Pitchford replacement!

[IanMcL]

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/jame ... nd-3387447

[Rowls]

It's certainly not impossible.

We've got one of the most talented young goalkeepers in the country. His shot stopping his superb. His distribution is very good.

We all know his major weakness is in dealing with crosses and he needs to strengthen that part of his game considerably.

He was dropped into the brown sticky stuff last season and left to hang and dry in it. Frankly, his treatment last season with our tactics and gameplay was unforgivably bad. A man of lesser character might have been crushed by the experience but Trafford is coming through it and his talent is showing through again.

The article is hyperbole (do agents commission articles?) but it's not entirely without merit.

[Casper2]

It's certainly not impossible.

We've got one of the most talented young goalkeepers in the country. His shot stopping his superb. His distribution is very good.

We all know his major weakness is in dealing with crosses and he needs to strengthen that part of his game considerably.

He was dropped into the brown sticky stuff last season and left to hang and dry in it. Frankly, his treatment last season with our tactics and gameplay was unforgivably bad. A man of lesser character might have been crushed by the experience but Trafford is coming through it and his talent is showing through again.

The article is hyperbole (do agents commission articles?) but it's not entirely without merit.

His distribution is slow and is scatter gun at best

[bfcjg]

In fairness to Pickford he did play well for England in the main, however the obsession with playing out from yhe back denied the likes of Pope ( who I think is a better all round keeper) more opportunities ditto Heaton.

[beddie]

He’s a good keeper but still has a way to go in some areas, especially his kicking. I was impressed with our old keeper for Swansea at the Turf the other week, his dead ball kicking to find his player on the half way line on a number of occasions in front of the BL was impressive.

[fatboy47]

Would JT be anywhere remotely close to selection for England if he'd been a product of Gawthorpe?

Would he b*ggery... and he's certainly not (yet?) an upgrade on any of the current England crop.

He's doing ok though and hopefully he'll be a prem keeper with us next season.

[Colburn_Claret]

All of our top keepers appear to have peaked at the same time, consequently there's no natural progression. I should think the door is open for any young English keeper to grab the opportunity.
Traff certainly has to be one of them, but he has enough on his plate without adding any pressure to himself. Let him enjoy his football here, and what will be will be.

[Rowls]

His distribution is slow and is scatter gun at best

I'd say our tactics are slow and scattergun.

[IanMcL]

In fairness to Pickford he did play well for England in the main, however the obsession with playing out from yhe back denied the likes of Pope ( who I think is a better all round keeper) more opportunities ditto Heaton.

Playing out from the back...10 yard passes.
Pope does that.

[beddie]

I'd say our tactics are slow and scattergun.

That’s a very good point. Moving it quickly from back to front would help Trafford.

[Dark Cloud]

Pope is and has been for some time the best English keeper, but his kicking has always been his weak spot and held him back in international terms. I feel the same will happen to Trafford.

[JohnMac]

I think Pickford is a victim of rival fan jealousy. His initial headstrong attitude and camera seeking spectacular dives have been tempered somewhat. What is left is a mature solid keeper at the top of his trade and remains England's No1 because he is a better all round keeper than his contemporaries.

My opinion obviously but shared by many.

[Ric_C]

All this England Trafford Hype is good news for us, as it will bump up his price quite a bit.

[fatboy47]

All this England Trafford Hype is good news for us, as it will bump up his price quite a bit.

Hmmm...an interesting one. Certainly if the alleged interest in him and the prices being bandied about were definitely kosher and not something subtly promoted by agents/BFC.

Strange though, that nothing actually materialised....I'll stop believing that Pep had our pants down when the big bucks come rolling in...until then I hope the lad plays well for us albeit with very little to do.

[NewClaret]

I think Pickford is a victim of rival fan jealousy. His initial headstrong attitude and camera seeking spectacular dives have been tempered somewhat. What is left is a mature solid keeper at the top of his trade and remains England's No1 because he is a better all round keeper than his contemporaries.

My opinion obviously but shared by many.

Don’t watch England really but definitely agree that he’s the best all round keeper at the moment.

He’s got a lot of experience now and is a big character that you need at International level.

Hopefully Trafford can keep in the senior squad and develop from working with players like him.

[boatshed bill]

Playing out from the back...10 yard passes.
Pope does that.

Wasn't Pope's problem more to do with receiving and dealing with backpasses?

[NewClaret]

Hmmm...an interesting one. Certainly if the alleged interest in him and the prices being bandied about were definitely kosher and not something subtly promoted by agents/BFC.

Strange though, that nothing actually materialised....I'll stop believing that Pep had our pants down when the big bucks come rolling in...until then I hope the lad plays well for us albeit with very little to do.

I think we’ll definitely see a big profit at some point and I’d say there’s zero chance we’ll lose money (in reference to your pant pulling comment).

When recruiting from City’s academy and England youth players, I think it’s a bit like buying art painted by a renowned artist thats been authenticated by Sotheby’s - it may cost more up front but it’s much more likely generate a profit in future and certainly hold its value in the meantime.

If I were Alan Pace that’s exactly the market I’d be looking to fish in - top clubs youth products that are in or have been in the England set up, but aren’t getting game time at their current club. Pretty much guaranteed bunce, I’d say

[fatboy47]

I think we’ll definitely see a big profit at some point

As do many others.

Having witnessed the departure of everything that wasnt nailed down this summer and the arrival of a champ winning keeper, you'll have to forgive my cynicism about reports of elite clubs wanting him.

However, I'm glad you can see a megabucks international keeper in JT...personally I'll be going off what I see and not what I read...as I'd imagine will clubs like Newcastle.

[The Shire Claret]

Hmmm...an interesting one. Certainly if the alleged interest in him and the prices being bandied about were definitely kosher and not something subtly promoted by agents/BFC.

Strange though, that nothing actually materialised....I'll stop believing that Pep had our pants down when the big bucks come rolling in...until then I hope the lad plays well for us albeit with very little to do.

We will 100 percent make more than we paid for him

He’s also been fantastic this season , now he’s playing behind the best defence in the league , not the worst

Perspective is always important

[Hipper]

Trafford hasn't really had great deal to do this season so it's rather difficult to say, based on that, if he will be decent or not. We may get a better idea with some of the next fixtures.

[NewClaret]

As do many others.

Having witnessed the departure of everything that wasnt nailed down this summer and the arrival of a champ winning keeper, you'll have to forgive my cynicism about reports of elite clubs wanting him.

However, I'm glad you can see a megabucks international keeper in JT...personally I'll be going off what I see and not what I read...as I'd imagine will clubs like Newcastle.

It definitely looked like he was off, depending on whether you thought Green was a 2nd or 3rd choice keeper. That was one position I felt we did well to get ahead of in the market.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he went in January.

What you or I see is irrelevant to my point. I didn’t see the need for a new keeper in the first place and certainly not one who would play ahead of Muric (who is now at premier league level).

My point was that when you sign ex City guys that have gone through the England set up they attract a premium to buy but will also retain their value and sell for a premium when they’re in the full England set up, which he has been and is now being touted as the #1!!!! Hence why financially I expect it’ll be a profile of player we’ll probably look to recruit more often.

Whether the Newcastle interest was genuine or not doesn’t matter for us. All the rumoured interest and talk of ‘next England keeper’ will bump the asking price up, thankfully.

[Culmclaret]

He has improved this season although in a completely different context. He has potential -there is no doubt - but he is still way off being a full international keeper on distribution alone. He still looks weak on crosses to me. The good news is that for a keeper he is very, very young.

[equinox]

Muric (who is now at premier league level).

24 posts, not bad.

Edit: 20 posts, sorry.

[IanMcL]

Pope is and has been for some time the best English keeper, but his kicking has always been his weak spot and held him back in international terms. I feel the same will happen to Trafford.

I doubt it. All the media praise his kicking....without seeing it. Just continuing the false rumour issued at the outset.

[fatboy47]

NewClaret and ShireClaret are both welcome to come back and rub my nose in this thread when the big boys have rolled into town on their big money mission to capture the next England number one from us whilst inviting us to name our price.
I admire both your certainties and your ability to state opinions as facts.
You'll just have to forgive my short-sightedness.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The irony is Trafford is probably going to have a better career than every single player in this squad.

IMO he’s the only one that will likely end up playing in the top half of the prem and for his country on a regular basis.

[Hipper]

The irony is Trafford is probably going to have a better career than every single player in this squad.

IMO he’s the only one that will likely end up playing in the top half of the prem and for his country on a regular basis.

I would offer Esteve. He's practically the same age, got Premier experience too, and has been almost faultless this season (I stress almost). He's by no means the finished article either but if you ask, given a choice, most of us would say we would want to keep him at Burnley rather then Trafford.

[Stevie Morgan]

Wasn't Pope's problem more to do with receiving and dealing with backpasses?

Pope had a 10 yard first touch, great though he was.

[IanMcL]

Pope does exceedingly well for Newcastle and acts as sweeper. At Burnley his task was to get it to the front 2 without delay. Sometimes that would be great, other times not. It was as ordered by the boss.

Want a goal saved? Pope's your man.

[ClaretOfMancunia]

Unable to read the article as it's paywalled. Can someone copy and paste here please?