Is GK the worst position in this clubs history?

[SaintsRoyalty]

Volume 2 of my look into the key themes of the abject failure of this club. I know as fans we all have blinkers on when it comes to our own clubs, but I genuinely think Southampton has a shot with being the most painful football club to support at least in this country. Yes there are clubs out there that have suffered worst situations like administration etc but nothing can compare to this club that hypes you up only to subject you to a slow painful death.

The question this time is whether GK is the position most mismanaged by this club? Perhaps even the most mismanaged position of any team in the country. I’m middle aged so cannot really comment on much past our move into St Mary’s but in that time I believe we have only had 2 keepers that when a shot comes in I would back them to save it. Those are Neimi and Boruc. Next year will be 25 years of football at St Mary’s and we have had 2 decent keepers. Let that sink in…..

Im a big fan of Ramsdale and think he is worthy of being included with the other 2 but the fact he was only here for a year and it was a year where we were so out of our depth generally as a whole team that season is null and void. 

In recent times the stink of journeyman English goalkeepers has hung over the club for what feels like an eternity. We’ve had Davies, Forster, McCarthy, Gunn and the final boss of them all Bazunu. Yes I know some played for other countries but they were still from England. Bit harsh on Davies who did admirably for us in the lower leagues but he’s still an average joe if we are honest. I use to think this was all down to that weirdo hairpiece being the GK coach (David Watson). Remember him? Has he had a single job since he left? Speaks volumes doesn’t it? It made sense that we were subjected to such dross as that iPad toucher had no career as a GK himself, is a short man, and would only pick from English keepers he knew from his stint in The England set up. As a result, all goalkeepers under him seemed to have the same traits of staying glued to their line, appearing to lack any of the key skills like positioning, spring, parrying balls away from danger, giving the defence little confidence and generally being shrinking violets. No surprise giving the fact he had no career and is a short man. 

However, since that clown left, Bazunu and McCarthy continue to be backed by the club to the point it looks like they know a dirty secret about the club. We are now on our 8th manager since Bazunu signed in 2022 and Eckert is publicly backing him along with Spors. Bearing in mind he’s clearly hated by the vast majority of the fanbase and Sports Republic are famed for applying a stats based approach to their football philosophy, their backing of Bazunu is nothing short of insanity. Let’s not forget as well that he was loaned to Standard Liege and after 8 appearance, in which he let in 15 goals, he was sent back to the club early. The guy that they played instead was only 20 himself and went on to let in 21 in 19 games. Comparable with the keeper for the champions of that season in Belgium. What did our club do for this abject failure and massive red flag, made him the number 1. 

Would love to know the thoughts of others on whether they agree this is the worst managed position of this club or whether there are other contenders. 

[SaintNewForest]

Not sure who this Davies fellow is, but both Davis & Forster were 2 of the best goalkeepers we've had. 

Ever since probably 2017/18ish when Forster had whatever going on, the goalkeeping position has been a disaster. 

[AllyD]

What a load of absolute tosh!

[Colinjb]

Shilton, Niemi, Boruc, Taylor, Grobellar.

We have had some top draw goalkeepers. Recently though, yes, we've been poor. Bazunu did play well yesterday though.

[Appy]

16 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

Shilton, Niemi, Boruc, Taylor, Grobellar.

We have had some top draw goalkeepers. Recently though, yes, we've been poor. Bazunu did play well yesterday though.

Unfortunately, playing well for Bazunu is just making saves any goalkeeper should be making. Him being stuck to his line just puts us under so much pressure. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

We’ve had a couple of superb keepers, Shilton & Neimi the pick of my 50 years plus of supporting, slightly lower level  but better than most was Tim Flowers.

But I do agree that overall we’re pretty bang average in that department with most falling into the competent category rather than exceptional. Eric Martin, Ian Turner, Peter Wells, Terry Gennoe, Dave Beasant, Paul Jones, Forster, Boruc, were just top flight players imo, nothing exceptional. I’d put AM from a couple of years ago in the competent bag as well. 
 

Some didn’t really play enough to make a decent assessment , Richard Wright, Bart, Gaza, and Maik Taylor.
 

Some  were good but slightly over the hill, so don’t really make it out of the competent bag Bruce & Budgie (although I was out of the country for most of his games, so only saw some highlights).

Then you’ve got Kelvin, decent out of the premier league, but not top level.
 

Of course there’s Baz, who is in a category of his own. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Lord Duckhunter

[VectisSaint]

4 hours ago, SaintNewForest said:

Not sure who this Davies fellow is, but both Davis & Forster were 2 of the best goalkeepers we've had. 

Ever since probably 2017/18ish when Forster had whatever going on, the goalkeeping position has been a disaster. 

If you think Forster and Davis are 2 of the best GKs we've had then that really backs up the OPs view. Both of them were basically sh*te. SKD became a club legend but not because he was a great keeper. Forster was useless with anything low.

[pingpong]

We have two international goalkeepers on the books, capped by england and Ireland. Who was our last first team GK who didn't have caps to his name?

[Lord Duckhunter]

9 minutes ago, pingpong said:

We have two international goalkeepers on the books, capped by england and Ireland. Who was our last first team GK who didn't have caps to his name?

Played regularly, probably kelvin. 

[saintant]

13 hours ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Volume 2 of my look into the key themes of the abject failure of this club. I know as fans we all have blinkers on when it comes to our own clubs, but I genuinely think Southampton has a shot with being the most painful football club to support at least in this country. Yes there are clubs out there that have suffered worst situations like administration etc but nothing can compare to this club that hypes you up only to subject you to a slow painful death.

The question this time is whether GK is the position most mismanaged by this club? Perhaps even the most mismanaged position of any team in the country. I’m middle aged so cannot really comment on much past our move into St Mary’s but in that time I believe we have only had 2 keepers that when a shot comes in I would back them to save it. Those are Neimi and Boruc. Next year will be 25 years of football at St Mary’s and we have had 2 decent keepers. Let that sink in…..

Im a big fan of Ramsdale and think he is worthy of being included with the other 2 but the fact he was only here for a year and it was a year where we were so out of our depth generally as a whole team that season is null and void. 

In recent times the stink of journeyman English goalkeepers has hung over the club for what feels like an eternity. We’ve had Davies, Forster, McCarthy, Gunn and the final boss of them all Bazunu. Yes I know some played for other countries but they were still from England. Bit harsh on Davies who did admirably for us in the lower leagues but he’s still an average joe if we are honest. I use to think this was all down to that weirdo hairpiece being the GK coach (David Watson). Remember him? Has he had a single job since he left? Speaks volumes doesn’t it? It made sense that we were subjected to such dross as that iPad toucher had no career as a GK himself, is a short man, and would only pick from English keepers he knew from his stint in The England set up. As a result, all goalkeepers under him seemed to have the same traits of staying glued to their line, appearing to lack any of the key skills like positioning, spring, parrying balls away from danger, giving the defence little confidence and generally being shrinking violets. No surprise giving the fact he had no career and is a short man. 

However, since that clown left, Bazunu and McCarthy continue to be backed by the club to the point it looks like they know a dirty secret about the club. We are now on our 8th manager since Bazunu signed in 2022 and Eckert is publicly backing him along with Spors. Bearing in mind he’s clearly hated by the vast majority of the fanbase and Sports Republic are famed for applying a stats based approach to their football philosophy, their backing of Bazunu is nothing short of insanity. Let’s not forget as well that he was loaned to Standard Liege and after 8 appearance, in which he let in 15 goals, he was sent back to the club early. The guy that they played instead was only 20 himself and went on to let in 21 in 19 games. Comparable with the keeper for the champions of that season in Belgium. What did our club do for this abject failure and massive red flag, made him the number 1. 

Would love to know the thoughts of others on whether they agree this is the worst managed position of this club or whether there are other contenders. 

I agree with much of what you say about our goalkeepers. However, suggesting we may be the most painful club in the country to support is frankly ridiculous 🙂 There are countless clubs who have never and will never play a single season in the Premier League whereas we have enjoyed many seasons in the old First Division and Premier League.  We've been involved in some brilliant encounters with the top clubs and come out winners. I think sometimes we forget how relatively fortunate we are and I know there have been plenty of lows not least last season.

[die Mannyschaft]

From the games I've seen from Saints,  Eastleigh and Winchester (must be 1,200+) I would say in last few seasons the goalie is NOT a goal keeper. 

At Eastleigh level its a mix, at Winchester City level keepers are keepers. 

A goal keeper stops shots, that's mainly catching a ball, punching out and blocking. The boot the ball 40 yards or kick roll it 7 yards but don't expect it back.

Saints have totally changed as keepers main function that stopping a shot is no the main function.

All this dribbling,  Cruf turns,  putting you foot on ball and standing for 25 seconds,  stupid goal kicks in 6 yard box. Not catching any thing, indecisive come out no may stay oh hold on in no man's land. 

Saints have turned the keeper into an out field player with very little ball skills.  Our keepers are now time wasters how long can I hold the ball and kick it late. Then get ball back and do the same. Complete nonsense to me but then only got 3 seasons to go then retire and watch Winchester City. All thd fans in Northam near me are fed up of boring time wasting football,  same at away games. Proper keepers are gone RIP now high risk Brazilian beach football rubbish 

[beatlesaint]

6 hours ago, SaintNewForest said:

Not sure who this Davies fellow is, but both Davis & Forster were 2 of the best goalkeepers we've had. 

 

They really were not.

You are either quite young or the old brain cells are fading. 
 

Niether hold a candle to Shilton, Niemi or Flowers.

Davis was awful at his near post and while he was a top Championship keeper he never stepped up to Premier level.

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 hours ago, saintant said:

However, suggesting we may be the most painful club in the country to support is frankly ridiculous

I think we’re probably the biggest underachievers, particularly after Palace just won the cup. To have 1 FA cup to show for 50 odd years in the top flight is pretty poor when you consider some of the sides we’ve had. We also somehow managed to finish second, every time we’ve been promoted (Lego aside). Even with Fonte, Lambert & Lallana we somehow managed that in league fucking one as well. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Lord Duckhunter