With a perfectly good 'Keeper on the bench, Villa...

[RalphCoatesComb]

Chose to play a lame donkey!

Everyone who witnessed our dramatic come back last night was a little surprised (Understatement of the year award). Dean Smith looked shell-shocked; Grealish was in tears; and even Sean Dyche was "pleased".

Where did it go wrong for Villa?

The speculative cross/ shot by Dwight should never have found the back of the net. Woody's header, as good as it was, should have been saved.

We must be thankful that Tom was on the bench and not between the sticks

[tarkys_ears]

I don't know how Heaton is performing at the moment but I suspect we wouldn't have won last night with him in their goal.

[taio]

Martinez has had a very good season for them so far.

[nil_desperandum]

I don't know how Heaton is performing at the moment but I suspect we wouldn't have won last night with him in their goal.

I think that's the point. He's had two horrendous injuries.
No one really knows how good or confident he is at present. I suppose he would need a few games before we could begin to judge that.

[RVclaret]

Martinez been outstanding for Villa this year, most clean sheets in the league?

[taio]

Martinez been outstanding for Villa this year, most clean sheets in the league?

Ederson with 11 and Martinez second with 9.

[Zlatan]

cant argue with the stats...

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplis ... %20rows%20

Well, you can, because there are some on the list with 100% clean sheets, but they've only played 1 game...

[RalphCoatesComb]

Martinez been outstanding for Villa this year, most clean sheets in the league?

He must have used up all of his luck cos he was asleep for two of our goals!

[Raggus]

I think we are being unfair to Dwight and wood here. I don't think Heaton would of saved the header, the Cross shot maybe but it's all about timing. The ball in by Dwight was wicked and the keeper expected a touch then couldn't react quick enough, as somebody else pointed out its very much like the crosses from free kicks which evade everyone and the keeper can't react fast enough.

[!aiboforceN]

The problem with the cross was that the slightest of touches from Wood or their defenders would have gone in had Martinez not stood his ground. By the time he realised it wasn't getting a touch it was far too late to get down to it. A very dangerous ball in from Dwight.

I don't think Heaton would have got Wood's header, tbh.

[RalphCoatesComb]

By the time he realised it wasn't getting a touch it was far too late to get down to it.

That was the problem. Anticipation is key to the role of a 'keeper. He was made to look stupid by a fairly weak cross/ shot. Look at Dwight's face when he realised that it had gone it. He was almost as amazed as me

[Bin Ont Turf]

I reckon the fingers should be pointed at their defence not the goalkeeper.

All our goals were poor defending from them, and Dwight's cross goal shouldn't have made it anywhere near the goal.

[tim_noone]

I think we are being unfair to Dwight and wood here. I don't think Heaton would of saved the header, the Cross shot maybe but it's all about timing. The ball in by Dwight was wicked and the keeper expected a touch then couldn't react quick enough, as somebody else pointed out its very much like the crosses from free kicks which evade everyone and the keeper can't react fast enough.

Tongue in cheek post...at a guess.

[ClaretTony]

Chose to play a lame donkey!

Everyone who witnessed our dramatic come back last night was a little surprised (Understatement of the year award). Dean Smith looked shell-shocked; Grealish was in tears; and even Sean Dyche was "pleased".

Where did it go wrong for Villa?

The speculative cross/ shot by Dwight should never have found the back of the net. Woody's header, as good as it was, should have been saved.

We must be thankful that Tom was on the bench and not between the sticks

Not sure what you expected the goalkeeper to do on those goals. Pieters is inches from getting a touch to the McNeil goal and the header from Wood was superb.

[RalphCoatesComb]

Not sure what you expected the goalkeeper to do on those goals. Pieters is inches from getting a touch to the McNeil goal and the header from Wood was superb.

Having spent far too many frozen hours between the sticks, I can assure you that I would have been very disappointed to have let in either of those goals. For the first, it almost rolled over the line. Pieters is irrelevant. The second, Martinez was badly set to preserve his goal.

[ClaretTony]

Having spent far too many frozen hours between the sticks, I can assure you that I would have been very disappointed to have let in either of those goals. For the first, it almost rolled over the line. Pieters is irrelevant. The second, Martinez was badly set to preserve his goal.

Pieters is very relevant. Martínez has to be in two minds because it looks as though Pieters might get a touch. He’d have looked pretty stupid had that happened and the keeper gone for the corner.

As for Wood’s. Was said on commentary that he had no chance. When I saw it live from the main camera I thought it looked a soft one but seeing it again it’s a brilliant header and I don’t think the keeper has a chance.

[RalphCoatesComb]

Pieters is very relevant. Martínez has to be in two minds because it looks as though Pieters might get a touch. He’d have looked pretty stupid had that happened and the keeper gone for the corner.

As for Wood’s. Was said on commentary that he had no chance. When I saw it live from the main camera I thought it looked a soft one but seeing it again it’s a brilliant header and I don’t think the keeper has a chance.

It's all about opinions

[superdimitri]

Anyone thought that Smith looks like he could pass as Heatons dad?

[dsr]

Having spent far too many frozen hours between the sticks, I can assure you that I would have been very disappointed to have let in either of those goals. For the first, it almost rolled over the line. Pieters is irrelevant. The second, Martinez was badly set to preserve his goal.

It's all about positioning. Most goalkeepers would be in the middle of the goal ready to save Pieters' shot; you perhaps would have judged to perfection whether Pieters was going to touch it or not; Martinez didn't.

I once got great credit from my teammates for a similar sort of save when a cross/shot came in, this one at head height, and I casually moved to my right and caught the ball near the post while the centre forward in the middle of the goal missed it by a few inches. My team thought it was wonderful judgement. I didn't bother telling them I hadn't even seen the centre forward coming!

As for the last, the cross came from the keeper's right and the ball went in off the left hand post. He had a lot of distance to cover.

[Bordeauxclaret]

If the keeper saves Wood’s header it’s a better save than Banks against Pele.

[bfcjg]

It would have been a different game Heaton would have kicked the ball out differently rolled the ball to different players held a ball for longer or shorter therefore the game would not have been the same the play would not be identical.

[boatshed bill]

If the keeper saves Wood’s header it’s a better save than Banks against Pele.

There is no better save than the Banks one.

[Siddo]

Having spent far too many frozen hours between the sticks, I can assure you that I would have been very disappointed to have let in either of those goals. For the first, it almost rolled over the line. Pieters is irrelevant. The second, Martinez was badly set to preserve his goal.

Just wondering what level you played at? I too am in the goalkeepers union but find myself disagreeing with your opinion.
Martinez has had an excellent season, as has Pope, and I don't think he could be blamed for either of the two goals.
Incidentally, Mee's header was brilliant and has hardly had a mention.

[claretonthecoast1882]

There is no better save than the Banks one.

Heaton's at Southampton was better

[Siddo]

I have that as my number three with Banks unlikely to ever be bettered, Montgomery 73 cup final, but he should have held the first attempt, so the 2nd shouldn't have been necessary, and Heaton from Austin.
When I saw Tom's save I couldn't believe it as I was already turning away thinking it was in.

[boatshed bill]

Heaton's at Southampton was better

To be honest i can't remember that one.
I think most pundits would agree on the Banks save partly because it's at the very highest level of competition, and because it's Pele's header.

[boatshed bill]

I have that as my number three with Banks unlikely to ever be bettered, Montgomery 73 cup final, but he should have held the first attempt, so the 2nd shouldn't have been necessary, and Heaton from Austin.
When I saw Tom's save I couldn't believe it as I was already turning away thinking it was in.

the Montgomery one was brilliant.

[claretonthecoast1882]

To be honest i can't remember that one.
I think most pundits would agree on the Banks save partly because it's at the very highest level of competition, and because it's Pele's header.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... uthampton/


Number 1 on the video in the article

[boatshed bill]

Some great saves in there.
Great keeper for us was Tom Heaton

[Herts Clarets]

I described the Heaton save at Southampton as Banksesque. That is the yardstick by which saves out of the very top drawer are measured in my book and Tom's stop at Southampton was right up there. Those sort of saves don't come around often - i can remember a save from Schmeichel (Peter) in a European game I think and the forward headed it down more or less onto the goal line. It was a goal all day long until Schmeichel got down to it and somehow got a big enough hand on it to scoop it over the cross bar. An astonishing save.

As for Martinez, he has been excellent this season and given his injuries there is no way Heaton will be dislodging him any time soon. As others have said, had he followed Dwight's ball to the corner and Pieters had got a touch, he would have found himself looking a bit of a Hansbury. He had to hold his position and anticipate a touch, once the touch didn't come he didn't have time to react and adjust his position.

And the header from Wood was top drawer - I said on a post about Wood that none of our other strikers scores from that cross. I didn't think at the time to question the goal keeping for either goal and nothing i have seen since alters that position.

[jrgbfc]

I still think there's a good chance Heaton ends up back at Burnley to replace Pope when he moves on.

[claretblue]

Heaton to Everton!

[ClaretTony]

If the keeper saves Wood’s header it’s a better save than Banks against Pele.

I’d agree with that

[ClaretTony]

I described the Heaton save at Southampton as Banksesque. That is the yardstick by which saves out of the very top drawer are measured in my book and Tom's stop at Southampton was right up there.

In the next away game at Man U he had a stormer in a 0-0 draw which included the save from Zlatan. But the one to deny Charlie Austin at Southampton was something else and the away fans couldn’t have been better positioned.

[Zlatan]

Heaton to Everton!

now that would be funny

[Herts Clarets]

In the next away game at Man U he had a stormer in a 0-0 draw which included the save from Zlatan. But the one to deny Charlie Austin at Southampton was something else and the away fans couldn’t have been better positioned.

The performance at Man U was the one that drew the plaudits and rightly so. The save that is shown most often from that game is the star jump at Zlatan, which whilst still a tremendous save had an element of luck in that he made the jump and Zlatan hit the ball at him. The Southampton one is rarely shown on TV yet was infinitely better than any save he made against Man U. In fact i would go as far as to say i doubt Tom Heaton will make a save as good as the Southampton one if he plays for another 10 years. They are once in a career saves. Banks was before my time but you don't get voted best keeper in the world 6 years in a row if you aren't something special. And the one save that is talked about more than every other save he made in his career combined is the one from Pele in 1970.

And i share the view of another poster on here in that it wouldn't surprise me to see Tom rejoin Burnley when Nick Pope eventually moves on. And much as I admired Tom as the best keeper i had seen in my lifetime supporting Burnley (and to be fair the bar for the competition was set fairly low for me with the ageing Stevenson the first keeper i can recall properly, although i did see Gerry Peyton a couple of times for us and then a steady procession of mediocre to down right appalling keepers following that) I had and maintain the view that Nick Pope was and is the better of the 2.

[BleedingClaret]

In the next away game at Man U he had a stormer in a 0-0 draw which included the save from Zlatan. But the one to deny Charlie Austin at Southampton was something else and the away fans couldn’t have been better positioned.

Yes I’d already had that sickly feeling in the pit of my stomach, sometimes you have to watch things back to appreciate what you’ve seen but with our position you had no doubt what you’d witnessed and yes old Trafford was incredible too