Brezovan's form

[Twinkle Toes]

Well I wasn't at all convinced that his return would be a success, but it just goes to show how little I know about the game. He's been superb for us - & long may it continue.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I think his return completely proves that we, as supporters, know far less about players than our management team.

90% of the people I spoke to before the saints game were terrified by the prospect of him being back in goal. I'm really pleased for him, he's proved a point to a lot of people.

 

[El Presidente]

Yes his form has been terrific, and we are unbeaten, conceding just 3 goals in 6 games, since his return.

The 'liability' comment is harsh though. He had a poor one-off game at Stoke, and made a mistake in the Spurs friendly. Other than that, he's looked a decent keeper ever since he joined.

I think on balance he just about deserves his place, but he has been fortunate, he spilled the ball against the Stains but Lallana's goal was not given by the linesman, against Wrexham in the replay he went down on one knee for a shot that went in the top corner. I still have nightmares about the match at Wycombe.

As much as I like him, he does not command his box and gives me kittens every time the ball is at his feet.

 

[Lush]

think Casper may be finished Simster, I would guess that Gonzalez is next in line

Gonzales would also be next in line on the 'hot players' list if he could get rid of that Tribble on the back of his head.

 

[Mr Burns]

I think big Pete's been excellent since he's come back, however his big test will be to see how he recovers when he makes a clanger, which as a keeper he is bound to do at some point.

If he can just shrug it off and get on with things, then I can see a new contract coming his way, if it destroys his confidence, then no doubt he'll be on his way at the end of the season.

But I can see Peter getting at least another year, and poor old Casper being released.

 

[El Presidente]

But I can see Peter getting at least another year, and poor old Casper being released.

On present form I think you are right, but can't see either of them taking us to the next level.

 

[Simster]

Brezovan's debut game for Albion:

BBC Sport - Football - Exeter 0-1 Brighton

Saved a penalty, before Crofts won it for us in injury time, taking us to the heady heights of 4th from bottom of league one.

How times change...

 

[theonesmith]

On present form I think you are right, but can't see either of them taking us to the next level.

Disagree, can see him taking us there, maybe not establishing himself once there though. Don't underestimate the difference that playing for your job, for money for your family can add to natural ability. He looks like a man determined to keep his place and succeed, long may it continue..

Further, hasn't his distribution dramatically improved?

 

[El Presidente]

Brezovan's debut game for Albion:

BBC Sport - Football - Exeter 0-1 Brighton

Saved a penalty, before Crofts won it for us in injury time, taking us to the heady heights of 4th from bottom of league one.

How times change...

I also recall him clearing the ball directly to Harley (then with Exeter), who whacked it straight back from about 45 yards and Sexy Pete and Bomber managed to clear it off the line between them!

I remember the match was in doubt due to frost until about five minutes before kick off too.

We went disco mental when Crofts scored, and to my shame I told a fellow (female) Albion fan at half time to 'shut the f*** up' when she abused Dicker's and Navarro's every touch for the whole of the first half.

 

[Birdie Boy]

As much as I like him, he does not command his box and gives me kittens every time the ball is at his feet.

Er... are you thinking about Casper rather than Brezovan? Every time the ball is passed back to Casper he shits himself!
I was not keen on Brezovan coming in but I was totally wrong. He is playing very well and looking very confident. Long may it continue.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

it's hard to ignore the fact that we're unbeaten since he came back into the side

 

[Basil Fawlty]

He has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. We're looking more solid at the back, with Brez between the sticks. Have to hand it to him!

 

[severnside gull]

As much as I like him, he does not command his box and gives me kittens every time the ball is at his feet.

he is 100%+ more effective in this respect than Casper. I am very much old school in liking a goalkeeper to come for crosses and catch them and he does that. As others have said he will make mistakes but then every keeper (Joe Hart excepted perhaps in the last two years ) makes mistakes. His positional play is probably equal, or nearly equal, to Casper's and his quick distribution from hand is much superior. It is only the "playing as an extra outfielder" aspect that he comes up short in comparison but I think that had become a bit of a busted flush this season with teams much quicker to close the keeper down than last year. At Stoke last year he suffered to an extent from not having had game time and he allowed himself to be bullied by their forwards. It is still an area where he may be vulnerable but he does at least come out from his line to claim crosses and he doesn't blame his defenders (a la Kuipers) when he gets it wrong.

I think we are fortunate to have a couple of reasonably competent keepers at the club where many teams are lucky to have one. I do agree though that one of our keepers at least will move on in the close season when contracts are up. Gonzalez isn't a shoe-in to stay just because he is the most recent addition to our goalkeeping stable - Poke won't be back I think, and Mitch Walker - from looking as if he was finished with us last year - may well be in with a chance of establishing himself as number three.

 

[Acker79]

Whenever the Casper v Brez debate has come up, I've always defended Brez, arguing he needs a run to get his form and comfortable in our system, having only playing 9 competitive games between early may 2010 and january 2012. But I was surprised how comfortable he looked v southampton. Though, they never really put him under pressure when in possession, and I'm not sure any team really has. It also helps that since Harper came in we've allowed the keeper to play it long a bit more.

I've always felt some people are harsher on him than is fair, or harsher on him than they are for similar mistakes by casper or other keepers. Casper parries the ball to opponents instead of catching it and people look for excuses, bring up his good points, Brez does the same and it's the worst mistake ever, inexcusable and no amount of good points can outweigh it, he'll always make mistakes.

I still maintain, Casper and Brez overall are equally as good, with their own strengths and weaknesses, both are likely to make some sort of mistake or have poor performances that cost us.

We all have players that for one reason or another, we can't see past their bad points, (lots do it with Barnes, Harley, Navarro etc), and since Kuipers, this seems to be even more the case with our keepers, and I'm sure the moment he makes a mistake the hate will start up again, but for now, let's just enjoy the results an performances of the teams.

(the penalty he saved in his debut was one he himself conceded, he also followed up his mistake v spurs with a great save and people seem to forget he only conceded one of the goals, with casper conceding two, and his poor performance v wycombe was in the first half when none of our players covered themselves in glory, and we won with a greatly improved second half performance).

 

[Surf's Up]

I've always liked the look of Brez. The Stoke game was always thrown at him rather harshly in my opinion. He was bound to look a little rusty having been out of the side for so long, and we faced the sort of bombardment that left the whole team looking shell-shocked.

When Casper looked shaky earlier in teh season, I thought it was harsh on Brez that we went out and got Harper, so I'm delighted he's got his chance now, and is taking it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - imagine if Casper had been in goal at Stoke, he finds it difficult enough to come off his line at the best of times!

 

[Diego Napier]

I think on balance he just about deserves his place, but he has been fortunate, he spilled the ball against the Stains but Lallana's goal was not given by the linesman, against Wrexham in the replay he went down on one knee for a shot that went in the top corner. I still have nightmares about the match at Wycombe.

As much as I like him, he does not command his box and gives me kittens every time the ball is at his feet.

I had to read this twice, I thought you were taking about Ankergren!

he spilled the ball against Middlesborough and cost us the game

I still have nightmares about the match against Leeds when in the last minute, instead of playing it safe and passing the ball out and keeping possession or hoofing it into touch in the oppositions half, he kicked it straight to their keeper who hoofed it back into our half and allowed them to get their 3rd goal

As much as I like him, he does not command his box. This is Ankergren in spades. He is rooted to his line, he flaps at the majority of the crosses into our box and the few times he catches the ball he invariably has to fall to the ground.

Ankergren gives me kittens every time the ball is in our area

 

[Sheebo]

Glad someone's started a thread on this as everyone's so quick to blame keepers on here ala Ankergren (beofre his recent blunders)

 

[Acker79]

I've always liked the look of Brez. The Stoke game was always thrown at him rather harshly in my opinion. He was bound to look a little rusty having been out of the side for so long, and we faced the sort of bombardment that left the whole team looking shell-shocked.

It's also unfair because that was a stoke side that beat liverpool, arsenal, and got draws v chelsea and man city using the same tactics.

 

[honey boy zimba]

Fair play to him I doubted him at this level and at the mo he has proved me wrong keep it up Brez ,him coming for the crosses makes us look more solid at the back .

 

[sir albion]

He's so calm and relaxed of late and is doing a fantastic job in the sticks
Great kicking
great distribution
great kicking
great leadership
great catcher

What a turnaround