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Quoted from RonMariner

My wish list is a creative midfielder and another striker, preferably one that has a good track record of scoring at a higher level.

If I am being really greedy I'd ask for an experienced goalkeeper too.

We've got two experienced keepers and neither of them look up to it at the moment IMHO.I agree though I'd take a decent keeper if we could.

I'd like to think that it won't be just laonees and free agents but I'm sure it will be, for now anyway.

No way are we signing another keeper unless we shift one on. It would make no financial sense for us to carry 4 keepers,especially with one of them likely to be one of our highest paid players, and only one making each match day squad.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

We've got two experienced keepers and neither of them look up to it at the moment IMHO.I agree though I'd take a decent keeper if we could.

I'd like to think that it won't be just laonees and free agents but I'm sure it will be, for now anyway.

Neither of them look up to it..? Really?

I’d like to see a striker to replace Bell, a right back to replace Sears, a centre back to replace Towler and another centre midfielder, so 4. I also really hope that we extend Hunt, who is a very good footballer.

I’ve only seen Crocombe make one mistake, and then not a howler. The rest of the time he’s looked fine to me. Admittedly I don’t get to many away games.

Makes me laugh when people dismiss and castigate our keepers. So unrealistic. At this level, we have two great goalies. Macca is proven, and then some. Not flawless or without some aspects of his game that are weaker than others, but he’ll win us more points than he loses us. What is it people expect? Keepers at all levels will make an occasional mistake, Fact. All players do. Fans forget this and dismiss the context and overreact. Often, when keepers make a mistake, it means a goal conceded. This isn’t the case with any other position.

Quoted from chaos33

Makes me laugh when people dismiss and castigate our keepers. So unrealistic. At this level, we have two great goalies. Macca is proven, and then some. Not flawless or without some aspects of his game that are weaker than others, but he’ll win us more points than he loses us. What is it people expect? Keepers at all levels will make an occasional mistake, Fact. All players do. Fans forget this and dismiss the context and overreact. Often, when keepers make a mistake, it means a goal conceded. This isn’t the case with any other position.

I have a lot of time for James McKeown, without attempting to do the maths he’s probably the player I’ve seen play for Town more than any other (the original Macca would be close but my first game only came in 1992), so I think you naturally build up a degree of affection for the bloke.

But goalkeeping’s a funny position, and I think he’s had a touch of the ‘Joe Hart’s’ since he first got dropped for Dean Henderson, and he’s never been able to recover his confidence or form ever since. He’s not the same player he was five or six years ago for me, and whilst goalkeepers will indeed always make mistakes, they’ve become more frequent.

I can’t help but think that it’s probably best for him and us that he leaves at the end of the season, though where he goes from here I’m not so sure. Number two at a league club wouldn’t surprise me, though I suspect he has a fairly large pay cut heading his way.

That’s not me castigating him - he’s been a marvellous and memorable servant to the club over the course of the last decade and a bit. I’m just saying it how I see it.

My view on goalkeeping is you do not drop your keeper after just one mistake.

We do not need 3 keepers on the books as we never have one on the bench on match days.

If Battersby is as good as they say we have 3 with the same ability so i expect one to leave before too long.maybe we could swap a keeper for a striker.🤑

Quoted from chaos33

Neither of them look up to it..? Really?

“At the moment” as mentioned above.

If I’m honest I was making a bit of a smart @rse comment rather than anything else. For a non league club like ours I think the fact that we have a decent back up is a good thing.

I’ve probably seen 75% of the games this season and to be fair I can’t remember either of ours being as busy as the Halifax keeper was on Monday.

Quoted from Poojah

I have a lot of time for James McKeown, without attempting to do the maths he’s probably the player I’ve seen play for Town more than any other (the original Macca would be close but my first game only came in 1992), so I think you naturally build up a degree of affection for the bloke.

But goalkeeping’s a funny position, and I think he’s had a touch of the ‘Joe Hart’s’ since he first got dropped for Dean Henderson, and he’s never been able to recover his confidence or form ever since. He’s not the same player he was five or six years ago for me, and whilst goalkeepers will indeed always make mistakes, they’ve become more frequent.

I can’t help but think that it’s probably best for him and us that he leaves at the end of the season, though where he goes from here I’m not so sure. Number two at a league club wouldn’t surprise me, though I suspect he has a fairly large pay cut heading his way.

That’s not me castigating him - he’s been a marvellous and memorable servant to the club over the course of the last decade and a bit. I’m just saying it how I see it.

The game changes over time and I would say the role of a goalkeeper has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. Whilst their primary job is to keep the ball out of the net, they don't just deal with back passes under no pressure now. Even at non-league level keepers are passed the ball under immense pressure and expected to deal with it.

The distribution of a keeper seems to be something that has come on leaps and bounds too with Jordan Pickford and Ederson being 2 notable examples but this is filtering down the leagues.

I think McKeown has great reflexes and is a good shot stopper but his distribution has always been a weakness in his game.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

“At the moment” as mentioned above.

If I’m honest I was making a bit of a smart @rse comment rather than anything else. For a non league club like ours I think the fact that we have a decent back up is a good thing.

I’ve probably seen 75% of the games this season and to be fair I can’t remember either of ours being as busy as the Halifax keeper was on Monday.

Backtracking a little bit?

[quote=3898]

Backtracking a little bit?

Nah ….. just thought I’d clarify what was a bit of a throwaway line to all of the pedants, experts and wannabe football writers on this board who pick at any post making it something it’s not 😉

Quoted from jamesgtfc

The game changes over time and I would say the role of a goalkeeper has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. Whilst their primary job is to keep the ball out of the net, they don't just deal with back passes under no pressure now. Even at non-league level keepers are passed the ball under immense pressure and expected to deal with it.

The distribution of a keeper seems to be something that has come on leaps and bounds too with Jordan Pickford and Ederson being 2 notable examples but this is filtering down the leagues.

I think McKeown has great reflexes and is a good shot stopper but his distribution has always been a weakness in his game.

I actually think his inability to command his six yard box and often being rooted to his line is a bigger weakness.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

[quote=3898]

Backtracking a little bit?

Nah ….. just thought I’d clarify what was a bit of a throwaway line to all of the pedants, experts and wannabe football writers on this board who pick at any post making it something it’s not 😉

Sure

Quoted from chaos33

Makes me laugh when people dismiss and castigate our keepers. So unrealistic. At this level, we have two great goalies. Macca is proven, and then some. Not flawless or without some aspects of his game that are weaker than others, but he’ll win us more points than he loses us

That old chestnut is it

Quoted from smokey111

I actually think his inability to command his six yard box and often being rooted to his line is a bigger weakness.

People always used to say that about Danny Coyne too but keepers have been expected to come collect crosses for as long as I can remember. In terms of the game changing, more is made of goalkeepers having good feet and a good range of distribution these days.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

People always used to say that about Danny Coyne too but keepers have been expected to come collect crosses for as long as I can remember. In terms of the game changing, more is made of goalkeepers having good feet and a good range of distribution these days.

I would rather my keeper punch and collect crosses effectively than dink a 30 yard pass to a full back.

Maybe I am just old fashioned.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

People always used to say that about Danny Coyne too but keepers have been expected to come collect crosses for as long as I can remember. In terms of the game changing, more is made of goalkeepers having good feet and a good range of distribution these days.

And it was true of Danny Coyne. At 5ft 11” he was a proper wee man for a modern ‘keeper but every other area of his game was so exceptional I think most let it go. His distribution possibly wasn’t brilliant either, actually, but under Buckley most balls were played short anyway and under Lennie Lawrence he worked with one of England rugby’s conversion coaches and it made a real difference.

Mistake-wise, I can only remember two. The one that squirmed through him against Graeme Souness’ Blackburn on TV and a misplaced pass and tackle that saw him sent off at Pompey in a game we won 2-1 at Pompey.

On the flip-side, he gave us some absolutely breathtaking goalkeeping performances. If I ever see a better performance from a ‘keeper than Coyne at QPR in 2001 then that will really be something. Highlights don’t do it justice - you had to be there.

https://youtu.be/2wQiisu7xcA

Quoted from grimsby pete

.......as we never have one on the bench on match days.

I think that's mainly when Pearson is playing, as he has been proven to be capable in goal several times during his career, as a replacement when his keeper has been sent off or injured.

Quoted from ska face

That old chestnut is it

What?

Quoted from jamesgtfc

The game changes over time and I would say the role of a goalkeeper has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. Whilst their primary job is to keep the ball out of the net, they don't just deal with back passes under no pressure now. Even at non-league level keepers are passed the ball under immense pressure and expected to deal with it.

The distribution of a keeper seems to be something that has come on leaps and bounds too with Jordan Pickford and Ederson being 2 notable examples but this is filtering down the leagues.

I think McKeown has great reflexes and is a good shot stopper but his distribution has always been a weakness in his game.

I've heard a few people say Pickford's distribution is good. I don't watch him much, but I remember 2 games for England where nearly every goal kick went out for a throw in. I've seen McKeown do that too, so maybe he is better than I thought...

Pickford is usually very good at distribution. Obviously had a rough game that day.

Quoted from smokey111

I would rather my keeper punch and collect crosses effectively than dink a 30 yard pass to a full back.

Maybe I am just old fashioned.

I fully agree with you but the expectation that a keeper commands his area is something that has been there as long as I can remember.

Now though, keepers are also expected to command half of their own half, have good footwork under pressure and deliver pinpoint passes.

You see these keepers come down from an academy and they can hit the opposite box out their hands or from a dead ball yet when they play for their U21 team in the cup, they never kick it further than 5 yards. It makes me so anxious and invites unnecessary pressure.

I'm old fashioned and I like to see a team trying to play football but for me, get the ball to the halfway line and then play. I have no issue with a short goal kick but when it's the only thing the team does, it becomes dangerous. In fact, Halifax were a good example of how you do it last week as their keeper recognised when it did and didn't make sense to do it.

I'm not a keeper and it was a position I refused to play in whenever I played football, either at five-a-side or lunchtime kick-abouts at school.

But they get my sympathy. People remember the horror moments — a fumble at Gateshead in the play-offs, etc. But unless they put in a performance like Coyne did at QPR, their isolated moments of genius that win us points (last-gasp save, a penalty save, grabbing the ball from a corner under immense pressure in the last minute of injury time) just aren't remembered like goals.

Each time McKeown has pulled off a great save this season, I've considered how no one will remember it. I'm just as guilty as the next person. I know he's made great saves this season, some at important times, but even I can't remember them (sometimes they're not even included in the match highlights) and I'm trying to defend the keepers' union.

Anyone who doesn't think he (or any other keeper) are good enough for Town are going to find something that fits their narrative, because a striker who misses an open goal is forgiven by the goals people remember.

A keeper makes one mistake and no one can name the other times when he's single-handedly won us points. And who will remember a Banks-style save in a game we ultimately lose 3-1?

I'm by no means claiming McKeown is perfect because he's not. He's playing second fiddle to Crocombe for a reason. Whatever will be, will be. But keepers are the one position in football, I think, that never respond well to criticism or need a rocket up their bottom to improve.

Those keepers on the books are who we can afford, unless another Dean Henderson comes in on loan, and we ship 2 out.

Like outfield players, at this level, not perfect in all aspects.

The position though is that keeper errors are last line of defence, and more easily remembered.

There are still 10 players in front who have allowed the ball to get to a scoring position !

We currently need a forward who can find form and score goals, a strong midfielder, a pacey centre back and another right back. That will take up ALL of Hurst's time in January's window, and possibly February, when the EFL dust has settled.

If McAtee and Taylor can click again, it could be problem solved in the short term. McAtee also makes space for others to thrive, eg Souza and Clifton.

I can't see a new keeper coming in this season until the 4 positions above are resolved.

Quoted from Poojah

And it was true of Danny Coyne. At 5ft 11” he was a proper wee man for a modern ‘keeper but every other area of his game was so exceptional I think most let it go. His distribution possibly wasn’t brilliant either, actually, but under Buckley most balls were played short anyway and under Lennie Lawrence he worked with one of England rugby’s conversion coaches and it made a real difference.

Mistake-wise, I can only remember two. The one that squirmed through him against Graeme Souness’ Blackburn on TV and a misplaced pass and tackle that saw him sent off at Pompey in a game we won 2-1 at Pompey.

On the flip-side, he gave us some absolutely breathtaking goalkeeping performances. If I ever see a better performance from a ‘keeper than Coyne at QPR in 2001 then that will really be something. Highlights don’t do it justice - you had to be there.

https://youtu.be/2wQiisu7xcA

Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, Coyne's first season he was singled out by quite a section of the crowd for his inability to collect crosses and command his area, something that teams had started to target a little.

Again, in my memory, his real change of form came under Lennie Lawrence and when he started boxing training with a local club, I'm thinking it might have been Stuart Fleet's club but could be wrong.  He got really lean and agile on the back of that and it showed with his reflexes, almost cat like.

I think in the case of Coyne's first season, it was unfortunate that he was compared to the guy he replaced (Aidan Davison).  Whereas McKeown hasn't been compared to his predecessor, err...Kenny Arthur??, but his ability to command his area and distribute the ball is often compared to that of two loan goalkeepers we've had in Dean Henderson and Jake Eastwood.

I think at this level McKeown is what he is.  A decent stopper yet with limitations on his all round game.  You can argue that the ability to distribute and command your area are key elements of the goalkeeper function, but just like a slow centre-back or a forward who lacks a clinical touch, that's why they're at this level.

Will we get better than McKeown?  Personally I think so.  I think he's past his best and we need to look to freshen it up.  We might not get as good a shot stopper but in return we might get someone who distributes better or commands his area better.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

People always used to say that about Danny Coyne too but keepers have been expected to come collect crosses for as long as I can remember. In terms of the game changing, more is made of goalkeepers having good feet and a good range of distribution these days.

You can also distribute by throwing it out. Peter Schmeichel was the master at that.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

People always used to say that about Danny Coyne too but keepers have been expected to come collect crosses for as long as I can remember. In terms of the game changing, more is made of goalkeepers having good feet and a good range of distribution these days.

We all have weaknesses in our place of work. Wouldn't you work on them though? I know I do. McKeown has nothing else to do all week.

Quoted from Poojah

And it was true of Danny Coyne. At 5ft 11” he was a proper wee man for a modern ‘keeper but every other area of his game was so exceptional I think most let it go. His distribution possibly wasn’t brilliant either, actually, but under Buckley most balls were played short anyway and under Lennie Lawrence he worked with one of England rugby’s conversion coaches and it made a real difference.

Mistake-wise, I can only remember two. The one that squirmed through him against Graeme Souness’ Blackburn on TV and a misplaced pass and tackle that saw him sent off at Pompey in a game we won 2-1 at Pompey.

On the flip-side, he gave us some absolutely breathtaking goalkeeping performances. If I ever see a better performance from a ‘keeper than Coyne at QPR in 2001 then that will really be something. Highlights don’t do it justice - you had to be there.

https://youtu.be/2wQiisu7xcA

Awesome. Had a bit of luck to bag the three points. Someting that has been missing for a while.

Of course, keepers get a lot of stick for making mistakes. On the plus side for them, they have less competition. Outfield players are much more likely to be replaced due to tactical changes. They are also more likely to be suspended or injured, then they might find it hard to get back in the side.

Best keeper I ever saw play live was Simon Tracey (Sheff Utd). He didn't make that many spectacular saves because his positional play was so good.

If current reports are correct that's 5 out, so I'm looking forward to some new recruits especially a No 9.

One thing that hasnt been.mentioned is the shed liad of money wed save if macca did leave.he has to be about the highest paid keeper in non league, and I'm.pretty certain he ain't the best

I've no axe to grind with Macca as he has been a good servant to the club, but watching him last week in that reserve game, his flaws were evident. I have always thought that he is too easily beaten from range and that's exactly what happened in the game. It was a great shot, but I feel Macca encouraged it by being a bit too far off his line and the shot curled over him into the top corner. May be doing him a disservice as McAtee played a terrible ball across the the pitch straight to their unmarked player, but he quickly sized up the situation and beat Macca from 20 yards.

Secondly, with there being only a small crowd, you can hear the players shouting and on more than one occasion you could hear Macca berating himself with spicy language for hitting clearances that went askew. FFS! was heard more than once.

Finally, in the second half, he played a ball when under no pressure straight to one of their players right in front of the goal. He was over to one side of the goal as well and played it to the open side of the goal, leaving his net completely unguarded. The player fluffed his lines by hitting the post, when it seemed easier to score and the ball went across the face of goal and out for a goal kick, so he got away with it.