Sam Walker

The time for a change is not now. However, whichever league we are in next season, a new first team keeper is essential. I wouldnt mind Big Sam as back up, but doubt he would be happy with that and would look to move on.

 

He's a good league 1 goalkeeper. This is reminds me of when Doyle was number 1 and we had some calling for Sattelmaier to be given a chance. I've not really seen anything in the games Hilton has played that he would be up to the standard.

What you are ignoring with your stats is that since the end of January we've kept 5 clean sheets. In league of the goalkeepers who've played at least 50% of the games he's 3rd for save %.

 

He’s been poor these last few weeks, that said overall he’s been very good for us. Still like the idea of a talented up and coming PL keeper on loan, so many success over the years.

 

jodon Pickford wouldn’t have saved them two today he had no chance

 

He’d have saved the second one, I’ve no doubt of that. Similar to the Orient goal Walker’s foot work is static with low shots. Footwork and positioning are crucial for a keeper.

 

Young loan goalkeepers are great when they come off but if they don't they become a huge issue, successes like Pickford are very rare. Some of the big fights for signings in the summer were for Tommy Simkin, Owen Goodman and Teddy Sharman-Lowe who were brilliant in league 2 last season but all had their loans ended in January.
Simkin got dropped by Orient and got recalled by Stoke due to goalkeeping injuries but has got lucky as Gavin Bazunu was brought in to replace him but ended up getting injured after a week. Goodman got dropped by Huddersfield but seems to be recovering at Barnsley. Sharman-Lowe had an up and down time at Bolton then got dropped at the start of the year which annoyed Chelsea and they recalled him but couldn't find another move for him.

 

One of the problems with not having a reserve team is that you have no idea how good your back up keeper is in a proper match.

 

We've seen him play in the Trophy and he wasn't good, he was poor against Doncaster and not great against Everton. They were his chances and he didn't take them.

 

No one has a reserve team nowadays you mean an Academy team

 

Distribution 50/50

Anything hanging in the air 100% his

Low shots, even from range, vulnerable ..

 

I think the low shots, in particular those close to him like orient and today are big issue.

Probably due to his height but there are plenty of keepers his size operating successfully.

He is getting on a bit now so I don't see how a change in technique or starting stance is going to improve him now.

Can easily see us moving him on in the summer

 

any prem keeper saves both of them, first one he moves his hand away because he thinks it going over, 2nd one is a good meter from corner.

 

Discourse around Walker is interesting. Personally I'd put him in the same bracket as the Cook, Halliday and Pattison situations. Good servant but his best days are behind him and we can do better.

Time for an upgrade in the summer irrespective of division for me.

 

Can’t be blamed for either goal today to be honest.

 

I can't understand the criticism he's getting for todays game, we were right behind his goal and he was beaten by a very good strike, for me I thought we should have done better defending the cross, as for the second it was up the other end and I've not seen a replay but it was an horrendous pass from Metcalf, with regards Pickford did you see him rush out of his goal tonight completely missing his punch, but we saw during his season with us he was prone to coming for balls no matter who got in his way, you ask Andrew Davies .

 

Maybe that's why he's a League One goal keeper .

 

Second goal should have been saved, it was fairly central

 

Walker isn’t responsible for today or in general for our away form.

He’s been consistent and solid performer all season. Distribution is decent enough, great on balls into the box but the odd shot stop could be questioned.

He’s a league one keeper for a reason but what I think he brings most of all is a great character and leader around the squad.

I’ve no issue with Walker at this season and at this level whatsoever.

 

His positioning for the 2nd was poor. It was a soft goal.