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Summer 2022 Transfer Window

I don't think there are loads of Premier League teams with backup keepers that you'd want starting a lot of games and I understand it's not going to be an easy spot to fill but I don't think that means you should just settle. Would rather have a keeper with some promise that shows potential than a keeper that may be more experienced but when he plays, makes a string of costly errors, which applies to Ruddy unfortunately when he plays cup games. I do understand why they keep Ruddy as I say though as his presence in the dressing room apears to be important.

I wouldn't be giving Ruddy, or any bakcup keeper for that matter, cup games next season though, we are probably going to finish mid table and you want to be giving yourself the best chance of progressing in the cups. Goalkeeper isn't a prime position where a rest is needed in terms of physical fatigue so i'd rather us play our number 1 (everyone else does it isn't a good enough reason). Managers obviously see it as a chance to give your number 1 a rest and give the backup some game time in case they are needed, the issue comes when managers seem to then solidly stick to them as the "cup keeper" - all well and good if you're slapping a team like Rochdale in round 3 but when the big games come it can cost you as it did us vs Watford.
 
Its ok to play a cup keeper if the gap between your keepers is not that big I suppose. Southampton and Palace can do it as I do not see a lot between their first and second choice- Norwich too. Personally I would give Sarkic a go.
 
As I have expressed on here several times, I played in goal at tier 12,13, 14 and have my level 2 football badge back when that included a keeping part too, so basically an expert is what I am saying...I am kinda a big deal, people who have played football know me (usually because they scored passed me!!!)

Anyway there are some of these I have barely seen and then two I outright didn't rank as know nothing about them. However armed with my expertise this is my tiered ranking of backup keepers.



Tier 1 - Good enough to start or better than at least one starting keeper in the league
1- Henderson
1 - Leno
1/2 - Gollini
1/2 - Areola

Tier 2 - Capable backup or should be good enough for prolonged use
2 - Begovic
2- Kepa

Tier 3 - a strange one as Saints seem to change their keeper with every game I have seen, both of them are decentish but they'd be better upgrading and I don't fully rate either hence why they are here. Forster had a good game at the weekend but even so there is a lot of erratic things I don't like in that game. I also don't really have a good thought of Kelleher due to who he plays for but he seems a solid backup currently from the games I have seen.

3 McCarthy/Forster
3 - Kelleher


Tier 4 - Capable for spot relief or sub appearances, ideally shouldn't be played in the cup from QTR finals onwards
4 Ruddy
4 -Hennessey
4 -Butland
4 -Stefan
4 -Gunn
3/4 Bachman *seen very little of him so this was a highlights placing.

Tier 5 - Would probably struggle to justify signing one of these over the first choice Championship keepers.
5 -Darlow
5 - Ward
5 - Fernandez
5 - Steele


Unranked - Villa and Leeds backups
 
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ooohhh I like that, my brain storm idea had been 'the sort of safe hands' pod. #sosh
 
I thought about putting him higher but his entire stock seems to be playing well for Wales in a major tournament, and his role for them sees him protected so my worry with him is he is a keeper version of Roger Johnson or Scott Dann, although having him below Hennessey obviously doesn't make sense so I will concede that one!

I've not been a huge admirer when I have seen him though.
 
Tony Towner said:
How many teams have decent back ups though? City's got them knocked out of the cup, Liverpool's is a kid and before that Adrian. Chelsea are lumbered with theirs because of the amount the paid, Utd's wants out etc etc.
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Bizarre I read earlier Newcastle are interested in Pope to be their number 2. Makes no sense on any level I can see
 
Birmingham mail saying blues are after sarkic on a permanent move.

I don't think he's quite up to premier league standard so more than happy to make a few quid on him.
 
PuntsWolf said:
I don’t think anyone will sign Ruddy so it solves his/our problem. As I said before he’s basically unemployable. He’s too old, and been out the game too long, and he’s not that good. If people want a short term fix they’ll just sign a youngster on loan from a big club for peanuts or someone like Sarkic for example. He’d probably be taking a 75% pay cut as well if there was anyone desperate/interested.
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Let’s see if anyone is actually desperate/interested (stupid) then if he’s willing to take the 75% pay cut
 
Why does Jinkys posts make it look like Ruddy's shouting :)
 
He's a good guy but he simply isn't good enough these days when he plays. You can go through a lot of the cup goals we've conceded since 2018 and there's a huge portion that are at least partly on him. I mean the Norwich one this season, stupid free kick to concede in a ridiculous area right at the end of the first half, poxy non-marking...but I'm not having it that he couldn't have made a better effort than that to save it.
 
I'm sure he'll forget about how much he wants to play when he sees his wages going from £20k a week to £3k a week
 
I respect him though for genuinely wanting to get game time. Any footballer should be of the same mindset. I don't want him in goal for any of our games so think he should move on. Could see one of the richer Championship or League 1 clubs taking a punt, not quite as low as 3k even if it's less than what he gets now.
 
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