Should We Buy A New Goalkeeper?

[Strawberry Avenger]

I am not sure about that SA.

We shouldn't settle for average.

We should be aiming higher, for a top class goalkeeper not just an average solid one.

It is such an important position.

It's well documented that Peter Shilton will get you ten points extra a season.  And I have no doubt that Pants has cost  Forest between 1 and 10 points this season.  I'd say enough points to put us in the Play offs at no.6 conservatively.

Forest spent £25 million and didn't deem the GK position worthy of paying an 'equivalent' fee to what Clough and Taylor spent on Shilton.

Still, in fairness to Pants, the spine of the side was mediocre to poor before he arrived and it was mediocre after he arrived.  He doesn't suffer the rap on his own.  We have to look at the CHs which couldn't defend crosses or soft fullbacks which were constantly and easily targeted because they couldn't 'stop the cross!' to save their lives...and a lopsided DCM that seemed flat, erratic and was disconnected from the forward ACM positions and an isolated striker in Grabban.

MoN changed all that.  Very quickly.  No dinosaur him.  But he's gone back to basics.  Clough style.

Maybe we'll get our 'Shilton' next season.  But...even he would have struggled with the non-specialist or non-experienced CHs or makeshifts we've suffered this season.

Front to back?  It's cost points.  How many?  Ten.  I don't think that's an exaggeration.  That and bl**dy cheating and dodgy ref's.  

It's measurable.  As is the improvement post Mr. Walkout.  If we'd have got half of the points we could have got in December.  We'd be in the play offs.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

I am not sure about that SA.

We shouldn't settle for average.

We should be aiming higher, for a top class goalkeeper not just an average solid one.

It is such an important position.

But in essence.  You're right.  'What's consolidation?'  You need to improve.  Get better.

SA.

[GaribaldiRED]

Interesting to read that Smith states that his secret weapon at Mansfield is his distribution. He is very much encouraged by the manager to play out from the back and apparently it is working out for him. Maybe he will come back a better keeper and challenge for the #1 jersey?

[wassy04]

Still too many mistakes for me, it was only a few games ago he dropped one in against Wigan. Last game I went to (Brentford) he looked ropey although he did make one excellent save with his feet.

I want him to have improved so fingers crossed that game was the exception. I think he’s cost us a number of points this year whereas a top keeper can gain you points so I’d still be looking for an improvement.

[ozzyten10]

I actually think he has been excellent recently. He makes saves look easy which, I’m told, is the key thing when looking at the effectiveness of a keeper. I can think of several key saves recently which have won us points- the free kick against Brentford and the foot save against Preston for example. I think he gets undue stick due to his size and the kicking aspect under karanka. Old style management was about getting the best from players by not asking them to do things they can’t do.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Yeah. I think we're playing to his strengths now. It's a noticeable difference.

SA.

[ThePromisedLand]

I actually think he has been excellent recently. He makes saves look easy which, I’m told, is the key thing when looking at the effectiveness of a keeper. I can think of several key saves recently which have won us points- the free kick against Brentford and the foot save against Preston for example. I think he gets undue stick due to his size and the kicking aspect under karanka. Old style management was about getting the best from players by not asking them to do things they can’t do.

+1

[Duncan Mckenzie]

Still too many mistakes for me, it was only a few games ago he dropped one in against Wigan. Last game I went to (Brentford) he looked ropey although he did make one excellent save with his feet.

I want him to have improved so fingers crossed that game was the exception. I think he’s cost us a number of points this year whereas a top keeper can gain you points so I’d still be looking for an improvement.

I agree with what Wassy said above.

I really like the point about a goalkeeper gaining you points and not costing points.

There is no doubt that Pants has cost us 3,4 or 5 points points this season.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Enough for us to be in the play offs, conservatively.

SA.

[redreni]

his speed off his line and positioning for that waghorn chance on monday were exceptional. cut the angle down so much he forced him to miss. wont be credited as a save but no less important.

[Camms]

Changing the goalkeepers is a matter of priority in the summer for me.

[Username]

Agree, his reaction (or lack thereof) for the Villa goal that was disallowed sums him up.