Keepers get better and smarter as they age...he may be entering his prime years right now...who knows how he will turn out? he could be great, could be shite, probably somewhere in between.
I was impressed with Ricketts last Saturday, am preparing to take my doubts back if he will be consistent and play well against San Whores.
You know, the thing I was happiest with is that even if he's going to have some goofy moments in the future, at least Ricketts can produce big saves. My main problem with Cronin was always that he never made me think "Wow, what a great save!" He didn't really have the ability to bail out the defense from time to time. I never saw anything that would make me say, "Wow, he might develop into a great keeper." And if you're getting goofy stuff without any real upside potential like we got last year, it's just depressing. So I'm not going to complain too much if Ricketts does something weird and crazy, because at least you know he'll probably save some big shots and the point like he did against Chivas.
quoted for truth brother. i can't remember a single great save cronin executed. as long as DR can stay healthy we need him in the goal. he's physically imposing with good reactions, and from the first 2 games seems like one of the better keepers in the league. the recovery he made against alvarez was amazing.
i didn't get to see the game, but i think a few years ago during a USOC game against, i think, NY.... he supposedly had a KILLER game and stopped everything. that led to lots of people here thinking that Cannon was overpaid and we could give Cronin a shot, and he would indeed step up and become better for cheaper. of course that didn't pan out, but anyone here see that game i'm talking about from a few years back? or has that all been forgotten in a haze of Cronin hate?
I remember being at that game. Stood with the Riot Squad (and Galaxians BTW) that night. JP Angel made his NYRB debut and looked great. We won it in extra time as Cronin stood on his head that night making save after save. I always thought Cronin was a decent shot-stopper but his ability to handle crosses and use his feet were truly bad. I think as his confidence eroded, his play dropped off considerably. I don't think a guy like Cannon has ever lost his confidence, even when he's gone through a dry spell.