Dudek threatens to quit if not 1st choice

Yeah, these comments are always presented in this light and they are also always exaggerated in so doing. Dudek will have said something like "I want to play and if I'm not going to play regularly then obviously I am going to consider other options that come my way". Which is perfectly fair enough. But it's not much of a news item, which is why such comments always morph into "Player X in quit threat!".

I think Dudek stands a strong chance of being moved on in the summer, but until then he will doubtless do as he has been doing ever since both he and Kirkland arrived at the club on the same day - he will work as part of the team. Quite apart from anything else, let's be realistic about Kirkland. The chances of his making it through the rest of the season without another injury (and therefore a run for Dudek) can not currently be known. He's never made it through a season.

 

http://footballmsn.skysports.com/li...d=&title=Kirkland:+A+Safe+Choice+For+England?

Very interesting goalkeeping stats

I very much agree we cannot affoard to lose Dudek until at least the summer especially considering Kirkland's injury prone past.

 

Saw that. Those stats are always silly because they apply no context to something as manifold in circumstance as goalkeeping in a top-flight football game. For instance, Boothroyd's equaliser against us at Ewood Park counts as a "shot" but try telling me it was Kirkland's fault that went in. Or, if you will, try telling me that Peter Cech would have saved it.

Essentially meaningless stats to pad out a non-story, in other words.

 

Would we not look at signing another keeper in the Janurary transfer window so Dudek can be moved on earlier?

 

Yea, those stats are fairly bogus. The goals (in the game I have watched, which is quite a few this season) have predominantly been the result of pretty bad miscues and play from the backline, namely but not only Josemi. Still, there have been a few times when I thought Kirkland might have done better, I didn't fault him for the goals, but thought maybe he could save it. For instance the first Palace goal this weekend was from a very acute angle and perhaps he should have gotten a hand up to it, albeit it was a fantastic volley. All this said, I feel more comfortable with Kirkland in goal than I do with Dudek.

 

Dudek is such capable goalkeeper every club would be glad to have his service, so we should never contemplate selling him. But it's hard for him to displace Kirkland at the moment, now that Kirkland is enjoying a run of "injury-free" play time. Nothing so great about that though, but on his shoulders he bore too much expectations from the whole of England to be the long-term, eventual No. 1 Goalkeeper.

 

Dudek and Kirkland were signed the same day and ever since there's been quite a keen competition between the two

i went into this some time ago but it now looks like it might end with Dudek leaving

Dudek was interviewed by GazetaWyborcza on 11/2/04 regarding an article in the SundayMirror about Benitez and his view on 'keepers

acording to the article Benitez wants a 'keeper who is active and attacks the game and does not like 'keepers who take a step back and react to the action, Benitez did not mention any keepers by name, but the writer added that Dudek was the 'keeper in question and that Kirkland had a lock on the position

in the interview, Dudek claimed that this writer and others had high hopes for Kirkland and that Dudek was in his way
Dudek said that all he wants to do is play and be judged on his play but right now he's judged in light of what's good for English football
he finishes the interview by saying that he will investigate his options in January, but he is not set on leaving the club