| Gerken (Warning: U's-centric) 09:44 - May 9 with 1598 views | Sharkey |
(I realise that the man does not have the status in Suffolk that he has in north Essex, but anyway...)
Difficult to know if he's retired, but I guess so, at least from league football. 342 league appearances, about 220 in the Championship, is not shabby at all. But I can't help feeling his best season was his first full one, back in 2006-2007, when he was Colchester's young-player-of-the-year in the first season in the Championship. He's perhaps not the club's greatest ever goalkeeper (Mike Walker, I suppose), but certainly was the goalkeeper in the club's finest ever team. Second time around, he made one horrible howler to gift Exeter a goal in the play-off semi-final two years ago, (when Colchester were a better team than Exeter and look at them now!), but there were also highs, notably the saves in penalty shoot-outs to get the U's past Palace and Spurs and to the quarter finals of the league cup against Man U., just before Covid.
In terms of goal-keeping, I couldn't really tell you what his particular strengths were. A good temperament maybe? Seemed just like a good all-rounder. And I particularly admired his ability to judge that a ball was going wide and not bother moving for it !
As I say, it's not confirmed that he's retired, but his back is crocked and it would be a major surprise to see him in the league again. And as I say, I appreciate that for Town fans he was kind of a bit-part player despite 100-odd appearances, - but down the A12 he'll be forever remembered for the clean sheet at Yeovil that got the U's promoted to the Championship, and for his performances in that first season in the Championship, when he was only 22.
I'm sure we all wish him well with whatever's next. |  | | |  |
| Gerken (Warning: U's-centric) on 09:54 - May 9 with 1519 views | Steve_M |
Gerken at his best was an alright Championship keeper, he was just a bit too inconsistent for us and a bit too hesitant and flappy coming for crosses. Then again that was a big weakness of all of our keepers under Webster however good they were at other aspects of the game.
I suppose too that 342 appearances is just a bit lower than where he should have been, partly the lot of a keeper to be either in the team or out of it I suppose. Still a decent career though. |  |
| |
| Gerken (Warning: U's-centric) on 11:01 - May 9 with 1243 views | Chrisd |
As youngster to play in the Championship for Colchester United at such a tender age was and is hugely impressive and to have played that amount of games as a professional is certainly not a bad career record at all. I always felt he was capable of some incredible saves and that probably was his main strength. He did a decent job for us, but I never believed he was a genuine No.1. |  |
| |
| Gerken (Warning: U's-centric) on 12:30 - May 9 with 1044 views | SouperJim |
| Gerken (Warning: U's-centric) on 11:01 - May 9 by Chrisd |
As youngster to play in the Championship for Colchester United at such a tender age was and is hugely impressive and to have played that amount of games as a professional is certainly not a bad career record at all. I always felt he was capable of some incredible saves and that probably was his main strength. He did a decent job for us, but I never believed he was a genuine No.1. |
He certainly was no Arran Lee-Barrett  |  |
| |
| Gerken (Warning: U's-centric) on 12:55 - May 9 with 988 views | chicoazul |
He was a bit ginger sadly. |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
