[Albion] Christian Walton (permanent transfer to Ipswich)

[Hugo Rune]

Could Walton have saved that?

Good question.

Like all of our shots, the ball went straight at him but instead of making himself big, he bent over backwards to let it in although he only had a split second to react.

However, it was point blank so I’m going to put the goal down to fantastic Blackpool play rather than any individual mistakes.

 

[vagabond]

We go back to Sanchez [emoji123] for Fulham.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Good Cornish lad our Christian, great to see him playing for Brighton again

 

[Kosh]

Good Cornish lad our Christian, great to see him playing for Brighton again

Didn’t realise he was a West Country lad... love the Lizard - we lived near Helston for a while - Mullion and the Mounts Bay Inn still a favorite haunt ‘til this day!

 

[scooter1]

Despite what GP has said about liking Steele as a number 2, I think we’ll start to see Walton on the bench for league games with Steele relegated to third choice

 

[fleet]

Walton had little to do today, but still looked a worry. Didn’t cause me to believe

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Didn’t realise he was a West Country lad... love the Lizard - we lived near Helston for a while - Mullion and the Mounts Bay Inn still a favorite haunt ‘til this day!

He sure is, four years ago or so was in the pub with a few of our cricket team after a match, got chatting about football, mentioned Brighton, and the wife of one of my teammates pipes up "oh my son plays for Brighton". Young Christian. So I've always kept an eye on him and had a soft spot for the lad.

 

[Swansman]

Despite what GP has said about liking Steele as a number 2, I think we’ll start to see Walton on the bench for league games with Steele relegated to third choice

Why?

Personally I doubt it. After the Newport game, Steele said he had made homework on the Newport players and that it helped him in the shootout. Some keepers do this and others dont, very few when facing a L2 side I would imagine. It says a lot about him as a character, that he is that well-prepared. Its what you want from a benched keeper - you want someone who is thinking "if something happens today, I'll be ready" rather than someone who thinks "I'll probably be on the bench all day today as usual".

Of course no idea how Walton prepares for games, but I doubt Potter will replace Steele as second keeper unless Walton does really well in training, especially when there is nothing that indicates that Walton would be the significantly better option quality wise.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Walton had little to do today, but still looked a worry. Didn’t cause me to believe

What on earth did he do that 'looked a worry'? That's ridiculous. Couldn't do anything about that goal, made a very good save from the free kick and his distribution was good. Other than that had bugger all to do.

There are some people that forget that he isn't just some kid out of the youth team. Three seasons ago was keeper for a Wigan side that won league 1, two years ago played for Wigan in the championship, had some mid season struggles, lost his place, won it back and was keeper at the end of the season as they stayed up. Last season played every single championship game for Blackburn as they finished 11th. He's also capped by England at U19, U20 and U21.

At his age its excellent experience, you don't play two seasons in the championship in goal at his young age without have something about him. For a goalies first complete season at any level to be top half championship at 23-24 years old is pretty good.

The fact that some on here take that and then decide that lower championship is the limit of his ability is just silly. He may well not be as good as Sanchez. And it can be tough to get a gig as goalie at the top level. But some of these snap judgements are very unfair.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Didn’t realise he was a West Country lad... love the Lizard - we lived near Helston for a while - Mullion and the Mounts Bay Inn still a favorite haunt ‘til this day!

He sure is, four years ago or so was in the pub with a few of our cricket team after a match, got chatting about football, mentioned Brighton, and the wife of one of my teammates pipes up "oh my son plays for Brighton". Young Christian. So I've always kept an eye on him and had a soft spot for the lad.

Brighton bought Walton from Plymouth.

 

[scooter1]

Why?

Personally I doubt it. After the Newport game, Steele said he had made homework on the Newport players and that it helped him in the shootout. Some keepers do this and others dont, very few when facing a L2 side I would imagine. It says a lot about him as a character, that he is that well-prepared. Its what you want from a benched keeper - you want someone who is thinking "if something happens today, I'll be ready" rather than someone who thinks "I'll probably be on the bench all day today as usual".

Of course no idea how Walton prepares for games, but I doubt Potter will replace Steele as second keeper unless Walton does really well in training, especially when there is nothing that indicates that Walton would be the significantly better option quality wise.

Why?
Because in my opinion Walton is a better keeper. Steele can do his homework and that’s great, but I think GP will start to use Walton on the bench.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Why?

Personally I doubt it. After the Newport game, Steele said he had made homework on the Newport players and that it helped him in the shootout. Some keepers do this and others dont, very few when facing a L2 side I would imagine. It says a lot about him as a character, that he is that well-prepared. Its what you want from a benched keeper - you want someone who is thinking "if something happens today, I'll be ready" rather than someone who thinks "I'll probably be on the bench all day today as usual".

Of course no idea how Walton prepares for games, but I doubt Potter will replace Steele as second keeper unless Walton does really well in training, especially when there is nothing that indicates that Walton would be the significantly better option quality wise.

I'm sure Ben Roberts did the homework, passing on all his information to Steele, as he does all Albion keepers prior to games.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Brighton bought Walton from Plymouth.

We have had something of an affiliation with the Pilgrims over the years, both the football club and their fans, even something of a love in back in the late 90's with Fans Reunited etc.

 

[Swansman]

Why?
Because in my opinion Walton is a better keeper. Steele can do his homework and that’s great, but I think GP will start to use Walton on the bench.

Right. We'll see.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

He sure is, four years ago or so was in the pub with a few of our cricket team after a match, got chatting about football, mentioned Brighton, and the wife of one of my teammates pipes up "oh my son plays for Brighton". Young Christian. So I've always kept an eye on him and had a soft spot for the lad.

Fair play. I guess you play at a decent level, if you’re playing with Walton snr. Long time Cornwall opening bat.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

We have had something of an affiliation with the Pilgrims over the years, both the football club and their fans, even something of a love in back in the late 90's with Fans Reunited etc.

And again about 12 years ago when Plymouth had problems with a dodgy owner.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

And again about 12 years ago when Plymouth had problems with a dodgy owner.

Indeed, l even remember going down there by coach one day to give their fans some verbal support in their battle, during one of their home games.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Indeed, l even remember going down there by coach one day to give their fans some verbal support in their battle, during one of their home games.

Just after that a couple of car loads of us went down for a return Fans United. We were in the Fansfest beer tent beforehand with Richard Vaughan. We even teamed up with a Palace fan who was a taxi driver in Plymouth.

 

[maresfield seagull]

I'm sure Ben Roberts did the homework, passing on all his information to Steele, as he does all Albion keepers prior to games.

If that was the case Why was MR so consistent at going the wrong way at penalties?

 

[Super Steve Earle]

If that was the case Why was MR so consistent at going the wrong way at penalties?

Playing Devils Advocate, could it be that Steele is better at following instructions than MR? I'm pretty sure that Steele went the right way for every penalty. It could also be why MR has gone. Perhaps he is also a better listener than MR.

You can take this with a pinch of salt. I like Maty and he played his part in keeping us up for three seasons. But the facts remain that with not many shots against, he couldn't get to the ones that went in (obviously). The fact also remains that he had been found out and teams were just bombing high balls in to a crowded area around him and he wasn't effective enough against them.

As an aside, since the first time I saw Sanchez play in the Development squad ow whichever young team it was, I have thought and hoped he would make the first team proper ahead of Walton. Tough on Christian, but sometimes in sport a better player appears from nowhere and steals the opportunity from under your nose. I just hope we get some money for him as he is a decent Championship keeper who still has bags of potential to fulfil.