Stockdale

[Cowfold Seagull]

How anybody cannot see that Ben Robert has made a difference is totally baffling Stockdale is attacking the crosses better and is punching and pushing the ball generally into no mans land rather than back into the 6 yd box. Also he is not getting caught on his near post anywhere near as often, Saturday was an exception and just a brilliant shot. He is kicking the ball more to players than continually out of touch so allround he has improved and credit must go to both him and Roberts cos whatever they are doing different it is working.

He punched or pushed the ball into no mans land when Toral followed up his save to score for Birmingham did he?

I like the man I really do, and as I keep saying his performances are so much better than they were last season, but third best English goalkeeper?, no, not yet anyway.

I'm truly baffled by the way some people are going over the top about him on this thread. Best Albion keeper of all time, again, no!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Time for an admission. "Live" in the ground I was very disappointed he got beaten at his near post for the first. Watching it back it's clear that Bruno's backing off and an absolute pile driver of a shot are what did it so apologies here and now. For the rest of the game he was, indeed, outstanding.

I have now FINALLY convinced my nine year old that he is a better keeper than PIG. Slowly he has been watching Stockdale's positioning, key saves and wonderful distribution and now accepts what a great keeper he is. For me nine is about the mental age you had if you genuinely did #BlameStockdale

 

[BensGrandad]

I think that the punch that went to Toral was just unlucky as he got distance on it and what would have expected to have been out of the danger area but it fell directly to Toral All keepers even Joe Hart are prone to mistakes, how long has Casillas been getting away with it and still rated by many as a world class keeper. I think that DS has improved but not our best ever not yet. In the top 5 but not the best.

 

[aolstudios]

I think that the punch that went to Toral was just unlucky as he got distance on it and what would have expected to have been out of the danger area but it fell directly to Toral All keepers even Joe Hart are prone to mistakes, how long has Casillas been getting away with it and still rated by many as a world class keeper. I think that DS has improved but not our best ever not yet. In the top 5 but not the best.

He's in the top one.
& you're still trying to justify your last year's criticism. However subtly

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

He made 2 PHENOMENAL saves at 2-0 down. I have no doubt in my mind that if we had gone to 3-0 then we wouldn't have come back. Some may disagree but that was how I felt at the time.

Proof that keepers win you points.

 

[Withdean11]

He made 2 PHENOMENAL saves at 2-0 down. I have no doubt in my mind that if we had gone to 3-0 then we wouldn't have come back. Some may disagree but that was how I felt at the time.

Proof that keepers win you points.

I agree that had we gone 3-0 down that would of been game over, but I disagree they were "phenomenal" saves. They was good saves, yes, but phenomenal? Come on. His save the week before against Birmingham was PHENOMENAL though.

 

[Munkfish]

I think that the punch that went to Toral was just unlucky as he got distance on it and what would have expected to have been out of the danger area but it fell directly to Toral All keepers even Joe Hart are prone to mistakes, how long has Casillas been getting away with it and still rated by many as a world class keeper. I think that DS has improved but not our best ever not yet. In the top 5 but not the best.

Out of interest who are your top 5.

I am only in my 20's so really havent been blessed with great keepers in my lifetime.

I would have down as my best from circa 96 onwards, In no particular order.

1. FDM
2 .Roberts
3. Stockdale
4. PIG
5. Ankers or Dave Beasent the few games he played for us at the age of 40 odd you could still see his class.

 

[Munkfish]

I agree that had we gone 3-0 down that would of been game over, but I disagree they were "phenomenal" saves. They was good saves, yes, but phenomenal? Come on. His save the week before against Birmingham was PHENOMENAL though.

I would say both were as good if not better than the shot against Brum. I guess the header was more about positioning, but the one on one was a ridiculous save. Look how easy Wilson put it past the Charlton keeper from a similar distance.

 

[Berty23]

Yes he has, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I believe he is one of the three best English goalkeepers. Sorry but I maintain that whilst he is much improved on last season, he is still prone to the odd mistake. Playing in a winning team is helping too.

Hart and butland and who else?

I don't think you should count him being in a winning team as an independent variable in any analysis!

 

[pishhead]

Last year a million seemed a ridiculous amount of money for a goalkeeper at our level. Having seen Kuszcak a few weeks back it made me appreciate how much of a better all round keeper Stockdale is.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Time for an admission. "Live" in the ground I was very disappointed he got beaten at his near post for the first. Watching it back it's clear that Bruno's backing off and an absolute pile driver of a shot are what did it so apologies here and now. For the rest of the game he was, indeed, outstanding.

I must admit, I read your blog and thought you were being incredibly hard on Stockdale. Was actually a terrific strike, and he didn't stand a chance

 

[Guinness Boy]

I must admit, I read your blog and thought you were being incredibly hard on Stockdale. Was actually a terrific strike, and he didn't stand a chance

Yeah, I had a chat with a couple of others on Twitter afterwards who urged me to watch it again. I did and changed my mind. But as I said in that write up I try and call it as I see it at the time. No point in editing it after the fact to make myself look or feel better.

The reaction all around me was that he should never have been beaten from that angle. I watched the highlights back before I wrote because of the game but pretty much ignored their goals. When I had a look at it properly it's not his fault - but everyone near us left the game believing it was.

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah, I had a chat with a couple of others on Twitter afterwards who urged me to watch it again. I did and changed my mind. But as I said in that write up I try and call it as I see it at the time. No point in editing it after the fact to make myself look or feel better.

The reaction all around me was that he should never have been beaten from that angle. I watched the highlights back before I wrote because of the game but pretty much ignored their goals. When I had a look at it properly it's not his fault - but everyone near us left the game believing it was.

I said to Jnr

"well he smashed that into a football sized gap, he'd have missed if a couple of inches out".

 

[BensGrandad]

He's in the top one.
& you're still trying to justify your last year's criticism. However subtly

Not at all he is a totaly different keeper to last season. He is much more agilke, probably due to losing weight, better on crosses punching and pushing the ball away, far better at his near post nd his distribution is much better. Most of his kicks last season went over the touchline, any shot on the ear post wwas apossible goal and his punching and pushfrom crosses invarably landed in the danger area(6 yd box) I can only put this down to the coaching of Roberts and his own personal application.

My top 5:

Gill, Grummitt, Roberts not much to chose 1 2 or 3.
Kuszczak
Stockdale based on this season performances and could rise higher. Based on last year behind Molesey, Steele and FDM.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Not at all he is a totaly different keeper to last season. He is much more agilke, probably due to losing weight, better on crosses punching and pushing the ball away, far better at his near post nd his distribution is much better. Most of his kicks last season went over the touchline, any shot on the ear post wwas apossible goal and his punching and pushfrom crosses invarably landed in the danger area(6 yd box) I can only put this down to the coaching of Roberts and his own personal application.

I know it's all about opinions but that is nonsense. His distribution has always been superb, and a keeper doesn't suddenly become excellent because of a new coach.

 

[aolstudios]

I know it's all about opinions but that is nonsense. His distribution has always been superb, and a keeper doesn't suddenly become excellent because of a new coach.

Exactly. The difference this season is that he has a defence in front of him

 

[Stat Brother]

Exactly. The difference this season is that he has a defence in front of him

I'd go further than that.

The difference this season is that he doesn't have the pressure of knowing if he makes one mistake, his team loses 1-0.

 

[Mutts Nuts]

Our defense were woeful in the first half on Saturday, David kept us in the game I don`t think there is a keeper in the country that would have saved that first goal, the rest of the team did there job in the second half.

 

[dazzer6666]

Not at all he is a totaly different keeper to last season. He is much more agilke, probably due to losing weight, better on crosses punching and pushing the ball away, far better at his near post nd his distribution is much better. Most of his kicks last season went over the touchline, any shot on the ear post wwas apossible goal and his punching and pushfrom crosses invarably landed in the danger area(6 yd box) I can only put this down to the coaching of Roberts and his own personal application.

My top 5:

Gill, Grummitt, Roberts not much to chose 1 2 or 3.
Kuszczak
Stockdale based on this season performances and could rise higher. Based on last year behind Molesey, Steele and FDM.

No. His distribution, for example, has always been very good. Never seen a keeper hit the low, hard long balls he consistently does, straight to our players. The fact he tries to pull off impressive kicks all the time means a few go astray and look bad. These are less notceable/boo-able when we're winning. To say 'most of his kicks last season went over the touchline' is completely wrong.

 

[BensGrandad]

I know it's all about opinions but that is nonsense. His distribution has always been superb, and a keeper doesn't suddenly become excellent because of a new coach.

If that is the case why bother with having a specialist GK coach just let the other coaches do the job and save money. It is good to know a few on here thought his distribution last year was good because the vast majority I sit near and speak to were complaining all the time about it and have noticed the difference this year. Then again they mostly have an opinion on the posters on NSC which isnt very favourable and continually ask me why I bother to post on it.

I cannot make them see that I enjoy the banter and difference of views. They may be just as wrong in their opinion as those whose post on here either agreeing or not on such matters.