Keiren Westwood G Crewe Alexandra b.1984

**geysir** · 04/04/2016, 7:02 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Is he basically saying that he's pulled out of squads for reasons other than injuries? Or is he just saying he's injured too often?

According to those quotes he's not saying either but says reliability is a very (very) important factor and Westwood is unreliable due to pulling out of squads.
And that's the concern not his undisputed talent.
In almost voyeuristic mode he passes comment on Westwood missing some Sheff Wed games, as if that's further evidence that can be used to prove his point.
Westwood has started 29 out of 39 league games this season.
if that is a criteria that Martin uses, then Shay has played none and Forde has played 9

**Stuttgart88** · 04/04/2016, 8:29 PM

My personal "reading between the lines" take, rather than taking him literally, suggests MON queries Westwood's commitment. He might not be saying he's Stephen Ireland but it looks like he feels that KW took an easy out at least once or twice. Based on talent he'd be a shoo-in in anyone's eyes. Being a bit injury prone in the context of a seven day squad gathering during any international break should never be a reason to pick an inferior player.

I hope, and expect, that given the current situation MON will be pragmatic and select him.

**geysir** · 04/04/2016, 9:57 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

My personal "reading between the lines" take, rather than taking him literally, suggests MON queries Westwood's commitment. He might not be saying he's Stephen Ireland but it looks like he feels that KW took an easy out at least once or twice. Based on talent he'd be a shoo-in in anyone's eyes. Being a bit injury prone in the context of a seven day squad gathering during any international break should never be a reason to pick an inferior player.

I hope, and expect, that given the current situation MON will be pragmatic and select him.

I suppose the manager is allowed one or two examples which he uses to demonstrate his expected standards. And it doesn't always fit that the example chosen are a "fair" example.
I would totally echo the football rationality for Westwood to be our nr 1 and at the same time give leeway/permission to O'Neill for some vagaries which he could rationalise in a private discussion.

**seanfhear** · 04/04/2016, 10:43 PM

I would say that Keiren Westwood probably was not too happy when Given un-retired himself and went straight back into the Team .

Particularly when Given was not showing any form that was better than the alternatives.

Martin O'Neill is showing signs of holding a grudge here and its not that edifying . Westwood is our most regularly performing Goalkeeper to a good standard and should certainly be in the squad and possibly our number one choice Goalkeeper.

**Charlie Darwin** · 04/04/2016, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

According to those quotes he's not saying either but says reliability is a very (very) important factor and Westwood is unreliable due to pulling out of squads.
And that's the concern not his undisputed talent.
In almost voyeuristic mode he passes comment on Westwood missing some Sheff Wed games, as if that's further evidence that can be used to prove his point.
Westwood has started 29 out of 39 league games this season.
if that is a criteria that Martin uses, then Shay has played none and Forde has played 9

There was an interview he did before the Swiss game where he said it was Westwood's record of actually being fit after call-ups. The suggestion may be his club is pressurising him to pull out.

**geysir** · 05/04/2016, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

There was an interview he did before the Swiss game where he said it was Westwood's record of actually being fit after call-ups. The suggestion may be his club is pressurising him to pull out.

That would be a curious one, because under MO'N at club sunderland, Westwood says
“For a time I was playing in the qualifiers and that coincided with me not playing for Sunderland,” “I think I played more games for the national team than I did for my club that year."
And it doesn't fit with O'Neill's observation about Westwood missing a number of club games, as evidence to prove his general unreliability.

It was reported by Sheff W that he had pulled out from the Ireland squad a couple of days before the away game v Scotland Nov 2014 with a "minor hip injury". However he was fit to play for his club's next game 10 days later.

Was on the bench v Poland at home
Played v England but was dropped to bench v Scotland at home.

V Georgia and Gib sept 2015 he was injured, bruised kidney missed 6 games for club, 3 before and 3 after

V Germany Oct 8 he was fit and culled from the 40 man squad
he didn't pull out due to injury

Westwood had made himself available and was dropped.

**paul_oshea** · 05/04/2016, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

I would say that Keiren Westwood probably was not too happy when Given un-retired himself and went straight back into the Team .

Particularly when Given was not showing any form that was better than the alternatives.

Martin O'Neill is showing signs of holding a grudge here and its not that edifying . Westwood is our most regularly performing Goalkeeper to a good standard and should certainly be in the squad and possibly our number one choice Goalkeeper.

It could be that or it could be that He doesnt like the disruption and is trying to build a squad around familiarity and comraderie, once that will give everything for eachother no matter what circumstance, hence having jonny walters and keane around the squad even though they were injured. On top of that he might feel that the difference between who we believe to be our No.1 Westwood and Randolph is not that great, that it doesnt merit chopping and changing the Gks in the squad to avoid that disruption.

I can see both sides of it, a keeper and his defence definitely need that familiarity going into a Championship, and in International football its imperative given the limited time together that players have. I can also see the side that in the 89th minute when we need an agile, tall and quick to get down keeper like westwood making a last gasp save to keep us in a game, thats also imperative.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/04/2016, 10:45 AM

Sewing the seeds of another "told you so"! He got down sharply enough at Anfield recently. I'm happy with Randolph even if I think he gets beaten a little easily on occasion.

Regardless of each keeper's respective strengths and weaknesses, Elliott's absence just must require a Westwood call-up.

**DeLorean** · 05/04/2016, 11:36 AM

Hopefully but I wouldn't be sure that O'Neill will see it that way. He still has his three most recent number ones available and Henderson also. With the WC qualifying campaign in mind though it would be silly not to bring Westwood back in.

**seanfhear** · 05/04/2016, 8:58 PM

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/ir...-34598327.html

Manager talks up his own player shocker !

But in this case the manager is right . Martin O'Neill will have a lot of egg on his face if through injury or misfortune the absence of this in form Goalkeeper becomes costly.

**OwlsFan** · 06/04/2016, 9:20 AM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/ir...-34598327.html

Manager talks up his own player shocker !

But in this case the manager is right . Martin O'Neill will have a lot of egg on his face if through injury or misfortune the absence of this in form Goalkeeper becomes costly.

"Westwood's feat of four successive away clean sheets is an all-time club record" - says a lot about a club founded 149 years ago

**DeLorean** · 06/04/2016, 9:34 AM

I was thinking the same thing! I wouldn't go bragging about that one.

**geysir** · 06/04/2016, 10:26 AM

4 successive away clean sheets is a deal, Championship (and old Div 1) record is 6.
Westwood is going for gold.

**OwlsFan** · 06/04/2016, 6:26 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

4 successive away clean sheets is a deal, Championship (and old Div 1) record is 6.
Westwood is going for gold.

Clean sheet and Sheffield Wednesday are an oxymoron.

Bristol City, Derby County and Wolves to go.

He made a goal against Blackburn last night. Long clearance over the top a goal came as a result.

**Stuttgart88** · 07/04/2016, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Long clearance over the top a goal came as a result.

Your favourite type

**DeLorean** · 07/04/2016, 11:14 AM

MON's favourite type too, if that doesn't make him think nothing will

Highlights here... think he might have done a bit better for Blackburn's goal.

**Stuttgart88** · 07/04/2016, 12:37 PM

I thought it was a well-placed header. No biggy though, he's saving his best form for away games.

Duffy not really accountable for either goal which is good given that Paul is on foot.ie today

**DeLorean** · 07/04/2016, 1:04 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I thought it was a well-placed header.

No doubt. He was a nice bit out though, I didn't think there was that much power and it was at a pretty good height.

**paul_oshea** · 07/04/2016, 1:41 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I thought it was a well-placed header. No biggy though, he's saving his best form for away games.

Duffy not really accountable for either goal which is good given that Paul is on foot.ie today

Ya, but at the weekend he was poor, he seems to get carded a lot.