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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Riversider on May 19, 2017, 03:36:44 PM

Title: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Riversider on May 19, 2017, 03:36:44 PM
I was at the game on Tuesday night, and after they had scored the general consensus around me was "Oooh , thought he had that"
Since watching the penalty back on tv after I had got home, I'm now convinced that Bettinelli should have saved it comfortably, the ball went right under his torso, there's a saying in football and its this "he went down in instalments " and that best sums up the dive from Betts for me,

In my opinion we must sign a decent keeper this summer, and I'm a big fan of Alex Smithies at QPR, who incidentally has a great record of saving penalties, I'd put both Betts and Button up for sale , and whichever one sells first I would then keep the other as our back up keeper,
Incidentally with Smithies what a career choice he made when he decided to leave Huddersfield for QPR ! I wonder on reflection if he's ever regretted that move 🙄
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Lighthouse on May 19, 2017, 03:51:00 PM
Putting aside the penalty. I mean it was a penalty and it is a lottery if you score or save them. The point about our keepers is one we have to address. Like our central defenders. There is an argument that they are good enough. I tend to think that if we want to go up we need an improvement in these areas.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Artful Dodger on May 19, 2017, 04:16:13 PM
That's a bit harsh to say he should have comfortably saved it  as it was struck pretty well! Betts pulled off an excellent save in the 1st half when he got down very quickly so I don't think you can blame him for the penalty.

As to whether he is good enough overall that's a different question.  Button was regarded as one of the top keepers in the division last year and is now behind Betts . Smithies is definitely a good keeper but otherwise I don't think Betts is far behind others in this division including Stockdale and we may be better having some consistency in a back 5 than hoping we can do better and find it isn't the case.

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Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Fulhamerica23 on May 19, 2017, 04:29:47 PM
Goalkeepers are never expected to save penalties. It was an extremely well hit shot. Had some pace. No complaints from me.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: grandad on May 19, 2017, 05:35:09 PM
Betts is a very good keeper & I want him as our No.1. Button is a reasonable No.2. I would rather we spent on what we really need.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: filham on May 19, 2017, 06:28:17 PM
If clubs sacked keepers for not saving penalties there would be some good keepers available for signing.
A better keeper than Betts is going to make a big hole in our transfer budget.
Best concentrate on solving the problem of missed chances at Reading than worrying about a conceded penalty.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Fulham1959 on May 19, 2017, 06:35:30 PM
I heavily disagree with the opening poster.

It is VERY difficult for a keeper to get down that low when the ball is hit so hard.  Betts has done extremely well since he came back in.  I hope he stays as our No. 1.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: ffc73 on May 19, 2017, 07:04:24 PM
For me it was in the category "saveable" but I do not hold that against Betts for all reasons stated already.  Tend to feel that he was as gutted as me at the final minute.

Now don't get me back onto the strikers and mid-fielders missed chances.  If they had scored 2 of the 19 shots we had we would not be talking about the penalty
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Andy S on May 19, 2017, 10:16:21 PM
Without a doubt Betts is good enough for this league. However if we were to get promoted we would have to be looking for a better keeper. That said this time next year Betts should be even better. No blame from me for the penalty. I think he got a hand to it but keepers save penalties every now and again not on a regular basis
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Fulhamerica23 on May 19, 2017, 11:20:31 PM
Quote from: Statto on May 19, 2017, 10:56:53 PM
Quote from: Andy S on May 19, 2017, 10:16:21 PM
Without a doubt Betts is good enough for this league.

Controversial.
If by "good enough for this league" you mean the standard a team needs to finish one place above the relegation zone and stay in the league year on year, I agree.
If however you mean good enough for a team chasing promotion, which arguably has to be "too good for this league" (hence promotion to the league above) then he's not at that level IMO.
For me GK is, after striker, the highest priority position for us in the transfer market

You're right. Betts was the reason we almost were relegated. Not the other 10.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Deeping_white on May 19, 2017, 11:56:05 PM
Quote from: Fulhamerica23 on May 19, 2017, 11:20:31 PM
Quote from: Statto on May 19, 2017, 10:56:53 PM
Quote from: Andy S on May 19, 2017, 10:16:21 PM
Without a doubt Betts is good enough for this league.

Controversial.
If by "good enough for this league" you mean the standard a team needs to finish one place above the relegation zone and stay in the league year on year, I agree.
If however you mean good enough for a team chasing promotion, which arguably has to be "too good for this league" (hence promotion to the league above) then he's not at that level IMO.
For me GK is, after striker, the highest priority position for us in the transfer market

You're right. Betts was the reason we almost were relegated. Not the other 10.

But he didn't say that, he related his standard to that of a team with lower aspirations than that of our own team. I think betts is decent but look at his ability compared to Stockdale for example, they're miles apart and I think it's not unjustified to say that potentially we need a better keeper. I'd love for betts to become a better keeper and time is on his side, but if we want instant improvements then another keeper is needed.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: toshes mate on May 20, 2017, 08:24:33 AM
Watched England u17 v. Spain u17 final in Croatia last night which went to penalties after an almost last kick (and deserved) Spanish equaliser for 2-2 with no extra time straight to penalty format.  The penalty shootout was the new ABBA kick taking sequence where A is one team and B is the other designed to take away any perceived advantage of taking the first kick.  England scored one in five attempts, and Spain only needed to take four, scoring every single one simply and easily.  No goalkeeper on the planet would have dealt with their incredible technique of putting the ball where a standing figure has no chance of going.

My point is Bettinelli's dive was better than the actual penalty and he made a very real effort to get his hand down to divert the ball but was unable to hit the precise spot because of his momentum.  He guessed right but the kick-taker got lucky.   No reason to crucify the guy or belittle his potential.  He'll get better, just wait and see.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Twig on May 20, 2017, 11:48:44 AM
I totally disagree with the OP in every sense.  Betts made a great attempt at a save and was just beaten by the pace and power on the strike.  No fault there. 
I also dispute the throwaway line "we must sign a decent keeper this summer", which implies he isn't "decent" whatever that is.  Since he came back as number 1 Betts has shown real improvement over his previous form; stronger, more commanding and confident.  We had all this with many on here criticising Stockdale and he has developed into a very solid keeper indeed.  It is widely acknowledged that keepers develop later than any outfield positions, I have seen enough to believe he is worth his place next season.  There are still area of improvement; distribution can be very good but also very poor and also needs to be quicker, overall however I would be happy if he is retained as number one.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Woolly Mammoth on May 20, 2017, 12:00:21 PM
I cannot see how he can be blamed for not keeping the ball out. Yes it may have been saveable as he did get a touch on it, but he dived the right way for a start, if he had dived the other way there would not be a debate. Also the power of the shot allowed it to find a way of squeezing under him. So I do not hold him responsible at all.
The people to blame are the Reading player who fisted it under Kalases arm in the first place to cheat, and the referee who gave it, whether the angle for the ref gave the impression it was Kalases who touched it first, is neither here nor there, the referee got it wrong. He is still young and can only get better with experience.
Betts was an innocent bystander who did his utmost to keep the ball out, when the odds are against him.
I see no reason to hold him responsible, I hope Betts plays for Fulham for years to come.
The save made by Marcus in the first half to prevent Reading taking the lead, bordered on the miraculous.
If the Man U, Chelsea,  Arsenal, Man City or Liverpool keepers had made a save like that, Sky Sports would be showing it every hour on the hour, and that plastic fan Andy Goldstein on Talk Crap would be in ecstasy.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Whitesideup on May 20, 2017, 06:42:42 PM
I'm finding it hard to believe that some are arguing that we need a better keeper. I thought Betts was good before the injury, and looks at least as good, if not better, now. I don't think you can blame him for not saving the penalty as other have stated.  Maybe once or twice he has miskicked the ball. Does that make him unworthy? Maybe we should sign Courtois, or maybe Neuer?

Looking at Schmeichel's performance against Spuds, clearly Leicester need a much better keeper. On the one game you could make that assumption. Over the last three years? Really?

Every keeper makes mistakes.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Fulham1959 on May 20, 2017, 06:55:53 PM
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on May 20, 2017, 12:00:21 PM
I cannot see how he can be blamed for not keeping the ball out. Yes it may have been saveable as he did get a touch on it, but he dived the right way for a start, if he had dived the other way there would not be a debate. Also the power of the shot allowed it to find a way of squeezing under him. So I do not hold him responsible at all.
The people to blame are the Reading player who fisted it under Kalases arm in the first place to cheat, and the referee who gave it, whether the angle for the ref gave the impression it was Kalases who touched it first, is neither here nor there, the referee got it wrong. He is still young and can only get better with experience.
Betts was an innocent bystander who did his utmost to keep the ball out, when the odds are against him.
I see no reason to hold him responsible, I hope Betts plays for Fulham for years to come.
The save made by Marcus in the first half to prevent Reading taking the lead, bordered on the miraculous.
If the Man U, Chelsea,  Arsenal, Man City or Liverpool keepers had made a save like that, Sky Sports would be showing it every hour on the hour, and that plastic fan Andy Goldstein on Talk Crap would be in ecstasy.

Well said !
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Riversider on May 20, 2017, 08:03:00 PM
Betts is ok, but is ok good enough ? Is he as good as Gerry Peyton or Maik Taylor or EVDS or Mark Schwarzer ?
If the answer is no then that must surely mean he can be improved upon does it not ?
He appeared to freeze in the first leg, and in the second leg his kicking out to Scott Malone was awful, for some reason choosing to constantly chip the ball out to him with the ball a foot above his head,
Nobody on here has said that he's a bad keeper because he's not but some of us believe that we can do better which obviously we can.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: epsomraver on May 20, 2017, 08:26:46 PM
Quote from: Riversider on May 19, 2017, 03:36:44 PM
I was at the game on Tuesday night, and after they had scored the general consensus around me was "Oooh , thought he had that"
Since watching the penalty back on tv after I had got home, I'm now convinced that Bettinelli should have saved it comfortably, the ball went right under his torso, there's a saying in football and its this "he went down in instalments " and that best sums up the dive from Betts for me,

In my opinion we must sign a decent keeper this summer, and I'm a big fan of Alex Smithies at QPR, who incidentally has a great record of saving penalties, I'd put both Betts and Button up for sale , and whichever one sells first I would then keep the other as our back up keeper,
Incidentally with Smithies what a career choice he made when he decided to leave Huddersfield for QPR ! I wonder on reflection if he's ever regretted that move 🙄

What an arrogant post , Bets did well to even get a touch on it, first he had to dive the right way, he got a touch on it. how was the consensus oh i thought he had that? it was at the opposite end to the ground to us and all around us thought he did well to even touch it, cannot believe that you were there and post such nonsense, never mind i will come and sit with you when Millwall visit next season as you are 'ard and don't fear them, obviously not been to many games at the den then?
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Riversider on May 20, 2017, 09:28:19 PM
Quote from: epsomraver on May 20, 2017, 08:26:46 PM
Quote from: Riversider on May 19, 2017, 03:36:44 PM
I was at the game on Tuesday night, and after they had scored the general consensus around me was "Oooh , thought he had that"
Since watching the penalty back on tv after I had got home, I'm now convinced that Bettinelli should have saved it comfortably, the ball went right under his torso, there's a saying in football and its this "he went down in instalments " and that best sums up the dive from Betts for me,

In my opinion we must sign a decent keeper this summer, and I'm a big fan of Alex Smithies at QPR, who incidentally has a great record of saving penalties, I'd put both Betts and Button up for sale , and whichever one sells first I would then keep the other as our back up keeper,
Incidentally with Smithies what a career choice he made when he decided to leave Huddersfield for QPR ! I wonder on reflection if he's ever regretted that move 🙄

What an arrogant post , Bets did well to even get a touch on it, first he had to dive the right way, he got a touch on it. how was the consensus oh i thought he had that? it was at the opposite end to the ground to us and all around us thought he did well to even touch it, cannot believe that you were there and post such nonsense, never mind i will come and sit with you when Millwall visit next season as you are 'ard and don't fear them, obviously not been to many games at the den then?

Embarrassing pal, I was going to the old Den in the 70's at the time of F Troop and Harry the Dog, seeing as you know so much, please tell me when was the last time Millwall caused wide spread problems at Craven Cottage ?
This should be interesting , I look forward to your reply.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: epsomraver on May 20, 2017, 09:53:32 PM
Quote from: Riversider on May 20, 2017, 09:28:19 PM
Quote from: epsomraver on May 20, 2017, 08:26:46 PM
Quote from: Riversider on May 19, 2017, 03:36:44 PM
I was at the game on Tuesday night, and after they had scored the general consensus around me was "Oooh , thought he had that"
Since watching the penalty back on tv after I had got home, I'm now convinced that Bettinelli should have saved it comfortably, the ball went right under his torso, there's a saying in football and its this "he went down in instalments " and that best sums up the dive from Betts for me,

In my opinion we must sign a decent keeper this summer, and I'm a big fan of Alex Smithies at QPR, who incidentally has a great record of saving penalties, I'd put both Betts and Button up for sale , and whichever one sells first I would then keep the other as our back up keeper,
Incidentally with Smithies what a career choice he made when he decided to leave Huddersfield for QPR ! I wonder on reflection if he's ever regretted that move 🙄

What an arrogant post , Bets did well to even get a touch on it, first he had to dive the right way, he got a touch on it. how was the consensus oh i thought he had that? it was at the opposite end to the ground to us and all around us thought he did well to even touch it, cannot believe that you were there and post such nonsense, never mind i will come and sit with you when Millwall visit next season as you are 'ard and don't fear them, obviously not been to many games at the den then?

Embarrassing pal, I was going to the old Den in the 70's at the time of F Troop and Harry the Dog, seeing as you know so much, please tell me when was the last time Millwall caused wide spread problems at Craven Cottage ?
This should be interesting , I look forward to your reply.
Where did i mention at the cottage? Why wide spread problems? last time they came to the Cottage they were escorted back to the station by police with dogs I went to the den also and if you thought it was a pleasant experience then you are delusional, they are scum, they love being hated, the chants they give out, making personal insults to Paul Pech were disgusting, I worked at New Cross and Peckham bus garages so you don't have to tell me what it was like, as I said I will come over to the Riverside and snuggle under your tartan rug next time they come to the Cottage or better still you escort me to the New Den as you are so street wise, I will hold your zimmer if it all kicks off :Haynes The Maestro:
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: One Martin Thomas on May 21, 2017, 08:34:52 AM
Quote from: Lighthouse on May 19, 2017, 03:51:00 PM
Putting aside the penalty. I mean it was a penalty and it is a lottery if you score or save them. The point about our keepers is one we have to address. Like our central defenders. There is an argument that they are good enough. I tend to think that if we want to go up we need an improvement in these areas.

Agreed. Betts, Button and Ream are not quite there in terms of quality.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: toshes mate on May 21, 2017, 08:46:48 AM
Quote from: One Martin Thomas on May 21, 2017, 08:34:52 AM
Quote from: Lighthouse on May 19, 2017, 03:51:00 PM
Putting aside the penalty. I mean it was a penalty and it is a lottery if you score or save them. The point about our keepers is one we have to address. Like our central defenders. There is an argument that they are good enough. I tend to think that if we want to go up we need an improvement in these areas.

Agreed. Betts, Button and Ream are not quite there in terms of quality.

And yet our second half, last twenty three games, seasonal performance was good enough to win a top two place.  And so how do you argue that one through?
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Twig on May 21, 2017, 09:00:35 PM
Quote from: Statto on May 21, 2017, 10:39:29 AM
Quote from: toshes mate on May 21, 2017, 08:46:48 AM
Quote from: One Martin Thomas on May 21, 2017, 08:34:52 AM
Quote from: Lighthouse on May 19, 2017, 03:51:00 PM
Putting aside the penalty. I mean it was a penalty and it is a lottery if you score or save them. The point about our keepers is one we have to address. Like our central defenders. There is an argument that they are good enough. I tend to think that if we want to go up we need an improvement in these areas.

Agreed. Betts, Button and Ream are not quite there in terms of quality.

And yet our second half, last twenty three games, seasonal performance was good enough to win a top two place.  And so how do you argue that one through?

You make a good point, and of course our performance since Christmas is very relevant, but I do think you have to be careful. Firstly if you follow that argument through to it's logical conclusion it seems to say we don't need any new signings an it's ok to start next season with Martin up front and Parker/Petsos as the only cover in central midfield, etc. Surely we're not saying that. Secondly you cannot ignore the fact that our performance in the half season up to Christmas was thoroughly sub-par, as was our performance over two legs against arguably the easiest possible draw we could have got in the play-offs.

We didn't get promoted this year ipso facto something needs to change if we want to get promoted next year.

As it happens re. Ream, I agree he's not quite good enough defensively but I think the chances of club in our league and with our budget signing a player who's both defensively excellent and as good as Ream in possession (passing, ball control etc.) are slim to zero, so IMO Ream is good enough overall.

And it's the same with Button.  Perfect no, still has potential to improve certainly.  Are there areas of greater priority, absolutely.  For me Maik Tayor is not a bad yardstick if we want to take our keeper with us into the prem and retain him.  From memory Maik  was a bit older than Button, I think there is a fair chance that Button could reach that sort of standard.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: toshes mate on May 21, 2017, 11:20:02 PM
The fact we did perform so well with a potentially dead-weight (or deadbeat?) striker, a questionable 'keeper, a sub-standard central defender, and other criticisms of playing staff from time to time, according to some on here, confirms my suspicion that there is a huge gulf between amateur and professional football brains.  The fact we got beat by Reading should be engraved in our memories for reasons more to do with our expectations of success rather than our panic inducing failure.   I don't, and never would advocate standing still, plus the fact it'll be unavoidable if we sell key players, but you need to be careful what you wish for in terms of change.  Sure we fell short at the last but we were so very close to success it was good while it lasted.  A top two finish next year is not impossible with a few carefully chosen additions to the squad which also take account of the outgoing personnel, and I am sure SJ knows what his agenda is outgoing and incoming already.  What nobody knows is what'll change between now and September because anything can happen and probably will.
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: clarkey on May 22, 2017, 07:01:47 AM
It should not have been a pen...bad decision

Always assume if you give a penalty away then they will score, a save is a bonus. Make sure you score all of yours.

Our problem was finishing. In the first game Martin should not have started, in the second we just got unlucky and failed to create a really clear chance that a top striker would have done and then taken

That is our priority, our midfield is the best in the league , our defenders have got better and better our wing backs are brilliant. Very close to a good team indeed
Title: Re: The penalty on Tuesday night
Post by: Riversider on May 22, 2017, 02:36:58 PM
Quote from: Statto on May 22, 2017, 01:07:23 PM
Quote from: toshes mate on May 21, 2017, 11:20:02 PM
The fact we did perform so well with a potentially dead-weight (or deadbeat?) striker, a questionable 'keeper, a sub-standard central defender, and other criticisms of playing staff from time to time, according to some on here, confirms my suspicion that there is a huge gulf between amateur and professional football brains.  The fact we got beat by Reading should be engraved in our memories for reasons more to do with our expectations of success rather than our panic inducing failure.   I don't, and never would advocate standing still, plus the fact it'll be unavoidable if we sell key players, but you need to be careful what you wish for in terms of change.  Sure we fell short at the last but we were so very close to success it was good while it lasted.  A top two finish next year is not impossible with a few carefully chosen additions to the squad which also take account of the outgoing personnel, and I am sure SJ knows what his agenda is outgoing and incoming already.  What nobody knows is what'll change between now and September because anything can happen and probably will.

As you say, "a few carefully chosen additions"
But for me the first addition we carefully choose, after a striker, should be a new goalkeeper
...which I think is all the OP saying

Correct.