Transfer News Jordan Archer

From what I've seen of Jack Stevens, I don't think he's ready yet.

There's some talent there for sure - he's agile, and I bet he's capable of making some highlight reel saves.

But I've been unconvinced, when I've seen him, that his handling, kicking and decision making is up to league standard yet.

To use just one example from Wednesday night - there was a time that one of the Exeter players cut in from the left and hit a curling shot. It was straight at him, and should have been a comfortable catch. Attack over.....start one for Oxford. Instead, he elected to punch - and yes, he got fair distance on it so got it out of the penalty area....but still, if that had dropped at the feet of an Exeter attacker, it would have been really dangerous.
Beano and Jerome (I think it was at the time?) were generous to him, and complementary because he did get it out of the area. But from my perspective, they were too kind. It was fine for a tinpot trophy game - but for a team mixing it up at the top of League One, we'd need our keeper to be rock solid, and not giving up unnecessary additional opportunities for the opposition.

Of course, that doesn't mean that Archer is going to be any good. But in that respect, willing to trust KR. At least until I've seen him in action.

The problem for Stevens is that he's only going to improve his handling/kicking/decision-making in game situations if he actually gets to play in games. So I think it would be best for him (and by extension the club) if he went out on loan - ideally to a Conference side - in January, and we got experienced back-up in for the rest of the season (be that Archer, or someone else...…)
 

Some of his best saves from a few seasons ago. A couple from the second leg JPT game which we lost (but went through on aggregate)

Also won player of the season for Milwall that year.
 
With Cadden due to leave in January, and now this, I just hope to god it doesn't upset the defence too much, and derail our season.

Personally I would've liked Stevens to get his chance, it's the only way he'll get the experience he needs, but I understand Robbo's decision making on this.

Hopefully he'll put in a Man Of The Match display tomorrow, which would help him settle in quickly.

Welcome to the club Jordan, good luck!
 
I hope his U's debut isnt similar to his Scotland debut V Peru :rolleyes:
 
Don't really understand the negativity, this guy has played over 140 games for Millwall, which includes helping them achieve promotion from this division. A better short term free agent we could not have found.
 
Looked very comfortable in goal today no nerves for someone who hasn’t played in 9 months+

Was strange to watch as his playing style is quite dissimilar to Easty. Off his line quicker, happier coming for crosses, more vocal, comes wider (outside of his box at times) when the ball is in open play. Will be interesting to see how he plays in a game where there will be more sustained pressure as I think that's the only time we'll see just how up to speed he is, if only we had a game like that coming up in the next 10 days...

Looked like he half shanked one ball in the second half today which didn't hit the halfway line but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was the wind. Happy with that as a solid first 90 mins for the club.
 
Agree with those who say it was a solid start and good to see him shouting at the outfield players when he wasn't happy with the defending.
 
I thought it was a perfectly good start - he looked confident, experienced and quite happy to give the defence some stick if they needed it. Probably the biggest plus point of a dull and rather disappointing game.
 
semi interesting stat of sorts ... Archer was wearing number 26 shirt in yesterdays match

he is the 26th keeper to play for OUFC since the U's relocated to the Breeze Block
 
he is the 26th keeper to play for OUFC since the U's relocated to the Breeze Block

Would be a good trivia question to see if we can collectively name the other 25 (without cheating)!

I'll start......Eastwood, Stevens, Clarke, Buchel, Slocombe, Tardif, Turley, Woodman, Guatelli, Ripley.....

(turns out, it's easiest to remember the decent keepers and the utter disasters!)
 
Mitchell. Did Alan Judge get a game when he came back?

You're right - he did; two games in fact (one for Atkins, and a year later one for Rix).

I think Richard Knight was also still our keeper for the beginning of Mark Wright's God awful tenure (and therefore for the beginning of the Kasstad era).

So that's 13. 12 to go......
 
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