Illan Meslier

[whiteswan]

Maybe our new manager recognizes this and recommends a new coach? One can only hope, right?

You think we're gonna actually get a manager/coach?

[JoeDenver]

You think we're gonna actually get a manager/coach?

Yeah, who would want to take this gig?!?

In all seriousness, should Gracia be the manager, perhaps he brings his old keeper Ben Foster in as GK coach. Seems a natural progression for Foster and would be an advocate for the system that Gracia is trying to implement.

[BlackHillsPaul]

Been thinking about how flappy our Goalkeepers are and how there shot stopping can be iffy.

Meslier has been excused a lot because of his age and lack of cover at times.

But even so

He is the same, so was Casilla, so was BPF so was Wiedwald.

Now maybe they are all just flappy biscuit wrists.

But then I thought about our goalkeeping coach

Marcos Abad.

He has never played anything more than amateur football at best

In fact he seems to have gone from University to goalkeeping coach.

And has worked with Victor Orta at 3 clubs now.

Aside from a degree and being Victor Orta's mate what qualifies him to coach professional Goalkeepers?

Can you become an expert in professional sport by being a university graduate?

Seems odd.

A man who never kicked a ball in anger at Professional level telling highly paid professionals and in some cases internationals how to do there job.

Ask Jose' Mourinho how that has worked out for him. He has a degree in SPORTS SCIENCE and less than 100 senior appearances during his playing career. Mostly in the lower divisions.

I see your point....I'm just sayin'.

[weasel]

Ask Jose' Mourinho how that has worked out for him. He has a degree in SPORTS SCIENCE and less than 100 senior appearances during his playing career. Mostly in the lower divisions.

I see your point....I'm just sayin'.

Mourinho though got the benefit of working closely with Bobby Robson so probably picked up a lot more from Sir Bobby than he would have from his courses. I do think though that you are right and that you don't have to have played at a high level to be a good manager or coach. I think it initially helps as you have the respect from the players but you also need to have your tactics and man management.

Personally I think a lot of the best managers seem to be ex-players that never really made it. Were at decent clubs but tended to be on the bench a lot so actually had to watch a lot of games and see how managers managed close up.

[Irish Ian]

Meslier has made a lot of errors this season.
His positional sense is very poor and just as we hope our strikers are clinical at one end he needs to stop the howlers at the other end.
Needs stronger upper body strength too to handle himself and use his power in his punching and handling.

[Clacton White]

Would you want The clown back Leon.....every player has a bad game every now and then, Mes has saved us more times than I can count on my fingers and toes

Which clown might that be , so many poor keepers in the past 20 years or so it's difficult to choose .Worst I have known is Rachubka .

[Kennyb41]

Been thinking about how flappy our Goalkeepers are and how there shot stopping can be iffy.

Meslier has been excused a lot because of his age and lack of cover at times.

But even so

He is the same, so was Casilla, so was BPF so was Wiedwald.

Now maybe they are all just flappy biscuit wrists.

But then I thought about our goalkeeping coach

Marcos Abad.

He has never played anything more than amateur football at best

In fact he seems to have gone from University to goalkeeping coach.

And has worked with Victor Orta at 3 clubs now.

Aside from a degree and being Victor Orta's mate what qualifies him to coach professional Goalkeepers?

Can you become an expert in professional sport by being a university graduate?

Seems odd.

A man who never kicked a ball in anger at Professional level telling highly paid professionals and in some cases internationals how to do there job.

And there my friend lies your answer.

Victor Orta - backhanders - 'jobs for the boys' - investigative journalist required - agent provocateur - unscrupulous dealings - suspect to say the least - gravy train - Radz thought he was hiring the best money could buy - can't believe his luck in getting away with fluking it for so long.

Need i say more.

[mentalcase]

Meslier has made a lot of errors this season.
His positional sense is very poor and just as we hope our strikers are clinical at one end he needs to stop the howlers at the other end.
Needs stronger upper body strength too to handle himself and use his power in his punching and handling.

Agree with this, also as said above, Foster would be a good shout as goalie coach, because the one at the moment is gash.
If another team are serious about Mes, it wouldn't bother me one bit as long as we got around £30 million for him .

[1964white]

Meslier vs Chelsea

Good
3 decent passes
2 saves (one on one x 1)
1 punched clearance
1 header on target

[1964white]

Brighton

Good
4 saves
1 interception

[weasel]

Brighton

Good
4 saves
1 interception

Bad
Never looked like scoring - no point having a secret weapon if we don't use it.

[Jaydog]

Always a little confused by the stick Meslier gets sometimes.
A little eccentric but the best keepers normally are

[1964white]

Always a little confused by the stick Meslier gets sometimes.
A little eccentric but the best keepers normally are

They always say goalies are completely mad.

[1964white]

Brighton

Good
3 saves
3 good kicks
2 crosses caught
1 defensive header

Bad
1 defensive header (not entirely his fault)
1 poor kick

[60sUnited]

Brighton

Good
3 saves
3 good kicks
2 crosses caught
1 defensive header

Bad
1 defensive header (not entirely his fault)
1 poor kick

I thought he had a good game with a couple of great saves that preserved our lead. I also don't blame him for their first goal....it was down to Roca passing the ball to Otto.

[WalderonMot]

What a great season he had so fare. Our young talent.He had some amazing saves.And the best game he had so fare against liverpool.my opinion.Leeds united. you can never sell him to other clubs.Keep him forever

[DDB220]

I doubt we will be able to keep him in the summer. He is on a lot of big clubs wanted lists. I think and deservedly so it is time to play in Europe. He will have his sights set on the France jersey and he will need to play in the European competitions to prove his worth.

I cannot see us challenging for a while even if we stay up. The gulf is massive.

[The Subhuman]

I rate Dani van den Heuvel, shorter to be fair but who isn't.

[1964white]

I thought he had a good game with a couple of great saves that preserved our lead. I also don't blame him for their first goal....it was down to Roca passing the ball to Otto.

Yes a ridiculosly blind pass from Roca

You have to question the slow reaction of our defenders not stepping back to protect our No.1 who was initially grounded as he headed the ball towards the halfway line.

[The Subhuman]

It was the furthest anyone has scored from in 5/6 years. I think we don't need to apportion blame for that, 1 in 2000 event..