Somebody intimated on facebook that hurst had said in the radio conference after the relegation was confirmed, that hurst specifically mentioned macca as 'coming to the end'.

Did anybody else hear this / know which interview this is in?

I'd be pretty shocked not to see macca with us next season...

dont recall anything like that personally

I saw this on facebook too, but couldn't find the part in the interview - probably just classic facebook hot air.

Don’t be surprised if McKeown departs, but the decision will be his.

The only way Macca would depart would be if the club gave him a massive pay off. He's owed a testimonial and im doubtful he would be on more elsewhere.

Quoted from jaf243

Somebody intimated on facebook that hurst had said in the radio conference after the relegation was confirmed, that hurst specifically mentioned macca as 'coming to the end'.

Did anybody else hear this / know which interview this is in?

I'd be pretty shocked not to see macca with us next season...

I recall he slipped that into the conversation with JT and then steered away from it quite quickly.

I’d be surprised though.

Think the testimonial will be a major factor in him staying. Think it’s tax free too.

The new board mentioned a testimonial for Macca in one of their interviews last week so very much doubt that he will be going anywhere.

Again, fake facebook news.

If he leaves or stays, this was his 10th season with the club.

Not a cat in hells chance he won't get a testimonial down the line.  The only reason it isn't happening this summer is because of the restrictions.

Yeah a tax free testimonial is due for his 10th season and he is our best paid player can't imagine he would walk away from that

Not to mention, personal pride in helping to put right relegation,he is a committed player even those who doubt him as a keeper can see that.

No he didn't.
Because he said there's only one area that he hasn't made his mind up about people are putting 2 & 2 and coming up with balderdash

He said something along the the lines of he didn't know if he would still be here, that it's not his decision to make but that he wants to play a part in getting the club back in the league as he feels personally responsible. I think there could be two possible factors at play here, the first being the possibility that there was a relegation release claused placed in his contract and second, the recognition from James himself that he's one of the highest paid players and that Hurst might feel he can get better value elsewhere.

Certainly need a keeper of equal or better stature even in non league,  to provide competition if we are serious

Quoted from TAGG

No he didn't.
Because he said there's only one area that he hasn't made his mind up about people are putting 2 & 2 and coming up with balderdash

Could be any number of players he is unsure about.

Jackson Jr, Scannell, Williams all fit the bill.

I think he's pretty sure about Williams to be fair.  

Scannell I'm not sure if he's made his mind up or not.  Until the last few games I would have thought Scannell was on his way out, but the fact that he's given him some game time and had him on the bench (when he didn't really need to, especially for the final two games) makes me think he might feel he has some sort of role to play next season.

Quoted from toontown

Yeah a tax free testimonial is due for his 10th season and he is our best paid player can't imagine he would walk away from that

Is a testimonial tax free?

Quoted from horsforthmariner

The only way Macca would depart would be if the club gave him a massive pay off. He's owed a testimonial and im doubtful he would be on more elsewhere.

He’ll get his testimonial.

But...

What if Hurst says to him “I want you to stay, but I can’t guarantee you 1st team football”? It would only be fair, given his service to the club, to allow him to seek opportunities elsewhere be it for the reason of playing first team football or earning more money (2nd/3rd choice in the Championship).

Personally it wouldn't bother me at all if Macca left.  He's not the keeper people make him out to be  He was 16th in the League list for League 2 keepers season 20/21.I only including those keepers who played more than 30 game..  We all know he doesn't command his area well, something that could be a big problem next season, also his kicking is not good.  Personally I think he has lost confidence, but some of those faults have been around for a while now..  If f we look at keepers who had the same number of starts, or higher than him, he would only advance 4 places to 12th.

Quoted from 123614

Personally it wouldn't bother me at all if Macca left.  He's not the keeper people make him out to be  He was 16th in the League list for League 2 keepers season 20/21.I only including those keepers who played more than 30 game..  We all know he doesn't command his area well, something that could be a big problem next season, also his kicking is not good.  Personally I think he has lost confidence, but some of those faults have been around for a while now..  If f we look at keepers who had the same number of starts, or higher than him, he would only advance 4 places to 12th.

1st half of the season being asked to play around at the back, after Eastwood came in I thought his performances were much improved

Quoted from Hagrid

1st half of the season being asked to play around at the back, after Eastwood came in I thought his performances were much improved

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but he STILL does not command his area at all, in fact he doesn't command his 6 yard area either.    Have you ever seen him come out to the penalty spot or further to gat the ball?  I certainly haven't.

Quoted from 123614

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but he STILL does not command his area at all, in fact he doesn't command his 6 yard area either.    Have you ever seen him come out to the penalty spot or further to gat the ball?  I certainly haven't.

Many on here fall in to the trap of he’s a good bloke he’s a good pro which is correct on both counts I’m told but all I’m bothered about is he a good goal keeper imo we need better.  

Going off the whole of last season i'd agree we need better but going off since PH arrived he definitely has upped his level. Look's like he's going to be first choice with Battersby back up and I for one am not concerned.

Quoted from Hagrid

1st half of the season being asked to play around at the back, after Eastwood came in I thought his performances were much improved

In the first half of the season, I think he had a big problem that affected his confidence. The problem was a flat cap, a west country accent, and the threat he was going out on loan.

Normality returned with him when Eastwood arrived and his confidence has returned, but not as good as previous levels. I think he's worth persevering with this coming season and then take it from there.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Is a testimonial tax free?

The first £100k is usually tax free (subject to conditions)

He was one of the reasons we went down. Absolute trash most of the season and people only seem to rate him highly because he’s been here so long. Wouldn’t be arsed if he left.

But, would wish him well if he were to leave. Probably is a town fan

Quoted from Mariner_501

He was one of the reasons we went down. Absolute trash most of the season and people only seem to rate him highly because he’s been here so long. Wouldn’t be arsed if he left.

But, would wish him well if he were to leave. Probably is a town fan

Opinions & all that but I wouldn’t have Macca anywhere even remotely near the top of a list of reasons we went down.

It’s no coincidence our defence and keeper suddenly looked more stable when we had better players further up the pitch who could hold and take care of the ball better.

Quoted from Mariner_501

He was one of the reasons we went down. Absolute trash most of the season and people only seem to rate him highly because he’s been here so long. Wouldn’t be arsed if he left.

But, would wish him well if he were to leave. Probably is a town fan

“Trash”?!!!!

Really. Get some perspective.

He lost his place to a 400 year old keeper (albeit a good one back in the day)

Quoted from diehardmariner

Until the last few games I would have thought Scannell was on his way out, but the fact that he's given him some game time and had him on the bench

Yes but you also have to remember towards the end of the season both Hanson and Green were in the team.......and we know what's happened to them!

The only difference in reality is Scannell has time left on his contract. Doesn't go to mean he is wanted by Hurst, just that as it stands he is still a GTFC player. That can change very quickly

Only way he's going is if the club want to get rid and force him out. Seems like Hurst would be happy for him to stay even if he wouldn't be first choice and I imagine he would be too as his family is settled in the area and it's where his kids have grown up and have all their friends. Was a major factor in turning down a good offer to move clubs before signing a new deal with us.

I would be fine with him staying and think he gets more stick than he deserves at times from a small section of the supporters. One of those players who has the same few armchair goalkeepers or Sunday league heroes on his case for every single goal when it's often not his fault. He's had his calamity James moments but he's also kept us in games by pulling out a great save more often than not.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

The first £100k is usually tax free (subject to conditions)

Is one of the conditions it stays in the brown bag hidden under the mattress?

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

The first £100k is usually tax free (subject to conditions)

Correct.  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-tax-update-to-treatment-of-income-from-sporting-testimonials/income-tax-update-to-treatment-of-income-from-sporting-testimonials

Macca is a decent keeper but Hurst made it clear this year that he was prepared to switch him out, especially if form was a problem.

Quoted from Kris2

Only way he's going is if the club want to get rid and force him out. Seems like Hurst would be happy for him to stay even if he wouldn't be first choice and I imagine he would be too as his family is settled in the area and it's where his kids have grown up and have all their friends. Was a major factor in turning down a good offer to move clubs before signing a new deal with us.

I would be fine with him staying and think he gets more stick than he deserves at times from a small section of the supporters. One of those players who has the same few armchair goalkeepers or Sunday league heroes on his case for every single goal when it's often not his fault. He's had his calamity James moments but he's also kept us in games by pulling out a great save more often than not.

Was that after he threw his toys out the pram because he got dropped and requested to be put on the transfer list?  I think a lot of managers may have let him go after that.

Just asking............

Easy to write Macca off after a very poor patch last season, but I think it's important we retain his services. It's easy to forget that in addition to the gross mismanagement he received from Holloway, he also had Covid early in the season. Only he will know how that affected him.

Last year was difficult for goalkeepers in general as it's a particularly difficult position to train for in isolation when we were deep in early lockdown, and whilst this is true for all 'keepers lets not forget that we consciously gave all our players every disadvantage in the shape of a woefully inadequate pre-season. There's no doubt he lost his mojo and was rightly dropped for Eastwood when Hurst came in, however this was at least done empathetically and he had regained form by the time he was back in the team.

Mitigating factors aside, I think it's more important than some recognise to have people in the dressing room with some affinity with the club. I felt very disconnected with the players wearing the shirt last season for more reasons than one, and if we are going to set off on the right foot in terms of building a positive, long-term culture then it helps to have someone who has been here for some time, genuinely cares and understands the DNA of the club and its fanbase. I felt the difference players like Coke and LJL made in terms of their attitude was palpable when they came in - these things do have value.

As a goalkeeper he's not technically perfect - that's why he's never meaningfully played beyond League Two. He's clearly an emotional guy and that's been known to impact his form, but managed correctly I believe he's going to be one of the best goalkeepers in the National League next season. If we can find someone markedly better and it makes budgetary sense then by all means we should explore that, but I think that might be harder than many think.

People will inevitably degree with some or all of this, but on a personal note I'll be happy if he's between the sticks come August. The fact he's been our custodian during the most troubling decade in this club's long history is unfortunate for him, but that shouldn't detract to his endeavours and many positive contributions during his time here.

Quoted from 123614

Was that after he threw his toys out the pram because he got dropped and requested to be put on the transfer list?  I think a lot of managers may have let him go after that.

Just asking............

No, it was when his contract was coming up and Motherwell made him a really good offer to sign for them. Ultimately for family reasons he chose to sign a new deal with us rather than uproot to Scotland. Is this why you whinge about him constantly? One little situation that had more to do with Bignot and things going on behind the scenes than "throwing his toys out the pram", it's worth getting the facts before making judgements. Hurst almost took him to Shrews actually on deadline day but Fenty and Bignot held them up for more money at the last minute after agreeing a fee so maybe you can blame them for the fact he's still at the club.

Really don't understand the vendetta and obsession some people have with the idea of "loyalty". It's a job and if you start hating your boss or the staff at the place you'd probably look to leave too.

Quoted from Kris2

No, it was when his contract was coming up and Motherwell made him a really good offer to sign for them. Ultimately for family reasons he chose to sign a new deal with us rather than uproot to Scotland. Is this why you whinge about him constantly? One little situation that had more to do with Bignot and things going on behind the scenes than "throwing his toys out the pram", it's worth getting the facts before making judgements. Hurst almost took him to Shrews actually on deadline day but Fenty and Bignot held them up for more money at the last minute after agreeing a fee so maybe you can blame them for the fact he's still at the club.

Really don't understand the vendetta and obsession some people have with the idea of "loyalty". It's a job and if you start hating your boss or the staff at the place you'd probably look to leave too.

took me 2 months of my boss singling me out and being a girl private to me to go to HR and ultimately leave- i dont blame Macca at all

I'm not sure I get the recent pages on this thread or at least the ones after the retained list has now come out.

Whatever people may think about Macca and their entitled to their opinion we'll be going into next season with an experienced keeper who knows what it takes to get back into the EFL.

I get that he may have flaws but all keepers do however he's still decent and that would have been the assessment if we'd stayed in the league.  

A keeper who wants to catch a cross please.

Macca isn't perfect, as shown when Eastwood arrived, but how much did the Holloway effect have on him. Since the arrival of Hurst Macca's form has improved. However, there is one thing in Macca's favour that many on here forget.

There are 10 players in front of him who should deal with situations, Macca is the last man before the goal. I'd give him one more season to see how he gets on.

Quoted from ska face

A keeper who wants to catch a cross please.

An increasing rarity in this day and age I'm afraid. I reckon almost all goalkeeping coaches now teach keepers to punch rather than catch the ball now, in case it's fumbled or dropped.

Must say, I'm a little bit surprised by how many of us fans would be happy to see him replaced.

Here's the usual disclaimer — he's not faultless, if he was then he wouldn't be playing for us, etc.

We've seen a few good keepers turn out for us down the years, mainly on loan (Dean Henderson the most obvious) but essentially, at this level, you're only going to get imperfect keepers.

Fine, if you want a keeper to command his box, claim crosses and dominate at corners. But then you find out his shot-stopping is weak, or he shanks clearances straight to the opposition.

I'd like to stake a claim and say McKeown has won us more points than he's lost over the years. We know he has bad games, and bad moments. He's human, after all. But, once again, I fear we only tend to remember the bad moments because they stick out.

Only a couple of weeks ago he had an outstanding game against Bolton. We won it 2-1 and, in time, any memory of him playing well in that game get lost.

I say this all as someone who's never gone overboard about McKeown's abilities. I think he's a very reasonable and competent keeper for this club. Nothing wrong with striving for better, but that, as always, comes with risks.

Bring a new guy in and he has a stinker on debut. Then what? We know what we've got with McKeown and, in my balanced view, he's worth keeping hold of.

He certainly needs competition, that's for sure. Maybe Russell hasn't been good for him as a coach. Who knows?

Quoted from Kris2

No, it was when his contract was coming up and Motherwell made him a really good offer to sign for them. Ultimately for family reasons he chose to sign a new deal with us rather than uproot to Scotland. Is this why you whinge about him constantly? One little situation that had more to do with Bignot and things going on behind the scenes than "throwing his toys out the pram", it's worth getting the facts before making judgements. Hurst almost took him to Shrews actually on deadline day but Fenty and Bignot held them up for more money at the last minute after agreeing a fee so maybe you can blame them for the fact he's still at the club.

Really don't understand the vendetta and obsession some people have with the idea of "loyalty". It's a job and if you start hating your boss or the staff at the place you'd probably look to leave too.

Two things, I have no vendetta over Macca, all you will have seen from me is criticism of his well know faults.  Second thing, I made no judgements in this post, I actually ASKED if this was after he had been dropped because I wasn't sure.  But he asked for a transfer either on the day he was dropped, or the day after, can't remember which.

Quoted from Les Brechin

An increasing rarity in this day and age I'm afraid. I reckon almost all goalkeeping coaches now teach keepers to punch rather than catch the ball now, in case it's fumbled or dropped.

Back in the day when I played Centre Half, my keeper would come through me and anyone else in his way to catch the ball in his Penalty area.

Quoted from 123614

Back in the day when I played Centre Half, my keeper would come through me and anyone else in his way to catch the ball in his Penalty area.

With respect the rules and interpretation were different then, and I assume you were playing at amateur level.

You assume wrong.

Who did you play for?

High expectations of a NL keeper here. England's top 3 keepers all have weaknesses and made howlers this season.

Pickford had a real dip in form mid season and has made some big mistakes whilst Pope can't kick a ball to save his life (I know that's 2....)

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Who did you play for?

I played for the Army (Cyprus) team in Cyprus.  We played against every team in the Cypriot 1st Division, who were all semi pros, and beat most of them.  We also played 3 friendlies against the Cyprus National team prior to the 1974 World Cup  I was also approached by Epa Larnaca to play for them in the Cypriot 1st Division, however the Army would not let me sign for them due to security issues.  Because of this I was then told that Epa would buy me out of the Army, find me accommodation for myself and my family, and also get me a part time job.  After weighing things up, I declined to sign for them as  if anything happened that caused me to be able to play for a long time, I would have been stuck in Cyprus, with my wife and new-born baby son, something I wasn't prepared to do. You might say that this is not being a semi-pro, but I disagree and can assure you that these matches were played out in a very competitive manner.

Think he has recently moved houses locally so doubt he is about to go anywhere.

Quoted from 123614

Back in the day when I played Centre Half, my keeper would come through me and anyone else in his way to catch the ball in his Penalty area.

In your day you probably could also clobber somebody in the box as a keeper and not commit a foul. Nowadays it's a foul if you slightly touch somebody  ;D

Quoted from 123614

Personally it wouldn't bother me at all if Macca left.  He's not the keeper people make him out to be  He was 16th in the League list for League 2 keepers season 20/21.I only including those keepers who played more than 30 game..  We all know he doesn't command his area well, something that could be a big problem next season, also his kicking is not good.  Personally I think he has lost confidence, but some of those faults have been around for a while now..  If f we look at keepers who had the same number of starts, or higher than him, he would only advance 4 places to 12th.

Don’t even know what those stats mean to be fair but can you name me a League 2 keeper with excellent kicking who commands his area?

The criticism of Maccas form is fine, there are reasons for it, he himself admitted that it was partly his fault but this obsession with him commanding his area or having excrement kicking is tiresome...

He’s a good league 2 goalkeeper, he’s arguably saved us more points than lost us and when he’s been needed he’s been there. He isn’t Ederson, he isn’t Heaton or Buffon etc...don’t expect him to be.

So he doesn’t come for some crosses, so what? The defence should know that and adjust accordingly, as they did when Gowling/toto/Pearson/miller etc were here. I’d rather he stayed on his line and was available for the potential necessary save than come for something he’ll miss...

Similarly with kicking, we’re Grimsby town. As that flipping straw chewing idiot proved, we are not Man City, plying out from the back didn’t work, for the keeper or the outfield players. Fundamentally, all a keeper at our level needs to do is just kick really hard and really far in the vicinity of our players.

I’ve no doubt that should one be available Hurst will bring in a new keeper, if only to put pressure on Macca. Personally, I’d be more than happy with Macca, many of our fans have bleated on and wittered on about it being important that we have players that understand the club and the fans, know what it means...Macca embodies that...ironic that some of those people would want him gone...

Christ, I wonder if Liverpool fans are having the same discussion about Alison, look at Kepa at Chelsea...I think I’d rather have Macca...

Quoted from Kris2

In your day you probably could also clobber somebody in the box as a keeper and not commit a foul. Nowadays it's a foul if you slightly touch somebody  ;D

How many times do you see a keeper being whistled up for a foul in his penalty area when coming to catch a high ball and colliding with other players, if he collides with his own players it's not a foul anyway.  Decisions almost always go in the keepers favour.

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Many on here fall in to the trap of he’s a good bloke he’s a good pro which is correct on both counts I’m told but all I’m bothered about is he a good goal keeper imo we need better.  

This I 100% agree with.

Quoted from aldi_01

The criticism of Maccas form is fine, there are reasons for it, he himself admitted that it was partly his fault but this obsession with him commanding his area or having excrement kicking is tiresome...

He’s a good league 2 goalkeeper, he’s arguably saved us more points than lost us and when he’s been needed he’s been there. He isn’t Ederson, he isn’t Heaton or Buffon etc...don’t expect him to be.

So he doesn’t come for some crosses, so what? The defence should know that and adjust accordingly, as they did when Gowling/toto/Pearson/miller etc were here. I’d rather he stayed on his line and was available for the potential necessary save than come for something he’ll miss...

Similarly with kicking, we’re Grimsby town. As that flipping straw chewing idiot proved, we are not Man City, plying out from the back didn’t work, for the keeper or the outfield players. Fundamentally, all a keeper at our level needs to do is just kick really hard and really far in the vicinity of our players.

I’ve no doubt that should one be available Hurst will bring in a new keeper, if only to put pressure on Macca. Personally, I’d be more than happy with Macca, many of our fans have bleated on and wittered on about it being important that we have players that understand the club and the fans, know what it means...Macca embodies that...ironic that some of those people would want him gone...

Christ, I wonder if Liverpool fans are having the same discussion about Alison, look at Kepa at Chelsea...I think I’d rather have Macca...

Even the best keepers in the world make costly mistakes and have bad runs of form. de Gea has come in for a lot of criticism this season for patchy form and it's not like if we get somebody else they'll play much better than what we have. Playing out from the back and dicking around in the box cost us a ton of goals and created mistakes because players in L2 just don't have those abilities  and that's why people play like they do. Teams play some good football but nobody is doing that tapping around high pace stuff out the box, was great for possession but we never knew what to do with it and the other team just had to wait for the inevitable mistake. Macca returned to some form after Hurst returned and he had some time on the bench to recover lost confidence, by the time he came back the team were playing in a way that doesn't constantly put him under pressure as we did under Holloway. Also didn't help how much the team was chopped and changed so understanding each other and gelling went out the window.

I do think we need another keeper who is capable of fighting for that first team spot but I'm not expecting us to find somebody with top quality kicking and command of area along with being a great shot stopper willing to play in NL or L2, that just doesn't happen. A good young keeper on loan maybe but they can be good or bad options. Just a second keeper who could play regularly and isn't just a cheap option like a goalkeeper coach who is obviously just a backup for desperate times.