Trafford

[Lip]

When is he going to learn to command his area from free kicks and corners ? Nearly cost us the game late on. Time he was able to come and claim a cross instead of being rooted to his line the clown.

[whiffa]

Thought he had a decent game tbh, made some good saves and looked calm under pressure. Certainly wouldn't be calling one of our players a clown, I'd be backing him.

[Milltown1882]

Doesn’t help when referees openly let 2/3 opposition players pretty much stand on him every corner.

[Paddy1882]

Certainly improved on last season but his starting position and area commanding will be a point id say he needs to improve on, plenty of times when defenders are facing our own goal they usher him to come to the edge of his box quicker so they can nod it back, just needs to be a bit more aggressive in his box.

[Murger]

He needs to speed up his distribution too. Takes forever in whatever he does.

[Cooclaret]

When is he going to learn to command his area from free kicks and corners ? Nearly cost us the game late on. Time he was able to come and claim a cross instead of being rooted to his line the clown.

Back to where we started.

James Trafford is an exceptional keeper, with talent and potential.

He is the future England number one.

Loved the interaction he had with the away fans in the second half.

Clown, only one clown, and it’s you!

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Ah the old "claim a cross" complaint

Goalies don't claim many, they never have, the stats back it up
It's not their job to do so either, it's the defenders job to clear any crosses
This pops up every so often on here because people don't understand the above

[BurnleyFC]

I thought he did OK but his distribution was a bit suspect again today.

[equinox]

Nobody is safe tonight.

[123EasyasBFC]

We are clutching if we are blaming Trafford for anything. He’s made important saves today

[Burnley1989]

One of the last players on the pitch id dig out today but hardly suprised to see it

[Cooclaret]

One of the last players on the pitch id dig out today but hardly suprised to see it

The agenda some have against Trafford and the owners is hilarious.

Same old people making the same old arguments that don’t stand up to any sort of scrutiny.

Any change to moan about nothing.

[The Shire Claret]

Another Trafford Post ?

Did nothing wrong today

[Lip]

Back to where we started.

James Trafford is an exceptional keeper, with talent and potential.

He is the future England number one.

Loved the interaction he had with the away fans in the second half.

Clown, only one clown, and it’s you!

Sorry,there's only one clown and it's you Cool Claret if you think he's a future England no1 when he can't command his area. All im saying is he neeeds showing how
To collect crosses and not stand on his line looking like a spare part. I will hold my hand up if he becomes England's no1 . 🖐🖐

[Cooclaret]

Sorry,there's only one clown and it's you Cool Claret if you think he's a future England no1 when he can't command his area. All im saying is he neeeds showing how
To collect crosses and not stand on his line looking like a spare part. I will hold my hand up if he becomes England's no1 . 🖐🖐

Glad you said that, because he will be. He’s been tracked as such since being a kid.

England work on a system that knows who’ll be where and when.

JT is that person.

He commands his area just fine. Have a look at our defensive record and come back to the conversation.

[Cooclaret]

Sorry,there's only one clown and it's you Cool Claret if you think he's a future England no1 when he can't command his area. All im saying is he neeeds showing how
To collect crosses and not stand on his line looking like a spare part. I will hold my hand up if he becomes England's no1 . 🖐🖐

I also agree that COOLclaret can be a clown sometimes.

[Tufty]

Ah the old "claim a cross" complaint

Goalies don't claim many, they never have, the stats back it up
It's not their job to do so either, it's the defenders job to clear any crosses
This pops up every so often on here because people don't understand the above

I'm not so sure. Nick Pope was excellent at it. Opposition could throw in crosses and corners all day long and he'd gather them up with ease almost every time. It was without doubt his greatest ability - so reassuring.

However, I feel the complete opposite when a cross comes in with Trafford in goal. I can barely watch. Unless he can somehow master the art of commanding his box on crosses he'll never be a great keeper...and almost never an England number 1. He's a big lad and has an added advantage of an arms length over every one else...but to watch him you wouldn't think so.

And as someone has already mentioned he's terribly slow, for some inexplicable reason, with his distribution.

Other than that he's a good keeper.

[Stproc]

So we have another dull, boring non-event of a game and you have a go at the goalie

[bumba]

He's years and years away from being ready for England

[Dark Cloud]

I genuinely don't have an "agenda" against Trafford and he's definitely not rubbish and he's been lots better this season (against weaker opposition?) but if he's going to be the next big thing for England, he's going to have to be miles better with the ball at his feet. I really don't get the "England love in" with him. He makes some good saves, but I'm constantly jittery whenever the ball is near him! Compared to Pope, he's nowhere near imo.

[Lip]

I also agree that COOLclaret can be a clown sometimes.

We all can .me as well

[Cooclaret]

[*]

He's years and years away from being ready for England

A year at most.

[ArmchairDetective]

Of all the people to get stick after today, Trafford

[Vegas Claret]

He got us a point, the shot onto the bar was a great save

[Row x]

Of all the people to get stick after today, Trafford

Some people can just not get rid of a certain agenda

He's been good all season, but to some he's a clown

[GetIntoEm]

Best keeper in this division by a mile

Would get in most prem sides, certainly going to be better than Pickford.

[Lip]

Some people can just not get rid of a certain agenda

He's been good all season, but to some he's a clown

I don't have an agenda Row x ,I just think he needs to Polish up on his corners ,crosses and free kicks into the area and he will become a great keeper instead of a good keeper..There's always room for improvement.

[Row x]

I don't have an agenda Row x ,I just think he needs to Polish up on his corners ,crosses and free kicks into the area and he will become a great keeper instead of a good keeper..There's always room for improvement.

He's not a clown, which is what you called him

[Rileybobs]

I genuinely don't have an "agenda" against Trafford and he's definitely not rubbish and he's been lots better this season (against weaker opposition?) but if he's going to be the next big thing for England, he's going to have to be miles better with the ball at his feet. I really don't get the "England love in" with him. He makes some good saves, but I'm constantly jittery whenever the ball is near him! Compared to Pope, he's nowhere near imo.

What’s wrong when he has the ball at his feet? The fact that you get jittery when the ball is near him probably has more to do with your nerves than Trafford’s ability.

[fidelcastro]

He's improved massively with his feet.

[Rileybobs]

Trafford played a couple of great long balls today, one in particular to Anthony on the left wing which would have the Muricists wetting their keks.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Caught day dreaming at least once again today but apart from that he was fine.

[Lew200100]

Let’s not get carried away with Trafford. He’s no different to last year and looks good as I haven’t seen a decent team this year in the championship.He’s a very good shot stopper but what drives me mad is how slow he is with his distribution. He needs a rocket up his bum as yes there are times when a game needs slowing down but likewise it needs speeding up as well and this never happens it is always pace.

[CoolClaret]

Trafford has bounced back tremendously after being out to dry last year. I think it also humbled him a bit.

He has been tremendous this season.

[Vim Fuego]

Whatever problems we have being 2nd in the league right now, they are not down to James Trafford. His distribution can be better at times, but today he made good saves and has done most games contributing to us having the meanest defense in the league. Game by game he is commanding his area better.

[Rileybobs]

Let’s not get carried away with Trafford. He’s no different to last year and looks good as I haven’t seen a decent team this year in the championship.He’s a very good shot stopper but what drives me mad is how slow he is with his distribution. He needs a rocket up his bum as yes there are times when a game needs slowing down but likewise it needs speeding up as well and this never happens it is always pace.

Now ask yourself, does Trafford slow the play down because he’s too dopey to think quickly, or is it because he’s been instructed to do so to draw the opposition press in the hope of creating an opening? If it’s the former I doubt he would have made it to this level. If it’s the latter then your criticism is misplaced.

[agreenwood]

I find it amazing that anyone believes Trafford’s “slow play” is anything other than part of team tactics.

[Burnley1989]

Now ask yourself, does Trafford slow the play down because he’s too dopey to think quickly, or is it because he’s been instructed to do so to draw the opposition press in the hope of creating an opening? If it’s the former I doubt he would have made it to this level. If it’s the latter then your criticism is misplaced.

Exactly, it just makes folk sound clueless when they moan and groan about it. Loads sat around me do it

[Bosscat]

My only gripe today was slowing the game down when we needed to get it going ... but you cannot fault him for not controlling his area ... thought he did that pretty damned well ... coming for crosses and catching them etc

[Let'sChaseTheDragon]

Did well, been great all season. Why would anyone be swinging at JT?

[Let'sChaseTheDragon]

Now ask yourself, does Trafford slow the play down because he’s too dopey to think quickly, or is it because he’s been instructed to do so to draw the opposition press in the hope of creating an opening? If it’s the former I doubt he would have made it to this level. If it’s the latter then your criticism is misplaced.

Well said

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I'm not so sure. Nick Pope was excellent at it. Opposition could throw in crosses and corners all day long and he'd gather them up with ease almost every time. It was without doubt his greatest ability - so reassuring.

However, I feel the complete opposite when a cross comes in with Trafford in goal. I can barely watch. Unless he can somehow master the art of commanding his box on crosses he'll never be a great keeper...and almost never an England number 1. He's a big lad and has an added advantage of an arms length over every one else...but to watch him you wouldn't think so.

And as someone has already mentioned he's terribly slow, for some inexplicable reason, with his distribution.

Other than that he's a good keeper.

Screenshot_20250101_201944_Chrome.jpg (793.78 KiB) Viewed 2839 times

Opp
▼ -- Crosses Faced
Opponent's attempted crosses into penalty area
Stp -- Crosses Stopped
Number of crosses into penalty area which were successfully stopped by the goalkeeper
Stp% -- Crosses Stopped %
Percentage of crosses into penalty area which were successfully stopped by the goalkeeper

As I've said, goalies don't tend to stop many crosses into their box, because it heightens the risk of them being caught out of position and its the job of the actual defenders to do it

It's always been this way but people try to claim otherwise

[Dark Cloud]

What’s wrong when he has the ball at his feet? The fact that you get jittery when the ball is near him probably has more to do with your nerves than Trafford’s ability.

With the ball at his feet he's (frequently) ponderous, dithery and extremely slow so there's never any momentum to our play. It's like we're winning every game 2-0 and he's just winding down the clock, but we're not! On the occasions he kicks it long it rarely finds a Burnley player and I think we saw the immense value of a keeper who can ping a quick, long, accurate ball downfield with Muric. (And no, I'm not turning this into another Trafford v Muric debate as Muric clearly had issues too!)

[Rileybobs]

With the ball at his feet he's (frequently) ponderous, dithery and extremely slow so there's never any momentum to our play. It's like we're winning every game 2-0 and he's just winding down the clock, but we're not! On the occasions he kicks it long it rarely finds a Burnley player and I think we saw the immense value of a keeper who can ping a quick, long, accurate ball downfield with Muric. (And no, I'm not turning this into another Trafford v Muric debate as Muric clearly had issues too!)

Trafford’s short passing is absolutely on point and he is calmness personified on the ball. He make the odd wayward pass under pressure but it’s usually put into touch rather than to an opponent in a dangerous area. His long passing is fine, certainly on par if not above the average goalkeeper at this level. He also is fairly comfortable shifting the ball onto his left foot if required. He plays some good long balls which don’t get anywhere near the recognition they would had Muric played them. He played a number of good long balls today which released players who are undoubtedly less incisive than those we had last time we played at this level.

His ‘ponderousness’ on the ball is clearly something asked of him by the coaching staff and I really can’t believe there are people (and there are obviously lots) that can’t see this. I also think that a lot of fans who don’t understand that this is intentional get audibly agitated in the ground which helps nobody.

In summary, for a goalkeeper Trafford is very good with the ball at his feet and as I’ve said before I really question whether some people understand what they’re watching if they think otherwise.

[Lew200100]

I fully understand what I’m saying and just remember this next year when we are back in the premiership because we will be. Trafford is way to slow and he didn’t get away with it last year and he won’t again next season. He is a great goalkeeper but I can only say what I see and he is identical in is slow passing to what he was doing for Kompany which obviously didn’t help us last season.

He plays consistent passes that never create anything although he never gives the ball away you won’t if you passing it 10 yards every time. I am not against Trafford as he is quality but this type of play does nothing for the team and as most people are saying not me it’s dull and boring and if that is what you want then great but it’s not for me as days like today when it’s freezing you want some excitement but yet again it was Dull.

[mickleoverclaret]

Trafford’s short passing is absolutely on point and he is calmness personified on the ball. He make the odd wayward pass under pressure but it’s usually put into touch rather than to an opponent in a dangerous area. His long passing is fine, certainly on par if not above the average goalkeeper at this level. He also is fairly comfortable shifting the ball onto his left foot if required. He plays some good long balls which don’t get anywhere near the recognition they would had Muric played them. He played a number of good long balls today which released players who are undoubtedly less incisive than those we had last time we played at this level.

His ‘ponderousness’ on the ball is clearly something asked of him by the coaching staff and I really can’t believe there are people (and there are obviously lots) that can’t see this. I also think that a lot of fans who don’t understand that this is intentional get audibly agitated in the ground which helps nobody.

In summary, for a goalkeeper Trafford is very good with the ball at his feet and as I’ve said before I really question whether some people understand what they’re watching if they think otherwise.

You can understand why Trafford is so ponderous on the ball and still be audibly agitated by having to watch it.

[Rileybobs]

You can understand why Trafford is so ponderous on the ball and still be audibly agitated by having to watch it.

Yes but you wouldn’t be critical of Trafford for it would you?

[mickleoverclaret]

Yes but you wouldn’t be critical of Trafford for it would you?

I think in the moment you're more likely to shout "Get on with it FFS" than "Parker, it's time to reassess the urgency with which we build our attacks from the back", which might easily be construed as criticism of Trafford even when people understand perfectly why it takes him half a minute to do anything.

[Rileybobs]

I think in the moment you're more likely to shout "Get on with it FFS" than "Parker, it's time to reassess the urgency with which we build our attacks from the back", which might easily be construed as criticism of Trafford even when people understand perfectly why it takes him half a minute to do anything.

Well if you criticise Trafford for carrying out the instructions of his coaches, either on here or at the ground, then you’re a bit silly.

[Shaggy]

He doesn’t inspire me with any confidence. We’ve seen a few booboos already this season when he been under a bit of pressure, which thankfully hasn’t been that often.