Who Goes? McCarthy. Confimred.

[sandman]

I think they're both quite similar keepers, other than Feds' terrible start to the prem season.

I'd let McCarthy go as I think he is one of the worst distributors of a football I've ever seen! Even worse than when Sonko first signed and just booted it anywhere - at least he often kept it on the pitch!

How many distribution-related mistakes did he make last season? I went to most home games and only remember him kicking it out of play once.

I spose people on here have an opinion for the sake of it - and it never changes.

Four off the top of my head:

Threw the ball to Michu about 20 yards out from goal in the pre season friendly last season, obviously not a big problem in a friendly but unfortunately he didn't learn from it and repeated the trick in the League against Birmingham and Yeovil as well.

Against Barnsley at home he took far too long giving the ball to Gunter who due to the delay was being closed down and had no option but to try and give it back but the damage was done and they closed it down to score.

Remember a game (I think QPR) where he rolled it out towards Guthrie and gave it to an opposition player forcing himself to make a save he shouldn't have had need to make. In the same game we had a late free kick, our last chance to get the ball in the box and try to score, he sliced it down the East Stand side, nowhere near the players gathered in the box.

That's not even counting the several times he hit that low kick that he does which goes chest height to an opposition player.

[Ian Royal]

Federici's kicked the ball straight to the opposition several times as well. McCarthy's made some mistakes, all keeper's do. His distribution really isn't as bad as people say, just as Federici's isn't as good as people say.

There's not much between them, but McCarthy should still be on the upward curve and his kicking (the only real area of problem with his game) is slowly getting better. Federici seems to have peaked and was second to McCarthy last season for a reason.

[RoyalBlue]

I think they're both quite similar keepers, other than Feds' terrible start to the prem season.

I'd let McCarthy go as I think he is one of the worst distributors of a football I've ever seen! Even worse than when Sonko first signed and just booted it anywhere - at least he often kept it on the pitch!

How many distribution-related mistakes did he make last season? I went to most home games and only remember him kicking it out of play once.

I spose people on here have an opinion for the sake of it - and it never changes.

Given the dire football so frequently played last season, I guess you can't be blamed for falling asleep and missing the considerable number of other occasions! On top of that we had the miskick to opponent occasions and the try to pass out to his fullback, most notably Gunter, when he is already being rapidly closed down. His distribution is often very poor!

[SydenhamRoyal]

I think they're both quite similar keepers, other than Feds' terrible start to the prem season.

I'd let McCarthy go as I think he is one of the worst distributors of a football I've ever seen! Even worse than when Sonko first signed and just booted it anywhere - at least he often kept it on the pitch!

How many distribution-related mistakes did he make last season? I went to most home games and only remember him kicking it out of play once.

I spose people on here have an opinion for the sake of it - and it never changes.

Four off the top of my head:

Threw the ball to Michu about 20 yards out from goal in the pre season friendly last season, obviously not a big problem in a friendly but unfortunately he didn't learn from it and repeated the trick in the League against Birmingham and Yeovil as well.

Against Barnsley at home he took far too long giving the ball to Gunter who due to the delay was being closed down and had no option but to try and give it back but the damage was done and they closed it down to score.

Remember a game (I think QPR) where he rolled it out towards Guthrie and gave it to an opposition player forcing himself to make a save he shouldn't have had need to make. In the same game we had a late free kick, our last chance to get the ball in the box and try to score, he sliced it down the East Stand side, nowhere near the players gathered in the box.

That's not even counting the several times he hit that low kick that he does which goes chest height to an opposition player.

The above pale into insignificance if you watched sheff wed away

[LoyalRoyal22]

Would be happy if we could fetch £5m for McCarthy & put Feds back in goal with Anderson as back up.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

I think they're both quite similar keepers, other than Feds' terrible start to the prem season.

I'd let McCarthy go as I think he is one of the worst distributors of a football I've ever seen! Even worse than when Sonko first signed and just booted it anywhere - at least he often kept it on the pitch!

i'd rather have a better shot stopper than a keeper who can kick it back to the half way line more accurately for kick off

[Agent Balti]

i'd rather have a better shot stopper than a keeper who can kick it back to the half way line more accurately for kick off

Totally this ^^^.

The sensible thing to do, if any, would be to tie Alex down to a new 3 year deal (if he wants it) and then increase his value. If a bigger club wants to still come in for him then they'll have to pay the big moolah. Otherwise, we've missed a trick by letting his contract run down. Not that they could have done much about that, given the current climate though, granted.

[RoyalBlue]

i'd rather have a better shot stopper than a keeper who can kick it back to the half way line more accurately for kick off

Totally this ^^^.

The sensible thing to do, if any, would be to tie Alex down to a new 3 year deal (if he wants it) and then increase his value. If a bigger club wants to still come in for him then they'll have to pay the big moolah. Otherwise, we've missed a trick by letting his contract run down. Not that they could have done much about that, given the current climate though, granted.

Apart from one spell of poor form, is Feds really that much different from McCarthy in terms of shot stopping ability? Also compromising on a keeper's distribution in the manner suggested is symptomatic with the English disease i.e. an obsession with avoiding defeat as opposed to a determination to win.

Most decent, successful teams now have a keeper who is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet/in his hands and can play the ball with his feet as confidently as an outfield player. McCarthy isn't anywhere near that and, based on last night's performance, isn't looking like he is going to change (I counted 6 occasions - once I decided to start counting- when he needlessly kicked the ball out of play. There were also a couple of poor throws). If he is spending plenty of time practising his distribution I can only conclude that he now has a dreadful mental block when he is required to distribute the ball.

For that reason, I wouldn't be overly worried if he cashed in and were left with Feds (a very good keeper) and Anderson. Trouble is, I can't see us getting big money for McCarthy because his distribution is so poor.

[Mr.Swainey]

i'd rather have a better shot stopper than a keeper who can kick it back to the half way line more accurately for kick off

Totally this ^^^.

The sensible thing to do, if any, would be to tie Alex down to a new 3 year deal (if he wants it) and then increase his value. If a bigger club wants to still come in for him then they'll have to pay the big moolah. Otherwise, we've missed a trick by letting his contract run down. Not that they could have done much about that, given the current climate though, granted.

Apart from one spell of poor form, is Feds really that much different from McCarthy in terms of shot stopping ability? Also compromising on a keeper's distribution in the manner suggested is symptomatic with the English disease i.e. an obsession with avoiding defeat as opposed to a determination to win.

Most decent, successful teams now have a keeper who is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet/in his hands and can play the ball with his feet as confidently as an outfield player. McCarthy isn't anywhere near that and, based on last night's performance, isn't looking like he is going to change (I counted 6 occasions - once I decided to start counting- when he needlessly kicked the ball out of play. There were also a couple of poor throws). If he is spending plenty of time practising his distribution I can only conclude that he now has a dreadful mental block when he is required to distribute the ball.

For that reason, I wouldn't be overly worried if he cashed in and were left with Feds (a very good keeper) and Anderson. Trouble is, I can't see us getting big money for McCarthy because his distribution is so poor.

Oh come on, it's not like he kicks the ball out everytime. His distribution isn't poor, it isn't fantastic by any stretch, but does it matter? The front four in front of him are pretty terrible with the ball at feet, why can't the goalkeeper just kick it up field anyway?

[Gordons Cumming]

I think the new owners will move the goalposts as far as the goalkeeping situation is concerned.

[RoyalBlue]

Totally this ^^^.

The sensible thing to do, if any, would be to tie Alex down to a new 3 year deal (if he wants it) and then increase his value. If a bigger club wants to still come in for him then they'll have to pay the big moolah. Otherwise, we've missed a trick by letting his contract run down. Not that they could have done much about that, given the current climate though, granted.

Apart from one spell of poor form, is Feds really that much different from McCarthy in terms of shot stopping ability? Also compromising on a keeper's distribution in the manner suggested is symptomatic with the English disease i.e. an obsession with avoiding defeat as opposed to a determination to win.

Most decent, successful teams now have a keeper who is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet/in his hands and can play the ball with his feet as confidently as an outfield player. McCarthy isn't anywhere near that and, based on last night's performance, isn't looking like he is going to change (I counted 6 occasions - once I decided to start counting- when he needlessly kicked the ball out of play. There were also a couple of poor throws). If he is spending plenty of time practising his distribution I can only conclude that he now has a dreadful mental block when he is required to distribute the ball.

For that reason, I wouldn't be overly worried if he cashed in and were left with Feds (a very good keeper) and Anderson. Trouble is, I can't see us getting big money for McCarthy because his distribution is so poor.

Oh come on, it's not like he kicks the ball out everytime. His distribution isn't poor, it isn't fantastic by any stretch, but does it matter? The front four in front of him are pretty terrible with the ball at feet, why can't the goalkeeper just kick it up field anyway?

Six times or more in one game plus some poor throwing, not poor?! And that doesn't take any account of the kicks that stay on the pitch but aren't very good. Some pub keepers are better than that!

As for saying distribution doesn't matter (disagree that all the four in front of him aren't good) that displays a failure to appreciate how many managers, Adkins included, now believe teams should play in order to be successful. It does damn well matter and keepers should be able to play football!

I think the new owners will move the goalposts as far as the goalkeeping situation is concerned.

Moving them onto the touchline might help McCarthy!

[yappy]

Think we need to keep both. The way things are currently going Federici will be our only fit striker.

[Mr.Swainey]

Think we need to keep both. The way things are currently going Federici will be our only fit striker.

Have you seen the size of Federici?

[Vision]

I think the new owners will move the goalposts as far as the goalkeeping situation is concerned.

Might stop Federici being beaten at the near post game after game.

[leww_rfc]

If all is fine and dandy with the takeover then keep both, but I'd be inclined to sell McCarthy to raise funds for a position that we're not as well endowed in. I.e one of those forward striker players.

[Ian Royal]

I think the new owners will move the goalposts as far as the goalkeeping situation is concerned.

Might stop Federici being beaten at the near post game after game.

Maybe they could just glue them to his sides to keep him tight to them.

[fedders1871]

yeah but lets be honest, Alex McCarthy and Adam Federici are too good for the championship to be bench warmers, especially with the ambitions they have... federici wont stay if he's benched come the start of the season and i dont think mcCarthy will either,

whoever doesn't start the season will hand a transfer request in, unless they rotate each game but i cannot see it, and that means who starts against newport looks set to miss out on the championship.

but saying that it seems the older the keeper is i.e. 28-33 thats prime so either way we have an up and coming keeper or a experienced keeper.

[Ian Royal]

yeah but lets be honest, Alex McCarthy and Adam Federici are too good for the championship to be bench warmers, especially with the ambitions they have... federici wont stay if he's benched come the start of the season and i dont think mcCarthy will either,

whoever doesn't start the season will hand a transfer request in, unless they rotate each game but i cannot see it, and that means who starts against newport looks set to miss out on the championship.

but saying that it seems the older the keeper is i.e. 28-33 thats prime so either way we have an up and coming keeper or a experienced keeper.

This is all well and good, but if no one is prepared to pay for them, they're going nowhere. And really, can you honestly see someone paying £1m for Federici or £3m - £4m for McCarthy? Too rich for the Championship, not quite good enough to claim a starting place for most Prem clubs and both really need to be playing.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Anyone think Celtic might be in for Ally Mac if Forster goes to Saints?

[leww_rfc]

Would he be willing to drop down a division? etc.