Gavin Bazunu G Southampton b.2002

[ontheotherhand]

I hope it was the right kind of clean sheet!

Watched a bit. He looked good and Southampton generally defended well. Defenders threw themselves on the line to block shots. At one stage he was beaten point blank by Sterling but a defender covered for him on the line. Did well under crosses and made one excellent save towards the end of the game in addition to a few more standard ones. Fairly even game overall in the parts I say but given how Southampton have looked that's encouraging.

Hopefully this is a sign of him getting to the pace of the level. Good timing if so. If he strings a few more performances like that together he'd be the clear #1 again for me.

[ifk101]

Nothing different in Saturday's performance to what he has being doing to date. He's doing fine without being outstanding. Hopefully the Chelsea game is indicative of greater stability in front of him going forward, which would give him the chance to grow, but that remains to be seen. Big game against Leeds next.

[SkStu]

I was watching Watford v West Brom yesterday and Brom had a 21 year old keeper, Griffiths, who was making his second or third start for them having spent the first half of the season with Portsmouth in L1. They commented beforehand on the big step up in quality from L1 to the Championship, the adjustments required and how he had struggled a bit in his previous games. It made me think about how it has been a much larger step for Bazunu as a 20 year old and how, all things considered, he has coped with it pretty admirably in a team that has struggled. There is a reason he is name checked around the world as the top young prospect in his position.

[ifk101]

Yes. If you factor in his age, the team he is playing in, and this being his first PL season – he is doing fine, (if not outstanding). There were a couple of incidents following the WC break that you could question. Otherwise, he hasn’t made any glaring and obvious mistakes – god knows everything has been nitpicked here. Southampton are judging him daily in training, and that’s now three different decision makers this season that have had no hesitation in starting Bazunu. Even Nathan Jones knew better than dropping him (ok, there was that one cup game ....) If Southampton gets their team steady and organised hence forth, and force the opposition to work to get shots on goal, I think you’ll start seeing him grow and take another step in his progress by consistently making saves he is not expected to make.

[tommy_c12000]

Another soft goal let in by Bazunu, Bednarek just stood in front of him like a statue instead of clearing it and blocked his view, but should have saved that

[Demesne Lad]

Rubén Sellés takes the flak, but I think Bazunu will be learning at a more leisurely pace next season -- in the Championship.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/233...legation-meet/

[joey B]

Just seen the goal from Saturday and he definitely should do better but Bednarek is shocking for it,instead of being big and going to try and block it he turns side on nearly to get out of the way 6 yards from goal,pathetic defending really…..

[Stuttgart88]

Saw it too. I was expecting worse from what I read about it. Soft rather than terrible.

[texidub]

Was looking on some local Southampton forum and geezus the posters seem to be directing a lot of ire at Bazunu, saying he's not up to the task etc. (Not just him, but still.) Over emotional and poor judgment on their part albeit - understandable given results. I think he has the character to get through all that and I think he has great qualities already and potential for much more. I'd give him the Latvia game to test the waters and see if he's looking more confident with a better team around him. If he passes, he's in for France.

[Razors left peg]

Was looking on some local Southampton forum and geezus the posters seem to be directing a lot of ire at Bazunu, saying he's not up to the task etc. (Not just him, but still.) Over emotional and poor judgment on their part albeit - understandable given results. I think he has the character to get through all that and I think he has great qualities already and potential for much more. I'd give him the Latvia game to test the waters and see if he's looking more confident with a better team around him. If he passes, he's in for France.

To me there is no other option than to play him against France, hes our best goalkeeper and is actually playing games. Hes getting a bit of stick at times because hes learning on the job to a degree on the most high profile stage in the world. Hes still be very good at times, and at other times shows that he is inexperienced.

Theres one very easy way he could have avoided all this criticism... hide on the bench at a bigger club and not play games. Kelleher doesnt make any mistakes at all by having that outlook and so he avoids any criticism, its genius really.

Incidentally, Bazunu is in for a great night tonight, wont get any stick at all because hes "dropped" for the cup game.

[EAFC_rdfl]

Aye dropped again!

[Colbert Report]

Huge win for Southampton over Leicester, but Bazunu made a huge mistake deep into second half injury time and Leicester almost equalized.

[tommy_c12000]

Made two big mistakes, his judgement and shot stopping has been highly questionable this season. But a clean sheet all the same, we will take a lucky Bazunu over anything else we have currently (which is minimal)

[seanfhear]

Made two big mistakes, his judgement and shot stopping has been highly questionable this season. But a clean sheet all the same, we will take a lucky Bazunu over anything else we have currently (which is minimal)

Napoleon = = I like Lucky Generals.

[Stuttgart88]

Definitely the wrong kind of clean sheet!

I can't decide what the mistake for the injury time chance was though. Was the mistake that he came for it or was the mistake that he missed it? Had he stayed put would the Leicester guy have had a free header?

It was a bit like Tadic vs Travers in Belgrade. Super crosses, messing with the keeper's head.

Maddison had an earlier inswinger that would have been a real test for him too but a CB took charge.

[osarusan]

If a keeper commits and comes out like that for a cross and doesn't get there, it's a mistake.

[Eirambler]

It might have been a mistake that saved a goal, weirdly. If he stayed glued to his line like Travers tends to, Maddison probably just nods it past him. There's no fault attributed to Bazunu in that case but Southampton drop the points. By coming out he probably did enough to put Maddison off and stopped the goal. Doesn't mean it wasn't a mistake all the same - the general rule is that if you come you have to get something on it, otherwise it's classed as a "flap".

[ifk101]

It was a bad mistake (and equally bad miss). Looks like he called for it, as the CB in front of him didn’t challenge for the ball, and he didn’t get there. Has to do better in that situation if he is calling for the ball.

[third policeman]

Made two big mistakes, his judgement and shot stopping has been highly questionable this season. But a clean sheet all the same, we will take a lucky Bazunu over anything else we have currently (which is minimal)

Yeah, obviously. It's not like we have another keeper who, although not playing every week, has turned in highly impressive performances for club and country and is one of the highest rated young keepers in the PL. I'm not anti-Bazunu, but the argument that he's an automatic starter, even when in questionable form, just because he's playing, is deeply illogical and a little biased. If we applied that criteria consistently, we'd be putting out some rather eccentric selections.

[ifk101]

Kelleher has played 4 games in the PL. In total. The most convincing argument for a player's inclusion in the team is playing time. If Kenny has serious concerns about Bazunu's form, he'd have to give Max O'Leary fair consideration before turning to Kelleher.