Randolph's entire Premier League career took in 34 games (22 of those in one season).
I was only thinking yesterday that it's hard not to see Bazunu (in particular imho) not carving out a really good career at this stage, if not at City somewhere at a high level. As stated above, Randolph was essentially a journeyman whose career got better in its second half. In recent times Shay's career is the benchmark for Irish keepers. A long tenure at a decent club, top flight more often than not, and arguably should have played at a better club. Alan Kelly and Keiren Westwood both did well, each spending time at EPL and Championship level but never coming close to Champions League standard clubs. Shay had some seasons in CL I think?
I think Bazunu should have at least as good a career as Shay. I expect Kelleher will do well when his chance comes, wherever or whenever that may be. I also think Travers is set to have at least as good a career as David Forde had in England.
Let's not forget that Forde and Randolph were perfectly capable international keepers, so I think we're really well set in this position for a long time. The interesting questions are just how well these young guys will do on an individual basis and who'll be number 1 going into the qualifiers.
The way the Kelleher thread seems to be going, it might be time to dust off this bad boy again:
As of right now we have (in no particular order......):
1. Maybe one of the most exciting 19 year old keepers in world football. Marca seem to think so. He's at the top of the charts for clean sheets at club level (albeit in L1) but has also has faced down the world's greatest goalscorer at a higher level. He's made some mistakes as you'd expect a kid to do and your heart would be in your mouth at times but he's also pulled off some of the saves of the year and is reportedly in demand at the highest level. Genuinely think he could end up as a world class player.
2. An EPL deputy learning his trade behind possibly the best in the world who just did a great job in one of Liverpool's biggest games of the year and seems as least good enough to be first choice at that level despite a lack of game time. He's an injury to Alisson away from being #1 and playing CL football.
3. An option playing at the top of the Championship who is also tied for the clean sheet record (I think) that would look completely reasonable if not for the 2 above.
By Irish standards, that's a wealth of options and any would be worthy of a start in the current team. All have plenty of time on their side as well. As of January 2022 we are in good shape.
04/01/2022, 4:21 PM
seanfhear
We might ask to see if we can play more than one goalkeeper.
04/01/2022, 4:33 PM
pineapple stu
Travers does have two goals to his name. He could be an option up front?
04/01/2022, 5:18 PM
Razors left peg
Between goal keeper and defenders we are building nicely from the back. If a few of the options going forward kick on we will be good shape
04/01/2022, 5:23 PM
pineapple stu
Wing back is a slight concern - Coleman, McClean, Doherty and Stevens are all past 30. I think we need to use the March friendlies to have a look at a new option or two there.
04/01/2022, 5:33 PM
Razors left peg
Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Wing back is a slight concern - Coleman, McClean, Doherty and Stevens are all past 30. I think we need to use the March friendlies to have a look at a new option or two there.
Theres a few young lads that are probably a few years away yet so I dont think we'll be replacing those 4 in the next campaign
04/01/2022, 5:49 PM
ontheotherhand
Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Travers does have two goals to his name. He could be an option up front?
Kelleher and Bazunu started outfield I believe - stick all three up front and get John O'Shea back in goals.
04/01/2022, 6:18 PM
third policeman
Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Theres a few young lads that are probably a few years away yet so I dont think we'll be replacing those 4 in the next campaign
Ebosele and O’Dowda both playing there at the minute. Ebosele May still need more experience at club level, but showing a lot of pace and promise.
04/01/2022, 8:00 PM
ontheotherhand
Isn't Ogbene playing wing back at club level?
Scales is starting to break through at celtic too so hopefully he can kick on.
04/01/2022, 8:17 PM
SkStu
We also have Manning, O'Shea as possible options and hopefully the breakthrough of Tayo Adaramola and continued maturation of others like Scales, Ebosele etc (as 3rdP and OTOH mentioned).
04/01/2022, 8:29 PM
Razors left peg
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
We also have Manning, O'Shea as possible options and hopefully the breakthrough of Tayo Adaramola and continued maturation of others like Scales, Ebosele etc (as 3rdP and OTOH mentioned).
I dont think Manning will ever be the answer there tbh.
04/01/2022, 8:44 PM
SkStu
I agree - he'd only do in a pinch. A possible option. Same with O'Shea but for different reasons - would we want to see him shoved out there either given how solid he has looked in the back three?
04/01/2022, 11:02 PM
samhaydenjr
I know it's not definitive but I was well impressed by this compilation of saves by Bazunu - what I really like is that includes a variety of types of saves: acrobatic, full-length dives; getting down low quickly; saving with his feet; reflex saves; and perhaps most importantly Schmeichel-style starfish rushing of forwards clean through on goal:
I also want to note that, as a Liverpool fan, I've never been blown away by Alisson. I even watched a compilation video of his saves to see if I was missing something and, while there were plenty of good saves in it, there weren't any truly great saves - in fact a bunch of Bazunu's saves in this video were better than the best from the Alisson one
05/01/2022, 9:20 AM
Stuttgart88
Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
I know it's not definitive but I was well impressed by this compilation of saves by Bazunu - what I really like is that includes a variety of types of saves: acrobatic, full-length dives; getting down low quickly; saving with his feet; reflex saves; and perhaps most importantly Schmeichel-style starfish rushing of forwards clean through on goal:
I also want to note that, as a Liverpool fan, I've never been blown away by Alisson. I even watched a compilation video of his saves to see if I was missing something and, while there were plenty of good saves in it, there weren't any truly great saves - in fact a bunch of Bazunu's saves in this video were better than the best from the Alisson one
I’ve never bought into the Alisson = best in world stuff. I often feel he’s got lucky at times and in pure goalkeeping ability I’d rate several others ahead of him. However he brings a calm reliability to the position and fills a big club’s jersey very well. He has a great knack of good saves at big moments. He was a great addition to Liverpool. A goalkeeper’s presence or personality is really important. Alisson has it. Kelleher seems to have it. Bazunu seems to have it. Travers didn’t have it in Belgrade but is still young. I commented in October that when Kelleher first played for Liverpool I thought he looked a bit like what he was - a kid finding his way in grown up football. In the last year this has changed markedly, he now looks like he knows he belongs at a high level.
05/01/2022, 9:27 AM
John83
I wonder could Newcastle come in for one of them? They're suddenly stinking rich and desperate for quality.
05/01/2022, 9:29 AM
seanfhear
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I’ve never bought into the Alisson = best in world stuff. I often feel he’s got lucky at times and in pure goalkeeping ability I’d rate several others ahead of him. However he brings a calm reliability to the position and fills a big club’s jersey very well. He has a great knack of good saves at big moments. He was a great addition to Liverpool. A goalkeeper’s presence or personality is really important. Alisson has it. Kelleher seems to have it. Bazunu seems to have it. Travers didn’t have it in Belgrade but is still young. I commented in October that when Kelleher first played for Liverpool I thought he looked a bit like what he was - a kid finding his way in grown up football. In the last year this has changed markedly, he now looks like he knows he belongs at a high level.
How can he ( or anybody else ) be sure that he belongs at a high level consistently until he plays at a high level consistently. As it goes Liverpool had a lot of goalkeeping problems before signing Allison.
05/01/2022, 9:29 AM
seanfhear
Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
I wonder could Newcastle come in for one of them? They're suddenly stinking rich and desperate for quality.
And we are all available.
05/01/2022, 9:33 AM
seanfhear
Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
I wonder could Newcastle come in for one of them? They're suddenly stinking rich and desperate for quality.
They will probably go with the tried and trusted as it would be a mite embarrassing for the super-wealthy owners if the promising young fella did not work out. It would be one hell of an interesting punt ( especially for us ) mind.
05/01/2022, 9:37 AM
John83
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
They will probably go with the tried and trusted as it would be a mite embarrassing for the super-wealthy owners if the promising young fella did not work out. It would be one hell of an interesting punt ( especially for us ) mind.
Likely, but they're in an odd position where a lot of elite talent won't be keen to move to Newcastle or to move to a club that's doing so poorly. They probably need to overpay for some compromise candidates for a while until they qualify for Europe again. Dunne and Given were beneficiaries of that kind of situation at Man City, for example. (Perhaps a little unfairly to them, them being more unfashionable than below the required standard, but that's old news.)
05/01/2022, 9:53 AM
seanfhear
Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
Likely, but they're in an odd position where a lot of elite talent won't be keen to move to Newcastle or to move to a club that's doing so poorly. They probably need to overpay for some compromise candidates for a while until they qualify for Europe again. Dunne and Given were beneficiaries of that kind of situation at Man City, for example. (Perhaps a little unfairly to them, them being more unfashionable than below the required standard, but that's old news.)
It’s an interesting situation at Newcastle alright ~ all that dough and still a lot of players won’t want to go there. Do the presenting “ spending controls “ affect the Newcastle situation much and of course is the present Newcastle goalkeeper of a high quality ?
05/01/2022, 10:23 AM
Stuttgart88
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
How can he ( or anybody else ) be sure that he belongs at a high level consistently until he plays at a high level consistently. As it goes Liverpool had a lot of goalkeeping problems before signing Allison.
I'm talking about the air of confidence he has. He seems to have a lot of self-belief. That's clear to see. The Paul Rowan article in the other thread highlights it too.
05/01/2022, 10:27 AM
Stuttgart88
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
It’s an interesting situation at Newcastle alright ~ all that dough and still a lot of players won’t want to go there. Do the presenting “ spending controls “ affect the Newcastle situation much and of course is the present Newcastle goalkeeper of a high quality ?
Dubravka(?) is very good imho.
05/01/2022, 3:41 PM
ontheotherhand
I was looking through the EPL keepers to see who might be on their last legs and got as far as seeing that Kasper Schmeichel is now 35 and had to stop.
05/01/2022, 3:45 PM
pineapple stu
And has an 11-year-old son. So Peter was a grandfather at the age of 46.
Mad stuff.
05/01/2022, 4:33 PM
seanfhear
Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
And has an 11-year-old son. So Peter was a grandfather at the age of 46.
Mad stuff.
An 11 year old seems a bit young to start as a premier league goalkeeper. Peter and Kasper really should have started the succession process earlier ~ poor planning really.
05/01/2022, 6:04 PM
John83
It's fine. Kasper just has to keep playing until he's 42 and the young fella will be ready.
I thought the correct expression was 'an embarrassment of riches'.
You can also have an 'embarrassment of pandas', which is one of the collective nouns for this particular animal. So, why not an 'embarrassment of goalies'?
Having a number of talented young Irish goalkeepers to call upon has been about as rare as a horny panda, until recently, I guess.
I still think Kelleher's the best we've got, right now, but Bazanu - what a talent! And Travers has really stepped this year; and, let's not forget, of those available to us, is playing (regularly) at the highest level of the three.
06/01/2022, 3:04 PM
John83
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
I thought the correct expression was 'an embarrassment of riches'.
So it is. I guess I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.
06/01/2022, 3:25 PM
third policeman
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
How can he ( or anybody else ) be sure that he belongs at a high level consistently until he plays at a high level consistently. As it goes Liverpool had a lot of goalkeeping problems before signing Allison.
It’s called confidence and Kelleher has bags of it, and Bazunu does as well to be fair.
06/01/2022, 3:56 PM
seanfhear
Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
It’s called confidence and Kelleher has bags of it, and Bazunu does as well to be fair.
The correct amount of confidence is a beautiful but finely balanced thing ~ like a good goalkeeper.
06/01/2022, 10:41 PM
geysir
Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
And has an 11-year-old son. So Peter was a grandfather at the age of 46.
Mad stuff.
That's not mad for a Nordic country, Eidur Gudjohnsen's dad became a grandad aged 38.
Eidur's first son is 3 years older than one of his brothers.
46 is getting on a bit to be waiting for your first grandchild.
06/01/2022, 11:17 PM
ontheotherhand
I see Travers now has the 3rd highest save percentage in the top 4 English leagues, behind Mendy and Sa. He could be the first, first choice EPL keeper of the 3.
That's not mad for a Nordic country, Eidur Gudjohnsen's dad became a grandad aged 38.
Eidur's first son is 3 years older than one of his brothers.
46 is getting on a bit to be waiting for your first grandchild.
I remember being deeply confused by a friend at primary school who had uncles who were younger than himself.
07/01/2022, 9:07 AM
Diggs246
Ian harte and Gary Kelly were in that boat
07/01/2022, 11:35 AM
Trequartista20
Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
I remember being deeply confused by a friend at primary school who had uncles who were younger than himself.
We all have those sexual confusions at that age.
Do not confuse yourself; it's healthy.
07/01/2022, 9:37 PM
Insidetherock
Who cares at this stage.. we seem to have three crackers.. and looks like plenty options at centre half now too.. surely we could turn one of those decent ball playing centre halfs into a defensive midfielder a la Big Paul.. O Shea, Collins.. no?
08/01/2022, 10:32 AM
pineapple stu
Are we that stacked at centre-half?
For the three September games, we only called up four, and when O'Shea got injured in the first game, we ended up playing our only three centre-halves for the rest of the fixture list. Omo is young but unproven - shaky in Portugal, excellent against Serbia, not getting his game for a dire Norwich team.
Collins has made his debut since, which is good. There's the great Clark debate, and Lenihan at Blackburn is being similarly ignored, though he's captaining a side second in the Championship. Dunne is doing well at QPR it seems, and Kevin Long is still in the Premier League with Burnley somehow. And we can drop a wing-half or two into the centre if we're stuck (but that's not ideal). Bagan and McGuinness are coming through at Cardiff, but it seems a bit early yet to consider them for the senior squad.
I wouldn't mind seeing us expand on our options in the March friendlies tbh.
