Trafford already lined up to replace Pope

[Big Vinny K]

Did Jensen have one season in the PL ?
He was absolutely awful that year - cost us a number of games from howlers. Wolves, Portsmouth, late equaliser at home to Villa and many more.

I cannot think of one thing that Jensen was better than Trafford at - he certainly did not command his area in anyway whatsoever. Could not catch a ball, could not kick a ball and gave zero confidence to the defence in front of him.

And that is not me saying that Trafford is a great keeper or ready for the Premier League. He is young and inexperienced (unlike Jensen was) and the one thing in common with the Coyle team is that he has defenders (and midfielders) in front of him who are making big mistakes in most games.

Like a lot of fans I would pick Muric too at the moment. But I’d also bring Ekdal back and Roberts (slightly better defender than Vitinho but still not good enough). I do not think our results so far would be any better with Muric in the team with the injuries and poor form of our defenders. But as we have started to improve and get a couple of players back I think our results could improve and Muric could help that improvement.

The downside will be if we do improve is this forum with the posters who will say it’s all down to Muric ignoring the return of Beyer etc and the point that the team was already improving.

[Shaggy]

Trafford has a save percentage which is the lowest in the league. 59 %

The reason he is getting a lot of stick is because he is way out of his depth and seems to start no matter what, and the transfer fee. People have a reasonable expectation that he would be a good competent keeper for the fee paid, not some inexperienced frightened to death academy kid who’s as weak as a kitten.

[Nori1958]

Trafford has a save percentage which is the lowest in the league. 59 %

The reason he is getting a lot of stick is because he is way out of his depth and seems to start no matter what, and the transfer fee. People have a reasonable expectation that he would be a good competent keeper for the fee paid, not some inexperienced frightened to death academy kid who’s as weak as a kitten.

Even the biggest Trafford haters on here accept he could have done very little to stop the majority of goals conceded, so the save percentage is of little value.. Any goalkeeper would have a similar percentage rate give or take a few points if facing the same shots.

[Shaggy]

Even the biggest Trafford haters on here accept he could have done very little to stop the majority of goals conceded, so the save percentage is of little value.. Any goalkeeper would have a similar percentage rate give or take a few points if facing the same shots.

Just stop digging a hole and doubling down and accept that he’s not up to the job. Stop making punitive excuses.

Save percentage for shots faced should actually favour keepers who have to deal with lots of shots. Basically almost half of the shots we’ve faced have ended up in a goal. Let that sink in.

[Nori1958]

Just stop digging a hole and doubling down and accept that he’s not up to the job. Stop making punitive excuses.

Save percentage for shots faced should actually favour keepers who have to deal with lots of shots. Basically almost half of the shots we’ve faced have ended up in a goal. Let that sink in.

It's sunk in...... But people say there was nothing he could have done with the majority of goals conceded... Which if true means no other goalkeeper would do any better

Like I said months ago, our problems are not the goalkeeper.... Whoever that might be

I've never said Trafford is a great keeper, most of my issues have been aimed at the ridiculous arguments put forward to get him dropped, like making stats up ( not aimed at you) and editing posts on here.

I don't think Muric is the answer, not because he's bad, but because any keeper would struggle in our team at the moment, including pope, Heaton or any other names that have been banded about, who would have ended up with a similar save percentage

[GodIsADeeJay81]

It's sunk in...... But people say there was nothing he could have done with the majority of goals conceded... Which if true means no other goalkeeper would do any better

Like I said months ago, our problems are not the goalkeeper.... Whoever that might be

I've never said Trafford is a great keeper, most of my issues have been aimed at the ridiculous arguments put forward to get him dropped, like making stats up ( not aimed at you) and editing posts on here.

I don't think Muric is the answer, not because he's bad, but because any keeper would struggle in our team at the moment, including pope, Heaton or any other names that have been banded about, who would have ended up with a similar save percentage

I’d give up with shaggy, his views on Dyche prove he’s clueless

[Jamesy]

It seems that some think that Trafford is 100% the reason we are losing and definitely not O'Shea playing like a competition winner, the entire defence acting like a human sieve, the midfield passing with the accuracy of a blind firing squad and strikers who couldn't find the back of the net even if the other team didn't turn up. Funny how few mention the other issues in the team when magnifying anything Trafford does.

100% the reason? Absolute nonsense. He is a contributing factor though in why we are struggling. Vincent is to blame for stubbornly picking him every week when even a blind man on a galloping horse can see that this lad is seriously out of his depth and not ready.
It’s not confidence inspiring playing in a team knowing that your goalkeeper is a liability.

[boatshed bill]

For those who want Trafford omitted it might be worth looking at what's happening with Ramsdale at Arsenal.

[Jamesy]

For those who want Trafford omitted it might be worth looking at what's happening with Ramsdale at Arsenal.

Why?

[boatshed bill]

Why?

According to commentary he looked an absolute nervous wreck at the weekend.
Confidence is difficult to maintain for a GK when your manager shows little faith in you.

[CoolClaret]

According to commentary he looked an absolute nervous wreck at the weekend.
Confidence is difficult to maintain for a GK when your manager shows little faith in you.

That's why he signed Raya and he will be playing the following game

[boatshed bill]

That's why he signed Raya and he will be playing the following game

Yes, I know. But Ramsdale was very good until the arrival of Raya.
I think we've pushed Trafford into the team a bit early, but the manager clearly prefers him to Muric; I'm not sure were Muric fits in now TBH.

[BurnleyFC]

He’s better than Onana, to be fair and cost £25m less!

[CoolClaret]

Yes, I know. But Ramsdale was very good until the arrival of Raya.
I think we've pushed Trafford into the team a bit early, but the manager clearly prefers him to Muric; I'm not sure were Muric fits in now TBH.

I mean using some of the logic in here imagine how Muric feels getting in the Champ TOTY, best defense in the league made the spot his own and dropped for absolutely nothing.

Be one thing if Traff was pulling up trees like but he isn’t (hence the contention)

Poor management imo and a big knock on VK.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I mean using some of the logic in here imagine how Muric feels getting in the Champ TOTY, best defense in the league made the spot his own and dropped for absolutely nothing.

Be one thing if Traff was pulling up trees like but he isn’t (hence the contention)

Poor management imo and a big knock on VK.

https://www.efl.com/news/2023/april/efl ... -revealed/

That’s was the team of the season

[k90bfc]

If any consolation at this moment,Man City,WONT be coming in for VK,neither will be Robbie Savage at Macclesfield,to sort them out!Look on the bright side,If we can!

[bumba]

https://www.efl.com/news/2023/april/efl ... -revealed/

That’s was the team of the season

So Trafford wasn't even the best GK in League one last season??

[boatshed bill]

I mean using some of the logic in here imagine how Muric feels getting in the Champ TOTY, best defense in the league made the spot his own and dropped for absolutely nothing.

Be one thing if Traff was pulling up trees like but he isn’t (hence the contention)

Poor management imo and a big knock on VK.

I'm not sure we can say it's poor management without knowing all the facts, though I accept it looks like that from the outside.
One thing for sure: no manager puts his career in jeopardy over dogmatic player selection.

Incidentally, just watched the highlights of the WHU game, no blame on Trafford for those goals.

[CoolClaret]

https://www.efl.com/news/2023/april/efl ... -revealed/

That’s was the team of the season

https://www.thepfa.com/news/2023/8/29/p ... -year-2023

The PFA one - arguably a better award

[CoolClaret]

I'm not sure we can say it's poor management without knowing all the facts, though I accept it looks like that from the outside.
One thing for sure: no manager puts his career in jeopardy over dogmatic player selection.

Incidentally, just watched the highlights of the WHU game, no blame on Trafford for those goals.

Managers can make strange decisions all the time. Dyche rightly got criticised for playing Crouchy over Vydra, for example.

There’s noise about a potential rift stemming from the Geneva/Munich celebration or whatever but I don’t want to speculate too much on that.

Again - ‘not being blamed for the goals’, it’s not about that particularly, it’s about positive contributions to the teams chance of winning a match.

[Westleigh]

A Manager bearing a grudge isn’t good ,players start forming clicks and when that happens team spirit soon disappears,hope VK is better than that ,but what other reason is there for playing a league 1 keeper whose letting in more than 2 goals a game?

[boatshed bill]

Again - ‘not being blamed for the goals’, it’s not about that particularly, it’s about positive contributions to the teams chance of winning a match.

Well I've read enough posts blaming the lad.
Watch the defenders' positions for West Ham's goals, awful.
Trafford may not be PL ready, I totally accept that point of view but some of the blame heaped on him is totally unfounded.

[Foshiznik]

100% the reason? Absolute nonsense. He is a contributing factor though in why we are struggling. Vincent is to blame for stubbornly picking him every week when even a blind man on a galloping horse can see that this lad is seriously out of his depth and not ready.
It’s not confidence inspiring playing in a team knowing that your goalkeeper is a liability.

So we should also drop O'Shea, Brownhill, Amdouni, Al-Dakhil, Vitinho, Roberts, Taylor, Cullen, Gudmundsson, Beyer, etc. too by that logic seeing as they have also been a contributing factor.

It's not confidence inspiring playing in goal knowing that 7/8 of the players standing in front of you are a liability.

[Jamesy]

So we should also drop O'Shea, Brownhill, Amdouni, Al-Dakhil, Vitinho, Roberts, Taylor, Cullen, Gudmundsson, Beyer, etc. too by that logic seeing as they have also been a contributing factor.

It's not confidence inspiring playing in goal knowing that 7/8 of the players standing in front of you are a liability.

Another ridiculous post to defend a poor keeper.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Another ridiculous post to defend a poor keeper.

I like the idea though

If you weren’t the manager and didn’t buy all those players and say came in tomorrow to fire fight the situation only players I would want to keep are

Foster , Kolo, Berge , Zaroury, Benson, Muric Beyer and Ekdal, JBG ( if he can prove his fitness)

The rest can either be replaced with better ones or go , bit like Stan and his Howey and Winstanley moment.

If I’ve forgotten any good ones apologies.

[CoolClaret]

Another ridiculous post to defend a poor keeper.

Irrespective of what anyone’s views on Trafford are - if that’s the case that we have so much dross in front of him then that’s a dig on VK for signing the players.

Pick your poison.

Either way there’s been some horrendous decisions made.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

I’d also keep Cork

[boatshed bill]

Irrespective of what anyone’s views on Trafford are - if that’s the case that we have so much dross in front of him then that’s a dig on VK for signing the players.

Pick your poison.

Either way there’s been some horrendous decisions made.

I don't think they are such bad players. It's impossible to build a PL squad for £100m and expect everything to be up and running at that level.

[CoolClaret]

I don't think they are such bad players. It's impossible to build a PL squad for £100m and expect everything to be up and running at that level.

Make it even harder for yourself when you dump a near third of that into players that aren't regularly making even the benc

Also - if they aren't bad players then it's solely on VK for not getting enough out of them - again, pick your poison.

[boatshed bill]

Make it even harder for yourself when you dump a near third of that into players that aren't regularly making even the benc

Also - if they aren't bad players then it's solely on VK for not getting enough out of them - again, pick your poison.

Remains to be seen, doesn't it.
Perhaps the board holds a longer term view to what success actually is; maybe it's not defined by one season's football.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I don't think they are such bad players. It's impossible to build a PL squad for £100m and expect everything to be up and running at that level.

Luton must have a world class manager being able to do it for less than 20 million then.

Plus they didn’t just have six years in the prem and were the highest spenders in the championship the year before.

The excuses are just getting boring.

[CoolClaret]

Remains to be seen, doesn't it.
Perhaps the board holds a longer term view to what success actually is; maybe it's not defined by one season's football.

It does but I'd say it's pretty sad how just how much expectations have been lowered.

[boatshed bill]

Luton must have a world class manager being able to do it for less than 20 million then.

Plus they didn’t just have six years in the prem and were the highest spenders in the championship the year before.

The excuses are just getting boring.

Actually the level of boredom extends just as much to the constant criticism and doom mongering.
If you are prepared to put a wager (loser paying £50 to a charity of the winner's choice) that Luton will finish above Burnley I will gladly take that bet on

[Newcastleclaret93]

Actually the level of boredom extends just as much to the constant criticism and doom mongering.
If you are prepared to put a wager (loser paying £50 to a charity of the winner's choice) that Luton will finish above Burnley I will gladly take that bet on

Why? The last time I put a wager on here for charity your mate Newclaret didn’t pay up.

Your statement is incorrect your saying it’s not possible to be build a squad with 100m. Luton are competing with a squad that cost them in total the best part of 25-30m

[boatshed bill]

Why? The last time I put a wager on here for charity your mate Newclaret didn’t pay up.

Your statement is incorrect your saying it’s not possible to be build a squad with 100m. Luton are competing with a squad that cost them in total the best part of 25-30m

So that's a "no" from you then? OK.

[Foshiznik]

Another ridiculous post to defend a poor keeper.

Not at all. Differing opinions is all. You refuse to treat any other player who isn't performing the same as you have with Trafford. I'm just pointing that out. I've not defended Trafford at all and am just using your own logic to provide a view from the other side of the coin. At least be consistent with all those performing poorly rather than targeting one player and absolutely gunning for them whilst ignoring the other 10 players in the same team who should also be held to account too.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Why? The last time I put a wager on here for charity your mate Newclaret didn’t pay up.

Your statement is incorrect your saying it’s not possible to be build a squad with 100m. Luton are competing with a squad that cost them in total the best part of 25-30m

The last time you were offered a wager on here your arse went and you acted like you couldn't read every time I asked you for the bet

[Shaggy]

The last time you were offered a wager on here your arse went and you acted like you couldn't read every time I asked you for the bet

Your arse collapses everytime you post on here, and the product ends up coming out of your mouth.

Maybe it’s just an age thing that your incontinent.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Your arse collapses everytime you post on here, and the product ends up coming out of your mouth.

Maybe it’s just an age thing that your incontinent.

from a buckie drinker who goes into meltdown at the slightest mention of Lewis Hamilton or Dyche I am sure I will be ok with your view of me you are an irrelevance kid

[Jamesy]

Not at all. Differing opinions is all. You refuse to treat any other player who isn't performing the same as you have with Trafford. I'm just pointing that out. I've not defended Trafford at all and am just using your own logic to provide a view from the other side of the coin. At least be consistent with all those performing poorly rather than targeting one player and absolutely gunning for them whilst ignoring the other 10 players in the same team who should also be held to account too.

I’m not ignoring them. I criticised Vithino the other week with his performance at Bournemouth where he played like he had won a raffle to play in a charity match with professionals. Again another player who is a square peg in a round hole.
The crux of all this is that Kompany has bought lots of players but ignored the spine of the team. He is also to blame for exposing Trafford to more pressure than he should be under week in week out.
I have said before I have nothing against Trafford but this cannot be doing his development any good. He is simply not ready for this pressure.