[Albion] If RDZ plays Steele tomorrow...

[Badger Boy]

I didn't know about this, but it would seem to make sense. I guess not just buying him outright last season was down to FFP or some accounting shenanigans?

As I remember it, Raya had 12 months left on his contract and wouldn't sign a new one so Brentford wanted a sale. Arsenal had already spent big money so couldn't pay the fee being discussed but Raya wanted the move and presumably nobody else was interested. The agreement was that Raya would sign a 1 year contract extension to protect his market value, but move on loan to Arsenal for a £3m initial fee and £27m in the summer of 2024. Ultimately, Brentford got the price they wanted, Arsenal got the player they wanted and Raya got the move he wanted - plus Brentford got to play against Ramsdale for both games.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

As he’s the best goalkeeper with his feet in the world, can we get upwards of £50m for him?

 

[Hiheidi]

Not sure if Arsenal are that desperate for the 2nd/3rd choice keeper to be home grown. Raya qualifies as an HGP, they’ve currently got 11 in their squad including Ramsdale so I can’t see them having any problems there, even if he leaves.

The article says they are likely to offload a lot of home growns this Summer (eg. Nketiah, Smith Rowe, Nelson), so possibly some truth that they'd be looking for a home grown back up. Article also says Steele and Raya were together at Blackburn.

 

[Superphil]

He’ll be paid a whole bunch more if he moved there too I’d imagine, good luck to him, nice guy, exciting to watch when he’s on form.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

The article says they are likely to offload a lot of home growns this Summer (eg. Nketiah, Smith Rowe, Nelson), so possibly some truth that they'd be looking for a home grown back up. Article also says Steele and Raya were together at Blackburn.

They were together at Blackburn, and for three seasons Jason Steele was first choice over Raya, admittedly Raya was in his late teens early twenties at the time.

I’d didn’t realise Arsenal were reported to be shifting that many HGPs over this summer. Its often mooted that may happen cause of the profit it brings for FFP but not many clubs ever have had a wholesale clearance.

 

[GloryDays]

Good luck to him. Has had a great Indian summer with us the last couple of seasons and a great way to finish his career if he moves to a UCL team.

Hope he stays but think he’d be mad to not try to see that one through.

 

[Dibdab]

Could be a good result all round. Arsenal get a reserve keeper that is a great team member and plays football exactly the way Arteta wants his GKs to play. We create space for Rushworth to come in and be next in line once Bart gets sold.

 

[Justice]

He was crap against city with the ball at his feet a disaster waiting to happen and it happened.

 

[Beanstalk]

It would probably make a lot of sense for all parties tbh. Though Ramsdale has seemingly been a consummate professional this year, he's not going to stick around on the bench for another season. Steele is very good with his feet, and a very useful keeper to have if his team are dominating possession and chances.

Rushworth is more than capable of stepping into Steele's role and Swansea now seem to be resigned to him not returning next season.

 

[brighton_tom]

I think my ideal GK situation is we move Steele on, bring in an experienced older keeper on a 1 year deal to share duties with Bart, all the while Rushworth and Beadle are on loan at top end Championship clubs furthering their development & then return to us the next year to compete for the number 1 spot. Doubt that'll happen though.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

If he is happy to accept being back-up/3rd choice, why would we want to get rid of him?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I think my ideal GK situation is we move Steele on, bring in an experienced older keeper on a 1 year deal to share duties with Bart, all the while Rushworth and Beadle are on loan at top end Championship clubs furthering their development & then return to us the next year to compete for the number 1 spot. Doubt that'll happen though.

Like Jason Steele, you mean?

Seriously, I see little point in bringing in a Steele replacement when the man himself is still capable of doing a job. Listening to Jack Stern on the club's podcast, it's clear that the job is way more than the 90 minutes on the pitch and there's a lot of love for Steele around the place. I still maintain that his experience has been a big factor in Bart's development this season and, while it's likely we'll shift to a more conventional keeper setup next seasons, Steele would be my choice as backup.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Now this is based on little more than conjecture / supposition, from Steele's interviews, and his difficult time at Sunderland - but I think that the global exposure / attention that comes with playing for a club like Arsenal, might not be the best thing for Jason.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I hope we don't lose Steele. I think he's an invaluable squad member in terms of personality and attitude and in that sense would be very difficult to replace.

 

[nwgull]

I think my ideal GK situation is we move Steele on, bring in an experienced older keeper on a 1 year deal to share duties with Bart, all the while Rushworth and Beadle are on loan at top end Championship clubs furthering their development & then return to us the next year to compete for the number 1 spot. Doubt that'll happen though.

It's a sensible strategy, so why shouldn't it happen? Assuming we've ended the rotation policy - please say we have! - and Bart is going to be the regular Number 1, then the back-up keeper is likely to only play half a dozen cup games. As you sugest, the development from playing 46 Championship games will outweigh that massively.

 

[GT49er]

Like Jason Steele, you mean?

Seriously, I see little point in bringing in a Steele replacement when the man himself is still capable of doing a job. Listening to Jack Stern on the club's podcast, it's clear that the job is way more than the 90 minutes on the pitch and there's a lot of love for Steele around the place. I still maintain that his experience has been a big factor in Bart's development this season and, while it's likely we'll shift to a more conventional keeper setup next seasons, Steele would be my choice as backup.

Yes, no point in getting rid of Steele and then buying a similar level GK as his replacement. Steele is a very adequate back up GK - no worries if he has to come in and play for injuries or suspensions. Just not as a number 1 though - we got away with playing him there for half a season, but I wouldn't want to try that again.

Wonder what we'd get for Bart if and when Rushworth or Beadle take over?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Yes, no point in getting rid of Steele and then buying a similar level GK as his replacement. Steele is a very adequate back up GK - no worries if he has to come in and play for injuries or suspensions. Just not as a number 1 though - we got away with playing him there for half a season, but I wouldn't want to try that again.

Wonder what we'd get for Bart if and when Rushworth or Beadle take over?

If it's Chelsea buying him, £500m?

 

[oldboyroy]

Can we have big Bob Sanchez back?

 

[nwgull]

Yes, no point in getting rid of Steele and then buying a similar level GK as his replacement. Steele is a very adequate back up GK - no worries if he has to come in and play for injuries or suspensions. Just not as a number 1 though - we got away with playing him there for half a season, but I wouldn't want to try that again.

Wonder what we'd get for Bart if and when Rushworth or Beadle take over?

I think you're right about keeping Steele. He's not good enough to be first-choice GK in a PL team, but he's reliable and professional enough to have as a handy back-up on the rare occasions that the first-choice keeper has been unavailable (I count 3 games in th entire 7 seasons since we've been promoted that the 2nd choice keeper has been needed).

As for Rushworth, I can see us selling him at some point over the next couple of seasons having never playe for us if Bart, who's actually a year younger, progresses as expected. Beadle is getting rave reviews by Wednesday fans, and at only 19 is probably a more natural successor to Bart if/when he's sold for a mahoosive profit.

It's quite frustrating having so many talented young keepers on our books when, ultimately, only one can play regularly for us over a season. Shame we can't replicate this abundance in the centre-mid or wing positions.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I think you're right about keeping Steele. He's not good enough to be first-choice GK in a PL team, but he's reliable and professional enough to have as a handy back-up on the rare occasions that the first-choice keeper has been unavailable (I count 3 games in th entire 7 seasons since we've been promoted that the 2nd choice keeper has been needed).

As for Rushworth, I can see us selling him at some point over the next couple of seasons having never playe for us if Bart, who's actually a year younger, progresses as expected. Beadle is getting rave reviews by Wednesday fans, and at only 19 is probably a more natural successor to Bart if/when he's sold for a mahoosive profit.

It's quite frustrating having so many talented young keepers on our books when, ultimately, only one can play regularly for us over a season. Shame we can't replicate this abundance in the centre-mid or wing positions.

It's actually 6 times we've been forced to play the second choice keeper in Premier League games.

David Button played 4 times in the 18-19 Premier League season as Maty Ryan was away on international duty.
Jason Steele played once in the 21-22 season when Robert Sanchez was suspended after being sent off against Newcastle.
Last season Sanchez played against Chelsea as Jason Steele was injured.

(well 7 times if you include sticking Lewis Dunk in goal after the red card against Newcastle)