The Footie Thread

[Orikoru]

This is a phrase I often think about, in terms of how much relevance it has. Are all Premier League goalkeepers not excellent shot stoppers? If I think of the likes of Pope, Pickford, Ramsdale, Allison, Ederson, etc I can think of them all making many great saves.

Clearly, if you compare save percentages, then someone has to come out on top and someone bottom in the PL goalkeeper list. Although I'd take those stats with a pinch of salt, as some teams have defences that concede chances that make it difficult for any GK, while others defend better and restrict the opposition to more speculative efforts.

If it is a given that pretty much all PL GK's are excellent shot stoppers, then when determining who is better over another it is more likely going to fall down to who is more composed on the ball, who is more calm at dealing with crosses and ultimately who will give more assurance to the defenders in front of him.

I hate when people use this as some sort of compliment. "He's a good shot-stopper.' - isn't that the most basic minimum requirement?? If he's not stopping shots.. what's he doing there?? It's a classic one for those keepers who look good in lower-mid-table facing endless shots all game, go to a big club and look absolutely lost. Like Mignolet for example, but there have been countless others.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Brutal

Just wait until our lovely new stadium is built. Best in the Championship

You're really confident you'll get out of league 1 at the 1st attempt?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Really looking forward to the Scotland v England game this evening.

Scotland out to prove that they are better than half decent, and that the current record run of results is not simply down to poor calibre opposition; whilst England (for as little as I care about them) will be keen to demonstrate that they are better than recent results might suggest, and desperate to stick one right up the insolent Jocks and their irritating supporters.

COYS

 

[Bdill93]

I hate when people use this as some sort of compliment. "He's a good shot-stopper.' - isn't that the most basic minimum requirement?? If he's not stopping shots.. what's he doing there?? It's a classic one for those keepers who look good in lower-mid-table facing endless shots all game, go to a big club and look absolutely lost. Like Mignolet for example, but there have been countless others.

Some are better at it than others though - as some are with the ball at their feet.

Id argue Martninez is one of the top 5 stoppers in the league, pulls of so many extraordinary saves that other keepers just wouldn't.

He's not the best ball player though, average to good but nothing close to the 2 Brazilians

 

[clubchamp98]

The best teams are never built around one player or you’re setting yourself up for a huge fall.

And if the England team were to follow that path it should be Bellingham.

Not forever .!
if Foden isn’t avaliable Maddison or dare I say Kane can play the number 10 role with another striker up front.

we just need a more attack minded manager to utilise the talent we have.
But the system is set up to avoid defeat atm.

 

[TimShady]

Not forever .!
if Foden isn’t avaliable Maddison or dare I say Kane can play the number 10 role with another striker up front.

we just need a more attack minded manager to utilise the talent we have.
But the system is set up to avoid defeat atm.

That’s without doubt. This side is being wasted with a backwards manager who gets away with it just because his predecessors were worse.

 

[clubchamp98]

I'll ask the question again, I have to do this every so often. Why are people so keen to get rid of Pickford. He can't help being born in Sunderland so once you get past that, how has he let England down?

If Ramsdale is the answer why has Arteta bought someone to replace him? Pope has wobbled at Newcastle this year. In the meantime, Pickford keeps making save after save (we do give him plenty of practice) and he continues to do a first class job for England. If you are analysing the problems with England, the GK is not part of the discussion

It’s to deflect from Maguire and Henderson.

Pickford is a great keeper and hasn’t put a foot wrong in the shirt.
which is a bit more than you can say for what’s in front of him.

 

[Orikoru]

Some are better at it than others though - as some are with the ball at their feet.

Id argue Martninez is one of the top 5 stoppers in the league, pulls of so many extraordinary saves that other keepers just wouldn't.

He's not the best ball player though, average to good but nothing close to the 2 Brazilians

It makes me feel old but I can't help but be annoyed that people don't place far more weight on the actual stopping goals part than the being able to pass the ball to the full back part. It's got to the point that a keeper could keep 10 clean sheets but still get dropped because he can't clip a 60 yard ball to the feet of the wing back.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

You're really confident you'll get out of league 1 at the 1st attempt?

I saw what you did there . I'm not confident about anything at the moment as far as the club is concerned. Grim times. We need to scrape though this year and see where we stand at the end of it.

 

[clubchamp98]

Depends on how hot the fire is . At the moment, we are not in a position to be overly choosy. We need stability and if they can offer that then we will take it. We can worry about them once the current guy has gone, the stadium has been built.

I've looked up the company. Loads of marketing speak, I'm none the wiser . They are in Miami though so at least we will be cool

But not The Peoples club anymore.
Just a club in some portfolio.
Modern Football.!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

But not The Peoples club anymore.
Just a club in some portfolio.
Modern Football.!

It can remain The People's Club in how it works with the local community, hopefully that will remain in place as it is fundamental to EFC as a club, but in terms of ownership those days are long gone for any PL club. They are all just numbers on a balance sheet now .

 

[AmandaJR]

Just read a stat on Manc evening news.
Of the 23 under 21s England squad, 10 players in the squad have come through the City acadamy. 1 is in Peps squad, 4 sold and 5 on loan.

If only we'd stop ruining football

 

[Swango1980]

Really looking forward to the Scotland v England game this evening.

Scotland out to prove that they are better than half decent, and that the current record run of results is not simply down to poor calibre opposition; whilst England (for as little as I care about them) will be keen to demonstrate that they are better than recent results might suggest, and desperate to stick one right up the insolent Jocks and their irritating supporters.

COYS

For as much as we criticise the manager of England, I find this statement amusing. How recent are we going here. I'll list the results from the most recent:

v Ukraine (A): 1-1 DRAW
v N Macedonia (H): 7-0 WIN
v Malta (A): 4-0 WIN
v Ukraine (H): 2-0 WIN
v Italy (A): 2-1 WIN
v France (N): 1-2 LOSS
v Senegal (N): 3-0 WIN (WC R16)
v Wales (N): 3-0 WIN
v USA (N): 0-0 DRAW
v Iran (N): 6-2 WIN

So, last 10 games they've 7 wins, 2 draws and a loss. They had some dodgy results pre-World Cup in that nations League, although that was when they ridiculously had 3 games in June after a long season, and then a couple of games in September that probably didn't feel overly important by that stage.

So, beating Scotland will demonstrate nothing for England. They'll simply want to avoid defeat to avoid any criticism, although I wonder if Southgate will now make quite a few changes as it is a friendly, and if the result isn't what they want he can use the "we tested several new players and they didn't quite gel" excuse.

Still looking forward to it though, it is a night for bragging rights.

 

[IanM]

Two matches on tonight.

A commemorative anniversary meaningless friendly, and the World Cup Final.

 

[Golfmmad]

So what do all the England managers think of GS team selection tonight?

 

[Billysboots]

Good old Gareth. Heard him interviewed earlier when he said he would balance the need to play established players alongside his wish to learn about some of the younger members of his squad. Which is why he’s starting with largely established players, presumably.

I’m beyond sick of him as a conservative, unadventurous, boring manager.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Well at least McGuire isn't playing and Dunk has got his chance to show what England could have had for the last two or three years .

 

[Deleted member 21784]

So what do all the England managers think of GS team selection tonight?

Henderson is out so the team has 100% more morals

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Henderson is out so the team has 100% more morals

It’s getting boring now - try and take a day off.

So what do all the England managers think of GS team selection tonight?

It’s your standard Southgate midfield - two holding players and an 8

He is playing safe as usual when he could and prob should have trusted Rice to protect the back 4 and then played either Foden or Maddison as a ten which to then allow Kane to be a proper 9!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yep team needs to be built around Foden.
sooner the better.

Can’t build a team around 1 player and 1 player who hasn’t proven himself to be a player that you can build a team around

Bellingham and Rice with Stones behind -but Foden should be part of the core along with the likes of Saka