Goalkeepers

[Ian]

From what we've heard, Eastwood will be out for at least 6 weeks, and possibly longer.

KR has said that he'll go into the loan market, suggesting that he does not regard Scott Shearer or Jack Stevens to be of League One standard. Perhaps Shearer having his contract extended as a cheap bench-warmer who could play one or two games if necessary, but not someone who could play more than that in the league?

Stevens having just turned 21 is here to develop, rather than play.

So this injury is a problem.

Jake Kean appears to be the only free agent, having been released by Sheffield Wednesday in the summer. Why is he a free agent and why has he not realised his potential?

If we take a goalkeeper on loan, with another outfield player lined up to come in this week, this'll take us to 6 loans, with 5 only allowed in a match day squad. KR did suggest that this loan will not happen should a keeper come in on loan. Although given the injuries so far this season, having 5 fit on-loan player might be an achievement itself.

 

[BigLad]

Stevens sat on bench in the last 26 league games season before last at 19 years old, play him on Tuesday in Cup game that KR has already said on radio he don’t care about might just surprise everyone.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

If your second choice goalkeeper is so bad that you need to loan somebody else in because of one injury, because they can't play half a dozen games, you have to ask why they're here. Especially when they're a vastly experienced pro. It's not like he's only got inexperienced kids and nothing else.

 

[Foley]

It does seem ridiculous that Shearer was kept on if he is not trusted to play for 6 to 8 weeks
Why not simply have Stevens as back up and save a wage? Or get a number 2 who is trusted to play a few games?

 

[Deleted member 291]

I'd personally throw Stevens in and save the loan. The kid will learn more in 6 weeks of first team games for us then a season in non league. Fans will back him and the defence will over compensate for him by protecting him more.

 

[Ian]

I'd personally throw Stevens in and save the loan. The kid will learn more in 6 weeks of first team games for us then a season in non league. Fans will back him and the defence will over compensate for him by protecting him more.

But if we lose each game due to him making an error...

 

[BigLad]

the kid kept a clean sheet against Colchester and played well against Notts Co in front of 6000 in FA Cup last year. Like I said why not play him Tuesday and take stock after.

 

[Deleted member 291]

But if we lose each game due to him making an error...

If you get in the shower you're going to get wet.

He will make mistakes but would rather see him play for us now rather then loan another player in.

 

[Jerome'SAle]

I'd rather we got some points on the board and didn't destroy a young lads confidence and possibly career.

But this is all its and buts he could come in and be better than Eastwood.

 

[OUFC94]

We should try and get Freddie Woodman if we are dipping into the loan market. We’ve supposedly been in for him before, he looks decent and it’s not like he’s going to get any game time at Newcastle this season.

 

[BigCrompy]

We should try and get Freddie Woodman if we are dipping into the loan market. We’ve supposedly been in for him before, he looks decent and it’s not like he’s going to get any game time at Newcastle this season.

Woodman is only four months older than Jack Stevens, and has played a handful over of games in the Scottish Prem only. Scott Shearer has 300+ games in league football.

Really no point in taking on an extra wage for the sheer hell of it.

 

[Osei Yaw]

As good a keeper as Woodman or any of the others are, you're then asking a keeper to come into a squad they don't know and perform for a few weeks. No guarantee they're going to hit the ground running. Remember George Long or Conor Ripley?

Jack Stevens for me. Crowd will certainly be behind him.

 

[uptheus]

However you look at it it’s a bloody strange situation.

 

[mariokempes]

For me its a case of start a few preliminary enquiries for a loan or free agent GK.
Put Stevens in goal on tuesday night and saturday, then make a decision based on those 2 performances

 

[Peterdev]

Jack Stevens should play against Coventry and if he does well give him a go on Saturday. As said crowd will be behind him.
Hopefully Simon Eastwood will be back ahead of schedule.
His defence will have to work that bit harder and help the young lad out a bit

 

[CaptainOx]

Shearer Stevens Agboola Clayton. 4 contracted keepers and it appears we're going to go and sign someone else.

 

[Victor1986]

Put Stevens in - simple. It's sorting the outfield that is priority!

 

[outsidethebox]

I agree. Stevens in on Tuesday. There is still time to loan him out if he's not ready for L1 action. If he ends up playing until mid October we just need to keep him active in U23 games until the January window opens.

 

[Manorlounger]

Absolutely put Stevens in. He did well at Oxford City. Also, not bringing in a loan keeper means we can utilise that loan to cover Carruthers.

 

[CaptainOx]

If Stevens isn't going to play then he needs to go out on loan again. Another year of occasionally getting on the bench for us is no help to his development.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Stevens feels a logical choice for Tuesday. Instincts says he should take over from Eastwood, but I can understand the reluctance from the manager to put him at the deep end. If he doesn't take over the shirt, he has to get some games at a decent level.

 

[Yellow hert]

What is the point of Shearer if he is not up to the job? I thought KRs statement yesterday will have done Shearer’ confidence no good at all. If I was tiger I would also be questioning KRs use of the budget if he thinks he needs a fifth goalie

 

[Victor1986]

Absolutely Yellow hert - what's the use of having a "not good enough" reserve goalie??

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

All irrelevant really as he’s already said that he’s bringing another Keeper in.

 

[lodeyellow]

I think Robinson might try to loan ex-Cambridge United goalie Will Norris from Wolves. Norris has hardly featured for Wolves' first team since he joined them in summer last year. His chances will be further limited because of a recent signing, and of course he's well known to Shaun Derry.

 

[curransleftboot]

Absolutely Yellow hert - what's the use of having a "not good enough" reserve goalie??

Ok, but didn't SHearer himself say that the GK coach (WB) say that he pushes them both equally in training so either could go between the sticks. A combination of lack of first team game time and a howler of a game (he seemed reluctant to leave his line and when he did he parried out rather than caught - with the exception of the penalty give away) will have done nothing for his confidence. Even making allowances - he was well below the standard required. KR inherited these goalkeepers and maybe loans for outfield players (with Eastwood so dependable) was higher on his list. Can he have been expected to have foreseen such a serious injury, That said many have a point by perhaps playing Stevens tomorrow to see what he can do.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Ok, but didn't SHearer himself say that the GK coach (WB) say that he pushes them both equally in training so either could go between the sticks. A combination of lack of first team game time and a howler of a game (he seemed reluctant to leave his line and when he did he parried out rather than caught - with the exception of the penalty give away) will have done nothing for his confidence. Even making allowances - he was well below the standard required. KR inherited these goalkeepers and maybe loans for outfield players (with Eastwood so dependable) was higher on his list. Can he have been expected to have foreseen such a serious injury, That said many have a point by perhaps playing Stevens tomorrow to see what he can do.

Shearer got given a new contract this summer, so he has to go down as a KR signing. The reason given at the time was that he was a "big character around the place". Unfortunately, footballers sometimes need to be able to play football, which means if he isn't capable of that anymore it was not a good decision. You can't gamble on only having one goalkeeper capable of playing first team games.

 

[unification]

Scott Shearer is a perfectly reasonable League 2 ‘keeper. He’s maybe a bit more exposed in League 1 and a bit rusty but should be good enough to have the goalkeeper slot for a few matches each season.

If you don’t have faith in putting him between the sticks, why give him a new contract? Spend that wage on a PL/Championship third choice youngster and have him as your backup instead.

The mind boggles as to what went through the recruitment process over the summer …

 

[Oxymoron]

Shearer has over 400 games behind him - sure he's probably not "match sharp", but a few intensive traing sessions and he will be just as good as anyone we can get on loan. Stevens should be send out on loan to further his development, but this could be delayed until Eastwood is back.

If we do go for a loan keeper, I would expect it to be someone else's bench warmer coming in to warm our own, but I'd honestly save the money.

 

[Sarge]

Time for Jack Stevens to step up I think