Well that didn't Take Long Did It?

true macca he was struggling around this time last season also

"Ddg always has this nervous look on his face"

That's just not true, when he is in form and has pulled us from the flames a number of times, he looks like a keeper who is impossible to score past.

He has had a bad 12 months, like almost all of our players but you have to put yourself in his shoes. Different defences, poor team moral and a lack of individual form, I think as a keeper you need to know if you can do your bit you'll win the game, which isn't the case right now.

The biggest difference I have noticed is his distribution, a trait many don't usually notice in a keeper. He passes the ball like a midfielder at his best, but at the moment he is rushing, miskicking the ball and dividing more pressure.

100

Thing is the lack of stability in our defence has been an issue for several years and can't be blamed soley on LVG.

Rio and Vidic were always going to need replacing and ideally you do that by slowly bringing in these replacements to play alongside them to gain expereince and develop. The problem is we did bring in Smalling and Jones to do just that but we more often than not played them out of position at a time when they needed games at CB. Now Rio and Vidic gone it's as if we are expecting Smalling and Jones to step up even though they've not really been given the games to develop as CBs.

When Reina was on the way out you always felt he could have done more. Now I'm not saying that DDG is letting in stuff at his near post but the Vardy finish, for me and not for the first time, he just looks resigned to conceding.

I don't put much stock in body language and all that guff cos it's subjective and down to personal perception but I'd expect him to be launching himself out and spreading himself as best he could.

Leaping for every ball is not always the best thing to do though. You have to also take into consideration where the ball could end up other than in the goal. You want to be on your feet for as much as possible as a keeper, the second you are on the ground the far less effective you can be to do things.

It's better than kneeling down and doing nothing though I would have thought.

BB

You are right about his distribution.

How good it was was the the first thing that stood out to me when he joined

It's just not as good as it was

comment by Robbing_Hoody - Sometimes I choose my words carefully during a debate to suit my argument (U6374) posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
It's better than kneeling down and doing nothing though I would have thought
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It definitely did come off as his accepting a goal. He couldn't have done any harm throwing himself in a direction or coming out as quickly as possible

Signing Rojo and Shaw is the step in the right direction but for me an experienced defensive leader was essential.
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I agree with this but I also think that LVG wanted to promote from within the club in at least one position on the pitch. He was obviously impressed with Blackett and seems to be proud of his record of bringing through top young players as well as signing them. Maybe LVG just felt that CB was the only position in which we had a young player that he thinks might actually break into the first team?

If we had signed two CBs I have no doubt that some people would moan that Blackett would no longer get chances to play....identity...etc.

I'll be amazed if we don't sign a CB in Jan but if Blackett does make it in the long run then people will look back and say it was an inspired gamble by LVG. Or an unnecessary risk. It's hard to assess his decisions after 5 games though!