Liverpool Signs England Goalkeeper

[MiamiAce]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N147544050120-1117.htm

Leeds United's Scott Carson, 19-year-old goalkeeper and England Under-21 international goalkeeper has reportedly turn down Chelsea and will join Liverpool within the next 24 hours, according to YahooSports.

My thing is... does Dudek really deserve to be found a replacement for his mis-save against Man United? I certainly don't think so, not yet at least. I think Dudek is a superb keeper, one of the best in the Premiership. If he ends up not getting much playing time anymore with Liverpool, I know for sure another top team will value his ability.

[usscouse]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N147544050120-1117.htm

Leeds United's Scott Carson, 19-year-old goalkeeper and England Under-21 international goalkeeper has reportedly turn down Chelsea and will join Liverpool within the next 24 hours, according to YahooSports.

My thing is... does Dudek really deserve to be found a replacement for his mis-save against Man United? I certainly don't think so, not yet at least. I think Dudek is a superb keeper, one of the best in the Premiership. If he ends up not getting much playing time anymore with Liverpool, I know for sure another top team will value his ability.Not necessarily a case of replacing Dudek but we do need a back up to rest him now and then.
Kirkland sprained his wrist turning over a page in a magazine in his doctors waiting room and may be out for another 6 weeks.
We do need someone if Dudek gets hurt.

But believe it when you see it!

[Matt Clark]

My thing is... does Dudek really deserve to be found a replacement for his (annual)mis-save against Man United?

Fixed.

Actually, it's not just about that, it's about a general erosion in his consistency and, consequently, his performances. He is not the keeper he was when he first arrive when, I agree, he was not just amongst the best in the Premiership but actually amongst the best in the world.

If he ends up not getting much playing time anymore with Liverpool, I know for sure another top team will value his ability.

Well let's hope so for his sake (if indeed we are to get rid of him). His age will increasingly be an issue (he is 32 in March) but he deserves a chance somewhere, even if he is no longer good enough for Liverpool FC.

[nicephoras]

Dudek is a superb keeper, one of the best in the Premiership.

One of the best in the EPL doesn't mean much, these days. I won't claim to have watched English football for generations, but this is the worst I've seen the goalkeeping since I've started watching. For crissakes, we've had Julian Speroni run out there.
There are very few truly outstanding keepers in the EPL. Cech, Cudicini (while I may be biased, lets face it - you'd take either of them on the spot), Robinson, Van der Sar and.......Given? Other than that, its a pretty mediocre group at best. 'Pool, Arsenal and ManUtd have all shuffled goalkeepers this season, with the replacements not exactly impressing. Green is a good 'keeper, but I'd like to see him in front of a decent defense before making that judgement. Who else? Calamity? Dudek? Kiely? Friedel had one great season and is now average. This isn't the strongest group. Dudek isn't at the front of it, either.

As for Carson, I haven't seen him in more than 2 games, so can't comment on him. But I can't blame him for going to Liverpool. We also have an England U-something international in Pidgeley, Cudicini and some freakishly giant keeper name Yves Makamby-Makalamba. Where Carson would have fit into that, I don't know. But our participation likely means we drove Carson's price up, which may have been the goal all along.

[AndSomeAreAngels]

I don't know anything about Carson. What's everyone's opinion of him?

I was very relieved to see that he was on the bench for their 3-0 loss to Birmingham b/c I saw highlights of that match and that was some bad goalkeeping.

[Matt Clark]

Cech, Cudicini (while I may be biased, lets face it - you'd take either of them on the spot), Robinson, Van der Sar and.......Given?

...

Green is a good 'keeper, but I'd like to see him in front of a decent defense before making that judgement. Who else? Calamity? Dudek? Kiely?


Kiely and also Sorenson, Juskelaainen and Niemi are all excellent keepers too. And as things stand Nigel Martyn is having quite some Indian summer. So it's not quite that bad for the EPL. At least half the starting keepers are very good indeed.

Which just makes it an ever less rosy picture for the big tall Pole, in our goal.

[skipshady]

Is it just me or does anyone else think Liverpool has become a black hole for competent or promising goalkeepers?

[Matt Clark]

;)

And Joe Corrigan is not even at the club anymore ...

[nicephoras]

Kiely and also Sorenson, Juskelaainen and Niemi are all excellent keepers too. And as things stand Nigel Martyn is having quite some Indian summer. So it's not quite that bad for the EPL. At least half the starting keepers are very good indeed.

Kiely is a good shot stopper, but terrible in the air. Sorenson and Juskelaainen are prone to bizarre errors (especially Sorenson) and I've always felt Niemi was overrated, but can see the argument.
You're quite right about Martyn, he's been excellent. I probably forgot about him because he's older than, well - Nigel Martyn. However, none of the above are truly great keepers.
I also didn't say EPL keepers were terrible, merely that the standard is lower now than it has been in some time.

P.S. I forgot to mention Kiraly, who's been pretty good.

Which just makes it an ever less rosy picture for the big tall Pole, in our goal.

He had to have sealed his fate with that howler against ManUtd. Cudicini made about 3 bad mistakes per year, but his saves are absolutely phenomenal. Dudek can't claim that, which makes him distinctly mediocre. Supposedly Hildenbrand is out of contract this summer, with England the likely destination.............

[nicephoras]

Is it just me or does anyone else think Liverpool has become a black hole for competent or promising goalkeepers?

I like what some of the newer fans have been saying - why not David James? I think he deserves to play for a bigger club. ;)

[skipshady]

I like what some of the newer fans have been saying - why not David James? I think he deserves to play for a bigger club. ;)
I personally want Bruce Grobelaar back. We've simply gone downhill since he left.

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

I think Carson is a good buy!When we buy a player ,it doesnt mean that player is to replace another player ( in this case it would be Dudek).I think its a good move by liverpool to buy youngsters.Carson could be a player to look out 2-3 years from now.

And in an ideal world,i would have gone after robinson.I think hes the best goaly in the EPL.Cech is good,but he hasnt been realy tested this season.With terry,carvalhio and gallas at the back,cech barely gets to even touch the ball in some games.But robinson is a goaly that is tested week in and week out.the spurs defence is just not ggod enough,but robinson still does manage to save atleast 1 clear goal per game!Lets hope Carson turns out to become just like robinson!

[Suss]

I don't think Carson will see much playing time this season. He is only 19 years old and wasn't even starting for Leeds. I doubt he is a replacement for Dudek. He is one for the future.

[skipshady]

Kiely is a good shot stopper, but terrible in the air. Sorenson and Juskelaainen are prone to bizarre errors (especially Sorenson) and I've always felt Niemi was overrated, but can see the argument.
You're quite right about Martyn, he's been excellent. I probably forgot about him because he's older than, well - Nigel Martyn. However, none of the above are truly great keepers.And needless to say, being a top English keeper just doesn't carry the same weight as it did when Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence wore No. 1 for England.

England's relative inability to produce quality goalkeepers and left-footed attacking players is befuddling. Perhaps English couples need to try different sexual positions? I have no idea.

[soccer365-old]

He only costs 600,000 with the fee increasing to 1M depending on appearances. I have to think that either Dudek or Kirkland will be gone in the summer to trim our wage bill. I'm happy that Rafa finally bought an Englishman to the club.

[Quango]

Supposedly Hildenbrand is out of contract this summer, with England the likely destination.............

Sell Dudek and Kirkland to buy Timo. This guy is good. He had something like 12 games straight without a goal last season. Keep Carson as the back up. I saw an article today saying Stuttgart were looking for a new keeper in June, and immediately thought, Liverpool should get Hildenbrand.

Quango

[usscouse]

Perhaps English couples need to try different sexual positions? I have no idea.I tried every position I could and I "was" pretty flexible. Alas only daughters...!!!

They say they're stronger swimmers.

[MetroChile]

I think this Carson transfer will benefit us in many ways.
First, it's the 1st English signing by Raffa :), which is definitely a good sign (he is not going to turn us into a Spanish Nat. Team in England, like Wenger did with all the French players at Arsenal).
Second, even if Carson doesn't get the starting nod over Dudek right away, it will definitely bring some much needed competition for the Polak. Right now, his only "competition" is Paul Harrison; and as much faith we all have in him (since he is an Academy product--yayy :) ) we know Raffa wasn't going to start him unless there was dire circumstance or unless we played say Norwich (sp?) Vics in the FA Cup, or something. I'm guessing Dudek (subsconciously) might have been slacking off a bit since he didn't have any honest competition. Now he faces that. This will also help Harrison because instead of just sitting on the bench during weekends and during midweek he will have the chance to play very competitive soccer with the reserves.
It also gives us a quality keeper which can learn from Dudek and Kirkland, and will be a great understudy to Kirkland when he recovers.
Finally, if Carson does take over the starting role, we can sell Dudek and recoup some cash on our recent "shopping spree."
My 2 cents.
Metro :)
Cheers

[paulocesar]

England's relative inability to produce quality goalkeepers and left-footed attacking players is befuddling. Perhaps English couples need to try different sexual positions? I have no idea.

Absolutetly the most hilarious post of the day...no wonder Liverpool fans are reputed to be the funniest lot around. :D

As to the signing, one its good that Liverpool again has cover if Dudek gets injured, suspended, or lets a bus once again get past him (ever since his stellar 01-02 season, his form has been so erratic and shaky...his confidence right now must be shot).

Two, I think its guaranteed that this is Dudek's (too inconsistent) or Kirkland's (too injured) final season at Liverpool, maybe even for both of them. It wouldn't be unlikely for Benetiz in the summer to look for a high profile shot blocker. I won't speculate who, but a new goalkeeper signing before next season starts up is highly likely.

Anyways, a good signing for the future for the Reds today.

[MetroChile]

Absolutetly the most hilarious post of the day...no wonder Liverpool fans are reputed to be the funniest lot around. :D

As to the signing, one its good that Liverpool again has cover if Dudek gets injured, suspended, or lets a bus once again get past him (ever since his stellar 01-02 season, his form has been so erratic and shaky...his confidence right now must be shot).

Two, I think its guaranteed that this is Dudek's (too inconsistent) or Kirkland's (too injured) final season at Liverpool, maybe even for both of them. It wouldn't be unlikely for Benetiz in the summer to look for a high profile shot blocker. I won't speculate who, but a new goalkeeper signing before next season starts up is highly likely.

Anyways, a good signing for the future for the Reds today.


Timo Hildebrand perhaps??? :D
I hope we don't get rid of Kirkland, Dudek IDC about but Kirkland must stay.