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2010/11 Season Review - The Goalkeepers
2010/11 Season Review - The Goalkeepers
Thursday, 12th May 2011 09:50

The first in an objective look at the season assesses the goalkeepers.

Football is an emotional game, unlike Cricket its not easily to analyse it through statistics, sometimes therefore we get a blurred view of the merits of players through single events, forwards can have awful games, yet if they pop in a last minute corker of a winner that can often change the fans perception and in their minds they will remember it as a great game for him, in reverse goalkeepers can often play blinders but will be remembered for the one error that they make in a game.

Kelvin Davis in this respect is a perfect example, before we start i dont think that Kelvin had a bad season, in fact the opposite for most of it he was very good, but unfortunately in several prominent games he was found wanting and because of this gaining promotion was that much harder and to be blunt was the difference between finishing second and costing us the Championship.

The problem for kelvin is his game does not suit League One football or the Championship for that matter, in these divisions most of the Goalkeepers work is not stopping shots but dealing with crosses and controlling the area, these are not Kelvin's strong points, but its these basic's that if completed competently, instill confidence in the defence and do not allow the opposition to creeate chances.

The problem was for kelvin was that in most games we dominated, both at home and away, with a strong defence it meant that the opposition had few chances to get decent shots on target so were forced to shoot from distance or lob hopeful balls into our box and it was here the problem often lay.

Any player whether he be a keeper or outfield will make mistakes, what counts though is how many mistakes are made, a good player will perhaps make a couple, when you have more than that questions have to be asked.

But it isnt as simple as that there is a difference between a mistake and a flaw in someones game, in Kelvin's example against Brentford at home he made an awful mistake in letting a tame shot slip under his body, now this happens to all keepers, in fairness to Kelvin in his five seasons he has perhaps let it happen no more than three times and that acceptable, but when its a flaw thats when it doesnt become acceptable.

From memory I can think of six games where Kelvin either failed to come off his line for a simple claim of the ball or let in a shot at his near post tamely, in five of those games we lost and in the sixth, Peterborough we drew, I havent included a 7th at Exeter in which Kelvin was at fault for the goal, nor the aforementioned Brentford defeat at home. In those six games if kelvin had done the basics then in the case of the three before Xmas we could possibly have got a head of steam like Brighton, or the three after not only strode above Huddersfield a lot earlier but challenged Brighton, it helps a side to know its keeper is solid. 

There are others but off the top of my head I cant recall them

Now Im sorry to be harsh, but a goalkeeper that makes errors in around 20% of the games is going to cause you problems.

Of course Kelvin deserves praise where its due and in several games he won us points, Sheffield Wednesday away for instance he was superb, but in general he had far more very bad games than very good, many times i have seen in his defence that he is a good shot stopper, statistics dont prove this, take a look at any game on the official website and too often shots on target have been aroun one goal conceded for every three shots on target, compare that with the other end.

Its not that Kelvin is a bad keeper, its that he is a keeper that seems to lack concentration at key times and as i say this isnt an error but a flaw and to be blunt not flaws that have just surfaced.

Nigel Adkins now has a big dilemma, does he stick with Kelvin and push Bart Bialkowski to challenge him for the jersey, or does he look to make a key signing in goal, the problem with this is that unlike outfield players, when you sign a keeper you make a big statement and that is you dont have real confidence in your current number one, or in this case one and two, its no use looking to get another promising keeper, we either stick with what we have got or sign an established first choice.

If Adkins does go for a new keeper it will be harsh on Kelvin, but football is a harsh game, if we as a club are ambitious there is no room for sentiment, the reason that we are not Champions is because of individual errors (not just Kelvin's)we continued to make those error's from the opening game until virtually the last game, if we want success then they have to be cut out, its tough on Kelvin but you have to be both constructive and honest, the same flaws have surfaced in each of the last five seasons, are they suddenly going to disapear now ? As I say if we want to succeed their is no room for sentiment, appreciation yes, sentiment no.

The other question between the sticks is Bart Bialkowski, ironically our longest serving player in terms of league debut for the club, he has proved an able deputy for kelvin when he has been called upon and undoubtably having a keeper who can take over has spurred kelvin on, but as he approaches his sixth season at the club he for his own career needs to play regularly, next season at St Mary's i feel will either be the start of something bigger or his last, if Adkins does decide to sign another keeper then thats the door for Bart, however if he doesnt Bart should look to seize the opportunity.

Tommy Forecast is hard to comment on, because in his three years he has yet to be anywhere near playing a first team game, when he arrived it was with a big reputation as a young keeper at Spurs, but in these three seasons he has stagnated, so much so that the best loan deal we could get him was at Eastbourne in the Confernece, where he was not exactly a rousing success in his five games, apart from that four games at Grimsby two years ago remain his only league appearances and turning 25 in October this is no career.                   

Photo: Action Images



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grumpyoldsaint added 10:59 - May 12
I agree with most of this article, if we want to progress we need a reliable keeper. Kelvin is not a reliable keeper. The perspective of a lot of fans seems to be that he's as good as most div1 keepers, well thats not good enough and at his age he will not get any better.
As far as Bart is concerned I don't think anyone can say if hes' good enough but in my opinion he at least isn't worse than Kelvin and has an opportunity to improve
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eusebio added 11:37 - May 12
This is the Kelvin that had a record number of clean sheets and a good many were saying only a few weeks back was going to cost us promotion.
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Chesham_Saint added 12:11 - May 12
As goal keepers go we've been lucky to have some of the best (Tim Flowers), perhaps the best (Peter Shilton and Anti Niemi) and some lesser talents (Grobbelaar and Jones). In our current league position we'd be lucky to attract the latter, so I'd rather have Kelvin than the likes of Jones or the cheat Grobelaar, as in reality we aren't going to be able to attract the likes of a Shilton or Niemi with our current (second rank) status.
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bstokesaint added 12:55 - May 12
I don't really see goalkeepers as a major concern at this point in time. Kelvin is a good professional and in the main has very a safe pair of hands. I can think of more crucial saves he has made than stupid blunders and given the amount of clean sheets we kept this season I don't think he can be singled out for not winning the division. Okay, he's not Niemi, who in my opinion was the best keeper we have had in the time I have watched the club, but you can tell he is a player who has the respect from the rest of the team.
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schatfield added 13:06 - May 12
Maybe we have been spoilt with some of the keepers we have had over the years (such as the likes of Niemi and even Paul Jones i would add), but Saints fans now tend to expect a great goalie regardless what division we are in. Regarding where we are, I think Kelvin is fine to be honest, although I would like to see Bart play a bit more and make Kelvin believe he actually has competition for a place..
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SaintNick added 13:23 - May 12
I would also add that with the dominance we have had at st mary's since mid september when afterlosing 2 and drawing 2 of the first 4 games we won 16 of the remaining 19, drawing 2 and losing only once that the bulk of our clean sheets came at home
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rjh added 19:49 - May 12
I have no problems with Davis and would back him to do ok in the championship.
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st_bangkok added 05:14 - May 13
Odd how many think only KD is responsible for the clean sheets record. I guess the 4 guys in front of him had little to do with it eh.
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felly1 added 12:34 - May 13
I think we have 2 quality keepers and see no reason to change that part of the team.Not really sure we need to bring any new players as we have been harping on all season about our quality Championship squad..well surely we need to see if they have what it takes, as long as there is funds for replacements if we are not doing the business by Christmas.
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splurty added 19:32 - May 15
To be fair kelvins faults ie collecting of crosses and sweeping behind the defence improved dramatically since Xmas ,so I can only assume that's down to adkins/keeping coach .So let's hope that continues into next season ,if it does I have no problem with both keepers and unless a top keeper becomes available such as a shay given then let's crack on with what we have .Skates watch out we are coming for you !! COYR
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mattsergcooper added 09:16 - May 19
Kelvin will be number one next season, pretty sure tbh. Forecast, what a shocing player and a waste of valuably Bale income but then... we were in a situation but never should have been soo stupid to take exactly what spurs offered. Just get paid for doing absolutely nothing all week... nice but has got to be a tad depressing!
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