Alex McCarthy No.1

[Terminal Boardom]

Confidence is an amazing asset for any goalkeeper. Tonight will have done him no harm at all.

[Tails]

I like the arrogant nonchalance he shows when ambling about the penalty area holding the ball. His big save was extraordinary.

Just wait until you see his swan dive.

[paultheroyal]

Lets not go off half cocked people. Great save, good all round, but one game does not a brilliant keeper make. Great prospect, but did he really show us anything Fed hasn't this season? Not really, he was tested only a couple of times at most.

Can we keep a sense of perspective and realistic expectations please?

Agreed.

Grew in confidence tonight as game wore on, but one decent save from 3 matches does not make him number 1.

[roadrunner]

No it doesn't, but the same happened after 'that' save by Federici at Old Trafford.

The OP isn't getting carried away. If McCarthy can play to a similar standard while Federici is out then there should be no reason what so ever to drop him when Feds is fit again. This is a great opportunity for the kid McCarthy and that should be his shirt now until such time that his performances drop, if they drop. IMO.

[Tails]

Feck off - clearly a prem standard keeper, he has the pedigree - being Eng u-21 and now this wonder save. Cash in on Feds, lets let Alex and Anderson fight it out as no1!!!

[paultheroyal]

Not the McDermott way though aka Cummings. Regardless of performances by McCarthy once Federici is fit he will slot straight in. One save made, that is all.

[AndyRFC]

Kevin Keegan said that was the best save he had ever seem. That >

[paultheroyal]

Kevin Keegan said that was the best save he had ever seem. That >

Blimey, but Don Hutchison said he knew nothing about it and just hit him lol.

[moo]

Who was that keeper we had who made the wonder save vs Stoke? Young? He turned out a legend

I hope McCarthy can keep it up of course, but as said before, consistency is needed.

[Royal Rother]

Kevin Keegan said that was the best save he had ever seem. That >

Blimey, but Don Hutchison said he knew nothing about it and just hit him lol.

So did Alex himself (pretty much).

[Northern Git]

Looks a fabulous prospect. One small concern is he does seem a little rooted to his line at times but that may just be a confidence issue.

Strange I thought he did pretty well coming off his line, the punch off the heads of the Everton strikers with about 10 mins to go was, for me, the sign that as he developes he will come to dominate 'his' penalty area.

Feds seems to have a greater problem with this, despite his greater experiance.

As for for 'that' save, true the ball probably 'just hit him' but he had to get himself into the position in the first place. Great, great stop

[Snowball]

We do get carried away on this list.

I suspect we are all bipolar.

GREAT for Alex, but another inch away and the ball is in the net, it's 1-1, we go on to lose
and probably Gunnar is too old, McCarthy is too you, Harte is to slow, and Mills is just a c----


Let's stop judging strikers on half a dozen games, or keepers after 2.1 games

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Never heard it called a list before, and you are def not bipolar, fully focused or to some extent even blinkered.

[Big Foot]

Kevin Keegan said that was the best save he had ever seem. That >

Probably the best save I've ever seen live

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Kevin Keegan said that was the best save he had ever seem. That >

Probably the best save I've ever seen live

TBF a dead keeper would be kinda rubbish.

[I like biscuits]

I think that we are a very lucky team as we have 4 keepers all of which would probably do us proud in between the sticks. Fedders is the most experienced so will obviously get the nod, then you have Anderson, Hamer and McCarthy. Last night was a great performance from the young lad but he definately needs consistancy to state a claim at no. 1.
I was under the impression that the Reading hierarchy (when Rodgers was in charge) were looking to Hamer being number 1 long term following on from his award of Puma golden glove during his spell on loan at Brentford but after last night I would suggest that he definately has stiff competition. Well done Alex.

[cmonurz]

Haven't seen McCarthy's save from last night, but even a terrific performance doesn't put him ahead of Federici, who has had countless brilliant performances in the Reading goal. That said, this follows another stupendous save by McCarthy just standing up from the point blank header against Palace. But only over time will we see if McCarthy can produce performances like that more consistently than Feds. I'd agree he should keep the shirt for now, he has done well, but let's not anoint the next Shaka before he has played 5 games for the side.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Alex McCarthy commanded his box at Everton claiming the crosses well, good to see from such a young keeper.

The lad has a future in the game whether that be with RFC is still up for discussion.

[Royal Rother]

The thing is, if McCarthy does well, and becomes a legitimate No 1, it puts us in a much better position to keep hold of the key outfield players next season because we can sell Federici for, I dunno, £3.5m, without weakening the team significantly, and that should be enough to balance the books.

There has to be a progression for young players and it is far more difficult for 'keepers to get opportunities to shine than for outfield players, because, unlike the latter, it's one position and there are less injuries and suspensions....

...Ermm, you knew that anyway didn't you?

[Terminal Boardom]

The thing is, if McCarthy does well, and becomes a legitimate No 1, it puts us in a much better position to keep hold of the key outfield players next season because we can sell Federici for, I dunno, £3.5m, without weakening the team significantly, and that should be enough to balance the books.

There has to be a progression for young players and it is far more difficult for 'keepers to get opportunities to shine than for outfield players, because, unlike the latter, it's one position and there are less injuries and suspensions....

...Ermm, you knew that anyway didn't you?

And I am sure if we have a crisis in the netminder position, we could always get Delroy