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

[Eirambler]

Following on from his promotion to the Man City Champions League squad Bazunu has moved up the goalkeeper pecking order there, temporarily at least, with Carson and Bravo having both now left the club.

You'd have to assume City will be signing a more experienced backup keeper to be the second choice, but with the other senior keeper Muric having made no impact on loan at Forest last season I wonder if there might be a chance for Bazunu to challenge for the third choice spot next season? He might also get a run out in pre-season if city don't sign another keeper soon.

[elatedscum]

Zack Stegen is the most likely No.2 I think. They spent a fair whack of cash on him

[Eirambler]

And Carson has now signed on loan for another season. So really, no progression likely for Bazunu next season and it's probably a year too soon for him to go out on loan.

[ColourfulPeanut]

I wouldn't look at it so negatively. City have the best facilities in the world and he's training under a world class coach and with a world class modern keeper.

He has every opportunity to develop over the coming years. His game time will come when he's ready.

[nigel-harps1954]

I don't particularly think it's too early for him to go on loan. People seem to forget, he already has first team experience, and European experience under his belt at Shamrock Rovers.

He would be well able for a league one move.

[Eirambler]

Or even back to Rovers on loan for a few months next year to get some first team football to go with his training and development at City.

Interestingly one of the Man City 2002 year group has gone out on loan today to NAC, the first City player from that age group to do so. So it's possible that Bazunu or Hodge could go out on loan before too long.

Only thing with Bazunu is that City will probably want to keep him there until he qualifies as home grown, which won't be for a few more months I think.

[Charlie Darwin]

Or even back to Rovers on loan for a few months next year to get some first team football to go with his training and development at City.

Interestingly one of the Man City 2002 year group has gone out on loan today to NAC, the first City player from that age group to do so. So it's possible that Bazunu or Hodge could go out on loan before too long.

Only thing with Bazunu is that City will probably want to keep him there until he qualifies as home grown, which won't be for a few more months I think.
He wouldn't play ahead of Mannus at Rovers but probably all other LOI clubs bar Waterford.

[nigel-harps1954]

Seems he's going on loan to League One Rochdale. Great move if he can get some game time rather than just sitting on the bench.

[Olé Olé]

Seems he's going on loan to League One Rochdale. Great move if he can get some game time rather than just sitting on the bench.

There are plenty reasons why that is a great move. It's close to Manchester so he has plenty touch points with City. The manager is Irish. The manager is ex-LOI. The club captain is Irish. Paul McShane is there. He could be playing behind McShane and O'Connell behind closed doors so the pressure would be much lower for a young keeper. Looking at their squad too, they don't have any outstanding first choice keeper.

[livehead1]

Seems he's going on loan to League One Rochdale. Great move if he can get some game time rather than just sitting on the bench.

Superb move if he plays, terrible move if he doesn't. Muric was on loan from Man City at Nottingham Forest last season, spent the year on the bench.

[Eirambler]

That's a brilliant opportunity for an 18 year old keeper. Even if he plays just 10 or 15 games that would be great progress at his age, even better again if he can nail down a first team place.

[Diggs246]

Yep. Play and play well son. Great move

[Razors left peg]

Love this move. Not many 18 year old keeps get that sort of loan. Id expect him to be 1st choice there or there would be no point from Citys point of view. A good season could see his career skyrocket. Would also put him into contention for Ireland team. We really don't have huge options at GK

[samhaydenjr]

Four Irish players there and Brian Barry-Murphy as manager - hopefully they'll help him feel at home. Competition for a place will come from Jay Lynch, a 27-year-old who has played most of his career in non-league and 20-year-old academy product, Bradley Wade, who has yet to make a senior appearance - so could be an opening for him

[tommy_c12000]

First English league game clean sheet today for Gavin, made some really good saves per report. O’Connell injured, along with a Rochdale forward.

I expect BBB to delve into the loan market over the next couple of weeks. He seems to be targeting Irish players. Afolabi is a good fit. I would love to see Collins go until the new year too, O’Connells injury likely on the more medium term side of things

[Olé Olé]

Forgot about Afolabi and his rear end gathering splinters. However far away Connell is/was, Afolabi wasn't in with the first team squad for pre-season. I am really disappointed with his past 12 months. Such a prospect but look at how his peers are kicking on- Obafemi, Parrott, Connolly, Idah. He has so much ground to make up on them.

[Eirambler]

Is Afolabi even in Scotland? Celtic youths/reserves haven't played a game yet, a lot of Scottish clubs have wound up their youth teams to cut costs.

[tetsujin1979]

Named in the League One Team of the Week
1307983074114891776

[Diggs246]

Result!

[Trequartista20]

Good to see after the somewhat sticky start.to his Rochdale career against Swindon.

[Olé Olé]

Pity Travers wasn't afford the same certainty of support. Although there is word that Begovic may have been injured for their first game.

[tommy_c12000]

Poor game today, per report. But thankfully Rochdale got their first win, 2-1 over Fleetwood. From unofficial match report:

“A sloppy goal to concede really as a cross from the left found substitute Harvey Saunders and he swept his shot into the goal and Bazunu should have done better really. He got a hand to it but it was a weak stop and the ball ended up past him.Bazunu had a really hairy few minutes as well, he dropped one out of the sky straight to a Fleetwood foot and it took a brilliant goal-line clearance from O'Connell to save the young keeper's blushes. He also spilled a shot shortly afterwards.”

All character-building stuff and league one is the perfect environment to learn from it at a young age. Hopefully BBB will continue to back Bazunu and he rebounds nicely

[Stuttgart88]

I saw the goal on SSN and it was pretty poor really, a routine enough save. A chastening eeekend for both our U21 keepers, but as you say, character building.

[passinginterest]

Considering the boo boo’s made by Ederson and Pickford today, he’s in good company. Seems to be a particularly difficult day for keepers.

[samhaydenjr]

Clean sheet for Bazunu against Burton: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54519078

[Eirambler]

Sounds like he had a good game on his comeback from injury today. Still only 18, must be one of the youngest first choice keepers in the English football league.

[Eirambler]

1349340421604876292

Another showreel save from Bazunu last night.

[Stuttgart88]

He let in 4 though :)

[Eirambler]

I haven't seen the highlights but it sounds like the issues are more to do with the defence in front of him than him throwing them in or anything like that. I know the Rochdale support rate him highly, but obviously you have to take that in the context of lower league keepers, who aren't always of the best standard.

[Eirambler]

Just got an assist apparently.

[Demesne Lad]

Bazunu gifts Portsmouth their first goal: https://www.skysports.com/football/portsmouth-vs-rochdale/report/431274

He may be one for the future, but not for 2021/2.

[DeLorean]

Dropped for their game today.

[DeLorean]

And his replacement kept a clean sheet, no mean feat with their record. Might be difficult to get back in. To compound matters, Parrott hauled off on 73 minutes.

[pineapple stu]

Probably better for the Bazunu thread itself?

"Gifts" is maybe a bit harsh, but certainly it was a recurrence of the poor distribution theme we've seen already. I think the last while has shown the difference between a promising Man City academy player and a solid international level keeper (of even Darren Randolph's level). And other players - Parrott, Molumby, Kelleher, Connolly, Idah, etc - are at various stages along that path without yet being established top-level players. I can easily see us finishing bottom of this group tbh. We need to have a bit of perspective as to where players are at.

[DeLorean]

Probably better for the Bazunu thread itself?

Sorry yeah, definitely. Maybe Tets can do the honours.

[pineapple stu]

I just reported the OP to flag it in the mod forum, so it'll probably get moved shortly.

Have we any starting keepers in England at the moment? Bazunu, Travers, Kelleher, Randolph and O'Hara are all second choice now. Joe Murphy - who won the European Championships with the Irish U16s in 1998 - started today for Tranmere in the fourth tier. Rob Elliott is third choice at Watford. Westwood - well, does he really want to come back to the international setup? Colin Doyle is getting games now for Kilmarnock but has played 15 games in three seasons. Seán McDermott played the second half of the season for Kristiansund last year, but their season doesn't start for another month yet. In the LoI, Dundalk and Rovers are no good of course. So you're down to what - Ed McGinty at Sligo, the 21s keeper?

There's probably not many countries in Europe have as big a goalkeeping crisis as we do.

[Stuttgart88]

Bazunu gifts Portsmouth their first goal: https://www.skysports.com/football/portsmouth-vs-rochdale/report/431274

He may be one for the future, but not for 2021/2.pretty poor for Curtis’ goal too.

[DeLorean]

Blameless for Curtis goal imo, almost impossible when it goes through the defender's legs like that, but the first is further evidence that such confidence isn't always a good thing! Very, very sloppy and concerning that he didn't learn anything from his near escape v Qatar.

[tommy_c12000]

Have we any starting keepers in England at the moment?

Eh...yes. Bazunu has been first choice all season and was given a break according to Barry-Murphy at the weekend. While his replacement kept a clean sheet, Parrott and co did not have any shots on target. He’s had a great breakthrough season all things considered, obviously still has a lot of things to work on but the raw ingredients are there

[DeLorean]

I'd imagine it's the replacement's position to lose now all the same.

[pineapple stu]

Eh...yes. Bazunu has been first choice all season and was given a break according to Barry-Murphy at the weekend.
Sounds very diplomatic like...

[sbgawa]

well i'm sure we all hope thats true

[pineapple stu]

Has been left on the bench the last three games now, and Rochdale have conceded twice.

Five points off survival with six games to go - you wonder is Bazunu's season over now?

[passinginterest]

Has been left on the bench the last three games now, and Rochdale have conceded twice.

Five points off survival with six games to go - you wonder is Bazunu's season over now?

I'd imagine so. With a youngster on loan like that and given their situation it probably makes a lot more sense for the club to test their own resources to see if they need a new keeper next season. So far their own player seems to have stepped up and it hasn't hurt their results so they might as well stick with him.

[tommy_c12000]

It has been a wonderful season for Gavin all the same! His replacement Lynch at fault for goal today so will see if he sneaks back in before the end of season. Lynch still hasn’t signed contract extension so clearly there are some added politics here as Rochdale try to secure him for next season

[seanfhear]

It has been a wonderful season for Gavin all the same! His replacement Lynch at fault for goal today so will see if he sneaks back in before the end of season. Lynch still hasn’t signed contract extension so clearly there are some added politics here as Rochdale try to secure him for next season
Is Lynch one of ours or potentially one of ours ~ ~ I seem to remember a Famous Lyncher in Galway ( I think )

[Bielsa´s irish]

I am still not convinced by Gavin. Travers got caught. Bazunu got lucky. We need experienced gloves as number 1

[pineapple stu]

It has been a wonderful season for Gavin all the same! His replacement Lynch at fault for goal today so will see if he sneaks back in before the end of season. Lynch still hasn’t signed contract extension so clearly there are some added politics here as Rochdale try to secure him for next season
If Rochdale are looking to next season, then he mayn't get games as Bazunu probably isn't in their plans for next year.

But definitely been a good season overall. Challenge now is to build on that for next year.

[tetsujin1979]

I am still not convinced by Gavin. Travers got caught. Bazunu got lucky. We need experienced gloves as number 1
Travers has 17 senior appearances. Bazunu has 32.

[nigel-harps1954]

Travers has 17 senior appearances. Bazunu has 32.

Surely Bazunu has more than that, or is that just this season?