Schwarzer Has Years Left In Him

[ImperialWhite]

I'm glad Steve Bruce is so impressed with Schwarzer but I can't say the same - flapped at too many crosses on Saturday, kicking wasn't great either. The save at the end was very good I agree, but I reckon he's not as good as he was. Defoe's goal and the 3rd Everton goal both looked savable I felt.

Good point -- and one I've made for a while. He's not the keeper he was two seasons ago, and his skills will only continue to slide. This point by Mr. Finn that this doesn't bode well for us keeping Stockwell -- who IS getting better, rather than worse, is also germaine.

But is he getting better though?

Capello opted for Carson over Stockdale during our recent friendlies, which is pretty damning. I haven't seen a single Ipswich game, so I can only look at the numbers, which are awful - we're looking talking about two goals a game being conceded (to Schwarzer's one and a bit goals a game). I'm assuming that's mostly the result of a terrible defence, but even so, this constant practice at picking the ball out of the net can't be good.

[cebu]

Fulham may have to let Schwarzer go next season, if they really want to keep Stockdale. I'd hate to see Mark go, but the future belongs to the younger man.

I remember Leicester having this kind of dilemma in 1967, when they unloaded Gordon Banks to Stoke as they had a young Peter Shilton on their books. It's a tough decision, but I think the right one.

[HatterDon]

IW, you didn't have to put in that bit about your not having seen any Ipswich matches this season. Determining that he's not improving because Cappello didn't pick him only works if you think Heskey was England's best striker last season.

I have seen Ipswich play -- on the telly -- and, on these pages, I've seen reports that their fans think he's brilliant and that the manager was terrified when it looked like Mark might have been hurt and that his loan to them might be rescinded. Stockdale's in a trickbag. He's playing every week and performing well -- but it's not in the Prem, so it allows EVERYONE to say in August, "yes, but he hasn't done it yet in the Prem." That's why this season's loan is a waste -- if you're a Fulham supporter who'd like to see an upgrade in the #1 shirt next season and for a long time afterwards.

[White Noise]

http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town/david_stockdale_apologises_to_ipswich_town_fans_1_1131600?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[MJG]

http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town/david_stockdale_apologises_to_ipswich_town_fans_1_1131600?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

well I think they all to a man say he's being doing well.
The non Stockdale comment i like is "What a show !! Just 2 shots on goal ,with aged midfielders too slow & forgotten how to pass forward, "  could be said by one of us,

[Sector9]

I'm pretty sure this topic could go round for years. No one is gonna sway on their opinions. I think it's a mixture of being terribly excited that for once we have a player on our books who could be very, very good, and a mixture of Mark wanting to go to Arsenal before last season.

Let's not hold grudges, Schwarz usually make's a world class save every game. He is a brilliant goalkeeper and loves Fulham. Stockdale could well be the future, but we (Fulham, nor Stockdale) are quite there yet.

[BalDrick]

HatterDon, completely agree with you on this, except - That's why this season's loan is a waste - I disagree with vehemently. He's getting a game a week, must be beneficial.

I'm pretty sure this topic could go round for years. No one is gonna sway on their opinions. I think it's a mixture of being terribly excited that for once we have a player on our books who could be very, very good, and a mixture of Mark wanting to go to Arsenal before last season.

Let's not hold grudges, Schwarz usually make's a world class save every game. He is a brilliant goalkeeper and loves Fulham. Stockdale could well be the future, but we (Fulham, nor Stockdale) are quite there yet.

This, for me anyway, has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with whether Schwarzer wanted to go to the arsewipes last season - in many ways I wish he had because frankly his form is dipping so fast we'd have been laughing had we got any money for him right now.

[TonyGilroy]

I know we're going round in circles here and it's a matter of opinion but I just don't see any evidence that Schwarzer's form IS dipping and certainly not quickly.

If this were true you'd think that Jol and his coaching staff would have noticed particularly as Stockdale can be recalled whenever we want.

My guess is that this will be resolved by Schwarzer getting an injury that requires that recall and Stockdale will either prove himself or not.

My fear is that Schwarzer won't be properly appreciated until he's gone.

[BalDrick]

'If this were true you'd think that Jol and his coaching staff would have noticed...'

Well possibly but there have been other things he hasn't noticed this season - like Hangeland and Hughes is the best CB pairing, the list goes on (and is documented on here with different threads for each mistake).

Bottom line Tony, from what I've seen I think his form is dipping - it's not my job and I'm not qualified to comment but it's my gut feeling.

[TonyGilroy]

I think the Hangeland/Hughes thing is explained by Jol wanting to experiment, needing a right back and wanting to try Senderos with Hangeland.

It wasn't long before H&H was reestablished yet since Hughes injury it's tempting to say that Baird is actually the better partner for Brede.

[AlFayedsChequebook]

'We are no better off.'

Except for the money we get from Tottenham in your example.

Unless he refuses to sign a contract and walks away for free

None of which is a reason to keep playing Schwarzer past his best.

I have yet to see any empirical evidence that Schwarzer is declining, just personal opinion

And how on god's green earth would someone find and demonstarte "empirical proof" on this subject. Here's what you get from observation, though. Last season, Schwarzer's distribution was far less accurate and far more tentative than the season before. Everything else about his game was just as good. THIS season, Schwarzer still has distribution problems, but his judgement on when to come out and when to stay put has slipped NOTICABLY. Yesterday was the third match I can remember where it looked as if he were pawing at a swarm of bees at times. Yes, only three matches, but that's about 2 more than less season. I call this deteriorating form. If he's our keeper for four more seasons, that's four more seasons of deterioration while Stickdale is increasingly competent for a club we're competing with.

Yes, he made a brilliant save, but it seems to me that Stockwell did that a few times last year while he was our player of the month as well as MotM once or twice.
Old sporting maxim: you're always better getting rid of a player a season too early than a season too late.

Again, all that is happening is people arguing points using opinion. I could argue that Schwarzer is better than ever because I have a gut feeling. Neither of us are correct until there is some hard evidence.

The hard evidence for me is that we have continued to be defensively sound, even with a constantly changing back 4 and Schwarzer has made no howlers (yet).

I like Stockdale, but it seems to me that we are just creating a problem for ourselves by forcing out a great keeper (one of Fulham's best ever) for a young and very promising keeper, but who has played a total of 14 games in the premier league.

Introducing young keepers is difficult, even ones who previously looked good - Ben Foster was the next big thing when he was at loan at Watford in the prem a few years ago. Then he struggled at Man United and had to resurrect his career at the baggies (who are hardly watertight)

[The Bronsons]

Well, again, just an opinion based on what I happen to have noticed, but Mark's shot stopping, positioning, athleticism and verbal control of the defence look as good as ever. The only issues are his distribution, and the odd flap at a cross. I'm not sure either is bad enough to give the shirt to Stockwell, who isn't exactly fault-free either.

I think Jol's got this one right, to be honest: immediate recall of Stockwell if we need him, and keep hold of one of the best keepers in the league until Stockwell is needed. Meanwhile, Stockwell is getting high-level game time every week. Can't see the problem.

[finnster01]

Well, again, just an opinion based on what I happen to have noticed, but Mark's shot stopping, positioning, athleticism and verbal control of the defence look as good as ever. The only issues are his distribution, and the odd flap at a cross. I'm not sure either is bad enough to give the shirt to Stockwell, who isn't exactly fault-free either.

I think Jol's got this one right, to be honest: immediate recall of Stockwell if we need him, and keep hold of one of the best keepers in the league until Stockwell is needed. Meanwhile, Stockwell is getting high-level game time every week. Can't see the problem.

It will be come summer