STFC Transfer Rumours

[iParadise]

although neither look solid, neither have cost us games so I suspect he will stick with what we have for now.

Not sure about that... Bycroft's cost us a load of points.

Every game when they're busy, they're making major mistakes.

Both are number two's at this level or National League South quality in my eyes.

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

Yeah I disagree, they've both cost us. Less so recently though.

[iParadise]

Yeah I disagree, they've both cost us. Less so recently though.

And that’s only because the defence has been better organised. Bycroft has still made mistakes recently against Birmingham and last Friday against Newport.

Bycroft seems to have this weird cult following from some fans, where they just can’t accept that he’s making mistakes. It’s bizarre.

[Peter Venkman]

Not sure about that... Bycroft's cost us a load of points.

Every game when they're busy, they're making major mistakes.

Both are number two's at this level or National League South quality in my eyes.

Not 100% certain we could say he cost us "loads of points" but he has certainly made some big errors in games.

Off the top of my head I don't know how many points he has (probably) cost us, but for a keeper you expect a couple of howlers a season but for me Bycroft has probably made 10 so far this term that could be attributed to his poor handling. How important those were I have no idea but I would think 6 to 9 points possibly?

[Pericardinho]

He's cost us points, no doubt about it.

However, it's bigger than that and not just about the howlers.

Every time the ball goes anywhere near him I shit myself. So fuck knows what our defenders are thinking.

So without even making an error, he's making the team nervous.

I'd send Barden back and get an experience #1 for Bycroft to learn off. Easier said than done I guess.

I think everybody wants Bycroft to succeed, but you have to call it for what it is. He's not been good.

[Batch]

Holloway seemed to suggest that there was interest in one of our players and it may or may not end up with the player leaving, he also seemed to suggest he was trying for a couple of players.

Did he? It didn't come across that way in the clip I heard. Is that from the Adver?

[Peter Venkman]

He's cost us points, no doubt about it.

However, it's bigger than that and not just about the howlers.

Every time the ball goes anywhere near him I shit myself. So fuck knows what our defenders are thinking.

So without even making an error, he's making the team nervous.

I'd send Barden back and get an experience #1 for Bycroft to learn off. Easier said than done I guess.

I think everybody wants Bycroft to succeed, but you have to call it for what it is. He's not been good.

Not disagreeing that Bycroft isnt good enough, thats obvious. I just couldnt call how many point he has cost us for his individual blunders, not so much when other defenders are also at fault.

FWIW I still think Bycroft could very well become a pretty good keeper in the future, just currently he isn't at a standard good enough for L2.

[Barrett17]

My issue with both keepers is that they don't dominate the box from crosses.

[Berniman]

Irrelevant of whether he has cost us points or not (which he has) his general inability to hold anything, or even attempt to hold anything is costing us.  He seems determined to come for the punch more often than the claim which is one problem, the second problem is when he makes a good save and is unable to hold the ball, 9 times out of 10 he pushes the ball away, and 9 times out of 10 he is pushing it out in front of him and more often than not to another opposition player.  He needs to work on pushing it wide, over, or closer to himself to give himself a chance to recover.  There is definite potential there and he is a Swindon lad which helps, he just needs some experience to help him develop.

He is also a lot more erratic than Barden, although the skill levels are very similar, i always feel a lot more relaxed when Barden is in goal.  Bycroft has a lot of Jordan Pickford/Joe Hart about him, without the skill/intelligence levels yet.

[THE FLASH]

Irrelevant of whether he has cost us points or not (which he has) his general inability to hold anything, or even attempt to hold anything is costing us.  He seems determined to come for the punch more often than the claim which is one problem, the second problem is when he makes a good save and is unable to hold the ball, 9 times out of 10 he pushes the ball away, and 9 times out of 10 he is pushing it out in front of him and more often than not to another opposition player.  He needs to work on pushing it wide, over, or closer to himself to give himself a chance to recover.  There is definite potential there and he is a Swindon lad which helps, he just needs some experience to help him develop.

He is also a lot more erratic than Barden, although the skill levels are very similar, i always feel a lot more relaxed when Barden is in goal.  Bycroft has a lot of Jordan Pickford/Joe Hart about him, without the skill/intelligence levels yet.

JJ should be let loose on this...tell us how many points we have dropped from Keeper errors.

There must of been a fair few from Kovar that ill fated season too....and he went on to play in a European Final!

[Berniman]

JJ should be let loose on this...tell us how many points we have dropped from Keeper errors.

There must of been a fair few from Kovar that ill fated season too....and he went on to play in a European Final!

Yeah, which is why i definitely feel that Bycroft is worth persevering with.  As well as costing us points he has also saved us points, especially when he came on the scene last season.  Would be great to develop him into a No.1 that is capable of being in place over a number of years.  Hopefully being a Swindon fan he might be more likely to stick around.  We probably haven't had stability in that postion over a long period since Wes, and that was a long time ago now.

[DV]

Both keepers have definitely cost us this season.

It’s League Two so you expect the odd howler but as has been said above it’s the complete lack of confidence in them. You get nervous any time the ball goes it.

They just both feel like ‘new age’ keepers. Who have been coached excessively in youth academies to recycle the ball, be good with your feet, possession but not actually how claim crosses, dominate the box, organise the defence, hold onto shot or if not push them wide & away from goal. You know the basics of goal keeping.

It’s not just the lower levels. Even if the Prem we see more keepers dicking about the ball & losing possession. It won’t be long before ‘proper’ goal keepers are extinct!

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

Bycroft seems to have this weird cult following from some fans, where they just can’t accept that he’s making mistakes. It’s bizarre.

Town fan, isn't he? Going to get cut some extra slack because of that. He's also 23 years old. A baby in keeper terms.

Having said that, you cannot ignore he is not a ready made league standard 1st choice goalkeeper.

[Batch]

There must of been a fair few from Kovar that ill fated season too....and he went on to play in a European Final!

(not at you specifically) I don't think anyone is writing Bycroft off, may be wrong, but he's not of the league 2 consistency yet. He's young, especially in keeper years (inverse dog years I think).

Question is whether we can survive without a new keeper now and address it in the summer. For me we are possibly a couple of unexpected defeats and a Harry Smith injury away from being sucked back in - but should be OK otherwise.

[DV]

…also as much as we all have a soft spot for Mildy - it is probably worth questioning how effective he is as a keeper coach & also debating whether someone who was a lower league keeper is even good enough to coach keepers to a better standard than he reached.