CONFIMRED - Ali Al Habsi

[Hatty9]

We are being linked with the Ex Wigan goalkeeper after his release and now available on free transfer.
Not my favourite choice compared with some of the others speculated but perhaps more believable

[Tommio]

Used to be really quite good, not too sure now. Makes too many mistakes too. Saying that, I'd take him and preferable Daniel Bentley. That way we'd have experience and and youth.

[blueroyals]

FFS. Why spend 6 years developing Andersen if, when in line to become first team GK, he's not good enough? And then sign fucking al habsi?

[paultheroyal]

FFS. Why spend 6 years developing Andersen if, when in line to become first team GK, he's not good enough? And then sign fucking al habsi?

Andersen great number 2 as will never get used and never rocks the boat, however Hartlepool is his level.

[mikey0406]

think saying Hartlepool is his level is a bit harsh as we have never really seen him play for a significant amount of time. when he has been on loan, think Bristol Rovers one season?? Bristol fans were raving about him. Im not for one minute thinking he is an immediate number 1 prospect for us but he does need to be playing at his age

There are much better goalkeeping prospects out there than Al Habsi.... Bogdan, Lonergan, Martinez, Fordingham, all free signings and would consider them better number 1s. there are a number of keepers playing 2nd/3rd fiddle for their clubs that could be realistic loan signings. Hennersey, Camp and Hamer could be considered.

PS ignore the spellings...no time to check them

[From Despair To Where?]

One season at Bristol Rovers in League 2 5 years ago. He's had a number of loan spells since then and hardly got a game and he's not convinced on the rare starts he's had with us.

[Royal_jimmy]

FFS. Why spend 6 years developing Andersen if, when in line to become first team GK, he's not good enough? And then sign fucking al habsi?

I don't think Andersen is that great a keeper personally. Not good enough to be our number 1. Then again, I am not overwhelmed by Ali Al-Habsi either.

[Steve Clarke]

Not keen on Habsi joining due to all mistakes when he misses the ball because its too high in the air for him to get so he puts it in himself, makes too many mistakes not worth it and just watch this and you'll see! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESPz-Y6GV5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ657-3VIps but maybe he his worth it if you look at this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nM1P-5lvE

[DanRFC]

Id take him, still got a couple of years in him, then we can focus on other parts of the field we need to improve

[oxford-nick]

Not keen on Habsi joining due to all mistakes when he misses the ball because its too high in the air for him to get so he puts it in himself, makes too many mistakes not worth it and just watch this and you'll see! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESPz-Y6GV5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ657-3VIps but maybe he his worth it if you look at this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nM1P-5lvE

Not even halfway through the second video and I am sat here thinking... He is doing a lot of stops... But he doesnt actually keep a hold of the ball! - He gets something in the way of the shot but a lot of the time his defenders need to scrap to get to the ball to clear it!

[fedders1871]

what about Mark Bunn... released from Norwich?

[Norfolk Royal]

He's not that great but he did open the new play area at my daughter's school recently so I'm IN.

[maffff]

I like Al Habsi. Such a bouncy keeper.

[Royal Ginger]

Lets not forget that he's already scored a goal for Reading.

[Tommio]

Training at hogwood with a view to a permanent move.
Source @paulcareysport

[Tommio]

Reading have also confirmed this, didn't realise

[WoodleyRoyal]

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=125297&start=20#p4163714 called this back in April

[Sutekh]

Sorry, just not convinced on Al Habsi, certainly not anything more than a stop gap while we persuade WBA to buy another keeper anyway.

[lewesroyal]

Not keen on Habsi joining due to all mistakes when he misses the ball because its too high in the air for him to get so he puts it in himself, makes too many mistakes not worth it and just watch this and you'll see! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESPz-Y6GV5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ657-3VIps but maybe he his worth it if you look at this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nM1P-5lvE

Not even halfway through the second video and I am sat here thinking... He is doing a lot of stops... But he doesnt actually keep a hold of the ball! - He gets something in the way of the shot but a lot of the time his defenders need to scrap to get to the ball to clear it!

Blatantly never played in goal. There's some great stops there. The first Vid shows he's a perfect replacement for Feds tho

[Hoop Blah]

Sorry, just not convinced on Al Habsi, certainly not anything more than a stop gap while we persuade WBA to buy another keeper anyway.

I'd probably agree with that.

With Moore as our only senior keeper at the moment I'd want two experienced keepers coming in if I were Clarke. Al-Habsi wouldn't be a bad keeper, but he'd be a very good number 2.

It's a little odd for the club to make an announcement on the website like this too. I wonder if there's a bit of game playing there to force other people into action, or perhaps just to give fans a bit of reassurance that something is happening on the keeper front.