Selections on Sunday

[CoolClaret]

Actually by contrast most England U21 goalies DO make it. From those with plenty of caps the exceptions (Gunn, Fielding, Bursik) are dwarfed in number by Hart, Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson, Heaton etc. it is normally a really good indication of a future career.

An interesting list, because it makes me ponder how Ramsdale would have done in our team. Dodgy aerially, not the tallest, not the best distribution hence why Raya has replaced him, but clearly a good keeper and capable in the Premier League. The problem is the way Trafford is told to distribute, and that the defenders in front of him are less capable aerially than Arsenal have.

On other points, the Championship is way, way, way less physical than the Premier League. The blocking tactics are less sophisticated, the players aren’t giants. Listen to that interview with Jay on the Ben Foster podcast when he describes the difference.

Trafford will be a very good keeper in that league. If the fans don’t hound him out it will be for us.

No idea how anyone watching us play this season can come to any of those conclusions.

[Goliath]

...........Muric

Assignon...Beyer/o'Shea....Esteve...Taylor

.......Cork........Berge.......Cullen

Benson........................................JBL/Odobert

.....................Fofana/Rodriguez


3 in midfield should help us retain possession and allow Assignon freedom to get forward. Keep feeding Benson with Assignon going outside him.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Or, the inept attackers with the team scoring less than a goal a game. Concede one goal and the likelihood is we ain’t going to win the game.

Certainly true that when we look at the stats of goals, assists and chances created in open play our players are never in the top 30 even in the bottom half teams.

[CrosspoolClarets]

No idea how anyone watching us play this season can come to any of those conclusions.

Which conclusions? Specifically? That we have weak headers in front of the goalie? That other teams protect their keeper better?

I am a big fan of VK but this is all on him, you buy a young rookie keeper, you build a team to protect him. He neglected that.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Not having a go at Trafford, as I feel sorry for him having to endure every league game this season and take huge criticism. Some of which have been down to him, others through mistakes from our defenders and midfielders

However if the other 19 PL managers were to rank the main GK in every PL team, then JT would be comfortably 20th. Of course any other PL manager whose GK had played 3-4 bad games in a row, would have no hesitation in dropping their keeper at the earliest opportunity

The accepted measure of ranking keepers is by goals prevented (i.e. saves compared to expected saves). Not fantastic on this but Raya, Flekken, Johnstone and Turner are worse.

I accept there are other variables, but that is a key one. As I say above, the problem apart from inexperience is who is around him (short arses) and the tactics he is told to play (i.e. elite team tactics).

[Jamesy]

We shall see. I just wish I shared your unwavering optimism regarding Trafford.
I truly hope he makes it long term, he just isn’t ready right now and even a blind man on a galloping horse can see it.

[Jamesy]

Which conclusions? Specifically? That we have weak headers in front of the goalie? That other teams protect their keeper better?

I am a big fan of VK but this is all on him, you buy a young rookie keeper, you build a team to protect him. He neglected that.

No, you don’t play young rookie goalkeeper. You put someone with experience behind the defence.
I don’t know how you are still a big fan of VK after the way he has treated your keeper and neglected all areas of the team.

[Jamesy]

Actually by contrast most England U21 goalies DO make it. From those with plenty of caps the exceptions (Gunn, Fielding, Bursik) are dwarfed in number by Hart, Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson, Heaton etc. it is normally a really good indication of a future career.

An interesting list, because it makes me ponder how Ramsdale would have done in our team. Dodgy aerially, not the tallest, not the best distribution hence why Raya has replaced him, but clearly a good keeper and capable in the Premier League. The problem is the way Trafford is told to distribute, and that the defenders in front of him are less capable aerially than Arsenal have.

On other points, the Championship is way, way, way less physical than the Premier League. The blocking tactics are less sophisticated, the players aren’t giants. Listen to that interview with Jay on the Ben Foster podcast when he describes the difference.

Trafford will be a very good keeper in that league. If the fans don’t hound him out it will be for us.

We shall see. I just wish I shared your unwavering optimism regarding Trafford.
I truly hope he makes it long term, he just isn’t ready right now and even a blind man on a galloping horse can see it.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

He isn’t taking a lot of flak at the matches though. And I don’t call criticising him on here flak. As it’s a messageboard and half of the players and staff probably aren’t @rsed about we think anyway.

The flak at the matches is growing but
As for the message board you’re dead right - it’s just us - and it’s a long way away from what the wider fan base think -