Gavin Bazunu G Standard Liege (loan from Southampton) b.2002

[JR89]

1487769772490211329

They're not named Irish Propaganda for nothing that's for sure haha. Still very impressive from the two lads.

[Diggs246]

Clean sheets tells about 20% percent about the keepers ability.
There is so many variables.

[ontheotherhand]

But how many clean sheets have they watched from the bench?

[JR89]

From watching some Portsmouth games they weren't getting clean sheets from good defending. They've gone backwards as a team since Cowley has come in.

Bournemouth fans are high in praise for Travers that he's their most consistent player this season. Pulled off two big saves yesterday to deny Barnsley and give Bournemouth the win.

[Demesne Lad]

So if we would like to see Bazunu as a first choice keeper in the Championship in 2022/23, which club would be best for him -- and Ireland?

[Jd2793]

id have liked swansea if they hadnt brought in the mk dons gk over winter. somewhere like PNE maybe?

[JR89]

id have liked swansea if they hadnt brought in the mk dons gk over winter. somewhere like PNE maybe?

Yeah Swansea would have been the first club that would have been my choice but Martin's signed Fisher in January. PNE have a keeper in on loan so a possibility if they can't get him back for next season or can't buy him.

[zero]

QPR have ongoing keeper issues and John Eustace is there (well, for now) which might be of some benefit.

[Eirambler]

Middlesbrough have huge GK issues at the moment. They're a top end Championship team and he'd be a massive improvement on anyone they have at the club at the moment.

[Razors left peg]

So if we would like to see Bazunu as a first choice keeper in the Championship in 2022/23, which club would be best for him -- and Ireland?

Id rather see him go to a top division in Belgium or Holland, something like that. I wouldnt be surprised if there is a lot of interest for him based on his International profile, saving pen from Ronaldo etc.

He seems bigger than a move to Preston

[Olé Olé]

David Sneyd has gone in heavy here. If he ends up at Preston or somewhere than Sneyd is going into the Kevin Palmer bucket: https://www.the42.ie/gavin-bazunu-transfer-5735927-Apr2022/

[tetsujin1979]

Nominated for League One Young Player of the Season
1514532663377289218

[Olé Olé]

Never heard of Paddy Lane but it struck me immediately as an Irish name. Sure enough, he qualified and plays for NI. They got the first cap on him.

[seanfhear]

Never heard of Paddy Lane but it struck me immediately as an Irish name. Sure enough, he qualified and plays for NI. They got the first cap on him.
Is he tied to them yet ?

[Eirambler]

We just can't compete with NI when it comes to lower league dual eligible players like Paddy Lane. He was playing part time football this time last year and wouldn't have been an anyone's radar. Moved to Fleetwood last summer and, because they have so little depth at Under 21 level, NI had him capped at Under 21 before he'd even played a first team game for Fleetwood.

We couldn't possibly justify giving an under 21 call up to a Fleetwood player who hasn't played a first team game, when there are so many other midfielders with lower league experience who can't make our squad - Ferry, Grant, Bowden etc. NI can throw caps at these lads in the hope one might come good every few years - as has happened with Lane. He'd certainly make our Under 21 squad now after the season he has had, but again because of their lack of players coming through, they've already capped him at senior level.

We just have too many players available at too high a level to be able to compete with that.

[liamoo11]

We just can't compete with NI when it comes to lower league dual eligible players like Paddy Lane. He was playing part time football this time last year and wouldn't have been an anyone's radar. Moved to Fleetwood last summer and, because they have so little depth at Under 21 level, NI had him capped at Under 21 before he'd even played a first team game for Fleetwood.

We couldn't possibly justify giving an under 21 call up to a Fleetwood player who hasn't played a first team game, when there are so many other midfielders with lower league experience who can't make our squad - Ferry, Grant, Bowden etc. NI can throw caps at these lads in the hope one might come good every few years - as has happened with Lane. He'd certainly make our Under 21 squad now after the season he has had, but again because of their lack of players coming through, they've already capped him at senior level.

We just have too many players available at too high a level to be able to compete with that.


The North seem to have a huge amount of Fleetwood fv players in their squads. There is obviously a strong connection there

[elatedscum]

Is he tied to them yet ?

Not yet - but if he were to play in the majority of their nations league games in June then he would be...

[Eirambler]

They capped him at senior level last month just after his 21st birthday so I think that's him fully tied to them now.

Edit - actually no, because the cap was in a friendly. As he has now turned 21 a single appearance in the Nations League in June will tie him though.

[Olé Olé]

We just can't compete with NI when it comes to lower league dual eligible players like Paddy Lane. He was playing part time football this time last year and wouldn't have been an anyone's radar. Moved to Fleetwood last summer and, because they have so little depth at Under 21 level, NI had him capped at Under 21 before he'd even played a first team game for Fleetwood.

We couldn't possibly justify giving an under 21 call up to a Fleetwood player who hasn't played a first team game, when there are so many other midfielders with lower league experience who can't make our squad - Ferry, Grant, Bowden etc. NI can throw caps at these lads in the hope one might come good every few years - as has happened with Lane. He'd certainly make our Under 21 squad now after the season he has had, but again because of their lack of players coming through, they've already capped him at senior level.

We just have too many players available at too high a level to be able to compete with that.

You can look at recent under 19 and 21 squad announcements being greeted by questions over committed dual eligible players. We have good depth at those age grades. NI don't. And you highlight great examples here in lads ommitted that are dual nationals. We can't pick everyone and we can't select lads too consistently to tie them to our system.

[elatedscum]

Sneyd is going into the Kevin Palmer bucket: https://www.the42.ie/gavin-bazunu-transfer-5735927-Apr2022/

Out of curiousity, what did Palmer do? Google told me who he was but not what claims he might have made

[Olé Olé]

Out of curiousity, what did Palmer do? Google told me who he was but not what claims he might have made
I can't find anything specific online to support me using the phone but he was reporting various stories at various times about Rice and Grealish and I remember Dan McDonnell reporting something silly on Harry Artery which turned out to be a story of Palmer too.

[seanfhear]

Bazunu might well be getting a call back to City next season after the goal the City reserve goalkeeper let in yesterday.

He seemed to think he had all the time in the world , but it didn’t turn out that way.

[Olé Olé]

Hold my green lensed spectacles for a moment whilst I state that this game doesn't end up with City conceding 3 goals if a certain 20 year old from Firhouse is between the sticks for them. And that is a bad thing. I'm concerned Bazunu is going to play himself into the Kelleher situation.

[seanfhear]

Hold my green lensed spectacles for a moment whilst I state that this game doesn't end up with City conceding 3 goals if a certain 20 year old from Firhouse is between the sticks for them. And that is a bad thing. I'm concerned Bazunu is going to play himself into the Kelleher situation.
The City reserve goalkeeper looks like a goalkeeper that needs to be playing games somewhere.

[CSAD]

The City reserve goalkeeper looks like a goalkeeper that needs to be playing games somewhere.

Steffan for his own career sake should leave permanently, he’s a good premiership standard keeper but he isn’t Man City quality in a month of Sundays. If he was playing for Newcastle, Brighton, Southampton that would make more sense. Bazunu needs and wants game time now to hit his potential so is totally doing the right thing by going on loan but I firmly believe if all 3 were at City next season that Bazunu would be the back up.

[JR89]

I think Man City and Bazunu have a career plan to help him reach the level needed to one day be no.1 at City and don't think they'll mess with that just because Steffen had a bad day at the office.

[liamoo11]

I think Man City and Bazunu have a career plan to help him reach the level needed to one day be no.1 at City and don't think they'll mess with that just because Steffen had a bad day at the office.

Sreffen has another 3 years on his deal , they paid a very small fee for him and he is a reasonable back up keeper who has mo where near the ability with his feet to match ederson. If they sold him they would likely make very little profit. It seems logical to keep him as a number 2 and develop bazunu out on loan to either sell him for decent money (20mil) or have him replace Ederson in 4 or 5 years .

[Eirambler]

The risk with Steffen is that City get to a point like Liverpool did with Adrian where they just don't trust him enough to keep him as number 2 anymore. The danger for them is that Ederson gets injured and they end up having to play Steffen for 10 or 15 games, he's enough of a step down that it could ruin a season for them.

Like most I'd rather see Bazunu out playing rather than being a number 2 at City, but the risk of it happening is higher than I thought after seeing Steffen yesterday, he's really not that good at all.

[liamoo11]

The risk with Steffen is that City get to a point like Liverpool did with Adrian where they just don't trust him enough to keep him as number 2 anymore. The danger for them is that Ederson gets injured and they end up having to play Steffen for 10 or 15 games, he's enough of a step down that it could ruin a season for them.

Like most I'd rather see Bazunu out playing rather than being a number 2 at City, but the risk of it happening is higher than I thought after seeing Steffen yesterday, he's really not that good at all.

It's a fair point but Adrian's kicking ability was like something out of 1993 steffen is a bit more comfortable than that.

[Trequartista20]

Being linked with a move to Southampton.

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/transfer-gossip-southampton-join-sheffield-united-preston-and-bournemouth-in-weighing-up-move-for-portsmouth-loanee-gavin-bazunu-as-he-prepares-for-manchester-city-return-3682139

[Diggs246]

Will he start? If so brilliant no?

[Olé Olé]

Being linked with a move to Southampton.

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/transfer-gossip-southampton-join-sheffield-united-preston-and-bournemouth-in-weighing-up-move-for-portsmouth-loanee-gavin-bazunu-as-he-prepares-for-manchester-city-return-3682139

Bournemouth in there. That's just not possible. Neither player would go for it. Why would the clubs even need or want to? So silly.

[pineapple stu]

Always have to take "Transfer gossip" columns with a pinch of salt - I think they're usually more about generating hits than being informative.

Any of the moves cited (Southampton, Sheffield United, Bournemouth and Preston) would be decent on the face of it though, except Bournemouth of course as they already have an Irish keeper.

Southampton used three keepers this year - Alex McCarthy is their first choice I think, but seems very injury prone for a keeper. So even being on the bench there would give first-team chances.

[Eirambler]

Of the established EPL clubs Southampton are probably weakest in the goalkeeping department. McCarthy isn't great and Forster has never fully nailed down the jersey either.

As long as he's going there as a starter it's a great move, but he'd probably get more guarantees of game time in the Championship.

Hopefully not Bournemouth anyway, it would be very unfair on Travers after the season he has had to have Bazunu parachuted in in front of him having already had that happen to him at international level. Similarly from Bazunu's point of view if he went there without a guarantee of being first choice there's the risk for him that they would stick with Travers as first choice as he's their player and his progression is therefore more valuable to them.

While it has been great seeing the new generation of Irish players emerge it's a bit disappointing that up to now none of them have established themselves as regulars in the Premier League. Connolly probably came closest but couldn't sustain it or maybe just wasn't good enough. Obafemi was given a great chance at Southampton but didn't take it. Smallbone has never really established himself. O'Shea got a run at West Brom but they got relegated. Idah and Omobamidele got injured at the wrong time at Norwich too and they're going down as well. Now finally Collins is emerging but Burnley could yet go down too.

It would make next season a lot more interesting if the likes of Bazunu, Travers and Collins became first team regulars in the Premier League. Maybe Josh Cullen might move back too, or Burnley might go back for Knight having looked at him before. And maybe a bit more game time for Ferguson at Brighton. If Obafemi keeps going the way he is he will get back there before long also, goalscoring strikers are always in demand.

[Rayzor]

[QUOTE=Eirambler;2109464]Of the established EPL clubs Southampton are probably weakest in the goalkeeping department. McCarthy isn't great and Forster has never fully nailed down the jersey either.

Forster has been great for the last few months but is their highest paid player and his contract is up this summer so he'll be leaving, I think McCarthy contract is up as well. However can't see any prem side having a 20 yr old as their starting keeper. My fear is that man city will keep him as no 2 next season and he'll be in a similar position than Kelleher.

[Olé Olé]

We should have a lot of players moving up to the Championship from League One by means of promotion or transfer. And it's a good league and it shows the watermark of our talent pool is going up and up. You have named a lot of guys there who seemed to comfortably be top end Championship players but could also end up in the Premiership. That seems like progress.

[Razors left peg]

If Southampton were to try sign Bazunu on permanent basis it would required a substantial transfer fee. They would only do that if they were buying him as 1st choice keeper.

That said, I don't think it'll happen. Can't see City letting him go. I can see him signing a new contract and going on loan again...maybe to Southampton on loan.

[tetsujin1979]

City don't really loan players out to premier league clubs, so if he did go to Southampton, I'd guess it would be on a permanent deal

[Trequartista20]

I don't doubt Bazunu's talent and potential, but it would certainly be a huge leap moving from playing for a mid-table League One team to an established Premier League club such as Southampton.

The Saints have struggled rather in the second half of this season. Even if Bazunu started the campaign as first choice, one or two bad games and he could end up losing his place and watching the rest of the season from the bench. The Cowley brothers have shown great faith and patience with Bazunu, forgiving the occasional mistake and error of judgment that you would expect from any young player. But there is so much money at stake and the level scrutiny so much higher in the Premier League. There's no room for sentiment at that level and we see how clubs panic at the very thought of relegation.

Would a loan to a Championshionship club not be the natural next step in the career progression of a goalkeeper who's only recently turned 20?

[Razors left peg]

De Gea was young when he joined United. He made lots of mistakes early but they stuck with him because of his talent. I fully believe Bazunu could be at that level and I think he could step up to the Premiership immediately

[ColourfulPeanut]

Aaron Ramsdale spent his age 20-21 season out on loan at AFC Wimbledon in League 1. There's no need for Bazunu to rush up the leagues. A #1 spot in the Championship and a new deal at City would be great.

[Eirambler]

I'd have no problem if he ended up at somewhere like Preston next year. As long as he's playing games the Championship is fine.

I think we're hoping he ends up being a better keeper than Ramsdale though so I would be aiming higher for him than where Ramsdale was at 20. Bournemouth fans think Travers was better this season than Ramsdale was in his last Bournemouth season incidentally.

[ontheotherhand]

Yeah I just want him playing. Championship would be great although if Travers starts performing as well as he has this season but at EPL level week in week out next season it will make the other thread interesting. I suppose we've already had a scenario where Travers and Bazunu were both playing well at different levels but I think it would be really hard to make Travers 3rd choice if he was an EPL starter and many would want him 1st choice.

[Razors left peg]

If we think Travers and Kelleher are capable of playing in the Premiership then Bazunu absolutely is. I'd have no problem if he ended up at a Championship side next season but I think he's capable of playing anywhere to be honest.

I can't imagine him sitting on the bench at City. He has said recently that over the course of this loan he spoke with the City goalkeeper coach 2 or 3 times per week, so he's still getting the benefit of having access to top coaches wherever he plays.

To me Bazunu is like Nathan Collins, both will be top class and playing at big clubs in the next few years

[tetsujin1979]

Linked with moves to Everton, Southampton, and Bournemouth today: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/everton-line-up-move-for-star-ireland-goalkeeper-gavin-bazunu-41641334.html
Everton might be good, but only if Pickford leaves, Southampton would be interesting, and Bournmouth would mean that two of our goalkeepers are at the same club.

[John83]

... and Bournmouth would mean that two of our goalkeepers are at the same club.
At least it would fairly well answer which one is better!

[Razors left peg]

At least it would fairly well answer which one is better!

I think if Bournemouth were trying to sign him they obviously think Bazunu is better.

Ive seen comments in various places along the lines of "would he be 1st choice if he goes there", in regards to multiple clubs. I think a lot of people are seriously under estimating how highly rated Bazunu is. If he goes on a permanent transfer it is going to be for a very substantial fee that a club would only pay for a 1st choice keeper.

[joey B]

I wonder should Gavin hold back from moving this summer? Ederson looked a bit suspect at times today and from looking at City fans on Twitter today they aren’t as happy with him as I thought…

[SkStu]

On the verge of a 10m move to Southampton according to Kenny's Kids. I think this would be a fantastic move as you'd fancy him to be challenging for the first team spot immediately.

[culloty82]

Certainly a better shot-stopper than McCarthy, so absolutely no reason why he wouldn't be No 1 from the off.