The magic of the FA Cup

[Dirk Gently]

Over his time with us, I would say it was harsh to label him as a liability.

In his early days he certainly was - that Man Utd game and away at West Brom immediately spring to mind, as well as two blunders in a week (home to Stoke and away at Chelsea at the start of McD's PL season).

But even when he had more experience there was always the capacity for a monumental blunder - qv Wembley FA Cup semi-final.

On the other hand, the year we got promoted he kept the most clean sheets in the league and won POTS (I think).

Nope, he came second to Alex Pearce.

[Snowflake Royal]

Over his time with us, I would say it was harsh to label him as a liability.

In his early days he certainly was - that Man Utd game and away at West Brom immediately spring to mind, as well as two blunders in a week (home to Stoke and away at Chelsea at the start of McD's PL season).

But even when he had more experience there was always the capacity for a monumental blunder - qv Wembley FA Cup semi-final.

On the other hand, the year we got promoted he kept the most clean sheets in the league and won POTS (I think).

All Pearce and Gorkss.


He was weak low to his corners and iirc dived over two in quick succession early in the Prem season which helped see us playing catch up.

I'd put him in same category as Lumley. Ok, but not great. Though Lumley is more a steady eddie and Fed a rollercoaster

[Dirk Gently]

In his early days he certainly was - that Man Utd game and away at West Brom immediately spring to mind, as well as two blunders in a week (home to Stoke and away at Chelsea at the start of McD's PL season).

But even when he had more experience there was always the capacity for a monumental blunder - qv Wembley FA Cup semi-final.

On the other hand, the year we got promoted he kept the most clean sheets in the league and won POTS (I think).

All Pearce and Gorkss.


He was weak low to his corners and iirc dived over two in quick succession early in the Prem season which helped see us playing catch up.

I'd put him in same category as Lumley. Ok, but not great. Though Lumley is more a steady eddie and Fed a rollercoaster

Yep - but people loved him because he made camera saves that looked spectacular - without understanding that the only reason he made camera saves was that his initial positioning was so poor that he had much less time to react.

[Snowflake Royal]

On the other hand, the year we got promoted he kept the most clean sheets in the league and won POTS (I think).

All Pearce and Gorkss.


He was weak low to his corners and iirc dived over two in quick succession early in the Prem season which helped see us playing catch up.

I'd put him in same category as Lumley. Ok, but not great. Though Lumley is more a steady eddie and Fed a rollercoaster

Yep - but people loved him because he made camera saves that looked spectacular - without understanding that the only reason he made camera saves was that his initial positioning was so poor that he had much less time to react.

He did like a camera save, that's for sure

[Hendo]

In his early days he certainly was - that Man Utd game and away at West Brom immediately spring to mind, as well as two blunders in a week (home to Stoke and away at Chelsea at the start of McD's PL season).

But even when he had more experience there was always the capacity for a monumental blunder - qv Wembley FA Cup semi-final.

On the other hand, the year we got promoted he kept the most clean sheets in the league and won POTS (I think).

Nope, he came second to Alex Pearce.

Oh, ok - runner up. My bad

[muirinho]

On the other hand, the year we got promoted he kept the most clean sheets in the league and won POTS (I think).

Nope, he came second to Alex Pearce.

Oh, ok - runner up. My bad

POTS and runner up etc doesn't always mean a lot I think - often it's acknowledging a new player has impressed in his early career with us.

Having said that Federici did win POTS in 2014/2015

[Dirk Gently]

Having said that Federici did win POTS in 2014/2015

I think that was more of an emotional thing - voting was just a couple of weeks after his FA Cup semi-final howler and all the press coverage about how devastated he was...

[muirinho]

Having said that Federici did win POTS in 2014/2015

I think that was more of an emotional thing - voting was just a couple of weeks after his FA Cup semi-final howler and all the press coverage about how devastated he was...

Have to admit I looked at some of the winners and runners up and just thought What??? Mo Barrow was 2nd one year for instance.

[Nameless]

Having said that Federici did win POTS in 2014/2015

I think that was more of an emotional thing - voting was just a couple of weeks after his FA Cup semi-final howler and all the press coverage about how devastated he was...

POTS is pretty much an emotional thing. Suspect the number of people who do a rigorous statistical analysis of all the contenders is limited to the number of HNA users with ‘snow’ in their name.
People vote for their favourite, for someone who did something special. I don’t think it has ever really been about the ‘best’ player

[Hound]

Having said that Federici did win POTS in 2014/2015

I think that was more of an emotional thing - voting was just a couple of weeks after his FA Cup semi-final howler and all the press coverage about how devastated he was...

Have to admit I looked at some of the winners and runners up and just thought What??? Mo Barrow was 2nd one year for instance.

He was decent that year tbf. Who won it - one of the keepers?

[oldebiscuit]

Over his time with us, I would say it was harsh to label him as a liability.

Every goalie is liable to make a howler once or twice in a career and shouldn’t just be remembered for that unfortunate moment. The man was fairly solid between the sticks after taking over from Marcus, and who can forget the late equaliser against Cardiff?
What the Man did that was difficult to forgive is the calculated way in which he sold his soul for cash and a place on the subs bench at Bournemouth, with absolutely no prospects bar a growing bank account.

[muirinho]

I think that was more of an emotional thing - voting was just a couple of weeks after his FA Cup semi-final howler and all the press coverage about how devastated he was...

Have to admit I looked at some of the winners and runners up and just thought What??? Mo Barrow was 2nd one year for instance.

He was decent that year tbf. Who won it - one of the keepers?

Liam Moore. Liam Kelly was 3rd.

Had a look at the wikipedia page. It only has runners up for 5 of the last 10 years. it's been won by a goalkeeper 4 times. There's also a runner up goalkeeper spot (McCarthy in 2012/2013) So, keeper seems to be a popular choice. In a poor season, they can be seen as the only thing between us and the trapdoor, I guess.

[Dirk Gently]

Have to admit I looked at some of the winners and runners up and just thought What??? Mo Barrow was 2nd one year for instance.

He was decent that year tbf. Who won it - one of the keepers?

Liam Moore. Liam Kelly was 3rd.

Had a look at the wikipedia page. It only has runners up for 5 of the last 10 years. it's been won by a goalkeeper 4 times. There's also a runner up goalkeeper spot (McCarthy in 2012/2013) So, keeper seems to be a popular choice. In a poor season, they can be seen as the only thing between us and the trapdoor, I guess.

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

He was decent that year tbf. Who won it - one of the keepers?

Liam Moore. Liam Kelly was 3rd.

Had a look at the wikipedia page. It only has runners up for 5 of the last 10 years. it's been won by a goalkeeper 4 times. There's also a runner up goalkeeper spot (McCarthy in 2012/2013) So, keeper seems to be a popular choice. In a poor season, they can be seen as the only thing between us and the trapdoor, I guess.

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

Interestingly, have both Laurent and Yiadom won our last 2 POTS awards by our fans? I think Swift got players player of the year last season I think.

Going on the theme of strikers and goalkeepers, it's obviously very early to say, but I'd imagine Andy Carroll would be a decent bet for POTS if we keep him on and he continues like he has since we've returned from the WC break due to his popularity. Lumley is also gaining some more admirers in the fanbase but I don't think he will get it, although I think it's quite a tough choice thus far. I don't doubt we will also see the likes of Ince, Yiadom (again) and Holmes somewhere near, if they all continue like they have during the season.

[Franchise FC]

Liam Moore. Liam Kelly was 3rd.

Had a look at the wikipedia page. It only has runners up for 5 of the last 10 years. it's been won by a goalkeeper 4 times. There's also a runner up goalkeeper spot (McCarthy in 2012/2013) So, keeper seems to be a popular choice. In a poor season, they can be seen as the only thing between us and the trapdoor, I guess.

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

Interestingly, have both Laurent and Yiadom won our last 2 POTS awards by our fans? I think Swift got players player of the year last season I think.

Going on the theme of strikers and goalkeepers, it's obviously very early to say, but I'd imagine Andy Carroll would be a decent bet for POTS if we keep him on and he continues like he has since we've returned from the WC break due to his popularity. Lumley is also gaining some more admirers in the fanbase but I don't think he will get it, although I think it's quite a tough choice thus far. I don't doubt we will also see the likes of Ince, Yiadom (again) and Holmes somewhere near, if they all continue like they have during the season.

Unless someone does something really dramatic my vote goes to TInce already
He was head and shoulders above everyone pre-WC

[ReadingGlasses]

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

I assumed that would be the case as well, but if Wikipedia is to be believed (I haven't gone through them and added them up), the winners of POTS by position are:

Keepers: 11
Defenders: 18
Midfielders: 15
Forwards: 13

[paultheroyal]

Liam Moore. Liam Kelly was 3rd.

Had a look at the wikipedia page. It only has runners up for 5 of the last 10 years. it's been won by a goalkeeper 4 times. There's also a runner up goalkeeper spot (McCarthy in 2012/2013) So, keeper seems to be a popular choice. In a poor season, they can be seen as the only thing between us and the trapdoor, I guess.

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

Interestingly, have both Laurent and Yiadom won our last 2 POTS awards by our fans? I think Swift got players player of the year last season I think.

Going on the theme of strikers and goalkeepers, it's obviously very early to say, but I'd imagine Andy Carroll would be a decent bet for POTS if we keep him on and he continues like he has since we've returned from the WC break due to his popularity. Lumley is also gaining some more admirers in the fanbase but I don't think he will get it, although I think it's quite a tough choice thus far. I don't doubt we will also see the likes of Ince, Yiadom (again) and Holmes somewhere near, if they all continue like they have during the season.

Tom Ince is an absolute shoe-in for it.

[Snowflake Royal]

Liam Moore. Liam Kelly was 3rd.

Had a look at the wikipedia page. It only has runners up for 5 of the last 10 years. it's been won by a goalkeeper 4 times. There's also a runner up goalkeeper spot (McCarthy in 2012/2013) So, keeper seems to be a popular choice. In a poor season, they can be seen as the only thing between us and the trapdoor, I guess.

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

Interestingly, have both Laurent and Yiadom won our last 2 POTS awards by our fans? I think Swift got players player of the year last season I think.

Going on the theme of strikers and goalkeepers, it's obviously very early to say, but I'd imagine Andy Carroll would be a decent bet for POTS if we keep him on and he continues like he has since we've returned from the WC break due to his popularity. Lumley is also gaining some more admirers in the fanbase but I don't think he will get it, although I think it's quite a tough choice thus far. I don't doubt we will also see the likes of Ince, Yiadom (again) and Holmes somewhere near, if they all continue like they have during the season.

For me Ince is an absolute shoe in so far with Holmes no. 2.

[Sutekh]

It's usually won by keepers and strikers - they probably the most "visible" players to the majority of fans, especially kids.

Interestingly, have both Laurent and Yiadom won our last 2 POTS awards by our fans? I think Swift got players player of the year last season I think.

Going on the theme of strikers and goalkeepers, it's obviously very early to say, but I'd imagine Andy Carroll would be a decent bet for POTS if we keep him on and he continues like he has since we've returned from the WC break due to his popularity. Lumley is also gaining some more admirers in the fanbase but I don't think he will get it, although I think it's quite a tough choice thus far. I don't doubt we will also see the likes of Ince, Yiadom (again) and Holmes somewhere near, if they all continue like they have during the season.

For me Ince is an absolute shoe in so far with Holmes no. 2.

Ince
Holmes
Carroll

For me.

[KC Royal]

In reality, it was a pretty even game after the early howlers from Adam Liability. I've just watched them back and I'd forgotten just how bad they were.

Just after the 2 minute mark in this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPxBikbaEQs

Gunnarsson's shot was closer to goal than I remember.

The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that I remember we started with a back 3 in that game (with Gunnarsson playing CB IIRC) It was only when we changed to a back 4 about midway through the first half that we grew into the game. I've always thought playing a system that was so alien to the players contributed to our bad start to the game, though Fed's mistake for the first goal was simply a howler.

Agree with you in another post, on the big occasion in a PL game or in a cup game Federici could throw in a blunder. To add to the list of games you mentioned, don't recall the West Brom away match, also remember him being criticised on here at the time when we played Liverpool in the league cup in the 2007/8 season. And also there was criticism of his performance in the Swansea playoff final, though i didn't think he was too bad in that game tbh. McDermott mentioned on the podcast with Adie Williams about Sal Bibbo being sick before the game, which did make me wonder how good his preparation was going into it.