro]

There seemed to less back passing as well, a refreshing different approach. Fans singing his name, something FF not heard for a long time.

[stknowle]

Refreshing to see a Saints keeper that can move.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

I rate him. I'd be cashing in on FF, problem is that nobody will want him based upon his current form.

[austsaint]

There seemed to less back passing as well, a refreshing different approach. Fans singing his name, something FF not heard for a long time.

 

Now you mention it, there was much less back passing tonight.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Strange post. Pellegrino has a reputation of dropping players who put in a decent shift. That’s a fact so why you want to resort to puerile insults is bewildering to me. Sorry I ventured an opinion. Hope you feel better for throwing s few insults my way. Apologies if I upset you.

 

 

You don't believe for one minute he'll drop the keeper. You're just trying to shoe horn your dislike of the manager into another thread.

 

 

 

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[Jonnyboy]

Now you mention it, there was much less back passing tonight.

 

Maybe the players were nervous about pumping balls back to a new keeper all the time?

[James]

You don't believe for one minute he'll drop the keeper. You're just trying to shoe horn your dislike of the manager into another thread.

 

 

 

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He’s dropped Hoj multiple times after he’s been the best on the pitch but yeah sure it’s just prejudice against the manager...

[Lord Duckhunter]

He’s dropped Hoj multiple times after he’s been the best on the pitch but yeah sure it’s just prejudice against the manager...

 

**** sake. If you can't see the difference between the keeper & outfield players when it comes to rotation you really are clueless.

 

 

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[Pamplemousse]

He had a good game. Hopefully that will give both him and the defence a much needed confidence boost.

 

Where does this leave Forster though? Will he work hard on the training ground to force his way back into the team? Or will he look to leave in this window or the next one?

[angelman]

Isn't FF in the first year of a 5 year extension?? Where will he look to go to - who would take him?

[cambsaint]

He could stand in for the Statue of King Alfred in Winchester Broadway.

[Matthew Le God]

Where does this leave Forster though? Will he work hard on the training ground to force his way back into the team? Or will he look to leave in this window or the next one?

 

Go where? Forster is on a contract until 2022 and a very good wage. He is hard to sell, as not many clubs that would want him could afford his fee and wages.

[John Boy Saint]

Thought the defence felt comfortable with Alex between the sticks, almost like they could rely on him doing what goalkeepers are supposed to do rather than having to wonder if he was going to actually move.

[Baird of the land]

McCarthy is one of those players I was reall6 happy we signed as I was impressed by what I saw of him for reading.

Was disappointed by his injuries and lack of opportunity.

Looked good today. Even the Pogba offside goal he got down to and got a touch, otherwise Pogba may not have felt any need to touch it in.

 

As for Forster, perhaps if he doesn’t regain his place a club like Newcastle(post takeover) may want to have an England international between their sticks.

[Pamplemousse]

Go where? Forster is on a contract until 2022 and a very good wage. He is hard to sell, as not many clubs that would want him could afford his fee and wages.

 

That depends what his motivations are. If he’s happy to pick up a decent wage but not play, he will be hard to sell.

 

If he wants first team football and is willing to reduce his wages then it’ll be easier.

 

If we were looking to sell him, we’d be looking, at a minimum, of recouping what we paid for him, and probably more. So that would be the biggest sticking point.

 

In any case, it’s probably too early to think about his future. But if he isn’t playing by the end of the season then I can’t imagine him wanting to stick around as a number 2.

[Simon3737]

McCarthy did nothing spectacular, but he “looked and acted like a goalkeeper” and the defence seemed confident in front of him.

 

I agree Forster will be hard to sell, but I wouldn’t write him off entirely. I think he should forgot this season (unless McCarthy gets injured) and work really hard on preparing for next season. He’s still young for a goalkeeper and didn’t used to be this bad.

 

Purely based on articles I’ve read about other athletes, I think he needs to radically change his fitness regime and lose some muscle mass and focus on his flexibility and quick reactions.

 

He reminds me a bit of Boris Becker physically (tall and broad, but even more so). Boris used to train by practicing gymnastic skills like falling over and quickly getting up again etc and he used to dive around in front of the net and quickly recover. He did this at his peak as well as players like McEnroe and Edburg who were much lighter.

 

I’m only going on articles I’ve read, no personal knowledge whatsoever, but (if I’m right), Dave Watson and Alek Gross must take a lot of blame for letting him become so slow and heavy.

[DT]

McCarthy did nothing spectacular, but he “looked and acted like a goalkeeper” and the defence seemed confident in front of him.

 

I agree Forster will be hard to sell, but I wouldn’t write him off entirely. I think he should forgot this season (unless McCarthy gets injured) and work really hard on preparing for next season. He’s still young for a goalkeeper and didn’t used to be this bad.

 

Purely based on articles I’ve read about other athletes, I think he needs to radically change his fitness regime and lose some muscle mass and focus on his flexibility and quick reactions.

 

He reminds me a bit of Boris Becker physically (tall and broad, but even more so). Boris used to train by practicing gymnastic skills like falling over and quickly getting up again etc and he used to dive around in front of the net and quickly recover. He did this at his peak as well as players like McEnroe and Edburg who were much lighter.

 

I’m only going on articles I’ve read, no personal knowledge whatsoever, but (if I’m right), Dave Watson and Alek Gross must take a lot of blame for letting him become so slow and heavy.

 

Fraser Forster is a ****e goalkeeper. End of story

 

 

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[skintsaint]

He was in and around the England setup at one point so can't be terrible (even if English keepers aren't what they used to be!). Seemed confident enough and was nice to keep a clean sheet! Please don't drop him for Palarse.

[rooney]

At last a keeper who has the intelligence to know how to position himself. Did not feel nervous at all whilst watching the game.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

The same "reputation" that you and you and a few other OTT posters on here gave him?As you did to Puel? And to Koeman?

Sorry I genuinely don’t understand. My post was laced with a bit of sarcasm- is it that which upsets you?

[Fitzhugh Fella]

You don't believe for one minute he'll drop the keeper. You're just trying to shoe horn your dislike of the manager into another thread.

 

 

 

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As I said above there was an element of sarcasm in my post. You are correct I don’t like Pellegrino and I am not fickle enough to let a good result paper over obvious cracks. It’s a forum mate, not everyone is going to meet with your approval or your insistence on being non critical.

[Miltonaggro]

We saw a keeper with some flexibility yesterday - physical and mental. McCarthy could displace Forster in the Saints team and the England team if he finds some consistency. Well done Alex!

[Stud mark of doom]

Thought the defence felt comfortable with Alex between the sticks, almost like they could rely on him doing what goalkeepers are supposed to do rather than having to wonder if he was going to actually move.

 

This is how I felt too.

 

There was a moment in the second half when he came out and caught the ball almost on the penalty spot and I thought, wow - not seen that for some time!

 

FF fails to come off his line even by a few yards (Hudd and spurs in recent weeks) - so he can watch hopelessly as another free header from inside the six yards box hits the net. He should have been dropped for good after the debacle of the Chelsea free kick where he lined up the wall appallingly and then had his hands on his hips looking at the lino instead of being ready to move.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Lets no get carried away by yesterdays result. I will enjoy the fact we went to Old Trafford and came away with a very well earned point. The whole team put in a shift and I thought the defence were determined to shut out United.

 

As well as we played I don't think United were great and appear to be having one of those patches...but we did very well.

 

Now being a keeper myself I am delighted for Alex and am sure a clean sheet at Old Trafford will do his confidence the power of good. I don't mind admitting I was genuinely worried when I saw his name on the team sheet as I have been watching Alex this season and he like Forster has made some howlers and has not looked like an upgrade.

He didn't have anything special to do yesterday but he did what we all expect of a goalkeeper and he did it well....confidence for a keeper is such a massive thing and hopefully this will do his wonders.

 

I haven't given up on Forster. There is a very good goalkeeper there but his confidence is clearly shot to pieces and taking him out of the firing line was a good call and a very brave one from MP.

[Roo1976]

He......CAME FOR and.......... CAUGHT crosses. WTF is going on?

 

yeah i was thinking just the same in my head and at the Trafford end tut,what next a clean sheet,oh forgot we did.Long may it be the case of things to come.

[Nolan]

He’s dropped Hoj multiple times after he’s been the best on the pitch but yeah sure it’s just prejudice against the manager...

 

 

Lets see if it still happens when there isn't Decembers turn around of games. Its been about keeping fresh legs on the pitch.

[Matthew Le God]

Lets no get carried away by yesterdays result. I will enjoy the fact we went to Old Trafford and came away with a very well earned point. The whole team put in a shift and I thought the defence were determined to shut out United.

 

As well as we played I don't think United were great and appear to be having one of those patches...but we did very well.

 

Have you considered they didn't play well cos Saints prevented them from playing well?

[angelman]

Don't be silly MLG. We all know that we are irrelevant to how one of the big 6 play and it is all of their doing, not ours.