Gavin Bazunu

[Turkish]

4 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I think unfortunately, like a lot of our fans, he doesn't have the mental fortitude for it. Classic sports confidence issues. He was clearly very good for Portsmouth.

I don’t know about that but having been thrown into the first team of a struggling premier league side, who had a terrible season and being clearly out of your depth has got to have some impact. Thats the fault of the idiots who decided it was a good idea 

[egg]

Just now, Farmer Saint said:

I think unfortunately, like a lot of our fans, he doesn't have the mental fortitude for it. Classic sports confidence issues.

It must be a confidence or psychological thing. 

A mates sister in law was a world beater on the tennis practice court, bossed everyone. On match day she froze and barely made the top 500. She quit and moved into coaching. 

Hopefully Baz can fullfil his potential. For us and his sake. 

 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I don’t think he’s terrible, he isn’t the worst, but he’s definitely a long way from the best; and that’s the problem right there.

We have a few other positions you could say that. Right back for starters. Is Bazunu worse than Bree and Sugawara? I don't hear too many crying about that position. It's been a while since I've had to watch Baz in nets...maybe I have forgotten how poor he looked.

[Football Special]

32 minutes ago, Chez said:

We have a few other positions you could say that. Right back for starters. Is Bazunu worse than Bree and Sugawara? I don't hear too many crying about that position. It's been a while since I've had to watch Baz in nets...maybe I have forgotten how poor he looked.

Right back clearly is a position we are weaker now than last championship season,  difference is it is a position that can be carried a bit as mistakes won't necessarily be as detrimental as a goalkeeper error. 

Bree is steady I think  , Suga has been a disappointment in his Premier league performances, if they've taught him how to defend let's see if he can improve now and lay off the basketball for a bit 

[bugenhagen]

1 hour ago, egg said:

It must be a confidence or psychological thing. 

A mates sister in law was a world beater on the tennis practice court, bossed everyone. On match day she froze and barely made the top 500. She quit and moved into coaching. 

Hopefully Baz can fullfil his potential. For us and his sake. 

 

Based on that analogy, I thought you were going to suggest that Baz should quit and consider coaching 😉

[egg]

9 minutes ago, bugenhagen said:

Based on that analogy, I thought you were going to suggest that Baz should quit and consider coaching 😉

Some would say he should just quit! 

[Chez]

36 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Right back clearly is a position we are weaker now than last championship season,  difference is it is a position that can be carried a bit as mistakes won't necessarily be as detrimental as a goalkeeper error. 

Bree is steady I think  , Suga has been a disappointment in his Premier league performances, if they've taught him how to defend let's see if he can improve now and lay off the basketball for a bit 

Not sure Baz makes lots of howlers, he just hasn't dominated his goal or been good positionally. That seems to equate to having a right back that doesn't dominate, and can't attack or defend all that well...which is what we have in our right backs. Right back isn't the only position that is sewn up. Left back has two guys that are positionally poor and defensively weak - well at least Juric thought so (of Wellington). A holding midfielder doesn't seem to exist in our squad other than Sesay, who looked like he had a bit to learn. Have we any pace out wide...at all? I think I should stop comparing Baz with the other positions. I want to remain positive, at least until I have seen us play a few games.

[SambaMaverick]

I just don't have the energy to watch him for another season. Goalkeeper is the one position where you cannot have passengers, it's just ridiculous.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

I have my doubts like everyone here but it's interesting that we're painting this as the club's decision when presumably Still is on board with it, or perhaps even the main driver of the decision?

Also the club decided Baz wasn't good enough last season so they're obviously not totally wedded to him 

Edited Sunday at 20:40 by Ex Lion Tamer

[HarvSFC]

34 minutes ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

Also the club decided Baz wasn't good enough last season so they're obviously not totally wedded to him 

Did they? They went into the season with McCarthy as number one with the plan for him to keep the gloves until Bazunu returned from his injury and seemed quite confident with doing so at the fans forum last year. Bazunu, McCarthy and Lumley were the three goalkeepers they decided to go into the season with.

It was then after the Newcastle debacle on the opening day and the Nottingham Forest match that the realisation hit that we were going to break Derby's points record with McCarthy and they panic bought a goalkeeper, being Ramsdale. 

[Scummer]

1 hour ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

 

Also the club decided Baz wasn't good enough last season so they're obviously not totally wedded to him 

He was injured for the first few months of last season. It was McCarthy they decided they needed to replace

[notnowcato]

Baz with Macca as back up is good enough for this season. 

[Galway saint]

5 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Baz with Macca as back up is good enough for this season. 

Starting the season with him in goal and stephens at CB would illustrate in my view the club hasn’t moved forward despite assertions to the contrary.
 

Not sure I can be bothered with another season of having to debate whether a better defence would mean Bazanu would save more low shots, or whether his positioning would be better if we had a better RB… 

 

 

 

 

 

[kitch]

Of all the players and all the performances in pre-season, Bazunu isn't one of the ones I'm worried about.

[SaintBobby]

18 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

So you've completely ignored the stats from his last Championship season which had him plum last compared to all other goalkeepers in a team that finished third, to rank him 7/10.

I'll have one of what you've been drinking.

Isn't that just goals conceded to shots saved? I don't think that's a complete picture. It's like only measuring a team on xG. He definitely isn't the worst keeper in the division.

[AlexLaw76]

17 minutes ago, SaintBobby said:

Isn't that just goals conceded to shots saved? I don't think that's a complete picture. It's like only measuring a team on xG. He definitely isn't the worst keeper in the division.

He was one of them that season

[Saint86]

Fans need to back him if he is the No.1 - he's had some torrid years - joined as a youngster and thrown in the deep end his first in the prem in an awful side. Then did alright in the championship, and then had that bad injury that's knocked him back. Its a bit of a fresh start for him in some ways - although equally this season will be his last chance with saints i'd wager.

Edited yesterday at 09:53 by Saint86

[bpsaint]

18 hours ago, Football Special said:

Fans forum coming up for someone to ask again 

 

Gav went on to repay this faith in him by becoming the statically worst keeper in the league that season.

I really don’t get our fans, the ones that stick up for him or are happy to settle for average at best. The bloke admittedly through no fault of his own got thrown in at the deep end when he was signed, and was statically the worst keeper in the Prem, then we got relegated and he was the worst keeper in the league the following season, then he misses most of last season due to injury but does have an utterly disastrous loan spell to Belgium, and here we are less than a week before the season and he’s getting 7/10 ratings and people claiming he’s good enough for us and this league.

Mediocrity at its finest, he’s gash, and it’s a matter of time till we’re all questioning whether he’s costing us games. The bloke is going to melt against the skates, we can all see it coming, and as has been posted already rivals teams are signing decent solid keepers at a fraction of the price he cost us.

Edited yesterday at 10:10 by bpsaint

[Whitey Grandad]

20 hours ago, Badger said:

Isn’t it often trotted out on here that he was statistically the worst in the division two years ago ? 

That just goes to show how unreliable these 'statistics' are. The methodology used is worse than questionable and we have never established spread and variance in the published figures. Without that the results have no meaning and are just random numbers and in any list of random numbers one name will be at the bottom and another at the top. Far better to use your own eyes and experience and even then there will be a wide spread of opinions.  

My views are well known.  He is 'OK' at best which might be enough for us this season but I would prefer someone better.  I would also prefer someone with more of a dominating physical presence. I wasn't too impressed by Ramsdale last season to be honest and I think he got bullied off the ball on more than one occasion. 

[Scummer]

5 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

then he misses most of last season due to injury but does have an utterly disastrous loan spell to Belgium

What was disastrous about his time in Belgium? It seems to have become a forum fact but I'm not sure what it's based on.

[bpsaint]

1 hour ago, Scummer said:

What was disastrous about his time in Belgium? It seems to have become a forum fact but I'm not sure what it's based on.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/hasnt-been-reassuring-club-end-southampton-players-loan-early-saints-have-decision-to-make/
 

Sudinfo also report the Republic of Ireland international has left Standard Liège earlier than expected.

The two clubs maintain a good relationship due to Moussa Djenepo’s sale to the Saints in 2023. This helped the Jupiler Pro League side to sign Bazunu on loan without a purchase option.

The report says the Southampton man’s arrival stopped Matthieu Epolo’s development at Standard Liège.

Bazunu played eight games, keeping one clean sheet and conceding 15 goals. Sudinfo say he ‘hasn’t been reassuring at all’ since he arrived in Belgium, meaning the stopper wasn’t convincing.

[S-Clarke]

32 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

 

https://sportwitness.co.uk/hasnt-been-reassuring-club-end-southampton-players-loan-early-saints-have-decision-to-make/
 

Sudinfo also report the Republic of Ireland international has left Standard Liège earlier than expected.

The two clubs maintain a good relationship due to Moussa Djenepo’s sale to the Saints in 2023. This helped the Jupiler Pro League side to sign Bazunu on loan without a purchase option.

The report says the Southampton man’s arrival stopped Matthieu Epolo’s development at Standard Liège.

Bazunu played eight games, keeping one clean sheet and conceding 15 goals. Sudinfo say he ‘hasn’t been reassuring at all’ since he arrived in Belgium, meaning the stopper wasn’t convincing.

I can't find them now, but the stats were travelling in a similar direction of -XG let in shots. God knows what it would have bene had he had more games.

I feel pretty low that he'll be our Number 1 next season, it feels like we're just cycling back round in circles ignoring the mistakes of the past. I just want to forget the last few years, but the continued inclusion of guys like these make it hard to move on.

The biggest telling thing for me last January is that we openly put Bazunu on the market for a loan, we told the media pretty much and I'd imagine floated his name out there to get takers. No takers, not one, no rumours nothing. We got to the end of the window and the only reason he went to Liege was because the manager was his former youth coach at City. That to me is fairly telling in terms of how others perceive him as a goalkeeper.

I guess the key positive in all of this is that the club will add a GK to the squad, with Ramsdale gone, Lumley gone and McCarthy firmly third choice, there is a gap. I just hope the club buy another keeper who is good enough to really push Bazunu and jump in when required, as otherwise we are in a right old mess.

Edited yesterday at 11:59 by S-Clarke

[Gloucester Saint]

10 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Baz with Macca as back up is good enough for this season. 

Depends what the clubs aim is. If it’s stability finishing 8th-14th on the fringes of the play-offs, if Gavin has improved, then yes, he probably is.

But to go from the worst keeper at this level to being good enough for top 2, at worst top 6, that would be a huge risk for the club to take. They are daft enough to take it going on SR’s track record. 

[Chez]

3 hours ago, bpsaint said:

Gav went on to repay this faith in him by becoming the statically worst keeper in the league that season.

I really don’t get our fans, the ones that stick up for him or are happy to settle for average at best. The bloke admittedly through no fault of his own got thrown in at the deep end when he was signed, and was statically the worst keeper in the Prem, then we got relegated and he was the worst keeper in the league the following season, then he misses most of last season due to injury but does have an utterly disastrous loan spell to Belgium, and here we are less than a week before the season and he’s getting 7/10 ratings and people claiming he’s good enough for us and this league.

Mediocrity at its finest, he’s gash, and it’s a matter of time till we’re all questioning whether he’s costing us games. The bloke is going to melt against the skates, we can all see it coming, and as has been posted already rivals teams are signing decent solid keepers at a fraction of the price he cost us.

I think fans that stick up for him on here are just trying to offer some balance. Some of the opinions about him and comments, like what is and isn't saveable can be a bit much at times. 

Was his spell in Belgium a disaster? I know he got injured, but I didn't hear that he has performed particularly badly. 

Why do you think he will melt against the skates? He hasn't been a keeper that has cracked under pressure or made lot of bad decisions/errors in the face of big home or away supports. Temperament wise, he's been pretty solid. Or by `melt' do you mean he will shrink and fail to make saves?

Have I just stuck up for him? Possibly. Do I settle for average? Far from it. I don't rate him, but I also don't rate some of the posts about him.

 

[Whitey Grandad]

3 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Depends what the clubs aim is. If it’s stability finishing 8th-14th on the fringes of the play-offs, if Gavin has improved, then yes, he probably is.

But to go from the worst keeper at this level to being good enough for top 2, at worst top 6, that would be a huge risk for the club to take. They are daft enough to take it going on SR’s track record. 

In what way was he the "worst keeper at this level"? We finished in the play off positions. 

 

[S-Clarke]

12 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

In what way was he the "worst keeper at this level"? We finished in the play off positions. 

 

We did, but I will also stand by the opinion that it was in spite of Bazunu. I truly believe had he not been injured, we'd have been knocked out in the playoffs.

We won a lot of games because of our firepower, making up for the lack of defensive stability we had. Of course that was also down to our style, but we also ran the risk of any shot against being a goal.

We let in 64 goals, or along those lines - for a promoted side that is horrendous. The defenders in Bednarek and THB were good enough to be stronger than they were, but the feeling I had is that any shot on target went in - and that was illustrated by the statistics at the end of the season, which had Bazunu bottom of the table on expected goals against by some distance. He didn't prevent any, he actually let in something like 10 or 11 more than he should have.

He's a funny goal keeper because there aren't many absolute 'howlers' he drops, but there are also not really any game changing saves he makes. Teams know that if you get a shot on target and he's in goal, it will more than likely go in. That could be in part due to technical limitations in his game, or more to do with mentally in-game. It's probably a bit of both to be honest.

Obviously I'm not a fan of his, but I don't want this to seem like some sort of personal crusade against him - I'm just speaking out because I'm frustrated by the acceptance of mediocrity, not just by fans, but by the club. The ruthlessness I wished for has not yet transpired, if you also add the Stephens contract into that.

I respect peoples support for him, but I just feel it's a little misplaced that's all.

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

We did, but I will also stand by the opinion that it was in spite of Bazunu. I truly believe had he not been injured, we'd have been knocked out in the playoffs.

We won a lot of games because of our firepower, making up for the lack of defensive stability we had. Of course that was also down to our style, but we also ran the risk of any shot against being a goal.

We let in 64 goals, or along those lines - for a promoted side that is horrendous. The defenders in Bednarek and THB were good enough to be stronger than they were, but the feeling I had is that any shot on target went in - and that was illustrated by the statistics at the end of the season, which had Bazunu bottom of the table on expected goals against by some distance. He didn't prevent any, he actually let in something like 10 or 11 more than he should have.

He's a funny goal keeper because there aren't many absolute 'howlers' he drops, but there are also not really any game changing saves he makes. Teams know that if you get a shot on target and he's in goal, it will more than likely go in. That could be in part due to technical limitations in his game, or more to do with mentally in-game. It's probably a bit of both to be honest.

Obviously I'm not a fan of his, but I don't want this to seem like some sort of personal crusade against him - I'm just speaking out because I'm frustrated by the acceptance of mediocrity, not just by fans, but by the club. The ruthlessness I wished for has not yet transpired, if you also add the Stephens contract into that.

I respect peoples support for him, but I just feel it's a little misplaced that's all.

These are random computer generated numbers. No intelligent thought or interpretation was involved.

 

Edited yesterday at 18:22 by Whitey Grandad

[S-Clarke]

7 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

These are random computer generated numbers. No intelligent thought or interpretation was involved.

 

I watched him with my own eyes, and so did a lot of other people. I know what I saw every week to be honest, the stats just backed it up. So that's that really.

I'll respect your view.

[derry]

Having watched his pre season I can only say that in the main he has done well. Not being a victim of the Martin obsessive system looks to have freed him up.

[James]

I’m curious, do those that disparage the stats which point to Bazunu being a very poor goalkeeper at this level think he looks any good when they watch him?
 

Stats or no stats, I just see a goalkeeper that makes the net look big and lets in a good number of shots I think a better keeper would save. Every time a shot is on target it’s sharp intake of breath time. 
 

Almost the entire fan base was overjoyed when Ramsdale signed, to be back to square one this season with a keeper that most of us don’t think is good enough is disappointing. 

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, James said:

I’m curious, do those that disparage the stats which point to Bazunu being a very poor goalkeeper at this level think he looks any good when they watch him?
 

Stats or no stats, I just see a goalkeeper that makes the net look big and lets in a good number of shots I think a better keeper would save. Every time a shot is on target it’s sharp intake of breath time. 
 

Almost the entire fan base was overjoyed when Ramsdale signed, to be back to square one this season with a keeper that most of us don’t think is good enough is disappointing. 

Assuming the club don’t sign Ryan or someone to compete with him, the derby is an acid test. If he fucks up in that, even the supportive posts dry up. It’ll be like Steve Baker was after the 1988 game, shipped down the leagues paid off at the first opportunity. 

If he gets through that unscathed, and no major bloopers by October, we can probably say that he’s turned a corner.

LONG way to go yet though.

Edited yesterday at 19:14 by Gloucester Saint

[Sheaf Saint]

32 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

These are random computer generated numbers. No intelligent thought or interpretation was involved.

 

Oh Whitey, how many times do you need to have it explained to you that they are not 'randomly' generated, and xG is not just some bloke watching video replays and plucking a number out of thin air.

The best stat to measure goalkeeper performance is post shot expected goals (PSxG) vs goals conceded. PSxG is calculated by assessing loads of different factors like shot distance, angle, power, curl, and keeper position, and then compared against a massive historical database. It's more accurate than ordinary xG because it doesn't take into account the multitude of factors leading to the creation of the chance and instead focuses solely on those after it's been hit.

For two seasons in a row, our Gav was bottom of the table for PSxG vs GA, and by some considerable margin each time. This completely supports the evidence of my own eyes, which is that he is a very poor shotstopper who rarely saves anything that isn't straight at him.

But if you want to believe that he's just the very unfortunate victim of some completely made up stats - coincidentally two seasons in a row (what are the chances!) then you carry on.

[Oldandtired]

For me the only stats that matter are those registered by my eyes and my brain. Up to now these have confirmed that he is not up to the required standard we need our goalkeeper to be.

Edited yesterday at 19:21 by Oldandtired

[Lighthouse]

33 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I watched him with my own eyes, and so did a lot of other people. I know what I saw every week to be honest, the stats just backed it up. So that's that really.

I'll respect your view.

I watched him with my own eyes two and I can remember one howler (Plymouth at home) and maybe half a dozen he should have done better with. That’s about par for a keeper over the course of a season and pointing out his save percentage statics were 4% lower than average isn’t enough to convince me that we were ‘promoted in spite of him’.

[AlexLaw76]

Watford away was pretty feeble

[aintforever]

If he hasn’t improved it’s going to be a struggle to get anywhere near promotion with him in goal. He’s still young for a keeper so hopefully they have seen some development, would be a hell of a risk not replacing Rambo tho.

[James]

22 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I watched him with my own eyes two and I can remember one howler (Plymouth at home) and maybe half a dozen he should have done better with. That’s about par for a keeper over the course of a season and pointing out his save percentage statics were 4% lower than average isn’t enough to convince me that we were ‘promoted in spite of him’.

Every keeper makes the occasional howler. Whilst annoying that’s not really the problem, it’s the number of times you sit there and think “should he have done better with that?” - I asked myself that question a lot more than half a dozen times that season. By contrast, I’m having trouble thinking of many (or any) matches where a Bazunu save won us any points.

[SW11_Saint]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Assuming the club don’t sign Ryan or someone to compete with him, the derby is an acid test. If he fucks up in that, even the supportive posts dry up. It’ll be like Steve Baker was after the 1988 game, shipped down the leagues paid off at the first opportunity. 

If he gets through that unscathed, and no major bloopers by October, we can probably say that he’s turned a corner.

LONG way to go yet though.

But goals conceded aren’t always the sole responsibility of goalies. I know it comes with the territory somewhat, but it feels like people can’t wait to blame him for all our defensive ills - when in reality conceded goals might be a result of MF not tracking back, defenders not reading the game etc. (or a combo thereof). 

Not saying this is your view btw, just making a general point. Does feel though that many are so set against him already that any goal will automatically be deemed ‘his fault’. He’s young, and goalies often take a while to mature. He can improve.. 

I’m more than happy for him to start the season with a clean slate. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, SW11_Saint said:

But goals conceded aren’t always the sole responsibility of goalies. I know it comes with the territory somewhat, but it feels like people can’t wait to blame him for all our defensive ills - when in reality conceded goals might be a result of MF not tracking back, defenders not reading the game etc. (or a combo thereof). 

Not saying this is your view btw, just making a general point. Does feel though that many are so set against him already that any goal will automatically be deemed ‘his fault’. He’s young, and goalies often take a while to mature. He can improve.. 

I’m more than happy for him to start the season with a clean slate. 

It is not about just letting on goals, it is when he lets in goals that were far from hitting the corners.

[SW11_Saint]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

It is not about just letting on goals, it is when he lets in goals that were far from hitting the corners.

So he can’t improve? How poor did you think he was against Brighton? 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, SW11_Saint said:

So he can’t improve? How poor did you think he was against Brighton? 

II hope he has, or playoffs at best

[egg]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

I watched him with my own eyes two and I can remember one howler (Plymouth at home) and maybe half a dozen he should have done better with. That’s about par for a keeper over the course of a season and pointing out his save percentage statics were 4% lower than average isn’t enough to convince me that we were ‘promoted in spite of him’.

We were much better after he got injured and McCarthy took over the gloves. Personally, I'm not sure we'd have made it to and through the play offs if Baz had stayed in the team. 

[sockeye]

He’s not good enough.

[SW11_Saint]

8 minutes ago, egg said:

We were much better after he got injured and McCarthy took over the gloves. Personally, I'm not sure we'd have made it to and through the play offs if Baz had stayed in the team. 

But we’ll never know that will we? I do agree though, McCarthy was great in the semis & final. Godawful in the PL. 

[Lighthouse]

3 minutes ago, egg said:

We were much better after he got injured and McCarthy took over the gloves. Personally, I'm not sure we'd have made it to and through the play offs if Baz had stayed in the team. 

WTF?! I’ve seen some nonsense written on here but after Bazunu got injured we lost three out of five games and still finished 17 points ahead of seventh place. I get that some people don’t rate Baz but when people start denying mathematical certainties (including those who believe 63 and 0 are the same number) it just gets weird. Those three games lost included getting thumped 5-0 at Leicester and losing at home to relegation threatened Stoke, via a goal which went straight through McCarthy. Hardly an end of season rocket up the form table.
 

Whether some of you like it or not, Still would appear to be the fifth consecutive manager to prefer Bazunu to McCarthy, so unless we sign another keeper in the next three weeks, it looks like he’s going to be our keeper this season.

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

WTF?! I’ve seen some nonsense written on here but after Bazunu got injured we lost three out of five games and still finished 17 points ahead of seventh place. I get that some people don’t rate Baz but when people start denying mathematical certainties (including those who believe 63 and 0 are the same number) it just gets weird. Those three games lost included getting thumped 5-0 at Leicester and losing at home to relegation threatened Stoke, via a goal which went straight through McCarthy. Hardly an end of season rocket up the form table.
 

Whether some of you like it or not, Still would appear to be the fifth consecutive manager to prefer Bazunu to McCarthy, so unless we sign another keeper in the next three weeks, it looks like he’s going to be our keeper this season.

Ha! It's a shame you missed the semis and the final. You'd have seen performances from McCarthy that Baz wouldn't have put in. 

[Lighthouse]

3 minutes ago, egg said:

Ha! It's a shame you missed the semis and the final. You'd have seen performances from McCarthy that Baz wouldn't have put in. 

You’re just making up nonsense now. We won all three league games against West Brom and Leeds with Bazunu in goal. I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen, or that the FA would have given us an 18 point deduction for playing him against Preston, just because I don’t like him.

[Galway saint]

21 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I watched him with my own eyes two and I can remember one howler (Plymouth at home) and maybe half a dozen he should have done better with. That’s about par for a keeper over the course of a season and pointing out his save percentage statics were 4% lower than average isn’t enough to convince me that we were ‘promoted in spite of him’.

Ipswich away was pretty poor by way of example.

You and others keep talking about  people not ‘liking him’ or ‘ hating him’ but you are missing the point.

Objectively he is in my view a poor keeper. The main issue I have is his positional sense which often leads to him conceding goals which should be comfortable saves. 

That coupled with the fact his shot stopping is mediocre at best means his performances rarely ( if at all?) have resulted in the team winning points.

If we hadn’t have spent £12million or so on him he wouldn’t even be near the first team and as far as I am aware the total lack of any interest in buying him tells its own story about what the wider football world thinks of him.

If I was Ipswich, Leicester, Sheffield Utd etc I’d be delighted to see Saints had chosen Bazanu as their number one - absolutely over the moon

 

 

1 minute ago, Lighthouse said:

You’re just making up nonsense now. We won all three league games against West Brom and Leeds with Bazunu in goal. I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen, or that the FA would have given us an 18 point deduction for playing him against Preston, just because I don’t like him.

 

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I watched him with my own eyes two and I can remember one howler (Plymouth at home) and maybe half a dozen he should have done better with. That’s about par for a keeper over the course of a season and pointing out his save percentage statics were 4% lower than average isn’t enough to convince me that we were ‘promoted in spite of him’.

It's not about the howlers, I've said that. He's a strange keeper in that you cannot name a huge amount of howlers he makes (but he has made some), but on the flip side you can't really name any match winning or game saving saves he makes.

As others have said, from a pure spectator POV and not on stats, you are often sat there after a goal went in and wondering ''should he have got to that?' - for one or two, yeah...debatable, but when pretty much every goal leads to those questions then you've really got to believe your gut. There's something not right there.

The stats just backup what we've all seen to be honest. He lets in goals he should saved, not howlers per say, but a decent/capable keeper would probably pull of a 'great save' to keep it out. He doesn't seem capable of 'great saves', which is why he'll never really amount to much and why he shouldn't be front and centre for a promotion bid in any uncertain terms.

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Galway saint said:

Ipswich away was pretty poor by way of example.

You and others keep talking about  people not ‘liking him’ or ‘ hating him’ but you are missing the point.

 

 

 

Exactly that - it's not about people not liking him or trying to gang up on him personally (like a certain poster against Parsons). We just want the best for our team, that's all. And we know that Bazunu is not the best option for our team, it's really that simple. I don't want to 'make do' with someone who has failed in his 2 full seasons for us.