Macca

Anthony Church too?

I might be wrong but I swear I saw something somewhere about Macca having some sort of minor injury which actually needed surgery or something a while back?? 🤔 I may be wrong obviously.

Quoted from Poojah

I don’t think it’s all that strange. He got dropped, for the second time in two seasons, because he wasn’t playing particularly well - same as any outfield player would.

100%. Unless you were a loony, why would play your less than best keeper? Silly notion. Paul Hurst is nothing if not pragmatic

If we need ro reinforcement that department I would be knocking on Solihull door their keeper seems more than useful

Hurst doesn’t usually name a keeper on the bench, so no surprise if he isn’t being seen.

Whether something has happened or not, Hurst judged him to not be at the right level last year and brought a keeper in on loan and into the starting 11. I’m not convinced McKeown has been particularly good this year, which gave Crocombe his chance.

I view Crocombe as a upgrade, but remain unconvinced whether he will remain first choice next year, or whether Hurst will be eyeing up someone else, not that he has done anything wrong.

Beast Burger are looking for someone, as long as he doesnt drop the buns

Quoted from jonnyboy82

Macca is our highest earner by quite a bit coincide that with the fact he's not played particularly well this season when he was number 1 means we have almost certainly seen the last of him in a town shirt.

I think it's the right decision for him to move on and us too, nothing but good things to say about Macca and always respect him but it's just time for him to earn as much as he can now elsewhere, pretty sure he can still play league football.

His form in the last 18 months would suggest otherwise.

Crocombe is better than the macca we have had for the past 18 months, who has looked really noticeably off the pace.

At yesterday's game crocombe claimed plenty of crosses, he is better with the ball, his distribution  is  better and especially a lot quicker. He makes errors and doesn't have the shot stopping wonder saves or fantastic one on one ability the old macca had,but unfortunately neither does the current macca.

No doubt that we can be more efficient next season in the goal keeping expenditure than whatever it is we are currently paying macca, crocombe and Battersby to have just 1 in the squad.

But, if max picked up an injury before a playoff game I'd definitely want us to be bringing macca in rather than Battersby, he's got bags of experience, literally been there and done it in the playoffs and just might pull off one of his they shall not pass impossible games we know he can.

Nothing but respect for macca and it is a shame that his town career has gone with such a whimper in his testimonial year.

Hurst mentioned that some players aren't playing because they have a clause in their contract that if they've played X number of games this season they automatically get an extra year's contract. I wouldn't be surprised if this is McKeown's situation.

I don't think anything has gone on behind the scenes; he's simply been replaced by Crocombe, who Hurst obviously rates as being the better option. I think he's been proven right in that regard as Macca was having too many dodgy moments and Crocombe has proved himself more than an adequate replacement.

He got a good 3 year contract when that Scottish club came in for him and he is probably a top earner at GTFC. His contract is coming to an end and I suspect he won't be offered a new one. Unless there is a rule change and the National League allow more than 5 subs, I can't see us having a keeper on the bench anytime soon, and if we did, PH probably feels that Battersby is capable of filling the gap, or we could bring someone in on loan.

His leaving would free up a good chunk of budget and I suspect we will see a new keeper in the squad next season, possibly first choice with Crocombe being the back up.

Upshot is that Macca has been a good servant and one of our longest serving players, but It's time to move on.