Max Crocombe

Quoted from LondonMariner43

Never understood why Hurst didn’t fight harder to keep him.  Fair enough if he’d had a sure fire replacement lined up but he didnt.

Most points dropped looked avoidable with a better keeper than Eastwood whilst I never thought Max was a World beater he was a competent league 1/2 stopper.In my opinion it was the biggest single boll0ck PH dropped.

And not keeping Orsi, who was already on contract.

Hindsight is brilliant.

Isn't it just brilliant.

But it seems a lot of people have clouded their memories when it comes to Crocombe.  His final six months he was really quite poor at times, especially after setting such high standards in the year or so before that.  He wasn't as commanding, he was parrying really simple shots back into the path of attackers and his kicking went from a good attribute to a bit of a liability.

Very few people thought it was the wrong move to try and improve on him.  I think for him as well the move away was needed.  Ultimately I don't think Eastwood is consistent enough to be an effective replacement for Crocombe.  When he's on his game I think he's as good as, as he showed in the first handful of games, but his confidence is too fragile and once he gets a little chink in his armour he's a nervous wreck.

Far too early to call judgement on Cartwright.  5 games and 2 of those against a part-time side (discounting the EFL Trophy games which are glorified friendlies).  But he does look to be getting better as he gets more game time in him.  This is his first serious go at proper mens football, it is going to be different for him and it might take a little bit more time.  But I think once he gets in the proper swing of things he'll be a very good 'keeper for us and we'll look back in time grateful that we had him for a season.

Quoted from cannylad65

And not keeping Orsi, who was already on contract.

Well we did get a fee for him in fairness...

Can we have this thread pinned so we don’t have the same conversation every time the bloke blows his nose? Same with Orsi for that matter.

Quoted from Mappers

Maybe I am in the minority but I think Carwright has a far higher ceiling than Crocombe .

That's not dissing Max , as he did a decent enough job and he has done better than most probably thought he would at Burton.


But I think after the last 5 performances from Cartwright its hard to say 100% it was a mistake letting Crocombe go , would he have done any better ?

I doubt it myself ,  I suppose it's down to whether Cartwright can keep this up for 25-30 games to judge one way or another .

If I had my time again, and I bet Hurst agrees, I'd have tried harder to keep Crocombe and signed Cartwright but not Eastwood.

I had grown very tired of Crocombe's kicking, inability to make saves and increasing number of errors but he inspired a lot more confidence than Eastwood did.

I know I'm speaking completely with hindsight but maybe a close season and a proper pre season of being properly pushed by Cartwright might have brought the best out of Crocombe again. Either way, I think the keeper situation ultimately cost Hurst his job. A nervous keeper transmits the whole team as the defence loses confidence, drops deeper, becomes more error prone, the midfield then drops deeper and leaves the striker isolated. Think we've seen all those issues manifest themselves.

It was unlike Hurst to make a mess of one position in the way he did. If we'd kept Crocombe, I wanted rid so I'm not lecturing here, I think Hurst is still here.

Quoted from cannylad65

And not keeping Orsi, who was already on contract.

We've signed Pyke and Wilson, both who clearly know where the back of the net is. Keeping or not keeping Orsi has probably had no impact on our points tally.

Agreed, our goals per game is far higher so far this season than last.