Championship Team Of The Season

[JJH]

According to who? highlight reels?

Westwood, Stockdale, Ward, Al Habsi... all better.

You're pissed mate

 

[SF_]

You're pissed mate

Yeah.. you keep saying that, while claiming some midtable goalkeeper who has saved a few penalties is the second coming.

 

[JJH]

Yeah.. you keep saying that, while claiming some midtable goalkeeper who has saved a few penalties is the second coming.

Fuck knows where they'd be without him. They'd probably be top mind if they had Manuel Maxwell.

 

[SF_]

Fuck knows where they'd be without him. They'd probably be top mind if they had Manuel Maxwell.

You're good at getting sarcastic when you're not capable of debate.

 

[JJH]

You're good at getting sarcastic when you're not capable of debate.

There's no debate to be had, you're claiming that Maxwell is better than Smithies, it's just funny.

Go and enjoy your Friday evening SF for fuck sake

 

[SF_]

There's no debate to be had, you're claiming that Maxwell is better than Smithies, it's just funny.

Go and enjoy your Friday evening SF for fuck sake

Its a reasonable argument, neither are in the top 6 keepers at this level and Maxwell has conceded fewer per game this season. Also saved 3 penalties which seems to be a big thing for you.

 

[JJH]

Its a reasonable argument, neither are in the top 6 keepers at this level and Maxwell has conceded fewer per game this season. Also saved 3 penalties which seems to be a big thing for you.

No it isn't, there's a reason so many people have Smithies in their team of the season either on here or on social media because they've watched him this season and he's been fantastic.

You can't say he's not a top six keeper because he plays for a shit side, he's been outstanding this season.

Not taking anything away from Maxwell either, he's clearly been decent as well.

 

[TomPNE94]

I must admit, Maxwell is good but Smithies is a better shot stopper. I'd still probably have Maxwell over him but only cos I love the Welsh bastard

 

[SF_]

No it isn't, there's a reason so many people have Smithies in their team of the season either on here or on social media because they've watched him this season and he's been fantastic.

You can't say he's not a top six keeper because he plays for a shit side, he's been outstanding this season.

Not taking anything away from Maxwell either, he's clearly been decent as well.

Can't say im too concerned about social media opinions, with the vast majority of them being teenagers wowed by a few reflex saves after watching highlights on Channel 5.

Ive watched him in flesh and in games on Sky, there are far more commanding keepers at this level.

 

[JJH]

Can't say im too concerned about social media opinions, with the vast majority of them being teenagers wowed by a few reflex saves after watching highlights on Channel 5.

Translation - I'm right and everyone else is wrong.

Cheers mate, enjoy your night.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Alex Smithies was quality at our game at Loftus Road, best perfomance from a GK I've seen in the Champ for a long time.

Also Westwood for Sheff Wed is decent.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Fairly sure only one of us has England's number one tbh.

Who needs England's ex number 1, we have Nigeria's current number 1

 

[SF_]

Translation - I'm right and everyone else is wrong.

Cheers mate, enjoy your night.

Usually the case on here but even looking at any stat based website like whoscored or Sqwawka, Smithies is ranked pretty averagely. Ties in with my opinion.

 

[G.B]

seen next to fuck all of smithies this season so can't comment on how good he really is but the "good shot stopper" argument winds me up. if a keeper isn't good at stopping shots then why the fuck is he in goal? stopping shots becoming goals is the most basic part of a keepers job and it's only one of many attributes that defines how good they are at said job. i could soundly argue shay given was a better "shot stopper" than buffon (and his highlight reel would make him seem incredible despite not really being a very good keeper overall looking back) but he's still never been anywhere near as good of a goalkeeper.

basically, i don't really have a point or any real contribution to make and i'm just venting after seeing the words "great/good/incredible shot stopping" a few times.

merry friday.

 

[markwwfc1992]

seen next to fuck all of smithies this season so can't comment on how good he really is but the "good shot stopper" argument winds me up. if a keeper isn't good at stopping shots then why the fuck is he in goal? stopping shots becoming goals is the most basic part of a keepers job and it's only one of many attributes that defines how good they are at said job. i could soundly argue shay given was a better "shot stopper" than buffon (and his highlight reel would make him seem incredible despite not really being a very good keeper overall looking back) but he's still never been anywhere near as good of a goalkeeper.

basically, i don't really have a point or any real contribution to make and i'm just venting after seeing the words "great/good/incredible shot stopping" a few times.

merry friday.

You'd be surprised on how many goalkeepers at this level aren't good shot stoppers though.

 

[TomPNE94]

seen next to fuck all of smithies this season so can't comment on how good he really is but the "good shot stopper" argument winds me up. if a keeper isn't good at stopping shots then why the fuck is he in goal? stopping shots becoming goals is the most basic part of a keepers job and it's only one of many attributes that defines how good they are at said job. i could soundly argue shay given was a better "shot stopper" than buffon (and his highlight reel would make him seem incredible despite not really being a very good keeper overall looking back) but he's still never been anywhere near as good of a goalkeeper.

basically, i don't really have a point or any real contribution to make and i'm just venting after seeing the words "great/good/incredible shot stopping" a few times.

merry friday.

Basically meant he's got very good reflexes

 

[Ciderhead]

What's all this 'I don't care if he's a good shot-stopper - that's his job' about? That's bizarre. It's like ignoring a striker's goal tally because it's their job to score. Well, yeah, of course, but that doesn't mean there aren't varying degrees as to how well they can do that job. If you can't save anything then obviously you won't be a keeper, but someone like David De Gea is a far superior shot stopper to anyone in this league. Smithies, or Westwood or Bialkowski say, are infinitely better than Richard O'Donnell.

There are other attributes required of course, distrubition, commanding of your box, like you'd want a striker to be strong, have good link up play, whatever, but fundamentally the ability and consistency of saving shots is easily the most important. The fact it's their job just reinforces that.

 

[Craig]

Adam Davies is better than them all.

 

[HertsWolf]

Our most consistent goalkeeper this season has been Matt Doherty

 

[SF_]

There are other attributes required of course, distrubition, commanding of your box, like you'd want a striker to be strong, have good link up play, whatever, but fundamentally the ability and consistency of saving shots is easily the most important. The fact it's their job just reinforces that.

Good keepers handle situations so they have to face very few shots over 90 minutes.

Keepers that make loads of saves every game are either playing in a shocking team or aren't good at dealing with the initial threat, coming off their line to avoid a one-on-one, dealing with crosses and long balls in the box etc. Obviously making saves is important but you have keepers in the Conference who can make spectacular reflex saves on a weekly basis, doesn't mean they're good.

 

[QPR_Matt]

Smithies is very good at sweeping up and has a great kick on him, unlike Green who filled us with fear. Smithies long throw has also got the attack going on a good number of occasions.

Like I said earlier, I am not saying he is the best as that is naive of me as I don't know enough about all of the others but he is bloody good and I have never been excited about watching a GK play.

When a striker is through on goal, I feel confident Smithies will save it then save the rebound and then save the resulting penalty.

 

[G.B]

It's like ignoring a striker's goal tally because it's their job to score. Well, yeah, of course, but that doesn't mean there aren't varying degrees as to how well they can do that job.

i mean it's not, but ok. it's more like deciding how good a striker is based purely on goal return while ignoring everything else. which is somewhat understandable when you can't watch every teams games and as such don't see the everything else.

nobody is saying a keepers ability to consistently make saves is redundant, just that it's merely one of many attributes that define how good they are, and the most basic of all. they're expected to have good reflexes and agility, the role demands it. same way a striker is expected to be able to get shots on target. its the other things that separate decent from good/great. using shay given as an example again, the reason he has so many highlight reel saves is because he could never organise a defense, had zero command of his box, never confidently claimed crosses and spent his whole career standing on his goal line, he invited shots on his goal so he had to save more. "great shot stopper" yeah, not a very good keeper though.

but as i said, i've seen fuck all of smithies this season so aside from "good shot stopper" irritating me, i'm not even sure why i'm commenting.

it's understandable though, with regards to a tots. if people are being honest they're basing their opinions purely off highlights and/or stats. the only people who can form a real opinion on smithies or any other player are those who watch them regularly.

 

[QPR_Matt]

Of course most people go by that, same with outfield players. We played you twice and he was man of the match up at your place and our man of the match at our despite us losing 6.

He does organise the defence, claim crosses and sweep up so to me he is a top keeper. Based on what we had before (Rob Green) he is so much better and fills the place with confidence. I can se him being sold in the summer though as he is too good for us.

Smithies is the only one in our team worthy of a debate to get in the team of the year though if we play like we are now, next season, then we may have more to debate.

 

[Magic]

Rob Green's been fantastic of late for us. Pretty much faultless for a few months now. Very difficult to call goalkeepers really in this way imo.

Chris Wood, however, yet again showing why he's got to be in there though. 24 league goals, scored against 18 different teams in the league (which could be 22 by the end of the season!) The only team we've played twice and he hasn't scored at least one against are QPR.

 

[KevinMcallister]

Rob green has loads of clean sheets

I'd know ive been in his bedroom

Think he uses lavender pot pouri

 

[Ciderhead]

Good keepers handle situations so they have to face very few shots over 90 minutes.

Keepers that make loads of saves every game are either playing in a shocking team or aren't good at dealing with the initial threat, coming off their line to avoid a one-on-one, dealing with crosses and long balls in the box etc. Obviously making saves is important but you have keepers in the Conference who can make spectacular reflex saves on a weekly basis, doesn't mean they're good.

They can minimise it to an extent but let's be right, the amount of shots a keeper has to save is predominantly down to the defence and team in front of them. You don't hear people say oh we struggled to create chances because the keeper was so good. Struggled to take them maybe.

And it's not even about the odd worldy or making loads of saves every game, it's more consistency, minimizing mistakes, proportion of shots that are saved. It's the old cliche that a top keeper will have nothing to do all game but when called upon will make the stop more times than not. Though I'll give you that the label 'good shot-stopper' can often be lazily applied to someone who just makes the odd standout save, especially in threads like this where it's often based on one or two games against your team, so I can see where you're coming from to that extent

As for the bottom bit, you really don't, not regularly. In fact I'd say the opposite, you tend to see more spectacular strikes or long range punts in the lower leagues, it's noticable on the few occasions I don't turn over after watching the championship highlights you see far more 'highlight reel' goals once you get to L2, because for whatever reason, positioning, concentration, keepers aren't as effective at keeping them out. You very rarely see a top goalie getting beaten from long range, and if you do it takes something special.

nobody is saying a keepers ability to consistently make saves is redundant, just that it's merely one of many attributes that define how good they are, and the most basic of all. they're expected to have good reflexes and agility, the role demands it. same way a striker is expected to be able to get shots on target. its the other things that separate decent from good/great.

My main point really though is just because it's the basics, shot-stopping being what is expected of a keeper, doesn't mean they all display it to the same standard. The bolded is said a lot but that's what it implies. It's not just about making the odd worldy either, it's more consistency. Saving a higher proportion of shots faced, minimising mistakes, positioning, not susceptible to being beaten say at your near post or from free kicks, agility to get up and make a double or triple save etc. It's all required but some are noticably better in those departments than others, that can't even be up for dispute.

I'm not saying there aren't other attributes that are all part of the package but ability to repel efforts on target (running out of ways to say that) is the big distinguishing factor. All keepers save shots but not all are *good* shot-stoppers the way not all strikers are *good* goalscorers. The very very best will have the whole package, but an excellent attempt denier who's alright at claiming crosses will do better than someone who commands his box but is only average at thwarting chances. Given might be seen as a good example of that, not in the very top echelon but still a good keeper relatively with a long and successful PL and international career based on what you're saying from purely shot-stopping ability.

It's quite a pedantic point really, not sure why I'm spending so much time over it. And like you I'm not talking specifics I haven't seen enough of Smithies or other games this season to really judge, although QPR fans who have watched him regularly all highly rate him.

 

[hodge]

Murray over Abraham, not sure on that one, no doubt Murray's had a good season but Tammy has scored 1 more and played less, he's also done it for a team struggling at the bottom.

Regardless, why do they name team of the year in March? Hypothetically Wood, Gayle and Murray go on goalless runs to the end of the season and Tammy has a purple patch and finishes top scorer, would then seem a bit daft him not being in team of the year.

 

[SF_]

So basically we're going to agree to disagree on some points and i'll continue to rate Smithies has a decent-to-average Championship keeper.

 

[markwwfc1992]

How many of Glenn Murray's goals are penalties? Brigton seem to have a shit ton of them, similar to Watford, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth in recent seasons. (Ironically Murray has played for 3 of those clubs).

 

[T.A]