Liam Roberts..

I think he's been good for us this season, but gk is one spot where the new manager may want a say depending on style of play.

 

Reading this it doesn’t sound too much to me like he’s coming back.

 

We were interested in signing the Bradford City keeper at the start of the season .
Who is now out of contract , or as he signed a new deal or moved on without me realising this.

 

He's at Carlisle, I think.

 

I'd have him back but he wasn't great towards the end.

 

I still have nightmares about Charltons free kick.

 

Killip played 15 games and let in 24 goals for a goals per game conceded of 1.6.
Roberts played 40 games and let in 58 goals for a goals per game conceded of 1.45.

Nothing in it between them and Killip had to cope with three guys in front of him of McCarthy, Shepherd and Lopata who were deemed not good enough.

 

He is, my mate from Bradford text me to confirm.

 

That's very interesting stats.
Must say I am surprised.

 

I wouldn’t be at all upset to sign Roberts - we know he’s more than ok; capable of man of the match performances and big saves, though equally able to get his positioning wrong (Charlton free kick, Bolton’s opener in the Oakwell playoff game) - and he’s pretty weak on crosses for a big lad. He’s also pretty poor with the ball at his feet compared to most modern day keepers - and even compared to Killip.

Overall we could do much worse and could set up to minimise the effect of his weaknesses - but if the new gaffer wants a high line for the defence and someone mopping up behind from a high starting position, as Brad Collins used to for example, then he’d not be the right pick.

It’s not a signing where I’d be unhappy whether it happened or not. We know as an out and out shot stopper he’s got it in him, but also know he can be streaky on form and has weaknesses. Whoever we sign in this division on our budget won’t be perfect. You can see why we potentially would want him - and also why we wouldn’t. We need the gaffer in to see what the priority is.

 

Except a defence including Shepherd and Lopata was statistically our best last season by quite some distance.

 

I am not surprised, Killip got loads of stick on here for letting in goals at near post but only one of those was his fault imo. Roberts on the other hand didn't get half as much stick for his mistakes of which there were a number.

 

In view of the many very poor performances of our defence, if we hadn't sent them out on loan, there would surely have been a chance they would both have figured in some games later in the season. Shepherd, in particular, at least looks like a centre -half.

 

I might be in a minority here, but I think most of our defenders have the potential to be more than decent at this level, but as we well know, who they have around them and how they're set up is vital. I don't think we need any major surgery at the back. An experienced head like Marc Roberts plus some better defensive coaching and we'll be fine. If Conor does indeed join us then that would increase our chances of tempting Robbo back I'd have thought.

 

You may well be right, though I think our regular defenders seemed to lack aerial ability, pace and strength.

 

Our Goalkeeper is not our number one priority.
I would say another brick s%!t house Defender alongside Pines.
Our defending from corners and free kicks was the worst in many of seasons.
That wasn't always down to the coaching.
But watching opposing players in the box having free headers ,due to zonal marking in my opinion was.

 

All three better than those who we ended the season with. Horrendous decision to ship them all out and replace them

 

Apart from that they were pretty good

 

Looks to be signing for Millwall.

They are also signing the Lincoln keeper Jensen so assume Roberts will be there as back up

 

100% yes