Darren Randolph G Free agent b.1987 [Archive] - Page 6

TheOneWhoKnocks

11/12/2016, 5:07 PM

Randolph doesn't do half measures.

70: SAVE!!! Randolph makes up for his error with a splendid one-handed stop. Henderson lines one up from 30 yards out and catches with the same oomph as his goal against Chelsea earlier this season. It's in the top corner until Randolph flies across to tip it over the bar. Stunner.

johnnyc

11/12/2016, 5:46 PM

Watching Randolph in the post match interview was heartwrenching. He seemed devastated. Yes it was a mistake but I'd say he's still in with a good shout of keeping his place.

Stuttgart88

11/12/2016, 5:56 PM

Really really good save. Puts to bed the myth that he's not agile. Poor mistake (though I like a keeper who always looks to catch), great save. I love seeing a keeper react well after an error, that was a special reaction. Good man.

DeLorean

11/12/2016, 9:50 PM

Save of the season according to Phil Neville on motd 2.

paul_oshea

11/12/2016, 9:50 PM

Expect this level of consistent inconsistencies from him.

SkStu

11/12/2016, 9:55 PM

Expect this level of consistent inconsistencies from him.

Yes sir, thank you sir.

DeLorean

11/12/2016, 10:13 PM

On top of the error against Tottenham I do think it's a bit of a worry but it's a big plus that he's making some genuinely world class saves, an area in which I would have had Westwood well ahead of him. He did get away with a bit of a clanger in Serbia too which would have been fatal. Bilic seemed very forgiving anyway, saying he did well both before and after the mistake and it's just the nature of being a goalkeeper.

SkStu

12/12/2016, 2:04 AM

Somehow I have watched all of his last 4 or 5 games. He has been generally excellent throughout with one blooper reel mistake and only one other moment of culpability that I can think of during that stretch (v Spurs). He's had 2 MOTM performances in that run and 3-4 genuinely world class saves. I don't think it's right to allow a narrative of inconsistency to be pushed.

DeLorean

12/12/2016, 9:58 AM

I think he's been pretty consistent for us overall which is obviously the most important thing, but it's a bit of a concern that he's making mistakes fairly regularly. He hasn't played that many games relatively speaking so the number of poor enough errors are definitely accumulating at a bit too high a rate for my liking.

You could add the goal he conceded against Martial at the end of last season to list above too, whatever about goals that he might have done better with, I think these four were all basic mistakes on his part over a short enough period considering the amount of game time he's had.

SkStu

12/12/2016, 2:20 PM

Four?

I don't agree that he's making mistakes fairly regularly (although he's making top drawer saves very regularly). In 9 games this season we've both only been able to recall two goals that can be attributed to him (1 mistake and 1 should have done better). I don't think that supports a charge of inconsistency.

DeLorean

12/12/2016, 2:51 PM

Four?

The four I mentioned were Martial at the end of last season, the Serbia one he got away with, the Spurs goal and yesterday. I'd agree that the Spurs one was the least poor but poor nonetheless and the other three were pretty terrible being honest. He wasn't great for the Dutch equaliser in the friendly either (more so Duffy obviously) and I thought he probably should have done better for Witsel's header at the Euros.

It was Paul that mentioned inconsistency, I think he's pretty consistent is a lot of ways but seems to have regular enough mistakes in him. Even if you don't agree with the Netherlands/Belgium ones I still think the other four are incriminating enough over a relatively short period in terms of game time. That's in no way taking away from the brilliant saves he's made, the ones from Mkhitaryan and Henderson were truly world class.

OwlsFan

12/12/2016, 2:54 PM

Let's hope West Ham are relegated https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2374846/west-ham-transfer-news-hammers-want-manchester-city-keeper-joe-hart-if-they-avoid-relegation/

TheOneWhoKnocks

12/12/2016, 3:24 PM

Let's stop taking digs at Randolph and support him. He's had four games. Hardly enough time to maintain a suitable level of consistency.

Stuttgart88

12/12/2016, 4:03 PM

Let's stop taking digs at Randolph and support him. I agree. I think we should apply the same to Harry Arter who is consistently good but makes an occasional goof up too.

DeLorean

12/12/2016, 4:21 PM

Except there are no digs being thrown at Randolph, his performances are being analysed in a constructive way, or at least that's the intention. He's getting plenty of credit where it's due but inevitably errors (or perceived errors) are going to be discussed also. I like the guy and nothing would make me happier than him being error free for the rest of his career, but in the meantime his performances will be fairly assessed like everybody else and opinions will inevitably vary from time to time. Just because he's lucky enough to have avoided Towk's irrational black book doesn't mean he's exempt from discussion.

SkStu

12/12/2016, 4:45 PM

I think this is good to debate too. I think that by virtue of their role, keepers (and strikers) are the most scrutinized positions on the pitch and when sitters are missed or clangers are conceded they get thrown straight under the microscope. So it is natural that we are having this type of conversation.

From my vantage point, the games i have watch have shown Randolph to be an excellent keeper - actually far better than i had previously been giving him credit for - if he has made 2 or 4 mistakes then i think in the overall context of his performances over 90 - 900 minutes they dont take away from the fact that he is a really good keeper and i dont think it suggests an issue of consistency to me. Nor does it take away the fact that he made those mistakes and will hopefully not make the same ones again. He'll have learned from that one yesterday.

I think Pauls statement was far too throwaway and light on evidence to be taken seriously and I was just attempting to address that because i dont think that such a narrative is fair when you look at his performances as a whole since taking over the #1 spot.

SkStu

12/12/2016, 4:47 PM

Arter's performances, which while not bad, have certainly not lived up to the hype bestowed on him.

thats ridiculously unfair. He was only being hyped by many, many pundits because of the excellence of his performances at club level. He's had one competitive appearance in an Ireland shirt. Sheesh!

TheOneWhoKnocks

12/12/2016, 5:25 PM

Oh I'm counting the four Intl appearances overall.

And I can't claim to have watched every club appearance but he hasn't stood out in any of the games I have watched.

I think there is a tendency to go overboard with praise when there is a clamour for a new player to get involved. The grass is always greener and all that.

geysir

12/12/2016, 6:36 PM

West Ham fans are quite okay with having Darren as their nr 1.

I didn't think the save itself deserved all the (ott) superlatives, I though it was just an excellent save. What made the save possible was the left side position in the goalmouth that Darren took before the shot and crucially those two or three backward steps, that left him in the position to make the save.
If only Shay had taken a similar position when our nemesis Henry got on the ball at Lansdowne rd.in 2005.

Stuttgart88

13/12/2016, 11:12 AM

thats ridiculously unfair. He was only being hyped by many, many pundits because of the excellence of his performances at club level. He's had one competitive appearance in an Ireland shirt. Sheesh!
I really don't see that much hype to be honest. A bit of hysteria after he wasn't capped in Serbia and a bit of commentary after his injury in the Dutch game. He's a EPL player performing well at that level. We're not spoilt for choice (many people actively want Whelan out of the side) so it's fair that he attracts attention and I think he attracts a fair, and only a fair, amount of it.

DeLorean

13/12/2016, 11:57 AM

The most hype I've heard about him was Martin Tyler last season when Arter was substituted despite, in Tyler's opinion, being the best player on the pitch. I think he had just returned from injury and Tyler questioned the merits of putting sports science ahead of the need of a team on a given day. He even mentioned Arter again the following weekend in a game that didn't involve Bournemouth at all. Obviously himself and Merson questioned whether he was deserving of an England call-up and Jack Wilshere waxed lyrical about him.

All that intermittent 'hype' came from English circles, there's been little or nothing over here, other than the fact that people who care about the Irish team reckon he's at least worth a good look at to see how he gets on.

TheOneWhoKnocks

13/12/2016, 12:09 PM

SkStu

13/12/2016, 1:27 PM

I really don't see that much hype to be honest. A bit of hysteria after he wasn't capped in Serbia and a bit of commentary after his injury in the Dutch game. He's a EPL player performing well at that level. We're not spoilt for choice (many people actively want Whelan out of the side) so it's fair that he attracts attention and I think he attracts a fair, and only a fair, amount of it.

I didnt mean on here - i meant the pundits in England.

OwlsFan

13/12/2016, 3:24 PM

There have been calls for him to be parachuted into the Ireland first team since well before the Euros, even when the team was doing well.

I have seen him (inc. other Irish forums) referred to as the best player on the pitch week in, week out leaving me wondering if I'm watching the same game at times.

Arter man of the match:

https://www.thesun.ie/archives/football/236118/jamie-redknapp-heaps-praise-on-man-of-the-match-harry-arter/

http://www.newstalk.com/Man-of-the-Match-Harry-Arter-tackles-the-bigger-picture-despite-that-late-Netherlands-equaliser

https://www.balls.ie/football/harry-arter-vs-everton/347218

http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/motm-mansion-harry-arter-west-ham-united-2901339.aspx

These are just from the fist two pages of a Google search. He wasn't parachuted in. Indeed, there were worries that it took so long for him to play a competitive game he might get fed up.

It is natural for there to be calls for a player who is winning man of the match awards in the Premier League to be given a chance in the international side. That's the nature of football supporters. If Arter was Messi, he'd be playing for one of the bigger sides. We all know that and I haven't seen anyone on here claim otherwise but he's a good player and certainly worth a place in the squad and probably in the side.

TheOneWhoKnocks

13/12/2016, 3:38 PM

I can only comment on the Holland game but I personally wouldn't have given him the MOTM for that.

And I'm not having a dig when I say that.

I have all the time in the world for Hoolahan for what he's done for us, but there have been occasions (I'm thinking friendlies like the aforementioned Holland game) where he has been given MOTM almost as a token gesture.

tetsujin1979

13/12/2016, 4:08 PM

TheOneWhoKnocks

13/12/2016, 6:03 PM

How come OwlsFan doesn't get ultimatums for trying to get a rise out of me on every second thread I post on?

Fine. Do you mean friendlies where Arter won MOTM or friendlies where Hoolahan won MOTM? Because I stated my belief that Arter's MOTM award in the Holland game was absurd, but if you are referring to what I said in the brackets, I was on about Hoolahan, not Arter.

Perhaps, I could have worded it a bit better.

tetsujin1979

13/12/2016, 10:39 PM

How come OwlsFan doesn't get ultimatums for trying to get a rise out of me on every second thread I post on?because his claims are backed up by logic and facts. Yours are not

Fine. Do you mean friendlies where Arter won MOTM or friendlies where Hoolahan won MOTM? Because I stated my belief that Arter's MOTM award in the Holland game was absurd, but if you are referring to what I said in the brackets, I was on about Hoolahan, not Arter.

Perhaps, I could have worded it a bit better.

you mentioned "friendlies like the Holland game" where Arter was MOTM. Friendlies. Plural. What other times was Arter given MOTM as a token gesture? Clock's ticking.

OwlsFan

14/12/2016, 11:07 AM

How come OwlsFan doesn't get ultimatums for trying to get a rise out of me on every second thread I post on?

Possibly because I disagree with every second post of yours on certain Irish players. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

That said, different views make the forum more interesting and it would be a dreary place if we all sang from the same hymn sheet. I should know. I was a Trap supporter.

TheOneWhoKnocks

14/12/2016, 12:10 PM

I have all the time in the world for Hoolahan for what he's done for us, but there have been occasions (I'm thinking friendlies like the aforementioned Holland game) where he has been given MOTM almost as a token gesture.

That entire sentence was referring to Hoolahan. I was saying some MOTM awards, particularly in friendlies, are given almost as a token gesture.

IMO Arter was given the MOTM for the Holland game less for his performance and more because of the groundswell of support he had built up prior to the game.

I was saying Hoolahan has been given MOTM awards in games similar to the aforementioned Holland game in similar circumstances when he wasn't the best player in the pitch.

I agree. I could have worded it a bit better.

As for Owls. I think we're approaching dangerous territory when you cannot mention certain players unless it's a glowing tribute to them without someone (usually one person) throwing a fit over it.

I said Hendrick could have won a penalty after a foul by Arter. How on earth could anyone think that's a dig? If Hendrick was fouled by Artur Boruc I wouldn't mention it because he's not an Ireland intl but he was fouled by Arter so I thought it was relevant.

A case of my reputation preceding me I think.

tetsujin1979

14/12/2016, 12:46 PM

That entire sentence was referring to Hoolahan. I was saying some MOTM awards, particularly in friendlies, are given almost as a token gesture.

IMO Arter was given the MOTM for the Holland game less for his performance and more because of the groundswell of support he had built up prior to the game.

I was saying Hoolahan has been given MOTM awards in games similar to the aforementioned Holland game in similar circumstances when he wasn't the best player in the pitch.

I agree. I could have worded it a bit better.

As for Owls. I think we're approaching dangerous territory when you cannot mention certain players unless it's a glowing tribute to them without someone (usually one person) throwing a fit over it.

I said Hendrick could have won a penalty after a foul by Arter. How on earth could anyone think that's a dig? If Hendrick was fouled by Artur Boruc I wouldn't mention it because he's not an Ireland intl but he was fouled by Arter so I thought it was relevant.

A case of my reputation preceding me I think.

ok, then name these games where Hoolahan was given MOTM where he didn't deserve it, and who should have gotten instead, and why.

tired of reading these sweeping statements with nothing behind them

jbyrne

14/12/2016, 1:09 PM

I thought (I wasn't alone) hendrick was our best player against Sweden in the euros but hoolahan got MOTM.
I also thought arters motm against Holland was very generous really.

MOTM is all about opinions though. not sure why its worth arguing over

DeLorean

14/12/2016, 1:36 PM

UEFA chose the man of the match award for that game. Clearly a token gesture to keep Eamo & co. happy. :p

OwlsFan

15/12/2016, 11:41 AM

Apparently another great save by Randolph last night and a clean sheet. Didn't see the save so have to rely on the downbeat Sky pundits for that information.

TheOneWhoKnocks

17/12/2016, 2:53 PM

25: SAVE! Hull have a corner, it's curled in superbly by Snodgrass to the unmarked Maguire, and his powerful header is tipped wide superbly by Randolph!

Hull getting chance after chance here...

http://www.skysports.com/football/west-ham-vs-hull-city/356504

Stuttgart88

17/12/2016, 6:39 PM

Radio 5 said it was a brilliant save to his left.

geysir

17/12/2016, 9:36 PM

He's good on his left side.
It's only a matter of time before he's exposed on his right side.

Colbert Report

17/12/2016, 9:46 PM

Randolph has played each of the last six league matches for West Ham. Why was Adrian dropped, was it injury or loss of form or something? It sure would be nice for us if Randolph could get an extended run in the side.

DeLorean

18/12/2016, 11:25 AM

Loss of form. No injury as far as I'm aware. Great to get two clean sheets after the mistake at Anfield, kind of cements his status as number one for another while you would think.

Stuttgart88

18/12/2016, 12:31 PM

He did well when asked but the clean sheet was a bit misleading. Hull hit the inside of the post 3 times!

geysir

18/12/2016, 4:15 PM

Randolph probably had a knowing, that the ball was going to hit the post.

SkStu

18/12/2016, 5:02 PM

geysir

19/12/2016, 1:54 PM

What people don't appreciate about Randolph is his ability to use actual ESP from time to time to force the ball away from the general goal area. I've noticed it in some of the games I've watched recently. Truly world class stuff.
ESP is on a perception level, he uses his esp to sense the direction of the ball, that's why he's so accurate with his arm wave indicating a wide as soon as a ball is struck, easing the taut nerves of the fans.
I don't know if there's any evidence that he has and can use psychic powers to guide a ball away from it's chosen path, that would be venturing into a kitchen fork bending space:)

John83

21/12/2016, 9:20 AM

Randolph gets a left handed complement here:
http://www.football365.com/news/five-unlikely-premier-league-heroes-this-season

Stuttgart88

21/12/2016, 9:42 AM

I still think it's a bit harsh to blame him for the Spurs winner. Most keepers would instinctively go for a ball like that rather than leave it and hope a defender (like Ciaran Clark in Paris :)) clears it. OK, maybe he should have been aware that no striker was on the 6 yard line and his defender was, but a keeper will nearly always decide to do something rather than do nothing. On that note, I thought he made the right decision twice at the weekend not to come charging out (one from a bad back pass, the other a through ball I think), opting to stay and give his Hull opponent something to beat.

DeLorean

21/12/2016, 10:06 AM

I don't think he was wrong to come for it, but he should have either been able to gather it or divert it properly away from goal. It more or less went through him.

SkStu

21/12/2016, 1:32 PM

I don't think he was wrong to come for it, but he should have either been able to gather it or divert it properly away from goal. It more or less went through him.

maybe he'd be more consistent if he could keep shifting the goalposts like you Del... ;) joke!