That Young Man In Goal

[JBizzle]

Why was our second biggest signing of the summer a keeper when CW is not so far from the finished article

Because two games is nowhere near enough for any of us to say how close he is to the finished article?

Also, can we really criticise the club for signing a new no. 1 when it's nailed on they'd have been criticized for not doing so?

He is a great prospect though, needs time and support to turn him from prospect to what we all think he has the potential to be.

 

[Marshy]

who signed Walton ?

 

[BensGrandad]

His only downside was his distribution was poor he got lot of distance with his kicks but not the direction and a lot sailed over for a throw in. Generally though a very good debut and a great prospect for the future. With him, Al Absi if we can sign him, and Stockdale we will have good competition for the goal keepers jersey for a few years to come.

 

[BensGrandad]

who signed Walton ?

David Burke on recomendation from Warren Aspinal.

 

[Stat Brother]

David Burke on recomendation from Warren Aspinal.

That fact can only go one of 2 ways:-

Warren Aspinall signed him

or

We'll never hear of it again.

 

[spanish flair]

who signed Walton ?

Yep another good player given the nod by Gus Poyet.

 

[Marshy]

Yep another good player given the nod by Gus Poyet.

Really.... I bet Poyet didnt even know what he looked like when he signed

Clearly this was scouting network and Burke.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

His only downside was his distribution was poor he got lot of distance with his kicks but not the direction and a lot sailed over for a throw in. Generally though a very good debut and a great prospect for the future. With him, Al Absi if we can sign him, and Stockdale we will have good competition for the goal keepers jersey for a few years to come.

Were you there? His smart throws got to his man every time as did all but one kick where the defender should have booted it himself and that still went out of play nice & safely near halfway

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I think El Presidente has it spot on.

He did absolutely fine, made no mistakes apart from a couple of kicks into touch, and did all that was asked of him. Wouldn't have had him as MOM myself, but not because he did anything wrong, simply because I didn't feel he was the difference between us winning & losing.

Put it this way: if any of our other keepers had put in the same performance, nobody would even notice. It was a standard, competent game, that is only getting noticed because of Walton's age (and don't get me wrong, he does deserve credit, as it's a tough life for someone his age in professional football).

The post about him making more saves than Stockdale is particularly comical: a goalkeeper can only make saves if he's facing shots (or Gordon Greer), and despite our general crappiness, Stockdale has rarely been peppered with shots. By the same logic, Walton isn't as good because he hasn't saved any shots from going in the top corner?

I'd be quite happy if Sami picked Walton again v Blackburn, but I believe Al Habsi (that's HABSI, with an H) will get the nod. On a purely pragmatic basis, I've no real issue with that, even though the football romantic side of me would quite like to see Walton feature.

 

[spanish flair]

Really.... I bet Poyet didnt even know what he looked like when he signed

Clearly this was scouting network and Burke.

Really. So the club pay a six figure sum for a 17 year old unknown and the manager knows nothing about him?
This the club that keeps telling all the fans, that all signings, the manager has the last say and you think Gus had nothing to do with the signing, yer right.

The guy who actually set the deal up with Plymouth was our goalkeeping coach at the time Andy Beasley who was goalkeeping coach at Leeds under Wise and Poyet,
Poyet brought him to the Albion and he is now his goalkeeping coach at Sunderland.

So yes I think Gus was well aware of Walton.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/wor...mouth-Argyle/story-18190050-detail/story.html

 

[spring hall convert]

Good point, I don't see how you can drop him, which makes the loan of Al-Habsi potentially another expensive cockup.

Oh come on, that's a bit tough. It's 4 weeks and Walton in first team football was a big unknown - it could have gone horribly wrong.

Let's be grateful it didn't, looks like we have a star on our hands.

 

[spanish flair]

David Burke on recomendation from Warren Aspinal.

I think it was under the recommendation of Andy Beasley, Gus Poyet's goalkeeping coach at the time.

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

Should've started against Ballmuff and should certainly start on Saturday.

 

[JBizzle]

How long do you reckon he'll sit on his pedestal before we start shaking the base to knock him off?

JFC was in this position two years ago, now he "only" a good (England U21) footballer and not Cristiano Ronaldo, people take great joy in beating him with a stick after every game.

The joys of having your potential decided and set in stone by 18, eh?

 

[Birdie Boy]

It's all a bit strange when the No.3 takes over from the No.1, then a new No.1 is brought in, so the No.3 becomes the No.2 and the original No.2 becomes the No.3 until the real No.1 is back and then he will be No.4! So, why on earth was Ankergren kept on this season, wasting wages, when they clearly have no faith in him as No.1, .2 or 3?

 

[garethjamesuk]

If anyone looks back on my posts i have said this from the beginning of the season, as teams like Southampton play best young talents straight away, we have top talent on hands and only chance have of keeping him is to play him (NOW)
i said he is top keeper and needs to be number 1 and yes will make mistakes but Stockdale already has, why did we sign him as he is young himself, why didnt we sign a older keeper as that would have shown intending to play Walton in parts this season and next year be intending him to be number 1.
Just very wierd and bad transfer business wasting the money on a average Stockdale.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

It's all a bit strange when the No.3 takes over from the No.1, then a new No.1 is brought in, so the No.3 becomes the No.2 and the original No.2 becomes the No.3 until the real No.1 is back and then he will be No.4! So, why on earth was Ankergren kept on this season, wasting wages, when they clearly have no faith in him as No.1, .2 or 3?

Well maybe there are a few possibilities. Firstly perhaps Walton has developed over the year since the decision was made. Secondly, the current manager was not here when the retained list and new contracts were offered. Thirdly we are not comfortably mid-table and if we can improve on the position, we need to.

 

[Brighton Mod]

Its a great signing and he looked very comfortable, but he was signed when we were on the up, not sure we could be that attractive to others at the moment. But a positive note on what was a very negative display.

 

[spanish flair]

Its a great signing and he looked very comfortable, but he was signed when we were on the up, not sure we could be that attractive to others at the moment. But a positive note on what was a very negative display.

I agree with you and our problem now is, that while we are on the down we could lose players like him as the Prem clubs gather round,

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

I agree with you and our problem now is, that while we are on the down we could lose players like him as the Prem clubs gather round,

Right now I do not see any of our players as Premier bound.

Walton has played 2 games and let in 2 goals. I think he needs far more experience before we know how good he truly is.