Leno's decline

[Bassey the warrior]

Could be worse, we could have Sanchez. What a shocker he made with King's shot.

[Chi_FFC]

Could be worse, we could have Sanchez. What a shocker he made with King's shot.

No doubt that was VERY poor from Sanchez. However the fact of the matter is over the past few years he's put up considerably better shot stopping numbers than Bernd.

[KentFulham]

Last night really confirmed everything this thread is about. We saw some OK moments from Leno, but we also saw some nervous distribution from the back, a silly decision to rush out on the 2nd and beaten easily for the 3rd.

Shot stopping is no longer a strong point for Leno.

[RaySmith]

Last night really confirmed everything this thread is about. We saw some OK moments from Leno, but we also saw some nervous distribution from the back, a silly decision to rush out on the 2nd and beaten easily for the 3rd.

Shot stopping is no longer a strong point for Leno.

He made a couple of important saves last night, kept us in the game, and was generally good and inspired confidence,  I thought.

[Hugh Janus]

Some good saves from Leno but he is not the keeper for this system. His distribution is too slow and takes the wrong option too often.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

I've been one of his biggest fans on here and think maybe our best value signing in a decade, but we do need to start thinking about succession.

[bill taylors apprentice]

I have not been anti Leno but I expect a PL keeper on his kind of salary to save at least one of the 2nd & 3rd goals.

If you come off your line and expose your goal (the 2nd goal) you have to come all the way and make the save.
Any goal through your legs like that is poor.

[Craven Mad]

Could be worse, we could have Sanchez. What a shocker he made with King's shot.

His positioning for Robinson's lob attempt was absolutely woeful too. He really should've been punished for it.

Given the financial might of Chelsea, it's a mystery why they haven't sought a better option. You'd have thought, with their existing Argentinian players too, Emi Martinez would be an obvious (and available) upgrade for them...

[Andy S]

Keepers do let in goals through their legs. Remember Peter Mellor in the 1975 cup final against West Ham. I thought Leno did ok last night. I believe people should get off of his case.

[Bassey the warrior]

Could be worse, we could have Sanchez. What a shocker he made with King's shot.

His positioning for Robinson's lob attempt was absolutely woeful too. He really should've been punished for it.

Given the financial might of Chelsea, it's a mystery why they haven't sought a better option. You'd have thought, with their existing Argentinian players too, Emi Martinez would be an obvious (and available) upgrade for them...

They've signed quite a few keepers under this ownership, but so far they're relying on the former back up Brighton keeper. Their transfer business very hit and miss frankly.

As you Martinez a good fit, but they've until now been reluctant to pay huge wages.

[hopper]

I can't think of a case of another Fulham player that is so staunchly defended when there is as much evidence to the contrary with Leno.

None of the goals yesterday were clangers, and he doesn't normally have major cockups. He though isn't stopping enough preventable goals, and isn't confident at claiming crosses or with the ball at his feet.

He will have good moments, but the balance isn't enough and it's not here or there - it's consistent across two seasons.

[john dempsey]

He must be aware that almost every time the opposition
crosses the Halfway line, the defence will part like the Red Sea.
Leaving him exposed like Babara Windsor in a Carry on film.

[EN1 FFC]

He must be aware that almost every time the opposition
crosses the Halfway line, the defence will part like the Red Sea.
Leaving him exposed like Babara Windsor in a Carry on film.

oooh Matron
I'll throw in two goalkeeper names that I've been impressed with over a few seasons when I've seen them play 1st team football and would give Leno competition.
Zetterström from Derby County
Freddie Woodman 3rd choice at Liverpool having been bought from PNE.

[john dempsey]

Neither of those probably play behind a defence that resembles,
someone trying to Herd Cats..

[Bassey the warrior]

There's no time to sign a replacement this window so we're going to need to quickly find a way to make this work. The idea of playing split cb's is clearly designed to aide us playing out from the back and maybe this will work better if we have a proper rcb playing in that position. Can't help but feel that signing will be absolutely crucial to our season, can Tony pull one out the bag?

[Chi_FFC]

Last night really confirmed everything this thread is about. We saw some OK moments from Leno, but we also saw some nervous distribution from the back, a silly decision to rush out on the 2nd and beaten easily for the 3rd.

Shot stopping is no longer a strong point for Leno.

He made a couple of important saves last night, kept us in the game

He made 3 saves last night and all of them were saves I would have expected ANY PL keeper to make.

[Twig]

Neither of those probably play behind a defence that resembles,
someone trying to Herd Cats..

Agree with regard yesterday but that comment doesn't apply to last season. You can say there were some defensive lapses sure, but only yesterday was the sort of defensive chaos that might unnerve a top keeper.

[Twig]

There's no time to sign a replacement this window so we're going to need to quickly find a way to make this work. The idea of playing split cb's is clearly designed to aide us playing out from the back and maybe this will work better if we have a proper rcb playing in that position. Can't help but feel that signing will be absolutely crucial to our season, can Tony pull one out the bag?

He really must.

[SG]

None of the goals yesterday were clangers, and he doesn't normally have major cockups. He though isn't stopping enough preventable goals, and isn't confident at claiming crosses or with the ball at his feet.

This is the key for me - he is no longer making (or there are fewer of them) the exceptional saves that could make a difference to the result

[john dempsey]

Seen plenty of Ropey defending from Fulham.
much preferred Roys approach of Drill baby Drill.
haven't seen a cohesive defence since he was in charge.