How good is David James?

[flanoverseas]

Let me start off by saying I'm not trolling here...I just saw a little soundbite on BBC and realized the only thing I know about him is that a bunch of Americans never stop about how much better our top 9 keepers are than he.

So...how do you rate him? Is he a concern at all between the posts? Is he Sven's definite numero uno? Is he even England's best?

thanks--

[pething101]

Calamity James. That about says it all.

[Mikey10]

He's average, and no worse than any of the keepers the USA have, despite what all of the clueless muppets on the USA boards will say.

[Matt Clark]

He's agile, strong and has great reactions.

He is also prone to somewhat distracted performances and lacks a natural command of his area. However most of his faults and all of his reputation as a "calamity" are grossly overplayed.

As things stand, yes, he is our number one and yes, he is the best keeper choice we have, given the required blend of experience and ability.

In terms of who may or may not prove to be better, there are candidates. Paul Robinson is the obvious one and will, it is to be hoped, make the most of his move to Spurs and be pushing James hard for the number one spot in the upcoming WC qualifiers.

Kirkland is probably our most naturally gifted keeper, but he is insanely injury-prone and consequently lacks big-game experience.

Green at Norwich City is hyped up by people, but I prefer to reserve judgement until the end of his first season in the Premier League. He, like Russel Hoult and Matt Clarke before him, will soon find out that there is a lot more to live up to at that level than there is when you are "just" a very promising Div 1 keeper.

[nicephoras]

Also an honest question - I'm just curious. If Cudicini chose to play for England (which he can, although he has shown no indication that he will), would you take him as your number 1?

[Matt Clark]

Yes.

[sendorange]

James was poor at Liverpool when he was too young and easily distracted from the task at hand, he's been paying the price for this his whole career and it's were his negative nickname stems from. Last few years though he has improved a great deal, got a lot more mature and worked harder at his game, he was very good for Man City in the second half of this season. In every England game so far he's been mostly sound and done nothing much to really complain about. Can't say he's the ideal keeper, nothing like a prime Shilton, Clemence, Banks or Seaman, but he is good enough for now and in better form heading into the tournament than the likes of Kahn, Ricardo and Barthez. Euro 2004 will be the biggest test for him to date, will make or break his reputation.

Cudicini is currently more prone to bad mistakes than James and hasn't had a good year. If Cudicini became English, which will never happen, I would still take James as number 1 at first, but Cudicini would be a tight competitor and a sound replacement - like Bridge and Cole at left back for instance.

[sinner78]

Let me start off by saying I'm not trolling here...I--

makes a change .

[Andy Bennett]

Kirkland is probably our most naturally gifted keeper, but he is insanely injury-prone and consequently lacks big-game experience.

What is it with Kirkland - is he just the unluckiest guy ever??? Or is he one of those fellas who keeps flinging himself about too much? Great keeper though.

I think James will be OK but, I have to say, for someone who plays in the EPL you'd think he could command his area on set pieces better than he does.

[Matt Clark]

Yeah, as I said, he's not as authoritative as he could be. As to Kirkland, I think/hope it's still similar to the growing pains that Owen and Gerrard went through. He's only 22, after all. Once past his injuries, he should be number one at Anfield more or less immediately and England's obvious replacement for James shortly thereafter.

[sendorange]

This next season will be key for Robinson. The last season at Leeds was a disaster, but not really his fault, going to Spurs will prove whether he is genuinely going to be England's number 1 keeper.

Kirkland has ability, but is still unproven. He has a tough fight displacing Dudek fulltime, let alone what the new coach is going to decide to do.

[mofo4life]

He suks like all english keepers.
Muahahahhahaahah :)

[Mikey10]

He suks like all english keepers.
Muahahahhahaahah :)



Goal keeper smack from an American. Wonderful... The only people who rate your average bunch of keepers, are you American's. They are seen as nothing special elsewhere around the world, and rightfully so.

[its called football]

james was unimpressive tonight, though I did only hear it on the radio, seemed to spill everything that went his way. Last thing we need his him patting away a Zidane shot, straight to Henry's feet.

[sinner78]

james was unimpressive tonight, though I did only hear it on the radio, seemed to spill everything that went his way. Last thing we need his him patting away a Zidane shot, straight to Henry's feet.

james was pretty good I thought,saved some stinging shots from the japanese...
You cant rate someones performance if you didnt even watch the f;cking game.

[Mikey10]

james was pretty good I thought,saved some stinging shots from the japanese...
You cant rate someones performance if you didnt even watch the f;cking game.


I thought James did OK aswell. He certainly wasn't bad anyway..

[domingo]

I don´t think he did too well. There were some shots he couldn´t catch.
I think James is a weak link in the English NT.
I don´t blame him for th goal though...

[chrizzah]

He did alright against Japan. I think he was partially screened on the goal.

On the whole, I think David James has great athletic ability. This is obviously a major asset for a goalie. My own personal view is that he has at times overestimated his athletic ability causing the occassional blunder. These errors are also becoming less and less. He's not Peter Schmeichel, but he is a solid 'keeper who no longer warrents all the negative fuss made about.

[Captain Splarg]

I would say the most similar keeper to James is probably Tim Howard. I'm not sure which i think is better though. Both are quite athletic and can come up with huge saves, but both have trouble with crosses as well.

[When Hell Unfreezes]

I would say the most similar keeper to James is probably Tim Howard. I'm not sure which i think is better though. Both are quite athletic and can come up with huge saves, but both have trouble with crosses as well.

Tim Howard was voted the best 'keeper in the EPL by the players, so that is a mighty compliment!

I agree, James is of similar ability to T-Ho, as they are both good shot-stoppers, but a bit iffy about coming for crosses.

I don't agree at all with all the comments that he doesn't command the box, I find him a very calm and composed 'keeper, whose dimensions of confidence are only surpassed by those of his dick (or so we are led to believe)! I sometimes think he is a bit too casual.

He is by far England's best goalkeeper, despite his shortfalls!

I cannot see Robinson benefitting from a move to Spurs, judging by the performances of his new team, I saw last year.

Kirkland is a 'sick-note' waiting to happen and if you think James is dodgy with crosses, you want to see this guy doing Dracula impersonations?

Cudicini is an Iti and will never play for England, nor should he, or would he, get in before James.

Pretty much sums up the dire state of affairs we are experiencing at this time, with 'keepers. But I have every confidence in David James - the mid-field's our problem :(