Thread change, GR was correct.

First and foremost this is not a "Macca" bashing thread.

I have noticed that in recent weeks there's been quite a few on here stating it's time for a change between the sticks and just wanted to gauge people's real thoughts on James.

Now, for me in 10 years he's pulled of saves worthy of any "save of the season" whichever league we look at, from the premier down.

My gripe is his delivery and lack of being able to command his 6 yard box.

So it's really time for a change or do we accept his plus points outweigh any negatives within his all round game..

Again this is not a "let's slate" Macca nor a scapegoat type of thread, just open for discussion.

i like Macca, professionally and as a person

But no player is irreplaceable and i feel its only fair Crocombe is given a chance

Have to say does look like a Macca 'bashing thread' by singling him out like that

Quoted from TwoLeftFeet

Have to admit does look like a Macca 'bashing thread's by singling him out like that

He does play in a position where you can't avoid singling him out. Maybe "New First Choice Keeper" might have been a more sensitive subject?

Whether it’s a player bashing thread or not his inability to command his six yard box is a major flaw in his game and he could have little argument if he was rested and the other lad given his chance.

It depends on the quality of Crocombe.

We all know Macca’s qualities and flaws… what we haven’t seen is what Max’s are. Hurst sees them both each day in training so he’s in the best position to make the call!

James McKeown is a 5th tier goalkeeper just like Max Crocombe who we pipped Boston United to the signing of at the 11th hour.

Every goalkeeper at this level will have strengths and weaknesses. If they were a decent all-rounder then they would probably be playing in League 1 or above.

It would be a sensible move to give Crocombre a run of games, he looked decent with the little he had to do at Bromsgrove,  but we'll never know until we give him a proper chance.  

I think its time to give the lad a run.
He must be wondering why the hell he was signed as he's not even on the subs bench and on matchdays he's behind Pearson!

I would have liked to have seen Macca work on improving his weaker areas over the last 500 games.  I see little or no progress here in his development.

I agree that Crocombe deserves his chance.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

I would have liked to have seen Macca work on improving his weaker areas over the last 500 games.  I see little or no progress here in his development.

He clearly doesn't read the game well enough to command his area in that way. And if he did, then he wouldn't be here.

He's not as good as some make out when he's on a string of good performances and he's not as bad as some make out when things aren't going well. He's a good NL keeper and just about L2 level

I'm no expert on goal keeping and I like Macca a lot but he looks well off it and if he was an outfield player he'd be dropped which I think needs to be the case now..

Leave the guy alone - he is still one of the best goalkeepers in this division. Tell me a keeper in the Premier who doesn't have faults never mind Division 5.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

I would have liked to have seen Macca work on improving his weaker areas over the last 500 games.  I see little or no progress here in his development.

That’s the thing for me, he seems to have gone backwards over the past couple of years to the point where I think he’s a liability and consistently one of the worst performers in the team.

His best form was under Andy Warrington, and he’s really not progressed at all since he left. On current form, he’s a lower-half conference keeper.

I used to be a big, big fan of his but his form, and attitude at times, in the past couple of seasons has really put me off him. If Crocombe isn’t getting a game now, you might as well pay him up and let him go.

What gets me is he cango after a young player that makes a mistake and give him a bollocking , but he makes mistakes and thinks its ok and just carries on and lets face it he has done a few howlers in his time . Just because he has played over 500 games should not make him untouchable

Quoted from denni266

What gets me is he cango after a young player that makes a mistake and give him a bollocking , but he makes mistakes and thinks its ok and just carries on and lets face it he has done a few howlers in his time . Just because he has played over 500 games should not make him untouchable

Agree. Poor as Revan was at Aldershot, it wasn’t McKeown’s divine right to bawl him out. He’s not captain and it was very unprofessional.

Play them both and play with 9 outfielders.

Quoted from golfer

Leave the guy alone - he is still one of the best goalkeepers in this division. Tell me a keeper in the Premier who doesn't have faults never mind Division 5.

It’s this attitude why the club never seems to move on , he’s a level 5 keeper whose in poor form. if a keeper can’t command his area especially the 6 yard box he will never be a good keeper a keeper that gives confidence to his defenders is crucial he doesn’t

Think I’ve noticed an absence of goals at the other end which is the real problem….

New Owners , new season same old moaning about JM . Just support the team and stop publishing  crap about him on here . It's counter productive . He certainly isn't the problem at the moment .

What if Crocombe is simply a better goalkeeper?

We don't know of course as Hurst doesn't play him but surely being the 500 appearances goalkeeper who currently holds the jersey shouldn't be a passport to never stepping aside.

Crocombe could be be a far better keeper who should replace Macca permanently not just when Macca makes a few mistakes.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Think I’ve noticed an absence of goals at the other end which is the real problem….

One clean sheet in 6 not a problem?

A few draws in that run and suddenly it’s not as bad as what we’re currently looking at. At fault, at least partly, for game changers against Solihull and Notts County, he’s turning draws into losses. We can’t afford it.

Ah so now Hurst has a new striker in people are moving on to something else to blame on the recent bad form. Now it's "The problem is Hurst not playing our other keeper!" instead of "Hurst won't sign another striker!"  ;D.

We scored 2 goals in the last 6 games, in 4 of 6 games the margin lost was by 1 goal, but the problem is the goalkeeper....This forum is delusional tbh and obsessed with getting rid of people for the buzz of seeing somebody new.

What really needs to happen is players need to find the motivation and flow they had previously and remember how to score goals. It started with Yeovil, the players looked uninterested but we scraped by against a poor team that was easy pickings, same with Southend but everyone else beat us and nobody looked like they really cared. Maybe they hate playing in the cold? Maybe their mind is on other things like Christmas and not focused on winning games for GTFC? They better figure it out soon and start playing like we know they can, changing the keeper to make you lot happy because it's a new face won't be enough to change things if we can't score any flipping goals ourselves.

See, absolutely impossible to have any meaningful discussion about the keeper on here.

Can anyone really watch that second goal (5:50) and say there’s a League 2 keeper in there?

https://youtu.be/nRCiSzEXPE0

Quoted from Kris2

Ah so now Hurst has a new striker in people are moving on to something else to blame on the recent bad form. Now it's "The problem is Hurst not playing our other keeper!" instead of "Hurst won't sign another striker!"  ;D.

We scored 2 goals in the last 6 games, in 4 of 6 games the margin lost was by 1 goal, but the problem is the goalkeeper....This forum is delusional tbh and obsessed with getting rid of people for the buzz of seeing somebody new.

What really needs to happen is players need to find the motivation and flow they had previously and remember how to score goals. It started with Yeovil, the players looked uninterested but we scraped by against a poor team that was easy pickings, same with Southend but everyone else beat us and nobody looked like they really cared. Maybe they hate playing in the cold? Maybe their mind is on other things like Christmas and not focused on winning games for GTFC? They better figure it out soon and start playing like we know they can, changing the keeper to make you lot happy because it's a new face won't be enough to change things if we can't score any flipping goals ourselves.

Its obviously a combination of factors but teams know our keeper wont come for crosses so try to whip as many in as they can and a change in goal would benefit us I think.

I am just hoping something weird hasn't gone on to disrupt the squad but we played well against Notts and not too shabbily against Southend so let's hope we snap out of it quickly and become more competitive.

Quoted from ska face

See, absolutely impossible to have any meaningful discussion about the keeper on here.

Can anyone really watch that second goal (5:50) and say there’s a League 2 keeper in there?

https://youtu.be/nRCiSzEXPE0

cmon mate everyone makes mistakes, i do think Macca is good enough to be a League 2 keeper, hence why he has been.

that said, as i mentioned previously in this thread, i do feel Crocombe should be given a chance

Quoted from Hagrid

cmon mate everyone makes mistakes, i do think Macca is good enough to be a League 2 keeper, hence why he has been.

that said, as i mentioned previously in this thread, i do feel Crocombe should be given a chance

Did you watch their 2nd goal? That's absolutely atrocious from him.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Did you watch their 2nd goal? That's absolutely atrocious from him.

yeah clearly i did. but im not gonna hang the man out to dry for it

Clifton was just as culpable.but theres not a word about him

Quoted from Hagrid

yeah clearly i did. but im not gonna hang the man out to dry for it

Clifton was just as culpable.but theres not a word about him

Not remotely true, here's what I posted in the match thread immediately after watching it go in:

Quoted from Chrisblor

Absolutely urine weak goal to concede. Useless from Clifton and utterly abject from McKeown

And Clifton has been one of our better performers this season, so obviously there'll be less calls to drop him after a single poor performance. Everyone's consternation with McKeown stems from his repeated poor performances and ongoing inability to command his area.

Nobody whatever position they play have a divine right to play every game.

Our home form is still very good but our away results  are terrible lately even with our great support at each game.

It will not not hurt Macca having a few games out the team and we will find who is the better keeper.

If it's Macca then bring him back into the team if not then Paul has done the right thing in giving the other guy a chance.

Lots of chat about whether Crocombe is good enough, but let's not forget we've also got a GK coach who can probably still do a job.

Watching that second goal from Tuesday back, it's even worse than I remembered on the night. It's probably cost us points that. As well as the Notts goal, he dropped an absolute clanger vs Torquay too, but thankfully that was back when we could score goals. People are right to point out that there are big problems up top, but that's precisely why Macca needs dropping as the defence needs sorting out. We need to be able to rely on clean sheets during these kind of lean spells.

I think last seasons mini run with Sam Russell proved pretty definitively that his playing days are gone.

Its Crocombre or Macca for me and if the former is not up to it  then we might as well not have bothered signing a back up as we never carry one on the bench anyway. We could have gone down an emergency loan route if necessary. If Macca's form drops then Hurst should give him a run otherwise he's a complete waste of a wage.

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

If Macca's form drops then Hurst should give him a run otherwise he's a complete waste of a wage.

Unless Crocombe proves, irrespective of Macca's form, to be a better keeper of course but then we might never find out

Obviously Hurst knows who is the better keeper so it's upto him to decide

Yes but I don't think anyone's disputing that!

Quoted from Kris2

Ah so now Hurst has a new striker in people are moving on to something else to blame on the recent bad form. Now it's "The problem is Hurst not playing our other keeper!" instead of "Hurst won't sign another striker!"  ;D.

We scored 2 goals in the last 6 games, in 4 of 6 games the margin lost was by 1 goal, but the problem is the goalkeeper....This forum is delusional tbh and obsessed with getting rid of people for the buzz of seeing somebody new.

What really needs to happen is players need to find the motivation and flow they had previously and remember how to score goals. It started with Yeovil, the players looked uninterested but we scraped by against a poor team that was easy pickings, same with Southend but everyone else beat us and nobody looked like they really cared. Maybe they hate playing in the cold? Maybe their mind is on other things like Christmas and not focused on winning games for GTFC? They better figure it out soon and start playing like we know they can, changing the keeper to make you lot happy because it's a new face won't be enough to change things if we can't score any flipping goals ourselves.

Really? I think you could be in for a surprise come the end of the season.

Having watched the highlights there’s so many obvious errors by a number of players for both their goals. No problem with constructive criticism of Macca but it seems to be a personal vendetta with some town fans and I’m not sure why. Lots of managers have had him as 1st choice for a reason.

Quoted from Vance Warner

Having watched the highlights there’s so many obvious errors by a number of players for both their goals.

Yes, but then people like Pearson, Clifton, Crookes, Hunt, McAtee etc. have all spent time on the bench this season and people can suggest dropping or resting them without anyone completely losing their minds. Not the case with McKeown.  

Quoted from ska face

Yes, but then people like Pearson, Clifton, Crookes, Hunt, McAtee etc. have all spent time on the bench this season and people can suggest dropping or resting them without anyone completely losing their minds. Not the case with McKeown.  

Happy for you to direct me to a thread calling for any of the above to be dropped. Some of them have been rested which Macca shouldn’t need. I just feel there’s some waiting for him to make a mistake so they can trot out their lazy analysis about not commanding his area. For hidden agendas and lazy analysis see also Paul Hurst and Plan B

You can all talk till the cows come home but it doesn't change the fact Macca needs dropping. Huge mistake against county and that shocker for the 2nd at Solihull, the days of saying he’s a great shot stopper as a get out of jail card are over

Quoted from Vance Warner

Having watched the highlights there’s so many obvious errors by a number of players for both their goals. No problem with constructive criticism of Macca but it seems to be a personal vendetta with some town fans and I’m not sure why. Lots of managers have had him as 1st choice for a reason.

Not excusing that McKeown could have done better with the second but for me, it's unacceptable for a player to start deep in his own half and get into a position where the keeper has a save to make. Somebody has to take one for the team and keep us in the game.

[quote=591
I just feel there’s some waiting for him to make a mistake so they can trot out their lazy analysis about not commanding his area. For hidden agendas and lazy analysis see also Paul Hurst and Plan B [/quote]

Hardly lazy analysis to state the bleeding obvious. How often do you see Macca coming out and catching corners or punching them away with any sort of authority? He’s a fantastic servant to this club and gets the fans full respect for his service but I feel he makes his defenders, and a great number in the crowd, very nervous every time the opposition has a corner or free kick deep in our half.

If we really wanted to beat the man with a stick we could mention the mistakes in home games v Carlisle and Harrogate last season and the 3 points those mistakes cost us which might have been very useful in the final reckoning!!!

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

[quote=591
I just feel there’s some waiting for him to make a mistake so they can trot out their lazy analysis about not commanding his area. For hidden agendas and lazy analysis see also Paul Hurst and Plan B

Hardly lazy analysis to state the bleeding obvious. How often do you see Macca coming out and catching corners or punching them away with any sort of authority? He’s a fantastic servant to this club and gets the fans full respect for his service but I feel he makes his defenders, and a great number in the crowd, very nervous every time the opposition has a corner or free kick deep in our half.

If we really wanted to beat the man with a stick we could mention the mistakes in home games v Carlisle and Harrogate last season and the 3 points those mistakes cost us which might have been very useful in the final reckoning!!!

Exactly this. It's not lazy when it's clear as day that he won't command his six yard box let alone his goal area. And other teams know this, they whip it in right in to the six yard box because they know he won't come and get it. Or the few times he does attempt it, he often flaps and causes panic.

Quoted from golfer

Obviously Hurst knows who is the better keeper so it's upto him to decide

Now stop talking sense!

Quoted from Abdul19

Yes but I don't think anyone's disputing that!

I think that’s exactly what everyone is doing. They’re disputing Hurst’s judgment in picking McKeown

Quoted from mariner91

Exactly this. It's not lazy when it's clear as day that he won't command his six yard box let alone his goal area. And other teams know this, they whip it in right in to the six yard box because they know he won't come and get it. Or the few times he does attempt it, he often flaps and causes panic.

It’s lazy analysis because there’s a time to come and claim things and a time to stay at home. There’s nothing worse than a keeper who tries to claim everything and gets caught out. How many goals have we conceded from corners this season?

Quoted from Vance Warner

It’s lazy analysis because there’s a time to come and claim things and a time to stay at home. There’s nothing worse than a keeper who tries to claim everything and gets caught out. How many goals have we conceded from corners this season?

Equally theirs nothing worse when a keeper who  refuses to step foot of his goal line … like others have said he doesn’t fill the defenders with confidence, it’s not personal I just want to see the other kid given a go at it.

When Macca first came here and we had dropped into non-league football I thought he was a good prospect. Had been at Peterborough, experienced non-league at Boston and also worked under Hurst. After watching him a few times it was apparent he had 2 weak areas - didn't appear to like high balls in the 6 yard area and his kicking was often wayward . But he was still young for a keeper and these weaknesses could be corrected with the right coaching and application. 10 years on and nothing has changed - he still has the same weaknesses. I always thought, and said on here many times, that he was a good non-league keeper and a reasonable 2nd division keeper. If we are to get promoted back into the league and carry that momentum forward then we need a better 1st choice keeper. Macca has been a good servant to the club and I think he will remain with the club for a few more years but we need someone better for the future. I don't know if Crocombe?(?) is the answer but obviously PH must think he has the ability or he wouldn't have signed him in the first place. It is easy to get sentimental over players that have been here a long time but nobody stays at the peak of their game forever, regardless of playing position.

It's clear Crocombe is only going to play if / when Macca gets an injury or in minor cup games so no chance to show if he is in fact the better keeper and to get possession of the goalkeepers jersey

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I think that’s exactly what everyone is doing. They’re disputing Hurst’s judgment in picking McKeown

I'm disputing Hurst's judgement in picking McKeown. But I'm not disputing it's Hurst's decision! (coz it'd be daft if it wasn't)

Quoted from Vance Warner

It’s lazy analysis because there’s a time to come and claim things and a time to stay at home.

We must be very unfortunate then to have gone years without seeing one of these times where a keeper should claim a cross. The young lad Eastwood last year showed the difference in class between those who will actively claim a cross, and those who wait for the perfect cross to claim.

There was one on Tuesday where he could’ve claimed the ball about chest height, but opted to give it a short right jab instead for some reason & nudged it out to the edge of the box. He claims that & we control the play.

It’s not just crosses where he’s rooted to his line, he doesn’t offer a positive option to feet when we have the ball in our defensive third or it needs sweeping up. Plenty of times Tuesday the ball was bobbling around behind the back 4 near the edge of the box, but rather than being proactive and taking control of the situation, he waits on his line for a defender to prod it back to him so he can inevitably shank/slice/clip one up to the half way line. Nobody’s expecting Neuer, but he needs to be taking control there and pushing people out.

His best quality has always been his shot stopping at close range. The thing is, nobody expects you to save a shot from 6 yards out, so when you do it’s amazing. I don’t think his reflexes are what they were 3/4/5 years ago so he’s trying to anticipate where shots are going more. Like Tuesday, he seems to expect the ball to be bent into his bottom left, so his weight’s all wrong when it trickles past him to the right.

Tuesday, Bromley and Altrincham he’s been beaten at his near post. Only the one at Bromley had any real pace on it. His handling’s been poor as well this year, opting to parry anything with any power on it. He’s parried one straight into his net at Torquay and parried one straight to an attacker against Notts County.

Ultimately we could be doing a lot better and shouldn’t need to be scoring 2 or 3 a match because it’s likely we’re going to leak one unnecessarily.

Quoted from ska face

We must be very unfortunate then to have gone years without seeing one of these times where a keeper should claim a cross. The young lad Eastwood last year showed the difference in class between those who will actively claim a cross, and those who wait for the perfect cross to claim.

There was one on Tuesday where he could’ve claimed the ball about chest height, but opted to give it a short right jab instead for some reason & nudged it out to the edge of the box. He claims that & we control the play.

It’s not just crosses where he’s rooted to his line, he doesn’t offer a positive option to feet when we have the ball in our defensive third or it needs sweeping up. Plenty of times Tuesday the ball was bobbling around behind the back 4 near the edge of the box, but rather than being proactive and taking control of the situation, he waits on his line for a defender to prod it back to him so he can inevitably shank/slice/clip one up to the half way line. Nobody’s expecting Neuer, but he needs to be taking control there and pushing people out.

His best quality has always been his shot stopping at close range. The thing is, nobody expects you to save a shot from 6 yards out, so when you do it’s amazing. I don’t think his reflexes are what they were 3/4/5 years ago so he’s trying to anticipate where shots are going more. Like Tuesday, he seems to expect the ball to be bent into his bottom left, so his weight’s all wrong when it trickles past him to the right.

Tuesday, Bromley and Altrincham he’s been beaten at his near post. Only the one at Bromley had any real pace on it. His handling’s been poor as well this year, opting to parry anything with any power on it. He’s parried one straight into his net at Torquay and parried one straight to an attacker against Notts County.

Ultimately we could be doing a lot better and shouldn’t need to be scoring 2 or 3 a match because it’s likely we’re going to leak one unnecessarily.

that one Towler was completely blocking his view

just trying to offer a balanced argument, but Hursts the manager and he isnt afraid to drop Macca- as shown last season- but at this time he obviously feels Macca deserves the Jersey

If our form replicates the last six games in the next six games not only will macca be under scrutiny his boss will be aswell

After watching the highlights, I'm not sure how much blame I'd put on him for their second goal. Poor defending to allow their player to run all the way through from there, but it was a well-placed shot. I think we'd have said it was a good finish if the boot was on the other foot.

That said, I don't think he's been in great form this season. When you're in a relegation dogfight (as we have been for most recent years), a good shot-stopper is important, but if we're looking to be well on top of most teams (which should be our aim this season) with the keeper hopefully only needing to do the odd thing here and there, distribution and coming off the line to cleaning up at set pieces then becomes more important. Against Southend, it was noticeable how much better at kicking their keeper was. Getting the ball 20 yards further upfield from the same starting position is very helpful but McKeown just doesn't get the distance or the accuracy.

Is Crocombe the answer? Dunno, but I'd be happy enough if he was given a go. If Hurst thinks McKeown is still the better choice, then fair enough.

Is Crocombe the answer? Dunno, but I'd be happy enough if he was given a go. If Hurst thinks McKeown is still the better choice, then fair enough.[/quote]

Boston offered him a decent contract, we offered more surely that must mean hurst rates him as direct competition to macca not just a understudy. If we don’t try him we will never know

I agree with the concerns expressed above,

I very rarely like to criticise individual players.  I like to be positive.  However, Macca does make avoidable errors.  Not the odd one either.  Even as far back as the start of last season he probably cost us 6 points.  Eg, one backpass was missed and trickled into the goal.

In my view a change of keeper would be good for everybody at present. Take it from there.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Lots of chat about whether Crocombe is good enough, but let's not forget we've also got a GK coach who can probably still do a job.

Watching that second goal from Tuesday back, it's even worse than I remembered on the night. It's probably cost us points that. As well as the Notts goal, he dropped an absolute clanger vs Torquay too, but thankfully that was back when we could score goals. People are right to point out that there are big problems up top, but that's precisely why Macca needs dropping as the defence needs sorting out. We need to be able to rely on clean sheets during these kind of lean spells.

How can it cost us points if we were already losing? We can't even get close to a scoring opportunity right now and it's kind of pathetic, but sure lets just say we lost points because Macca didn't reach a shot placed into the corner. We should play our GK coach in the first team? Jesus christ, how desperate can we be?

Quoted from Maringer

Against Southend, it was noticeable how much better at kicking their keeper was. Getting the ball 20 yards further upfield from the same starting position is very helpful but McKeown just doesn't get the distance or the accuracy.

Which is all useless if the rest of your team plays like crap and loses by a single goal like they did, a problem we seem to have ourselves either way.

Surely he will let Crocombe have a go on FA Trophy day on Dec 18th

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

If our form replicates the last six games in the next six games not only will macca be under scrutiny his boss will be aswell

Ah! The First Law of Fenty - 'thou shalt receive thine P45 if thou hast six unsuccessful games in a row.'

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Ah! The First Law of Fenty - 'thou shalt receive thine P45 if thou hast six unsuccessful games in a row.'

But if our next 6 replicates the last 6 then we'll have lost 10 out of 12. That's not 6 unsuccessful games in a row, that's deserving of the sack.

The 6 games thing is a pretty common statement in football too, not a Fentyism. He probably got it from match of the day.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Ah! The First Law of Fenty - 'thou shalt receive thine P45 if thou hast six unsuccessful games in a row.'

It would be 12 game sequence and if we manage the same points tally surely his job is under threat wouldn’t it ?

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

It would be 12 game sequence and if we manage the same points tally surely his job is under threat wouldn’t it ?

I’d worked that out myself.

Just makes you wonder how long you get under the ‘long term project’ #greatertogether regime.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Nobody whatever position they play have a divine right to play every game.

Our home form is still very good but our away results  are terrible lately even with our great support at each game.

It will not not hurt Macca having a few games out the team and we will find who is the better keeper.

If it's Macca then bring him back into the team if not then Paul has done the right thing in giving the other guy a chance.

Sorry Pete but if Crocombe is no better than Macca we need to be finding two new keepers.

Just think we got off to such a fabulous start, the rest of the season would become an anticlimax.
There are lots of good squads with plenty of funds behind them
If we can get to end of January in top 3 I’d be both pleased and amazed.
Modern society has no tolerance for apparent failure, whether it’s covid, immigrants across the channel or footy teams losing 4 out of 5 games.
Sad but that’s the way it is….

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Just think we got off to such a fabulous start, the rest of the season would become an anticlimax.
There are lots of good squads with plenty of funds behind them
If we can get to end of January in top 3 I’d be both pleased and amazed.
Modern society has no tolerance for apparent failure, whether it’s covid, immigrants across the channel or footy teams losing 4 out of 5 games.
Sad but that’s the way it is….

No tolerance for apparent failure ….. we’ve been failing for twenty years ,if anyone as a right to moan it’s the fans of gtfc

Quoted from Kris2

How can it cost us points if we were already losing?

.

I’m guessing you have never played at a competitive level.
I I’m talking local league at least.

You’re 1-0 down but looking like getting back in the match  
One of the team (and unfortunately goalies are in the firing line) makes a big error resulting in an opposition goal). Opponents heads go up, yours go down.  That can cost you points.

As an aside on this. I’m fairly reliably informed that Macca is one of (if not the) top earners at the club. Right now he is not worthy of that.  

Quoted from Grimal

Sorry Pete but if Crocombe is no better than Macca we need to be finding two new keepers.

But if he's better we'll only need one. We just need him to have a run in the side to find out but sadly Hurst doesn't seem to want to let him but then Macca is his favourite boy who it appears can do no wrong

Macca looks like he's in poor form but I'm no goal keeping expert and due to work commitments versus the amount of weekday NL games I've missed more games than in recent seasons and probably can't give any kind of truly informed view.

But from what I've seen I think we need a change, knowing Hurst and one of his qualities is loyalty then Macca will be in goal tomorrow.    

He dropped him after that Stevenage game though, so it's not completely unrealistic.

For those saying Hurst watches them both in training and therefore must be picking the best one, well In 2016/17 we had Dean Henderson in the squad. It wasn't until bignot took charge that he got in the team. When he did it was obvious to everybody that Henderson was a far superior keeper (understandably given the career he went on to have). Hurst had watched them both in training every day but he had still persisted in picking macca regardless. I assume Hurst could see who was the better keeper, it would be bizarre if not, but he is a very conservative manager.

However he did drop macca for Eastwood last season so maybe he has changed a bit.

Quoted from Ipswin

What if Crocombe is simply a better goalkeeper?

We don't know of course as Hurst doesn't play him but surely being the 500 appearances goalkeeper who currently holds the jersey shouldn't be a passport to never stepping aside.

Crocombe could be be a far better keeper who should replace Macca permanently not just when Macca makes a few mistakes.

I'm pretty sure Hurst will and is playing who he believes is the best option. Remember it was Hurst and only Hurst that has dropped JM in the last 5+ years. I support whatever PH does.

Quoted from lukeo

I'm pretty sure Hurst will and is playing who he believes is the best option. Remember it was Hurst and only Hurst that has dropped JM in the last 5+ years. I support whatever PH does.

This is one of the problems with supporters of this club. Blind faith helps no one. Flapper was one of the constituents of our relegation, and will be instrumental in us not getting promoted, along with Hurst. Would love to be proved wrong  but I don't think I will.

Quoted from lukeo

I'm pretty sure Hurst will and is playing who he believes is the best option. Remember it was Hurst and only Hurst that has dropped JM in the last 5+ years. I support whatever PH does.

Bignot dropped him for Henderson, and Holloway dropped him for Sam Russell.

Quoted from realist

This is one of the problems with supporters of this club. Blind faith helps no one. Flapper was one of the constituents of our relegation, and will be instrumental in us not getting promoted, along with Hurst. Would love to be proved wrong  but I don't think I will.

Despite the fact Macca has been part of, and Hurst the only manager too, get us promoted in the last 23 years😂😂

Having seen the Solihull highlights, I'm not sure if Macca had much chance in either goal and pulled off too very good saves as well.

In fact watching the first goal especially I would be looking for another left back

Quoted from arryarryarry

Having seen the Solihull highlights, I'm not sure if Macca had much chance in either goal and pulled off too very good saves as well.

In fact watching the first goal especially I would be looking for another left back

I’m not sure Crookes is fully fit yet nor do I think Pearson is the right centre back to play alongside.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I’m not sure Crookes is fully fit yet nor do I think Pearson is the right centre back to play alongside.

Not the first time he has gone MIA, the Notts County winner.

If he isn't fit now, when the frig will he be fit?

Excellent shot stopper, great club man and a leader through the spine of the team. Only 32, in his prime as a goalkeeper. He does have issues commanding his area and dominating crosses. I'd like to see him come with violence and take whatever is within his 18 yard box. I've played the game for 20 years at Sunday league level, and coached keepers and managed, so how can I judge a man with 500 plus professional games? I will anyway ha.

As an ex goalkeeper, that 18 yard box is yours and anyone who dares to come into your home should be dealt with with violence and power within the rules of the game. I see a lot of pointing and shouting, but I don't see dominance and strength. He isn't going to learn that now at 32, but I'd still consider him a top keeper at this level.

Excellent shot stopper, reasonable kicker (as there are some shockers at this level), he is a leader but he hasn't been great recently, has previously come back from brief periods of being out of the team. Perhaps it is time for the other lad to have a go. He isn't done by any means, he's a good lad and is fully committed.

He can save, mess up, not command his box, it doesn't matter that much if the outfield can't have shots at the opponents goals or even score

Quoted from Mariner John

He can save, mess up, not command his box, it doesn't matter that much if the outfield can't have shots at the opponents goals or even score

Well it does because if you keep a clean sheet that’s a point minimum. Let’s see where a point or two here or there matters come the end of the season.

Quoted from realist

This is one of the problems with supporters of this club. Blind faith helps no one. Flapper was one of the constituents of our relegation, and will be instrumental in us not getting promoted, along with Hurst. Would love to be proved wrong  but I don't think I will.

Normally I don’t agree with you much … but on this occasion. It’s almost like the club refuses to move forward keeping the same old staff doing the same things that have led us to the dog and duck league yet again.