Heaton is a top keeper. I think the reason no big clubs will come in for him is because of his distribution.

Does anyone else think it has been very very poor of late?

The boro game more balls must have reached touch than a player

All part of the masterplan. As it finished Boro0, the masterplan worked.
He's normally excellent.

Heaton's kicking has never been great but who cares really as long as he keeps saving shots.

I reckon he should play in midfield with Tarkowski....

Where as Mignolet....

Obviously the most important part to his game is his shot stopping.

I've just noticed that recently his kicking has been awful.

He seemed to improve after watching Robinson kick it out, reverted back to normal now. Still wouldn't swap him for anyone

its not so bad, now and again one or two kicks go astray, but no more than other keepers. He is best keeper in the UK in my opinion.

Gray doesn't jump for headers and Barnes is looking for the foul rather than winning the duel. A throw in to them deep in their half isn't so bad a result.

How can anyone be critical of Heaton? Best keeper in UK.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote:Heaton is a top keeper. I think the reason no big clubs will come in for him is because of his distribution.

Does anyone else think it has been very very poor of late?

The boro game more balls must have reached touch than a player

As of late? I don't think I've ever seen him "distribute" a ball to one of ours

califclaret wrote:How can anyone be critical of Heaton? Best keeper in UK.

The list is endless who gets criticised on here...

What's his "assist" rate compared with other goalkeepers? Are the rest of them contributing, say, four or five goals a season by their accurate distribution? No, didn't think so.

There is one important question to ask about a goalkeeper's distribution:
1. Did a bad kick lead to a goal?

Everything else is just for bonus points. If your keeper is a better keeper than the next man to the extent that he will save his club one fewer goal conceded, then I doubt the next man is going to create enough goals with his kicking to make up.

But if his kicking stops anyone taking him off us, I'm all for it!

Heatons distribution is bad?

He is probably the quickest goalkeeper to release the ball I can remember. Most of them are out to the back four to start an attack granted, but his distribution is excellent.

Why else would he be in charge of free kicks as far forward as the half way line.

Bizarre thread

Why is Scott Arfield in charge of corners? He's just as bad.

I'm not denying that Heaton is a good shot stopper but his distribution is woeful at best. (And this is something I mentioned about 3 years ago)

Agree on the Arfield point. But I have been that used to us not beating the first man for years that I barely notice any more.

Corners should always be Brady if he is on, regardless of side or in his absence Barton.

Heaton is fine though. Cant see Ive ever noticed it as especially bad. Occasional balls out of play, but in the main he is very strong especially from backpasses and on either foot,

starting_11 wrote:I'm not denying that Heaton is a good shot stopper but his distribution is woeful at best. (And this is something I mentioned about 3 years ago)

"Woeful" kicking means kicking it out direct to the opponents, or out for corners, or into your own net. In four years, how many goals have come from Heaton's allegedly worse-than-woeful kicking?

Are you sure you aren't confusing the words "woeful" and "below average"?

heatons distribution is good, i disagree, normally effective and accurate.

Have a closer look on Saturday

I cannot fault Tom Heaton, they bugger about praising Gordon Banks, and our Premier league's top team goalie's, but I havent seen a better keeper thanHeaton, anywhere...
Banks was overated anyway, that save in the world cup from Pele, seen Heaton do these numerous times. Beware of hype. Heaton is the best around.

The best thing about Heaton is how simple everything looks. And everything isnt simple. especially playing for a team as under pressure as ours can be. He just makes it look very simple.

His save against Southampton and his performance at Old Trafford were as good as you will ever see. In fact the save from Negredo last week too.

10 clean sheets from 29 premier leauge games. Pheonomenal.

Lets hope he gets another on his birthday this saturday! He hasnt even peaked yet.

he doesn't want to leave, he's being crap on purpose

So what if the odd ball goes out, we all make mistakes now and then.
I would also add, his distribution would appear to be more effective if when Vokes wins a header it isn't headed to no one and Quickenthetempo hit the nail on the head with Grey and Barnes.
Also if the out field players showed a little more movement at times rather than just bunching together or go out wide occasionally then he would have more opporunity to vary his distribution.

I always find it amazing how accurate keepers' kicks can be, akin to a golf drive. When you are sitting in the stands you have a completely different view on the team's formation at the time of the kick, but the keeper has to do it from ground level and that is some feat.