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Are Our Goalkeepers Both the Same?
Written by BlueRaider on Tuesday, 27th Oct 2015 10:01

Many fans seem to think there is little to choose between our goalkeepers, I disagree.

Most fans I have spoken to agree that we would like to have a better goalkeeper, and that neither of our current first team glovesmen are quite good enough.

Gerks (to coin a favourite Mickism) is a good shot stopper, but his decision-making on when to leave his line (for example Forest away and Forest away!) and his kicking are weak.

Bart has better decision-making skills but has on occasion been beaten when it seems he shouldn’t (Leeds away).

For these reasons, many fans seem to think there is little to choose between them. This certainly also seems to be the approach that Mick takes, meaning that the man in possession keeps his place.

I beg to differ however, if I was manager Bart would start and Gerks would only play in an emergency. I think that Gerks' weaknesses are more damaging for the team than Bart’s, as his poorer decision-making means that the defence lacks confidence in him (Southampton away in the Cup, for example).

I have done some statistical analysis of the two over last season and this season, and the difference is frankly startling when the perception is that there is little to choose.

[b]2014-15[/b]

[b]Goals Conceded per game[/b]

Gerken 1.313

Bialkowski 1.100

[b]Points earned by the team per game[/b]

Gerken 1.375

Bialkowski 1.867

[b]2015-16 – Much smaller sample size, but even starker results[/b]

[b]Goals Conceded per game[/b]

Gerken 1.800

Bialkowski 1.000

[b]Points earned by the team per game[/b]

Gerken 1

Bialkowski 2.333

If only Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill were selecting our goalkeeper! An average of half a point extra per game from Bart would see us in the thick of the play off battle.

Come on Mick, put Bart in goal from now on!




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Steve_M added 10:28 - Oct 27
One can't really analyse our goalkeepers without asking why every keeper Malcolm Webster has coached has the same flaws: poor decision making, especially with regard to coming off their line and claiming crosses and a vulnerability to low shots from distance.

Everywhere else in the team, our players have generally got better over time but this doesn't seem to apply to keepers.
4

BlueKush added 11:04 - Oct 27
It's a no-brainer for me - Bart should have been reinstated after the Reading debacle. Happy with Gerken as deputy keeper, but nowt more.
2

StowTractorBoy added 11:08 - Oct 27
Agree Steve M not sure what Webster actually does except kick a few balls in before the match and at half time as his coaching has done nothing to improve Gerks and Bart . Has any goalkeeper actually improved since he has been here ? Possibly Richard Wright in Websters stint here under Burley.
1

prebsa added 11:40 - Oct 27
Spot on, Picking Gerken every week is a obvious mistake one that is constantly costing us game upon game. Goalkeeping is not about just stopping the ball, you have to be able to command your area and ultimately control your defence.

The defence have no confidence in Gerken and this just makes us weaker! Bart is so much louder he controls his area and ultimately makes the defence play better. Yes we may need a better keeper but right now Bart is our man!
1

BeattiesBeerGut added 13:05 - Oct 27
I would say 99% of fans agree that Bart is better than Gerken. The same 99% think that there is more chance of Nodge winning the Champions League next season than Chambers ever resembling a decent right back.

Unfortunately Mick is in the 1%.


3

DurhamTownFan added 13:31 - Oct 27
I I were smith or Berra I'd be telling Getken exactly how I felt about his coming for crosses and dropping them by clattering into his defenders. The regularity with which he collides with his defenders suggests to me that he is not calling for the ball when he does come, probably due to a lack of confidence.

For me Bart plays every time, but it is an antes that needs a long term solution.
0

JimmyJazz added 09:17 - Oct 28
BeattiesBeerGut - unfortunately Mick is THE 1%
0

dannyrr added 16:56 - Oct 28
Arsenal bought Petr Chech to gain them the points they were dropping last season and he appears to be proving to be the right buy. I used to envy Leicester with Kasper Schmeichel and helped them not only get promoted but stay in the Premier League. Gerken is consistently letting goals in - almost three per game. Punching a ball out means launching it not just putting it outside the box - this goalkeeping 101. Our bad run has also lasted as long as Bart has managed to lose his place but it isn't just him the back four have not had the same solidity and consistency as last season. No matter how much the fans say MM will refuse to listen and by the time it's made we may have conceded too many points to recover a top six position in the league.

German is like a statue rooted to his line and constantly watches the ball go across the front of goal and can occasionally pull off a good save but is likely to be beaten easily on his line waiting for the ball and if he leaves it he doesn't tend to be confident enough to clear it to safety.
1

ChrisFelix added 18:32 - Oct 28
I also question what Webster offers. All the keepers he has coached are good at the hocky cokey. Our best young keeper Richard Wright was coached by Phil Parkes
1

Tractorboy1985 added 07:39 - Oct 29
Interesting blog.. Just proves that with Bart between the sticks we are averaging nearly 2 points a game (promotion candidates) as for Gerken no better than mid table! Wake up mick you stubborn ol git and reinstate Bart ASAP before this season pitters out! COYB!!
2

RaymondovicBlue added 14:24 - Oct 30
Is it just me, but wouldn't we have had a better keeping coach AND a better goals for tally had we kept Rhodes (and Rhodes) and sacked Keane

But that was a long time ago - but have we had a developing and improving keeper since (or replaced the striker?!)

Life is never easy - and we often have to live with regret!
0

runningout added 13:05 - Nov 2
All our keepers in need of large improvement....
0
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