Bet Victor's next

[leftpeg]

According to the Twittersphere we've agreed a one year deal with Victor Valdes.

If this is true then I hope Mignolet's reaction is a positive one...I do worry this could seriously undermine his confidence which would be a shame because I can just see the lad getting better and better.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Still not convinced by Mignolet. Good shot stopper but he's gone from never coming off his line last season to coming off his line at the wrong time this season.

 

[leftpeg]

Still not convinced by Mignolet. Good shot stopper but he's gone from never coming off his line last season to coming off his line at the wrong time this season.

He could really learn from a top class, experienced keeper or keeper/coach. Valdes could be ideal in that regard but at 32 I doubt he would fancy sitting on the bench.

 

[keniget]

What makes you think we're going to see a big improvement from Mignolet?

 

[leftpeg]

I think he's made a big step-up and it's too soon to write him off. When a keeper can be considered a good shot stopper you've got something to work with. It's possible he has reached his level now but I'm not ready to assume he can't improve some of the weaker aspects of his game to become a top class keeper.

 

[Squiggles]

'Good shot-stopper' does Mignolet disservice. He can save a ball many keepers would fail to see, but I do share concerns about him.

Part of it for me is his lack of muscle. He just looks too weak and frail to be able to command a penalty area with authority. At times it's like bringing a cat to a dog fight.

 

[Squiggles]

Like the thread title, btw.

 

[RedZeppelin III]

would valdes come to sit on the bench ? i mean apart from injury if he was still at barca he would be no1 wouldn't he ?

 

[Mors]

Valdes signed a 4yr contract with Monaco that they're trying to welch on due to his injury. If they don't honour it when he's fit it'll be dragged through the courts.

 

[RedZeppelin III]

according to Ballbag Valdes loves us and is desperate for a face rubbing from brendan .

 

[Oncy]

Nice thread name.

 

[Modo]

Personally don't rate Valdes. He's a decent keeper sure, but he's more or less on par with Mignolet in terms of skill.

 

[Roopy]

Personally don't rate Valdes. He's a decent keeper sure, but he's more or less on par with Mignolet in terms of skill.

Ah what?

So you're saying Mignolet was good enough to play in the Rijkaard/Guardiola Barcelona sides?

No way.

Although I didn't rate Valdes myself when he initially came on the scene ... but he went on to improve a shitload and I changed my mind about him.

 

[Modo]

Ah what?

So you're saying Mignolet was good enough to play in the Rijkaard/Guardiola Barcelona sides?

No way.

Always viewed Valdes as the weak link in that team

 

[juniormember]

Always viewed Valdes as the weak link in that team

No shame in being the weakest link while being a regular in probably the greatest club team in history.

 

[Roopy]

No shame in being the weakest link while being a regular in probably the greatest club team in history.

Yup.

He could not have been that weak when you think about it.

The whole Barcelona philosophy is about ball retention and it begins from the defence. So having a goalkeeper with the ability to play with the ball at his feet, as well as being a good shot stopper, would be priority no.1 for them.

And the keeper had to be someone who could kick/pass with both feet - Mignolet can barely kick accurately with his strong foot. I'd say Valdes on his left foot would be more accurate than Mignolet on his right.

 

[keniget]

Always viewed Valdes as the weak link in that team

So did I, but that was years ago. He improved a lot, as Roopy said, and became quite important to them.

 

[Frogfish]

'Good shot-stopper' does Mignolet disservice. He can save a ball many keepers would fail to see, but I do share concerns about him.

Part of it for me is his lack of muscle. He just looks too weak and frail to be able to command a penalty area with authority. At times it's like bringing a cat to a dog fight.

Reminds me of last week ..walking the dog (GSD) and we suddenly rounded a corner on 3 cats ... dog goes apeshit and 3 cats scatter .... then one about turns from 5m away and runs and pounces on my dog ..... stupid stupid cat, end of it's story.

 

[Spionkop69]

I hate this good shot stopper moniker people give goalies. If they're not good shot stoppers then what the fuck are they doing in goal?

 

[gkmacca]

'Good shot-stopper' does Mignolet disservice. He can save a ball many keepers would fail to see, but I do share concerns about him.

Part of it for me is his lack of muscle. He just looks too weak and frail to be able to command a penalty area with authority. At times it's like bringing a cat to a dog fight.

I don't think you need to look like a condom stuffed with walnuts to be a strong keeper. Our best ever keeper, Clemence, was very slender and looked like a rake but was as tough and commanding as they come. Reina is beefy but that hardly helped. Don't forget Mignolet was brave enough to get his face smashed up while making a save for his last club. He doesn't need to change physically, it's more of a mental thing with him.

 

[leftpeg]

Agreed Macca...which is why I worry about what this could do to his confidence.

 

[leftpeg]

I hate this good shot stopper moniker people give goalies. If they're not good shot stoppers then what the fuck are they doing in goal?

Well not all keepers are good shot stoppers. Look at Reina in his last 2/3 years...couldn't stop a pig in a passage.

 

[Frogfish]

Well not all keepers are good shot stoppers. Look at Reina in his last 2/3 years...couldn't stop a pig in a passage.

Well pigs are big and very heavy ... and bite !

 

[gkmacca]

Agreed Macca...which is why I worry about what this could do to his confidence.

Yes, it's a bit of a gamble. I wish we'd get a really impressive goalkeeping coach. I think that's been a problem position for quite a few years now.

 

[doctor_mac]

Yeah, I think it is easy to underestimate just how good a shot stopper Ming is. He has made saves already this season that fall into the exceptional category, and his saves do earn us points. I think he's improving markedly with ball at his feet too. Commanding the area is certainly something requiring work, but this is doubtless something relatively few keepers can consistently claim, especially when teams these days place players precisely to block the keeper from reaching the ball. I have to doubt whether Valdes will provide as many key saves as Ming.

 

[gkmacca]

And let's not forget that he's not exactly helped by his defence. Yes, it's a two-way thing and he needs to be more vocal, but the back four also need to improve. Looking at Mignolet in isolation isn't very constructive.

 

[doctor_mac]

And let's not forget that he's not exactly helped by his defence. Yes, it's a two-way thing and he needs to be more vocal, but the back four also need to improve. Looking at Mignolet in isolation isn't very constructive.

I liked that he gave Lovren and Sakho pelters for not communicating who was attacking the long ball against Spurs. There's definitely hope for him.

 

[gkmacca]

Yes. He's clearly learning and trying to improve. I don't really get the flak for him at this stage.

 

[mom]

I hate this good shot stopper moniker people give goalies. If they're not good shot stoppers then what the fuck are they doing in goal?

I know what you mean mate, but I think it's more a case of then all being good, but some are very good to exceptional. That's what we want and need at our level, along with someone more commanding, good with aerial stuff and more confidence inspiring.

 

[Fabio]

I never understood the flak he got. Yes he made a few errors last season, but most (not all) were down to ineffective communication.

Cbs and the gk need to gain an understanding and feel comfortable that each other knows exactly what to do.

Until we have a consistent pairing of cbs in front of Mignolet, we will keep conceding silly goals. I really hope it's Sakho and lovren for a while