| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? 10:58 - Jul 1 with 8457 views | wkj |
Considering he was to be the #1 keeper last summer until an injury opened the door for Hladky.
I know there is much discussion around Walton's ability to play as a sweeper keeper, but I don't think it is a mad thought to consider he's still in the thoughts for the #1 spot. |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:01 - Jul 1 with 4592 views | _clive_baker_ |
I certainly haven't. It wouldn't surprise me if he moves on, depending on who we bring in and conversations, but equally this will be welcome news to him. As it stands right now he's #1 for a club about to play in the premier league, no reason why he can't try and stake a claim for that shirt IMO. |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:02 - Jul 1 with 4581 views | JakeITFC |
He's a better keeper than Hladky for me, I'd have no qualms with him starting games for us this season. |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:03 - Jul 1 with 4570 views | Trequartista |
Was thinking he would move on and Hladcky would be backup to a new keeper. Wouldn't be too alarmed if we now keep Walton as backup. |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:05 - Jul 1 with 4549 views | RegencyBlue |
Hladky showed just how far away Walton is from being comfortable playing that sweeper keeper role.
Unless we are going to change the way we play, which could be a possibility, Walton isn’t going to be our first choice keeper in the PL. |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:06 - Jul 1 with 4534 views | NthQldITFC |
I'd like to think he's been working on improving his footwork a bit over the last year, he's always looked good at commanding his box and if he's sharp and confident with his shot-stopping I see no reason why he shouldn't be competing well with whoever we bring in. We're not going to need Vas levels of ability on the deck next year, are we?
But will he want to compete from a position of going into pre-season presumably as a second choice? It would be hard to break through, but if the alternative is starting yet again at a lower Championship club (for guaranteed minutes), maybe he's better to stay here and chance his arm. If we're slow getting a new keeper in, he's got the start of pre-season to go hard and really impress and give himself a chance. |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:06 - Jul 1 with 4529 views | Mookamoo |
Wasn't there concern this time last year Walton was about to go and play in the PL with Luton and we'll have to use Hladky, thus ruining our chance for a top 6 finish.
Would not be surprise to see him still here |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:13 - Jul 1 with 4464 views | Herbivore |
Walton is a good keeper and he's better with his feet than people give him credit for. People seem to forget that we played out from the keeper in League 1 with Walton in goal too, yes it was a bit easier at that level as fewer teams played a high press against us, but his ability on the ball improved a lot under McKenna and he was perfectly capable of playing our style. Nobody was going into last season fretting about Walton's ability to step up to the Championship, we were much more worried when he got injured and was going to miss the first few months.
All that said, he looked rusty in the cup games last season (understandably to be fair) and it's asking a lot for him to step back in and be number 1 in the Prem. I'd be comfortable with him being deputy to a new number 1 but it'll come down to whether he's happy to play that role at this stage of his career. |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:25 - Jul 1 with 4396 views | wkj |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:13 - Jul 1 by Herbivore |
Walton is a good keeper and he's better with his feet than people give him credit for. People seem to forget that we played out from the keeper in League 1 with Walton in goal too, yes it was a bit easier at that level as fewer teams played a high press against us, but his ability on the ball improved a lot under McKenna and he was perfectly capable of playing our style. Nobody was going into last season fretting about Walton's ability to step up to the Championship, we were much more worried when he got injured and was going to miss the first few months.
All that said, he looked rusty in the cup games last season (understandably to be fair) and it's asking a lot for him to step back in and be number 1 in the Prem. I'd be comfortable with him being deputy to a new number 1 but it'll come down to whether he's happy to play that role at this stage of his career. |
That is true, I didn't consider how he appeared in cup games last year. | |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:31 - Jul 1 with 4365 views | Churchman |
I haven’t written Walton off. He’s a better keeper than Hladky if not as good on the ground. He’d have been no 1 all season, but for his injury. The thing is the keeper sweeper aspect was getting found out second half of last season and certainly would have been in the PL.
I’d have been happy if Hladky had wanted to stay, but not too bothered that he doesn’t. At 33 he’s not going to improve. Regardless, thanks and well done last season for all he contributed. [Post edited 1 Jul 2024 11:42]
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:39 - Jul 1 with 4306 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:06 - Jul 1 by Mookamoo |
Wasn't there concern this time last year Walton was about to go and play in the PL with Luton and we'll have to use Hladky, thus ruining our chance for a top 6 finish.
Would not be surprise to see him still here |
Its all if's and but's but had Walton not got injured last summer he would've likely kept his place as #1, certainly to start the season. It was very much an enforced change than one I think we would've opted in to voluntarily. Who knows how the season would've played out, its impossible to quantify the impact Hladky had really, but had we gone up with Walton in goal nobody would be sat here now thinking Walton wasn't worthy of a crack. He's a really good age, commands his box excellently on aerial balls and set pieces which is an area of his game that's better than Hladky. There seems to be this myth that's evolved that he's not good with his feet which I don't really buy to be honest.
If we think we can upgrade on him this summer then I dare say we'll do it, and the likelihood is that we probably will be looking to do that, but I'm fairly relaxed knowing Walton is in the building until we decide otherwise. | | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:40 - Jul 1 with 4287 views | FrimleyBlue |
Yes
He wasn't a great stopper in league 1
He's not very good with his feet either
So yes |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:42 - Jul 1 with 4278 views | Pilgrimblue |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:31 - Jul 1 by Churchman |
I haven’t written Walton off. He’s a better keeper than Hladky if not as good on the ground. He’d have been no 1 all season, but for his injury. The thing is the keeper sweeper aspect was getting found out second half of last season and certainly would have been in the PL.
I’d have been happy if Hladky had wanted to stay, but not too bothered that he doesn’t. At 33 he’s not going to improve. Regardless, thanks and well done last season for all he contributed. [Post edited 1 Jul 2024 11:42]
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Not me as he now has chance to show that he is good enough. If he wants it then he knows what it’ll take but my guess is that we’ll be signing a Prem keeper. |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:44 - Jul 1 with 4248 views | Horsham |
This time last year there were concerns Premier League Luton may come in for him to be their keeper. I’ve not written him off but I doubt we’ll be pinning our hopes or on him being first choice keeper this season and to be honest. |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:47 - Jul 1 with 4226 views | tonybied |
I not expecting him to be the No. 1, with Hladky leaving we will be in the market for a new Goalkeeper. We will look to bring in a higher calibre keeper than Walton. Meaning, that unless the new guy has an injury that opens the door for Walton, I'm fully expecting him to be the backup keeper (if he's happy to play that role that is!). |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:59 - Jul 1 with 4149 views | Vaughan8 |
He didn't look great in the cup games last season to be honest.
Also, if we are to play how we did last season, then he's not good enough with his feet unfortunately.
As a second goalie, yeah that's fine. If he's our first choice, I would worry. |  | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:04 - Jul 1 with 4102 views | baxterbasics |
If he's happy to remain second choice I am happy to keep him. |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:10 - Jul 1 with 4071 views | monty_radio |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:06 - Jul 1 by NthQldITFC |
I'd like to think he's been working on improving his footwork a bit over the last year, he's always looked good at commanding his box and if he's sharp and confident with his shot-stopping I see no reason why he shouldn't be competing well with whoever we bring in. We're not going to need Vas levels of ability on the deck next year, are we?
But will he want to compete from a position of going into pre-season presumably as a second choice? It would be hard to break through, but if the alternative is starting yet again at a lower Championship club (for guaranteed minutes), maybe he's better to stay here and chance his arm. If we're slow getting a new keeper in, he's got the start of pre-season to go hard and really impress and give himself a chance. |
"I'd like to think he's been working on improving his footwork a bit over the last year" -
That's a nice, positive thought, but doesn't it come down to how good he ever was as an outfield footballer? If so, it's not so likely that, at his age now, he can up that part of his game to the standard that modern tactics require. [Post edited 1 Jul 2024 12:11]
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:19 - Jul 1 with 3999 views | NthQldITFC |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:10 - Jul 1 by monty_radio |
"I'd like to think he's been working on improving his footwork a bit over the last year" -
That's a nice, positive thought, but doesn't it come down to how good he ever was as an outfield footballer? If so, it's not so likely that, at his age now, he can up that part of his game to the standard that modern tactics require. [Post edited 1 Jul 2024 12:11]
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I don't think he needs to be as good as Hladky was with his feet, and I think you can coach an older player to improve certain aspects of their game quite a lot. Then there's the performance window for any given attribute that can be defined for a footballer - if they and their coaches/manager have them consistently playing towards the top of their window for any given trait (which is mainly a mental thing, a self-belief thing) you can be looking at a very good version of the same player. | |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:27 - Jul 1 with 3927 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:40 - Jul 1 by FrimleyBlue |
Yes
He wasn't a great stopper in league 1
He's not very good with his feet either
So yes |
The same Walton that kept an all time club record 9 consecutive clean sheets, and conceded just 4 goals in the last 16 games.
Imagine describing him as not a great shot stopper in L1 with a record like that. | | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:43 - Jul 1 with 3836 views | Ryorry |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:59 - Jul 1 by Vaughan8 |
He didn't look great in the cup games last season to be honest.
Also, if we are to play how we did last season, then he's not good enough with his feet unfortunately.
As a second goalie, yeah that's fine. If he's our first choice, I would worry. |
"Also, if we are to play how we did last season"
Knowing KM, I'd be very surprised if he doesn't adjust our style of play somewhat, in accordance with the difference we'll now see from Prem teams and players (though probably not changing our overall basic philosophy much). |  |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:43 - Jul 1 with 3829 views | Sarge |
I don’t think so. I was wanting him back between the sticks most of last season and would be very happy if he retook the #1 spot. | | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:43 - Jul 1 with 3828 views | Garv |
Depending on who we're targeting, it wouldn't surprise me if he plays a good part.
We're not likely to be quite so risky out from the back and we'll go longer a lot more often you'd imagine, so he's not going to be under too much pressure to perform the antics of Hladky from last season. His physicality will come in handy from set pieces and he's a quality shot stopper and can make superb reaction saves . [Post edited 1 Jul 2024 18:55]
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:46 - Jul 1 with 3800 views | Ryorry |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 11:40 - Jul 1 by FrimleyBlue |
Yes
He wasn't a great stopper in league 1
He's not very good with his feet either
So yes |
Perhaps you should get your memory checked out. | |
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| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:47 - Jul 1 with 3784 views | ibbleobble |
Only morons did. He is and always has been a better keeper than Hladky. | | | |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:48 - Jul 1 with 3769 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Have we, as fans, written Walton off already? on 12:27 - Jul 1 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
The same Walton that kept an all time club record 9 consecutive clean sheets, and conceded just 4 goals in the last 16 games.
Imagine describing him as not a great shot stopper in L1 with a record like that. |
We had this discussion in that season.
His Ariel attributes are well known.
But His shot to save ratio was terrible.
Absolutely he was in goal for those we didn't concede in and does of cause he takes plaudits. But don't forget he has a team in front of him.
As stated at the time he's spent his career being a back up keeper. There is nothing to suggest he's a no.1 for a prem team who will most likely concede a lot of shots on goal. And with that being the case. Yes I feel we will need better than Walton who's shot to save % was just 67%
Similar to hladky and probably why we didn't go mad with our offer to keep him. Footwork numbers great. Shot stopping figures not so.
So as a backup and being what he's been his career yes. But prem keeper. Not for me. | |
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