I hope the rumour mongers and bad mouthers

are taking note of the Alnwick situation. It's now apparent the Politt deal was brought in purely for footballing reasons and not because Flicker is his mate (allegedly).

So stop knocking gaffer and get behind, because if you don't, he will offer you out at back of North stand

 

Plus this will free up some wages for a loan signing ( Ramage cough cough) if Palace want us to pay some or all of his wages

 

Pollitt is a great signing... Experienced, calm, confident, commands his area well, comes for crosses and can kick straight. Leave Steele on the bench, get him in for the season.

 

How are we reading this?

Flicker decides he needs to drop Luke, but instead of going with Alnwick, he brings in a loan player. Alnwick doesn't like being overlooked, realises his chances of first football at Barnsley are at best limited and at worst non-existent, asks to leave the club and we agree to rip up his contract. That's what's happened isn't it?

Not that I ever thought Pollitt was brought in simply because he was Flicker's mate. He was brought in as our manager rates him as a keeper, felt that Steele needed time out of the team and clearly didn't trust Alnwick. I just don't think, at 41, Pollitt would have been on Flicker's radar if they weren't mates.

Can't say I'm upset about Alnwick's departure as I didn't rate him all that highly. I'm a bit surprised though. Not that he's gone at this point in time. That was always on the cards after last Tuesday. I just thought Flicker would have picked Alnwick for the Southampton game as it isn't that long ago, when Steele had still not re-signed, that Ben was being talked about as the number one choice for the upcoming season. Even after Luke had committed himself to us there was still talk of them fighting it out for the jersey. I guess he simply wasn't producing in training.

 

I read it that when Steele hadn't signed a new contract and Flitcroft was saying he was more than happy to start with Alnwick. The Steel signs a contract and Alnwick finds himself warming the bench again, probably had words with Flitcroft. We then ship 5 against Blackburn and Flitcorft realises he has to do something but Alnwick has burnt his bridges, so he brings in a keeper at short notice.

 

Some, including me, questioned the signing and asked why Alnwick wasn't getting a chance when Steele was dropped but I don't think anybody seriously thought the signing was just to help a mate out.

 

Didn't rate Alnwick that highly

As for Steele........good shot stopper but that's about all............does not command his area and his distribution is woeful
Been saying for a while that we need a new keeper.........and it looks like Flicka has finally come to the same conclusion

Haven't seen Pollitt yet but at 41 years old he will be in his prime as a keeper - they tend to mature much later and have much longer careers than out field players

 

Pollitt has played that few games he could go on to 45, wear and tear and all that.

 

This changes nothing about my original opinion. It will have been Alnwick who will have decided to leave, Flicker alluded to this in a recent interview that the trust might have been lost - and hardly surprising.

Flicker dropped Steele at the first opportunity this season (rather harshly in my view) and rightly or wrongly brought a mate in (that is fact). I just can't see how the 41yr old Pollitt is beneficial to the team in the short or long term (maybe in a coaching role, yes). Flicker's the manager though and will rightly of course do what he wants.

 

Didn't Pollitt only sign for a month?

So what happens in three weeks? Back to Steele and Lucas Lidviwhatever on the bench?

 

Lucas has left. Christian Dibble is the third choice keeper now.

 

Shows how much attention I pay. Do we have confidence in him?

 

Yes he signed for twenty eight days but I wouldn't be surprised if we extend his loan period.

 

We'll extend Pollitt's loan until the end of the season and eventually Steele will become first choice again.

From listening to Pollitt on Player it sounds likes he's not just been brought in to play matches but also to help Steele develop. He's got plenty of experience that he'll share with Steele that should make him a better player in the long term. Meanwhile, I have no problem with Pollitt being first choice. Steele was making mistakes that we can't afford and some time away to work on his game should do him good.

 

Watched Under 21's V Birmingham last week and Dibble doesn't look anywhere near ready for the Championship. Was my first viewing of him so maybe he's better than that. Looked 'dodgy' to say the least.

 

Shoudl we be considering getting shut of the keepers coach then?!

 

I must admit I was sceptical of the Pollitt signing but only conceding 6 in his first two starts has won me round

 

Chortle

 

You don't like Steele? I'm shocked.

You have seen Pollitt play for us yet? I'm not shocked.

 

Thinking of Alnwick, I just wonder what happens to the attitude of a player who is not getting any first team action and is, at best, warming the bench. Some are total professionals, who can be brought back in at a moment's notice, but others, and it is understandable, would be at risk of letting themselves go a bit. As it now is, we have one of the best shot-stoppers in the Championship (ask Forest, Palace and Cardiff) with experienced back-up, who is also a player who can bring on young keepers. Didn't we recently advertise for a goalkeeping coach? Looks as though we got more than that. Steele to return in his old form. Dibble to come on in leaps and bounds. Pollitt to start drinking horlicks and wearing carpet slippers whilst in goal. It now makes sense to me.