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Gerken Has No Problem With Fans' Criticism
Tuesday, 20th Oct 2015 06:00

Town goalkeeper Dean Gerken says he has no problem with the criticism of supporters aimed at him and his colleagues during the team's recent slump in form.

Gerken said: "I'm used to the booing and everything like that. It's not a problem for me because the fans pay their money to come in and if they want to boo they can boo.

“It's not a nice thing to hear but fundamentally you have to stay strong because it's your performance that's going to stop them from booing.

“Mentally, you have to be inside your own little bubble and not let things like that affect you. You need to be consistent and doing things right will stop the booing.”

Asked if it would have affected him more when he was a young, up and coming keeper at first club Colchester, the 30-year-old replied: "If I look back at my career the best year that helped to thicken my skin, if you like, was when I was relegated from the Championship with Colchester. It was a hard season and we had some tough times that year.

"That kind of experience matures you as a player. Although I wish we had never been relegated and things had gone better for us that year it does strengthen you as a player and especially as a goalkeeper. You're the last line of defence and everyone is critical of every goal you let in.

"The main thing is to enjoy your football - you're out there to enjoy it and to play as well as you can - and hopefully prove to people that you are there to do a good job.

“I'm fairly happy with my own form but we're here to win games and being a goalkeeper I want to keep clean sheets, which we haven't been doing often enough.

"I'm always going to be critical of myself and want to do better. We’ll build upon Saturday's result against Huddersfield and I don't want to be conceding goals.”

Despite Town's current form - just one win in seven league games as they head for Hull tonight - Gerken has been given a huge thumbs-up by boss Mick McCarthy, who has kept faith with the man he signed on a free transfer in July 2013 following a trial after his contract at Bristol City had expired.

Gerken added: "He's always been loyal - that's the good thing about playing for the gaffer, he'll always back you up no matter if you have a blip because he knows what you can do. I appreciate that from him and I think a lot of the other players appreciate it from him.

"You don't get consistency without being put in the team even when you are having a blip. I'm thankful for that from him and the same goes for a lot of the other players too. It helps us as a group and as individuals.”

Meanwhile, Gerken has lavished praise on Town's four senior strikers, even if they have been unable to reverse recent form and last season's 27-goal top Championship marksman Daryl Murphy is still waiting to break his duck for the current campaign.

Gerken said: "In shooting practice Freddie, Brett, Didzy and Murph can knock you for six. The quality they've got is brilliant and it helps to make you better as a goalkeeper. It can also give you confidence because if you do shut them out, which all the keepers are trying to do, you also know how they can cause damage on match days."

Tonight's opponents have responded positively to last season's relegation from the Premier League, climbing to seventh in the Championship, losing just twice in 11 league games and also remaining unbeaten at home as they attempt to regain their top-flight status at the first time of asking.

Gerken added: "Their manager, Steve Bruce, is brilliant and everyone knows that. He's a proven manager both here and in the Premiership. When you look at their team on a bit of paper you think to yourself 'They've played a lot of Premier League games, let alone Championship games'.

"We're not going there thinking we are the underdogs. We'll go up there to put our game on them and put them under as much pressure as we can. The onus is on them - they are the home team - but we've got a game plan, we're going to stick to it and we've got good players. We'll go there and expect to do good things."


Photo: Action Images



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battyblue added 06:30 - Oct 20
Not a mention about Bart our better keeper.
4

arnielowestoft added 06:41 - Oct 20
You are a very poor goalkeeper, you bottled it is the first half on Saturday when Berra saved your bacon !! Your decision making is terrible , you are not up for it !
OR PROVE US ALL WRONG !! I personally think you can't
3

KiwiTractor added 07:09 - Oct 20
Bring back Bart!
7

Tractorboy1985 added 07:32 - Oct 20
As a 30 year old following town since the age of 9-10 I don't think I've seen a poorer keeper! Doesn't talk.. Doesn't come off his line.. Hesitates.. Get him out that team and reinstate Bart!! He's nothing special but the defence have more understanding when he's between the sticks!! How we have gone so long now with this clown in goal baffles me! Started the season so well.. Who was in goal?? Until the stubborn tool realises his selections of late have been wrong we are going know where! Let's not shout too loud though as we won't get the team we all know that's the right one!!
3

dugoutdave added 07:35 - Oct 20
'He's always been loyal - that's the good thing about playing for the gaffer'

Unfortunately he didn't show much loyalty to Bart. The guy loses his father and then his place in the team when he's clearly the better keeper.

This Yorkshire loyalty is patently different to the usual definition
5

Jimmy86 added 07:42 - Oct 20
Well Dean me old mate, for some reason only he will know Mick seems to rate you above Bart, which in my eyes is crazy I'm afraid. Take away the undisputed fact we conceded fewer goals at the start of the season and that Bart was absolutely top drawer, against Wednesday and Burnley, the fact remains Bart is the better keeper, he is better in every department and controlling his area, something Dean doesn't do well enough. Still get the jitters every time the ball comes into our box.
5

prebbs007 added 08:59 - Oct 20
Nowhere near good enough and Mick won't lose face by doing the right thing and dropping you. Have cost us points already this season Bart is better keeper whose only error this season was his father dying, hardly his fault and a not a reason to be dropped and left out since with all the errors made by the current keeper.
2

Penguinblue added 09:44 - Oct 20
It is nothing personal Mr Gerkin, I would not boo you and would applaud any good save, but sadly you are not the best goalkeeper at ITFC and were MM not the manager you would not get a starting place. But best wishes for every performance when you line up with Chambers, Douglas etc - your 'gaffers' other blind favorites.
2

TR11BLU added 10:00 - Oct 20
Blind loyalty Im afraid.
2

billlm added 10:20 - Oct 20
Handy just doing it in practice what about the match
1

PeteTheTractor added 12:02 - Oct 20
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO
0

rugbytomc added 13:54 - Oct 20
Great shot stopper - just need to work on coming off your line more and your foot movement, as too often it looks like you have cinderblocks on your feet and you get rooted to the spot.
1

nhabo added 15:21 - Oct 20
We've certainly got some expert goalkeeping coaches in this thread. ME should sack the entire backroom staff and get some of you lot interviewed. :-/

Consistency in results is achieved by establishing who you want to pick and consistently picking them. Now, we can argue MM has picked the wrong side and, based on recent results, it's an easy argument to make. What's harder is reading borderline personal attacks on a player who is picked, is clearly trying his best and making some good saves along the way. I've never agreed with the sentiment that it's ok to boo the players when they're trying. If these results turn round with this team selection then Gerken is back in the good books and MM's a genius. If they don't it's on MM's head, not Gerken's.
-1

HackneyBlue added 17:59 - Oct 20
Hold on guys,if he is a poor goalkeeper or a reserve goalkeeper thats at an age where performances may not improve then surely its down to management to select who they feel is the better-why boo the keeper?
2

therein61 added 18:08 - Oct 20
You are as thick skinned as our manager then!!?? but of course you are a favourite of his how else would you keep your place.
1


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