Max

[Cowshed]

19 minutes ago, Spike said:

But this includes long kicks where for the most part we have no one to aim for as very few of our attacking players have the strength and size to take the pass. 

 

But this includes? Range. Variety of passes x length. Short and long and multiple surfaces (striking parts of the foot). 

Considering the team intent, the teams build up play what are the fundamental qualities necessary in the number one? Average ability to distribute the ball, below average or good? 

Do Max O'Leary qualities make him a suitable player for a possession based team playing positional football? 

 

 

[Roadrunner]

Max has made some great saves over the season. As somebody has said well thats he job thats what he is payed for. He has also cost us some points, it happens. Nigel dropped Bentley and gave Max his chance. I feel Max needs to be droped and Sefan given a run of  games. then by the end of the season we could say we have two very good goalkeppers or we move them both on. Then spend some big money getting in the best goalkepper we can afford. I remember Brian Clough saying Peter Shilton gave Forest 20 points a season. All good sides are built from the back, so lets start with number 1.

[Littlesh*t]

7 minutes ago, Roadrunner said:

Max has made some great saves over the season. As somebody has said well thats he job thats what he is payed for. He has also cost us some points, it happens. Nigel dropped Bentley and gave Max his chance. I feel Max needs to be droped and Sefan given a run of  games. then by the end of the season we could say we have two very good goalkeppers or we move them both on. Then spend some big money getting in the best goalkepper we can afford. I remember Brian Clough saying Peter Shilton gave Forest 20 points a season. All good sides are built from the back, so lets start with number 1.

Think the difference is bentley I believe was dropped because he was on far more money and wasn't the future of the club.

If we drop Max we aren't saving a lot and I am sure the coaches already know if Sefan is up to it or not. If we are getting a new keeper in at any point I think that decision will already be made.

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, Welcome To The Jungle said:

I've got a lot of issues with the club, and for that reason have been an away fan only for almost 6 years now. However something the club has got right recently is the pathway from the academy to the first team. I'd rather watch local players like Max, who may not be world beaters, than a team of Mercenaries.

Personally, I would rather watch the best players we can afford, whether they be born in Whitchurch or Timbuktu. 

[Open End Numb Legs]

I just hope his team mates and coaches are more supportive than we are!

I know, this is a fans forum and we are entitled to criticise, but I try not to blame individuals, as easy as it might be.

We can't change the past, how he plays in the next couple of games though is very important and giving him our support can really help him and our season.

[Wokingham Red]

26 minutes ago, Jacki said:

I haven’t read this thread in detail so forgive me if I’m repeating what others have said.

For me, O’Leary is the perfect illustration of where we are as a club. He’s a mid table Championship player in a mid table Championship side. He’s inconsistent like many of our players and has made a number of howlers this season that have cost us dear. In other games he’s been very good. The other thing I would say about him is that his decision making can be very ‘off’ at times. He’s an excellent number two and a mid table level number one at this level.

Final thing I’d say is that not signing someone to compete with O’Leary is a mistake and I’ve been saying that all season. Anyone but the very best in sport in sport who has nobody pushing them for their spot will be too comfortable and I think there’s a real danger of that here. 

I was going to add my input on Max but this post completely nails it. Perfectly depressing. 

[City oz]

1 minute ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Personally, I would rather watch the best players we can afford, whether they be born in Whitchurch or Timbuktu. 

Nothing wrong with Whitchurch mate

[ashton_fan]

I think Max is still improving, he's much better catching crosses than he used to be. Thought he had a good game last night, with the second goal that shot was swerving and bounced just in front of him, he got his body behind it and it was unfortunate the rebound went to one of their players.

I don't know what it is about OTIB and our keepers but whoever we have in goal is deemed not good enough, it was the same with Bentley, Frankie etc.. I think Max is the best we've had for a while, all keepers make howlers every now and then, you only have to watch Prem teams on MOTD and you see them most weeks. We have to be realistic about the level of keeper we're going to get as a mid-Championship team, I think Max is better than most at this level. 

[BCFCGav]

3 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Personally, I would rather watch the best players we can afford, whether they be born in Whitchurch or Timbuktu. 

I agree with this, though know it's an unpopular opinion. It's nice having local lads in the team but if there are better players about... also worth noting, our local lads are often more than happy to leave when the money comes! Praying Pring never falls into that category. We need him.

[City oz]

Just now, ashton_fan said:

I think Max is still improving, he's much better catching crosses than he used to be. Thought he had a good game last night, with the second goal that shot was swerving and bounced just in front of him, he got his body behind it and it was unfortunate the rebound went to one of their players.

I don't know what it is about OTIB and our keepers but whoever we have in goal is deemed not good enough, it was the same with Bentley, Frankie etc.. I think Max is the best we've had for a while, all keepers make howlers every now and then, you only have to watch Prem teams on MOTD and you see them most weeks. We have to be realistic about the level of keeper we're going to get as a mid-Championship team, I think Max is better than most at this level. 

He is good but not good. Championship mid table team then he is ok.If we push farther, I'm afraid he's out of his comfort zone and skill set.

[GrahamC]

37 minutes ago, petehinton said:

It was Maenpaa…when he was ever actually fit to play!

This.

I really liked Maenpaa but his overall availability record was very poor & when he joined Stoke he got injured in his first training session & never played, (which will be news for those who think this only happens to us).

Max has featured around 200 times in our squad now, the debate about his competition is tough because none of us know if Manning thinks Bajic is decent or simply there because he’s low cost.

 

[MelksRed]

I'm actually a bit frustrated by this thread -  we are talking about split second decision making in real time - everyone is wise in hindsight. 

The guy has been progressively growing in confidence, has provided consistent performances (albeit with the same distribution issues etc).

In the past I have been extremely critical of MOL - he, for me, has turned a corner - this has resulted in some good sweeper keeper play, some excellent saves and a general feeling of confidence in him and the back four.

Inevitably he will make mistakes - This one cost us two points in a season that we are neither going up or going down. He will learn from this (as will the defenders who switched off for the throw).

He is supposed to be the last line of defence - in reality, at this level, he statistically has a less chance of saving the ball due to the competence of strikers in this league. 

I understand that people will be frustrated and seeking someone to blame. Whilst MOL may have contributed to the goal last night, he was an element in a series of events that lead to our TEAM losing a 2-1 lead. 

Not wishing to be inflammatory - I appreciate that people may see it (feel it) differently to me.

Edited January 31 by MelksRed

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, tin said:

That’s fair and IMO - based on the board saying PL is the goal and we have a top-end squad - is that we need someone more solid than Max if we are to achieve that target. 

Nothing against Max; he’s ideal for a team treading water in the second tier, which is exactly what we are. But if he wants to go higher in the game, he needs to cut out those gaffes like last night. 

My only argument is that you don’t have to be PL to get to the PL, you have to be at the top-end Champ.  Once you get promoted you can recruit PL quality.  For avoidance of doubt I’m not talking PP clubs, but clubs like us, Luton, Coventry.

If we assume Max is a middle(ish) table Champ keeper, My question all season has been - can Max hold form in a top-end team, or does he let us down / stop us holding that level.

As it stands we don’t need to find out, because he meets the performance levels required of the whole team - mid-table.  I totally accept we’d need to replace him if we went up.

[Riaz]

14 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

Nonsense.  Fans give him a tough ride as they can’t bear to be wrong after judging him 3 years ago 

I didnt write him off 3 years ago. He recent performances make me think we need better. 

[Malago]

Max makes fantastic reflex saves, sweeps exceptionally well and will come for crosses when most keepers say at home.  However, he has a problem with shots that bounce in front of him, like last night, because he gets caught with his weight on his heels, falling backwards rather than diving forwards to smother the ball, style Clemance and Shilton.  He also flaps at inswinging corners, but generally gets away with that.

[Spike]

3 hours ago, Cowshed said:

But this includes? Range. Variety of passes x length. Short and long and multiple surfaces (striking parts of the foot). 

Considering the team intent, the teams build up play what are the fundamental qualities necessary in the number one? Average ability to distribute the ball, below average or good? 

Do Max O'Leary qualities make him a suitable player for a possession based team playing positional football? 

 

 

He's not as bad as people make out and I'm very interested to see if the club agree and most importantly if they can deliver a better quality keeper than Max in the Championship. 

The kind of keeper we need isn't an easy find, then you have to convince them this is the right club for them, then you need to beat the competition etc all whist goalkeepers are like gold dust. 

I'd be interested to see who we can get that will be a solid shot stopper, capable of commanding his area, able to play long and short passes under pressure and sweep up long balls that get in behind us all for the same wages Max is on. 

[GrahamC]

19 minutes ago, Riaz said:

I didnt write him off 3 years ago. He recent performances make me think we need better. 

Recent?

So Forest? Boro? Sunderland? Watford?

Or are you focussing on one mistake last night?

[Roger Red Hat]

Can someone please list all the championship keepers that are better than Max that we've seen at the Gate this season.

[Cowshed]

29 minutes ago, Spike said:

He's not as bad as people make out and I'm very interested to see if the club agree and most importantly if they can deliver a better quality keeper than Max in the Championship. 

The kind of keeper we need isn't an easy find,

What kind?

4 hours ago, Cowshed said:

 

Considering the team intent, the teams build up play what are the fundamental qualities necessary in the number one? Average ability to distribute the ball, below average or good? 

Do Max O'Leary qualities make him a suitable player for a possession based team playing positional football?