When Szczesny broke into the 1st team back in 2009, it was a breath of fresh air. Our last decent keeper was Jens, at which point followed a long list of trash. Finally we had a goalie to rise above the dross that was Almunia and Fabianski. Perhaps we were so happy with an average goalkeeper playing ahead of a series of mediocre keepers, but I think it’s fair to say Szczesny’s career at Arsenal has been patchy.
I still think Szczesny is a decent keeper, but his career has been blighted by high profile blunders and high scoring defeats. He’s been in between the post for our 8-2 defeat at United, 6-3 defeat at City, 6-1 defeat at Chelsea, 4-4 draw to Newcastle, and 5-1 away to Liverpool. Then there’s the moment in the Carling Cup final when he shared the fault with Koscielny. Now I’m not saying for one moment that he was at fault for all those goals and all the defeats. But it does beg the question why he’s been in goal for some of our worst defeats in our recent history?
Could it simply be a case of coincidence, with Szczesny being goalie in a time when we’ve been defensively appalling? Or could it be that Szczesny just isn’t as good a keeper as he’s been made out to be? Personally I think he’s miles behind the likes of Courtois, Cech, Hart, De Gea, Lloris and perhaps even Tim Howard. His kicking, for example, is as poor as it has been since 2009. Has he seriously not worked on something basic as that for the past 5 years? That is just one example of how Szczesny hasn’t improved since 2009. I remember laughing at De Gea back a few years ago. I’m afraid the jokes on us now. De Gea is turning out to be one of the top goalies in Europe, whilst Szczesny is more focused on his Selfies.
I know it’s never going to happen, but I hope we can get in Lloris. He’s a top keeper and deserves to play at the highest level. His career at Spurs has stalled, and I think he really needs to join a bigger club.
Thoughts?
Wojciech Szczesny
posted on 6/11/14
Shez was good last season. Been hot and cold this season though. Too many moment of rushing blood to the headShez was good last season. Been hot and cold this season though. Too many moment of rushing blood to the head...
What we're deeming a rush of blood to the head (usually when he's come charging out and should have stayed put. Could be put down to the fact that the defence is the inconsistent and downright comical at times. Put yourself in the goalie's situation. I'm sure it's alot easier to stay put and not make that wrong call to charge out, if you have 95-100% faith in your defenders. There's no way in hell Scez has that. The way they're clowning at the minute, I'm surprised he's not off his line and out the second the ball crosses the halfway line. I'm sure if he was confident his defenders could get the job done, those apparent moments of madness would be fewer and farther between.
posted on 6/11/14
For sure, the defence has to take the majority of the blame. I know we lauded our defence last year, but stats apart we knew we were awful. Our team is disjointed, with inadequate cover from the midfield.
But still, moving away from stats, Szczesny's performances have never been consistently top class. He's had the odd exceptional game and the odd atrocious performance, but nothing that any other bog standard keeper won't have.
And that's really my point. Szczesny isn't a poor keeper. For me he's a sort of meh keeper. Ok when required to do well, but you don't often see that remarkable MoTM game from him. Look back at this and last season and you can pick out 3-4 games, easily, in which all of Courtois, Lloris, Cech and De Gea had MoTM games. Games in which they actually won the game for the team. Szczesny though, i'm kinda struggling to remember one.
posted on 6/11/14
Szcz never seems to exudes confidence. He makes some great stops but it never surprises me when he makes and error either.
Courtouis and Neuer are the Messi and Ronaldo of goalkeeping.
posted on 6/11/14
Neuer is on drugs, the way he takes the ball out of defence. Surely a matter of time before he gets caught out
posted on 6/11/14
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posted on 6/11/14
Neuer is on drugs, the way he takes the ball out of defence. Surely a matter of time before he gets caught out.
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All it'll take is an attack pacey enough. A couple of times being beaten to the balls he charges out for and he'll get his own confidence issues and start getting it wrong. He's flying high at the moment but the way he plays, it's only a matter of time before he costs his team instead of saving it. Still a joy to watch though so enjoy it while it lasts
posted on 6/11/14
I remember when Lehman saved a decider penalty against Riqueme in CL semi finals i think. In the dying minutes and if scored it would knock us out. Jens did a good work
While my problem with Scez is that most one on one against strikers end up in us conceding. Except for last tuesday of course. I can't recall last time i saw him use his legs to make a decisive save.
posted on 6/11/14
Honestly Chez is good and quite possibly worth sticking with but he should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Neuer or Courtoius.
These 2 could be the best the game has ever seen, at least in my lifetime.
posted on 6/11/14
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posted on 6/11/14
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