Future England Goalkeeper

[schmuckatelli]

With the sun setting on David Seaman and Nigel Martyn not far behind, who do you think best to choose as England's next keeper? Make your recommendation, and explain why you selected him.

[Doctor Stamen]

1. Paul Robinson (Leeds)-Because he's the U-21 keeper, and he's good.
2. Stuart Taylor (Arsenal)-In time he'll also be very good, but perhaps play some U-21 games first.
3. Richard Wright (Everton)-His move from Arsenal signals a new start, so he might pick up his form for Ipswich again.

[Peakite]

From an immediate point, only James is up there (and he sholud be in the reckoning for the next two years). It's up to Robinson and Wright to take that off him now.

[Mario]

Robinson

[Prenn]

Hopefully Robinson.

James should fill the gap this season while young Paul gains more experience.

[Matt Clark]

Erm ... hello? Robinson first, I can give you that (just, maybe), but Taylor and Wright next?

Chris Kirkland. No question, argument or doubt.

[sydtheeagle]

Stuart Taylor is nowhere near the pace. He played for us (on loan) for about three months, a few months after Ashley Cole did the same thing. Cole, you could see had "future international" written all over him. Taylor was nothing special at all.

As for Richard Wright, keep dreaming. Do you think it's an accident that Wenger has spent all summer looking for a decent goalkeeper to succeed Seaman when he already had BOTH Wright and Taylor on his books?

Wright was thoroughly exposed last year. The biggest question about Taylor is whether he'll be good enough for the Arsenal number 2 shirt, not the England number 1 one.

The obvious choices are Kirkland and Robinson. It seems pretty clear that Venables is going to play the latter this season which means in all likelihood he'll be in the driving seat. Kirkland probably needs to leave Liverpool, if not permanently then on a long-term loan because languishing in the reserves is really doing neither he nor England any good.

Seaman and Martyn (Palace hero maybe, but he has NEVER been an international standard goalkeeper) really have no place in the England squad any more. Seaman has been a great servant but it's time to move on. Martyn has missed so many chances to take the number one shirt from a fading incumbent that his mere presence in the squad these days is embarassing. James, for the minute, is probably the best of an average lot but I would not play him ahead of either Robinson or Kirkland (assuming one of the two is playing League football every week), personally.

As for others, there are not an awful lot of international level keepers around.

[prk166]

Seaman and Martyn (Palace hero maybe, but he has NEVER been an international standard goalkeeper) really have no place in the England squad any more

I'd say amen but neither of those guys should've been around for the World Cup.

[Doctor Stamen]

The problem with Kirkland is that there is another pretty good keeper in his way at Liverpool. It's a similar situation to Blackburn when they had Given and Flowers.

[schmuckatelli]

When I originally posted, it was Robinson I had in mind. I thought some of his play for Leeds United in the Champions League was first rate, particularly for a young keeper. I know some favor David James, but has he settled down at all? He used to be infamous for first turning in a brilliant performance followed by an awful one. Also, has time passed Ian Walker by as well? He used to be highly thought of...

[sydtheeagle]

Originally posted by schmuckatelli
When I originally posted, it was Robinson I had in mind. I thought some of his play for Leeds United in the Champions League was first rate, particularly for a young keeper. I know some favor David James, but has he settled down at all? He used to be infamous for first turning in a brilliant performance followed by an awful one. Also, has time passed Ian Walker by as well? He used to be highly thought of...

James is probably a better keeper now than he once was. A bit more consistent and less prone to mistakes. On present evidence, probably the best English keeper available (which is not saying an awful lot) who was a Premiership starter last season. That said, he is simply not a top rank international goalkeeper.

As for Ian Walker, with all due respect he was, in his heyday, a very, very average Premiership keeper. How he won an international cap I will never know.

[Doctor Stamen]

Ian Walker used to play for Spurs, so El Tel was bound to pick him.

Did you know Kirkland and Jay Bothroyd were gay lovers whilst the former was at Coventry ?.

[Matt Clark]

LOL! No, I wonder if Kirkland's girlfriend does?

[Doctor Stamen]

My sister works for West Midlands Police, in Coventry, and that was one of the stories a policeman who works in the ground told. so obviously it's true :D.

Could have picked a better player than Jay though (he's absolute shite).

[englandthebest]

Biased Leeds fan view but Paul Robinson. He will cement his place this season as Leeds No.1...

[michaec]

Now that Paul Robinson is playing regularly in the first team, it can only be a matter of time before he steps up to be England's No. 1. He has been a regular in the U21 setup and this is a natural progression into the senior squad and eventually to the No.1 jersey. As posted eralier, Kirkland will need to get first-team football, a move away from Liverpool seems the most likely way as Dudek isn't exactly old.

James is still dodgy and Martyn and Seaman have had their day, although I'm not sure that I'd want James playing ahead of Seaman at the moment. Walker was always rubbish and after seeing quite a bit of Stuart Taylor last season, I think he's a decent second keeper at Arsenal, but I can't see him ever making it at a top club never mind in the international arena.

[kygunner]

As an American I have know real say in this matter but....I think the time to make the decision is now. I think Seaman needs to step down and allow Sven to make a decision. Its better to start to groom a new GK now than wait for the Euro tournament to be in full swing.

[Doctor Stamen]

I agree KYGunner