Isted to sign on free in the next few days

I don't wish to turn this into an Isted vs Collins debate Gimmy, they both have their own merits. I've defended Isted on here (some would have you believe that people who defend him are his second cousin or something), but no goalkeeper is faultless of course. Truth is we don't know how Collins would have dealt with it. As i said earlier I'm happy with either in goal, we don't need a duel on Grove Street to settle it.

 

Pretty much how I feel. That's not to say I don't rate Isted because I do, just think Collins is a bit better.

 

Its a good headache to have. We always come up wit the goods with goalies. Watson, Colgan, Müller, Steele, Davies. And now we have 3 very good young keepers who will have brilliant League careers. It's a difficult short term problem, but it's a good problem.

 

I think it's because we can get a fee for Collins, whilst signing Isted on a free on (you would expect) lower wages, without much, if any trade off in quality.

 

Lower wages. ?. He'd command in my view a good signing on fee to start. And a decent wage for a goalie of his standing. I have to disagree with several posters and imo. (And no I'm not his cousin or have any affinity with him.) I've seen nothing that convinces me he isn't better in all departments. Than anyone we've had since Steele. If we offer peanuts he will go elsewhere in my view.

 

I find the criticism on here of Brad Collins almost as bizarre as the strength of view on Isted.

Isted made more errors which directly led to goals last season than Collins. Several of which very similar in nature in that he failed to guard his near post. I haven’t criticised him too much for the Wembley goal at all as he’d had a magnificent game but I think he himself will be disappointed he didn’t keep the header out.

Collins had been having a very good season up to getting injured, the goals conceded coming mainly early in the season when the whole team wasn’t up to speed and not performing at the levels later achieved. He kept many clean sheets later on. Yet Collins is vilified and Isted glorified. It’s truly bizarre.

To me both are very good goalkeepers, with different main strengths and weaknesses, with perhaps little between them.

I’d be happy with either as first choice - but I’d go for Collins as I think we play a little deeper with Isted, the defensive line five or ten yards further forward with Collins. Has it’s risks but I think at this level that would lead to more positives than negatives.

If we get a decent offer for Collins and sign Isted to replace him I’d be happy enough though, similarly if we kept Collins and played him I wouldn’t be unhappy, though we’d lose out on a fee you’d imagine.

Harry Isted is a good goalkeeper I can’t disagree, but he’s really not what some are making him out to be and in all honesty the expectation on him to be as good as made out is unfair on the lad as much as anything else. You can count the number of professional games he’d played before he came on loan on one hand.

 

You have mistaken criticism for a genuine view on abilities. I for example prefer Isted simple as. You'd go with Collins that's fair enough. But if you really want to look a criticisms then there are posts that are aimed at both. And include yourself in that.

Eg
Isted made more errors which directly led to goals last season than Collins.

That is Bizzare tbh.
And to quote number of games as a reason. Equally bizzare.

Please remind me of all the goals that were caused by Isted errors.
Also we dont play the high Press that brought into play Collins coming out of his area. Look no further than Val for that. As it is his style not Duffs.

 

If we need the cash then I can't argue with that logic. I know we were substantially short last season and relied on a cash injection from the owners on more than once occasion (although I suspect that squeezing out unwanted partners is also a motivation behind that with the way it was done). If it's the same again this season then fair enough if we think we can get a decent transfer fee.

 

Is his standing particularly high? He's only ever played 22 league games, 19 of which were for us. And a further 23 in the National League. That's not a lot of game time for a 26 year old. Be surprised if he's been on the radar of many.

 

Vilified and glorified? Give over.. Very strong language for something that is at best a casual discussion. I don't see anyone saying Isted is the next Gigi Buffon in the same way nobody is saying Collins is awful. Both have their merits. Don't rewrite the script, people will always have a preference, but it's not a collective witchhunt against Collins and a collective glorification of Isted. I've defended Isted (which you reacted to at the time), but I've also said he probably could have saved the goal that sank us at Wembley. It's rarely a one-size-fits-all view that you're making it out to be where Isted and Collins are concerned (maybe a tiny minority are like that but it's not a collective view). I'd happily have either in goal come August.

 

I think the most difficult part of getting the Isted deal done, will be knowing whether we can sell Collins. I imagine if the club knew we'd be in this position, they might not even have triggered Collins' extra year.

Otherwise, Isted should be a doable deal. He might feel his form in recent months should increase his value a bit, but I don't see a raft of clubs coming in for him, and offering silly money. So we should be able to offer him a competitive pay and first team football at a club that he was already happy to be at.

As for who is the better keeper, like many, I'd be happy with either as our first choice. Collins strikes me as the sort of keeper that is better when kept busy. His stats for % chances saved was very high in the relegation season, but virtually non-existent in the season just gone. He's not great on crosses either. Isted looks a good shot stopper, and comes for crosses. Both have a mistake in them though.

If we can sign Isted on a free, and get a fee for Collins. It would seem a sensible approach.

 

I get that Jay. But he had to play second fiddle to first choices. It doesn't make him an inferior keeper to ours in my view. Luton fans rated him highly apparantly. Not getting on with his gaffer for not getting opportunities apparantly. Goalies traditionally find it difficult to force there way into sides. I'm guessing he regretted signing such a long contract at luton. Not given those opportunities.
I get that he only got his chance when Collins got injured. But he's grabbed his chance with both hands. (Forgive the pun) and Duff has stood by him even when Collins returned fit. It speaks volumes for me.
When some on here were wanting Brad back. Imho some of it was heart ruling head. Cos as 1 poster put it . Brad is our own player and No.1. So should be picked. Even for the final.
Duff chose differently and rightly so for me.
I cant escape the fact imo Isted is a better quality keeper. All round.
I hate criticism of one over the other. On mistakes etc as it doesn't prove anything other than all goalies make em.

 

Surprised to read criticism of Brad Collins. I think he’s been brilliant for us.

I don’t really have a preference. I rate them both but if you can get a fee for Collins & bring Isted in on a lower wage it makes sense to do so.

 

Agree with this. I'd probably rate Collins as slightly the better keeper but with only one year left on his contract and him not wanting to extend then it would make perfect sense to get a fee for him now and sign Isted on a lower wage.
We have to do what we can to raise cash to strengthen in other areas, particularly up front.

 

Collins is a good keeper. They both are, isted had his best game for us at Wembley although since coming he's been good apart from the odd blip mk dons and burton spring to mind and even Bolton 1st leg. But he put himself in the shop window at Wembley with some great saves. If we sold Collins who I expect is a big earner and signed isted it would be good business imo.

 

Both Harry and Brad are good keepers at this level. It's probably case of who has the gloves stays in until he's injured. Having said that, if we sign Isted he's more than likely going to be first choice which leaves Collins with a decision to make as I think Duff would like to keep them both if at all possible.

 

You make good points there.Also don't forget all the keepers you mentioned had supporters and critics,its the nature of the game.

 

How much do folk reckon we'd get for Collins ?
Obviously be undisclosed but I'm guessing around 400k unless big Val really wants him at Watford which might add a few more quid to his fee.

 

Got TBH and say if the emotion of him having played for us was removed and we were looking at another keeper with his experience etc I don’t think the financial side would be huge.

 

It shouldn't be huge really, half a season in league 1 albeit a good half season shouldn't warrant a huge outlay.