Not a fan of this lad but credit yesterday pulled off some brilliant saves and fully deserved his clean sheet.
I think he's an excellent keeper. We've got two excellent keepers. And a sea of Meh in front of them.
I'm amazed he's still here to be honest. Far too good to be warming the bench for three seasons. That's not to say he's better than Collins, just that he should be playing first team football somewhere.
My views I think are well known. I'd have him as 1st choice. Though only marginally, But you are right. His distribution was poor last night. Hope it was a one off.
That's a bold statement considering Collins our POTY, and has literally been the only one who fully deserved a move away imo! I actually think Walton has very slightly better reflexes, but everything else Collins is better at. It's a no brainer for me that Collins starts as many league games as possible - I'm in agreement with everyone above though, I think we're extremely lucky to have 2 very good keepers. I think the only reason he hasn't moved anywhere and is still here, is because other clubs haven't seen enough of him to make him their first team keeper, I'm sure loads would love him as second choice but then again, unless on a big wedge of money, he may aswell stay here...
I'd argue Walton saved us from the drop almost singlehandedly the season prior to making the play offs. And would have walked player of the year if not overlooked for Radlinger from the start. Collins only started when given the opportunity to play in a cup game. In january of the next season By Val. Who chose Walton more times. 24 to 22 league games over Collins. And b4 anyone says we performed better under Collins I'd argue Dike was the catalyst for that. It may be only my opinion but one I stand by. I may also offer up. If walton had played last season he could well have been poy and kept us up. Now that's a pause for thought.
I respect your opinion mate, but I don't think Buffon/Neuer or even the likes of Yashin & Zoff from yesteryear would have managed to keep us up with those 10 players in front of them last year
His first clean sheets in eleven games, so he was due one. I am surprised he seems happy enough bench warming. I would have thought he would have been looking to leave.
I think both keepers are strong but in different ways. Collins is the better all rounder and is more competent at picking a pass or finding a man. However I do think that Walton has the edge on reflexes and shot stopping. We're lucky to have good cover whichever is the current first choice. I doubt we'll hang on to both in the longer term.
If we're going to keep Collins, I'd loan Walton out. Like others have said they're both good keepers at this level, but they only improve by playing. I'd take the risk of having a less experienced backup to Collins in exchange for Walton getting a full season of proper football under his belt.
Problem is, lesser experience would mean Searle who has made 3 apps for a semi-pro Melville side in New Zealand, or 0 apps at all in Flavell. Obviously I'm not saying they wouldn't do well, I wouldn't know. But it would probably mean we'd have to spend more money on getting a keeper in on loan to cover. So not really sure that would be possible. Although if we did, I'd love to loan out Walton so he could be playing week in week out
Walton frustrates the hell out of me, because his shot stopping is up there, but then you could argue that is bread and butter for a keeper. He needs to work on coming for things in the box, still against boro he could come and get a fist on it which wouldn’t rely on him making the brilliant saves he did. If he came and dealt with them balls in the box we’d have an incredible keeper on our hands. But having said that, if he was perfect in every department he wouldn’t be playing for us. I’m not slagging him btw. I just think if he sorted that part of his game out he wouldn’t be sitting on the bench at Barnsley. He’d probably be a first team champ player.
Every time I can remember us needing an emergency loan for a keeper, we've found one that's done more than adequately. I just think the benefit Walton would get from playing week in week out outweighs the risks.
