Trafford

[Shaggy]

His positioning wasn’t the best. He always seems to be in the do I don’t I category when playing as the sweeper keeper.

I also think he gets beaten too easily with shots. That first from Son today was criminal. Yes it was a lovely dink but
Has he never rushed to the floor he saves that. I’m certain Muric saves that.

His distribution is miles away from Muric aswell.

I think he is a good prospect but the way we are set up and his lack of experience he shouldn’t be in the first team at the moment. 11 times picking the ball out the net in 3 games kind of tells its own story.

[Sheedyclaret]

His distribution was dreadful today

[bfcjg]

Muric is better, bad buy. When we signed him, there at least 3 keepers we enquired about first.

[Down_Rover]

If our back line is going to play so high we need a sweeper keeper.

Muric will fit our style better just like he did at Forest last week

[Tricky Trevor]

I’ve long had a down on young keepers. As far back as DL picking young Paul Robinson over Nigel Martyn, they were relegated, up to Aaron Ramsdale and his first two relegations.
All these youngsters have amazing reflexes and make stunning saves but can they organise the defence in front of them?
This is my concern with Trafford. It was like a ballet last season with Muric behind Beyer, Ekdal, Al Dakhil. They flowed into position leaving Muric with very little to do. Now it’s a different game, the quality of opposition has been scarily good but the drop off of our defenders has been so bad. VK said it would take time and in that respect losing home games to teams we probably would have lost at home to at any point of the season is not a bad thing but the affect on morale is worrying.
I’d be resting Trafford and play Muric for the short term at least.

[Dark Cloud]

Over 70% of his kicking (the way we are set up to play) either went out or to a Spurs player

Interesting stat. I hadn't seen it, but my gut feeling at the game was that Trafford didn't pass the ball out very well and when he did he put players in crappy situations. Tbf, I felt Spurs closed really well, but Muric is better in those situations I feel.

[Uwe Noble]

Focus is back on Trafford I see.

People are looking in the wrong direction after today's defeat

Got to have a scapegoat!

[Elizabeth]

It's a thread about Trafford. You'll have to explain who you thought we would be discussing ?

It’s a thread that didn’t need re-opening

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

I hope VK hasn’t fallen out with Muric and gets him back in the team sharpish, we looked a much better team against forest. Time for the experienced heads to come back in to steady the ship.

[Vegas Claret]

It’s a thread that didn’t need re-opening

nobody asked you to open it. We are clearly going to discuss another dreadful performance by the side, if you don't want to participate then don't open the thread

[Boss Hogg]

Muric should have started the season. Big mistake starting Trafford. Muric needs to go back in from the next match. More confident, better with his feet, better communication with defence and more experience a higher level.

[FCBurnley]

Just watching Pope screwing up twice in 20 secs to give Brighton the first goal so it happens to the best. However I thought Trafford was caught out of position for the first goal today giving Son an easy finish and his awful ball out to AD led to another. He just doesn’t look commanding or confident especially with crosses and distribution. He has shipped 11 goals in 3 home games and needs a break otherwise his confidence will be shot. He is young and will be a very good keeper but City seemed happy to take the our money

[Murger]

Massive mistake throwing a rookie keeper straight in. But there is no way Kompany will drop him though. To do that would be an admittance he’s dropped a bollock.

[Pickles]

Muric is miles ahead.

[SalisburyClaret]

Judge Trafford when he has a defence in front of him

[Aclaret]

Muric is miles ahead.

Most of us would probably agree....but the man In charge doesn't.

[Casper2]

Judge Trafford when he has a defence in front of him

Not this season then

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

I agree with this to an extent in terms of feel but it's still early days. So far he's done nothing at all to justify his place over Muric BUT we are giving him no protection at all.

His confidence will probably be shot to pieces after the start he has had so would probably be best for a little spell out of the team for now.

This experimental back line doesn’t seem to be working either.

[Dark Cloud]

Tbf, I don't feel anyone is blaming Trafford for us getting pumped today, but if you (as a team!) have shipped 5 goals to add to the 6 in two previous games, then surely a "sensible and measured" discussion regarding the goalie is valid?

[Nori1958]

I hope VK hasn’t fallen out with Muric and gets him back in the team sharpish, we looked a much better team against forest. Time for the experienced heads to come back in to steady the ship.

Perhaps we looked better against forest because they weren't as good as spurs? And not because Muric was in goal?

[Nori1958]

Tbf, I don't feel anyone is blaming Trafford for us getting pumped today, but if you've shipped 5 goals to add to the 6 in two previous games, then surely a "sensible and measured" discussion regarding the goalie is valid?

I don't disagree, so let's have one....how many goals today were down to poor goalkeeping?

[RVclaret]

Perhaps we looked better against forest because they weren't as good as spurs? And not because Muric was in goal?

Big difference playing Forest reserves vs this Spurs team I agree there

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Perhaps we looked better against forest because they weren't as good as spurs? And not because Muric was in goal?

I’d play the team that just won a game, we have played some decent teams but not looked like getting anything in all the matches going off the results. Haven’t watched the game today so can’t comment on that specifically.

Seems to be overwhelming feedback the lad is struggling but the defence aren’t helping him much. Time to change both then.

[bumba]

He's already worth less than half of what we paid

[Vegas Claret]

Perhaps we looked better against forest because they weren't as good as spurs? And not because Muric was in goal?

Sooooooooooooo many people who went to the Forest game all said Muric's distribution was at a different level. Nobody can have a serious argument that Muric isn't better with his feet

[Nori1958]

I’d play the team that just won a game, we have played some decent teams but not looked like getting anything in all the matches going off the results. Haven’t watched the game today so can’t comment on that specifically.

Seems to be overwhelming feedback the lad is struggling but the defence aren’t helping him much. Time to change both then.

There's a lot of over reaction on here as per normal, I don't think he had a chance with the goals. At 3.1 their goalie pulled a worldie to stop Foster scoring, different game if that goes in, but barely gets a mention from those who cannot wait to jump on here and criticise.

[Nori1958]

Sooooooooooooo many people who went to the Forest game all said Muric's distribution was at a different level. Nobody can have a serious argument that Muric isn't better with his feet

Did I say he wasn't?

[Murger]

There's a lot of over reaction on here as per normal, I don't think he had a chance with the goals. At 3.1 their goalie pulled a worldie to stop Foster scoring, different game if that goes in, but barely gets a mention from those who cannot wait to jump on here and criticise.

It wouldn’t have been a different game. We were all over the shop all game. Pulling a goal back wouldn’t have stopped the thumping.

[Vegas Claret]

Did I say he wasn't?

well it went over your head

"Perhaps we looked better against forest because they weren't as good as spurs? And not because Muric was in goal?"

Maybe we looked better BECAUSE we kept the ball better with Muric in goal

[Dark Cloud]

I don't disagree, so let's have one....how many goals today were down to poor goalkeeping?

And I totally agree with you. Higher up the thread I said he couldn't (imo) be faulted for any goals today, although I did put a question mark against some of his distribution. I did also think he may have have done better against Villa last week, especially for the first goal when he could have been further up the pitch and cut it out, but I honestly wasn't sure. Defensively we were crape(again) and it's definitely not down to him.

[dsr]

I also think he gets beaten too easily with shots. That first from Son today was criminal. Yes it was a lovely dink but
Has he never rushed to the floor he saves that. I’m certain Muric saves that.

You're assuming that Son makes his decision on how to shoot without regard for what the keeper is doing, of course. I would think Son is better than that - I think Son can judge what the goalkeeper is doing and shoot accordingly.

You may be right that Muric can save one-on-ones with Son from less than 10 yards out regardless of what Son does, but I have my doubts.

[Neil]

well it went over your head

"Perhaps we looked better against forest because they weren't as good as spurs? And not because Muric was in goal?"

Maybe we looked better BECAUSE we kept the ball better with Muric in goal

Or it went over your head?
Trafford doesn't panic on the ball, can pass it 30 yards as well as short.
Playing against half a forest team and a full strength spurs are two different things to most people.
Stick them both in the net today and we lose comfortably.

[roperclaret]

I don't disagree, so let's have one....how many goals today were down to poor goalkeeping?

At least 2

[Nori1958]

And I totally agree with you. Higher up the thread I said he couldn't (imo) be faulted for any goals today, although I did put a question mark against some of his distribution. I did also think he may have have done better against Villa last week, especially for the first goal when he could have been further up the pitch and cut it out, but I honestly wasn't sure. Defensively we were crape(again) and it's definitely not down to him.

Funny how people see things differently... for villas goal I thought he was too far up the pitch and had to retreat too far which allows Watkins to take the poor touch. Either way he's not as bad as some are saying

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

We have a keeper with played one won one no goals conceded.

The other one played 3 conceded 11.

I’d play the first guy next game….

[123EasyasBFC]

The back 4 don’t trust Trafford at the moment, he will be a great keeper but muric needs to come back in

[Nori1958]

At least 2

Which ones?

[Vegas Claret]

Or it went over your head?
Trafford doesn't panic on the ball, can pass it 30 yards as well as short.
Playing against half a forest team and a full strength spurs are two different things to most people.
Stick them both in the net today and we lose comfortably.

nope, went over yours too. It's unarguable Muric is better with his feet. I've not blamed Trafford once for a single goal anywhere

[roperclaret]

First one, and Sons left footer that beat him at his near post

[GetIntoEm]

I think it's a confidence thing. I think if he's dropped now we will have lost him for a long time. He's getting better, slowly

[Neil]

nope, went over yours too. It's unarguable Muric is better with his feet. I've not blamed Trafford once for a single goal anywhere

I don't think so. Contrary to popular belief, goalkeepers don't need to be Franz Beckenbauer. As long as they don't panic and can find a pass that's enough at out level. Kompany obviously thinks Trafford is a better goalkeeper (the old fashioned thing where they stop shots and claim crosses)
I don't doubt Muric is better with his feet.

[dsr]

First one, and Sons left footer that beat him at his near post

I think we're just going to have to accept that, in the Premier League, there are some forwards who are good enough to score regardless of what the keeper does. If someone like Son is given a one-on one with time to control the ball from less than 12 yards out, he will probably score.

[Murger]

I think it's a confidence thing. I think if he's dropped now we will have lost him for a long time. He's getting better, slowly

How is going from conceding 3 to conceding 5 improving?

[Vegas Claret]

I don't think so. Contrary to popular belief, goalkeepers don't need to be Franz Beckenbauer. As long as they don't panic and can find a pass that's enough at out level. Kompany obviously thinks Trafford is a better goalkeeper (the old fashioned thing where they stop shots and claim crosses)
I don't doubt Muric is better with his feet.

Actually, it's pretty clear the way Kompany wants us to play heavily involves our goalkeeper being better than competent with his feet - he must have said it 30+ times last season which makes it a strange decision to rip up what we did so well last season, Muric was vital, Cullen dropping into the middle of the defence to get on the ball was vital yet we've abandoned both.

[Swizzlestick]

He’s just not as good as Muric. Looks nervy. Think we need to bite the bullet on this one.

[Neil]

Actually, it's pretty clear the way Kompany wants us to play heavily involves our goalkeeper being better than competent with his feet - he must have said it 30+ times last season which makes it a strange decision to rip up what we did so well last season, Muric was vital, Cullen dropping into the middle of the defence to get on the ball was vital yet we've abandoned both.

Very few teams pressed us last season. Most of them didn't have a player within 30 yards of Muric. It's obviously a massive leap in the prem. We can't go toe to toe with the bigger clubs and need to find a way to adapt our approach. I guess that when Kompany weighed it up, he thought that Trafford is good enough with his feet and a better all round keeper than Muric ( though that's still to be proven either way)

[Vegas Claret]

Very few teams pressed us last season. Most of them didn't have a player within 30 yards of Muric. It's obviously a massive leap in the prem. We can't go toe to toe with the bigger clubs and need to find a way to adapt our approach. I guess that when Kompany weighed it up, he thought that Trafford is good enough with his feet and a better all round keeper than Muric ( though that's still to be proven either way)

yep, must be a reason for it but for me it's too much change all at once and has created this huge imbalance. I always expected it to be a very painful start and have said on here a few times it's going to get worse before it gets better. I think we all have to remember we are at least 2 years ahead of schedule too. It might be 2 steps forward one back but as long as VK is in charge I do believe it will be good in the end

[burnleymik]

Very few teams pressed us last season. Most of them didn't have a player within 30 yards of Muric. It's obviously a massive leap in the prem. We can't go toe to toe with the bigger clubs and need to find a way to adapt our approach. I guess that when Kompany weighed it up, he thought that Trafford is good enough with his feet and a better all round keeper than Muric ( though that's still to be proven either way)

There were a good few teams that pressed us high last season and although Muric struggled at the start, the number of times he helped us beat that press later on in the season was incredible, even opposing managers commenting on it.

Problem is it's a bad situation now whichever way you turn. Drop Trafford and it hurts his confidence. Play Muric who will already be demoralised at being dropped and hasn't got any Prem minutes under his belt.

Beating the drum, but Should have let Muric have the opportunity and allowed Trafford to earn the shirt.

[Blatherwickstattoo]

Nick pope 10 million

Trafford (reported) 19 million

A million miles apart. The mind baffles.

[roperclaret]

I think we're just going to have to accept that, in the Premier League, there are some forwards who are good enough to score regardless of what the keeper does. If someone like Son is given a one-on one with time to control the ball from less than 12 yards out, he will probably score.

There are also keepers in the Premier league that would have saved both of those today. That’s no excuse