Comments on: Confusion reigns in goal as Almunia’s guaranteed spot is ripped away

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:39:35 +0000

True – saying X keeper is ready to play in the first team because Casillas did is equivalent to saying any midfielder is ready at 17, because Cesc was.

What will be interesting is to see what happens now that Fabianski, who was ahead of Mannone in the pecking order, is fit again.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:59:41 +0000

Hmm, the one time you be really controversial and you turn out to be prophetic! Citing Iker Casillas as a reason to keep Mannone in is clearly incorrect – Casillas is an exception, the best keeper in the world (I’ll pretend that I didn’t see the midweek highlights), so any “but Casillas…” arguments don’t warrant merit.

Young players don’t become first team regulars. They get a run in the team. Then they drop down, and become Cup regulars, playing in the first team when needs be. Keepers shouldn’t be any different.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:01 +0000

I’m certainly keeping my fingers crossed for Mannone – he seems to have the right attitude so he has all the tools he needs. Let’s hope it works out :)

By: Vela20

Vela20 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:26:32 +0000

Eish…come down guys. First Pete the issue of age is definitely out think of Casillas b4 u consider age. All we need in the Arsenal team right now is a reliable goalkeeper! Arsenal have really paid heavily from bad goalkeepers. The only who ever played very well for Arsenal with an error rate low is Seaman.

Almunia to me is a mediocre or should i say a decent keeper but time for decency is past we need to win something this season and goalkeeping is crucial to achieving that. Fabiansky is too small and unreliable (remember the Chelsea FA cup semi final) for my liking hence classified mediocre! The guy who really fits our former Seaman is not yet known hence a chance to Mannone is really crucial and vital. Actually, i highly rate Italian keepers so VM is currently proving a point and he should stay in goal i dont care what Almunia thinks or does. Fabiansky Carling Cup will be enough!

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:43:31 +0000

Gooner, I don’t think mistake free keepers exist at all, the closest I can think of are Buffon and Casillas, but I can remember howlers from both. It happens – no-one’s perfect.

For some reason though, Almunia comes in for more flak than most for his errors, and he was hugely impressive last season for me.

Vassey, I take your point on Hennessey, but Mannone’s debut was a Champions League game, so the pressure level is very different. But I had forgotten him – he’s a good keeper for his age, to be fair.

I guess my point about age refers to the rash decisions young keepers can make – Almunia himself used to hare out of goal when he was never likely to reach the ball- those judgement calls get better with experience.

I’m happy for Mannone to stay in for now, but I think it would be harsh on Almunia for him not to return as some point soon.

By: Vassey

Vassey — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:44:30 +0000

Pete – Hennessey at Wolves is 22…
So your point about age, in a goalkeepers perspective, is pointless.
Keep Mannone in until Jan, then sell Alnunia and Flapianski to be replaced by Akinfeev, Schwarzer or even Hennessey himself. Let Mannone keep goal in the cups.

By: Gooner

Gooner — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:40:52 +0000

Almunia has made mistakes, but which EPL keeper hasnt. Foster has been a liability for Man U. and VDS while being solid is never spectacular. Cech is absolutely shocking coming for the high ball (costing them the Villa game and a goal versus Stoke). Reina is currently the only mistake free EPL keeper, and even he has a history of shocking mistakes.

Mistake free keepers are very hard to come by these days.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:40:08 +0000

Competition is good Suji – I agree with that wholeheartedly. But, and this is a big but, settled defences are generally more successful.

It is good that any of our keepers could get into the first team, but once there, they deserve a run unless they mess it up.

By: Suji

Suji — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:36:51 +0000

I don’t agree with Pete. Competition among the goal keepers should be good for us. Then Almunia would no longer be complacent, Fabianski would concentrate 100% when given opportunity and Vito would not relient to work hard to pick the first shirt. All we care about is a cool and relaible keeper should the defenders go to sleep. Almunia caused us lots of matches last season but then Fabianski could not really compete with him. Now he’s got his match in young Vito!
Age should not be a measure of someones’ ability and drive to achieve and much more experience comes out of much battle. So let Vito keep facing the battle with Fabianski and Almunia. This will encourage the 4th keeper too that he doesn’t need to wait long for his own time.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:39:29 +0000

Johnson, we certainly pride ourselves on giving youth a chance, and nothing I’ve said is a criticism of Mannone in any way.

The point is that 21 for a keeper is the equivalent of 17-18 for an outfield player in the progression of their career, and it would be harsh on Mannone himself to expect too much too soon. You can guarantee that many will be on his back when mistakes occur (and they will, even Casillas made mistakes at that age, and indeed still does – witness his howlers in the week).

You misinterpreted my point if you think I said he isn’t good enough. My point is that Almunia has been solid enough over the last few years that he can expect his place back at some point, my only concern is his mental state when he does. Hopefully he’ll come back hungry.

As for Mannone, he is doing a great job of proving that he can become an excellent goalkeeper, but it would be unfair to put undue pressure on him this early in his career.