BACK TO BASICS!

[JamieE]

I believe he should have stopped the first and the fourth goals. Poor reactions for the first and he should have been out for the fourth, definitely.

[Dave]

This difficult as we seem to be disscussing very similar things on 2 different threads..should they merged?

As for Ricey interesting to see whether Dave S/G agree's with me or not, Ricey in my opinion can not be blamed for their first goal it was awful defending from Nicho who should have dealt with Tomlin and there should not have been shot to save, when a were the shot came from would have left most keepers needing a slice of luck to keep it out, a lot of keepers use what is known as the "K" leg stance to stop the ball from going through their legs, Ricey had no chance to get himself set in that time.

Second a deflection did Ricey no favours at all so would not put that goal down to him, 3rd and 4th goals yes in my opinion he could and should have stopped, no the cross should never come in for the 3rd, but it did and often does in a game the keeper is the last line of defence and the ball was in keepers territory, he should have come and palmed it away, if the ball doesn't reach the striker he can't score.

The 4th goal he started to come and stopped, that was his mistake he had time to come a kick the ball away, he knew it aswell not 5 minutes later same situation and Ricey came out like Bolt and did just that, decision making is a key element of goalkeeping and Ricey's decision making on the 3rd and 4th goals was schoolboy at best.

Yesterday I watched the pioneer league U-15 cup semi-final, I saw both keepers come out and deal with high balls into the 6 yrd box either caught or punched away, and one keeper had the same situation that led to the 4th goal, he came out and kicked the ball away, and I found it a real concern to think 15 year old keepers could make the right decsion and our no2 couldn't.

[ferrarilover]

I believe he should have stopped the first and the fourth goals. Poor reactions for the first and he should have been out for the fourth, definitely.

Poor reactions? Tomlin was 5 yards out and Ricey was unsighted by a defender.

He did come out for the fourth goal, and did a bloody good job of forcing Tomlin wide, it was only because Tomlin is so bloody quick that he managed to recover and stop the ball running out of play.

Matt.

[Dave]

Oh matt your defence of Ricey is admirable indeed even Lingy put the 4th down to Ricey, as said he came and stopped, if you look at the goal Tomlin pushed the ball some way ahead and did not have it under control, if Ricey doesn't stop he get's there first and then would not have had to push Tomlin wide.

Having watched the goals back I may however have done him a diss-service on the 3rd goal, Ricey lack of height may have been the cause, he does start to come but can't reach it.

[AlexGulls]

Lets face it Rice had one good game at Oxford. Even Jean Pierre Simb had a good game for us. He'll have the odd decent game but not enough to be classed as "good" at this level. Hes a non league keeper and certainly not a long term answer at any point.

[ferrarilover]

Ricey couldn't possibly have expected Tomlin to bobble his touch. If he comes haring out and Tomlin doesn't take the heavy touch and skips past him, he looks a right **** and you're all on here berating him for being hot headed.
Rice has played 2 FL games for us, had one impressive debut and one match where he was criminally let down by his defenders. I'm not suggesting we herald the boy as the next Peter Shilton, but let's at least give him a bloody chance.

Matt.

[stevegull]

Goalkeepers aren't the problem at the moment. Rice or Poke? It doesn't make much difference.

The problem is goals, and we're not getting any.

I wonder if we're suffering a form of 'second season syndrome' where teams have basically worked out and opposition teams just work out how to beat it and employ the same tactic every time they play us. It stifles our attack and makes our defence look terrible. Newcastle are also suffering with this well-known illness. Other popular examples include Reading's previous stint in the Premiership; first challenging for Europe before sinking out of the league the following campaign when people saw their strengths and worked against them.

The cure? Development of the system that got us this far; not a complete overhaul.

[AustrianAndyGull]

At the end of the day if we spent as much time attacking as we do defending then we probably wouldn't be having this debate. Ling is to blame for that and not Ricey. Ricey is what he is, not a very good keeper but he is what we have. The other lad Thompson may very well have a blinder if he got picked but as if Lingy is REALLY brave enough to do that? Don't be daft.

[tomogull]

Going back to Dannyrv's original post - yes, a good post Danny. I have full confidence and respect for Martin Ling & Shaun Taylor (as, I beiieve, do most of the contributors to Fans Forum). But I wish they would be a little more adventurous! Billy Bodin is Div 2's Fernando Torres of last season - can't do a thing right. He should be dropped to the bench for a few games and brought on for, say, the last half hour in the hope he can get back his confidence and form. I wonder what players sat on the bench and not getting a game think of a player playing so poorly yet picked week after week? Can't do much for team morale. Same with Nico who we all love, but he's going through a lean spell. Give him a break and give Tom Cruise a chance. Plus Howe AND Jarvis up front ...... and personally I would like to see Ashley Yeoman given more than the odd 10-15 minutes.

I'm a fairly frequent visitor to the Fans Forum and think that most (but not all) of the postings are constructive. I've decided to bite the bullet and post my own thoughts. As you might guess from my 'favourite player', I am, er, over 25 ....... !!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Welcome to the forum tomo. I'm with you about Yeoman, i'd like to see him given more game time.

[AlexGulls]

Ricey couldn't possibly have expected Tomlin to bobble his touch. If he comes haring out and Tomlin doesn't take the heavy touch and skips past him, he looks a right t**t and you're all on here berating him for being hot headed.
Rice has played 2 FL games for us, had one impressive debut and one match where he was criminally let down by his defenders. I'm not suggesting we herald the boy as the next Peter Shilton, but let's at least give him a bloody chance.

Matt The n00b.

As much as you try to defend him. Its pretty pointless. You think he's good thats your opinion. Some think he's poor thats there opinion. Theres no need to persistantly defend him all the time.

He had a poor game on Saturday. I thought he was at fault for a couple of the goals. He certainly could of gone towards the ball when Tomlin mis controlled it rather than stay on his line. I'd rather he make the effort for it because like others I think he would of beaten Tomlin to it if he did. I personally prefer Poke and dont have much faith in Rice (like a few others on here) I just dont think he's a good enough for this level.

On another note didnt Ling say we were going to be more attacking at home not long ago? So why have we all of a sudden reverted back to 4-5-1 at Home? He's said he's going to bring another defender in this week but thats not a problem area for us. We need either a Striker or a attack minded midfielder. If we have money to bring in a defender who wont play (Unless Saah or Downes get injured or suspended) then surely we could use that in an area we actually need someone? McKenzie has already shown in the game at Port Vale that when called upon he's more than capable of doing a job at covering.

[wivelgull]

Good to see someone who's favourite player is 'The Beast'. Were it not for Robin, and perhaps Tommy, then 'The Beast' would probably be mine, too.
The truth of the matter is: we need a midfielder: loan or buy, until we get one we'll be serving up the same old tedious, bring stuff. I will probably creak and groan my hundred mile journey to and from Plainmoor for the next home match; but if it's as bad as the others - then forget it for the foreseeable future. Give us some entertainment for God's sake!

[ferrarilover]

As much as you try to defend him. Its pretty pointless. You think he's good thats your opinion. Some think he's poor thats there opinion. Theres no need to persistantly defend him all the time.

He had a poor game on Saturday. I thought he was at fault for a couple of the goals. He certainly could of gone towards the ball when Tomlin mis controlled it rather than stay on his line. I'd rather he make the effort for it because like others I think he would of beaten Tomlin to it if he did. I personally prefer Poke and dont have much faith in Rice (like a few others on here) I just dont think he's a good enough for this level.

On another note didnt Ling say we were going to be more attacking at home not long ago? So why have we all of a sudden reverted back to 4-5-1 at Home? He's said he's going to bring another defender in this week but thats not a problem area for us. We need either a Striker or a attack minded midfielder. If we have money to bring in a defender who wont play (Unless Saah or Downes get injured or suspended) then surely we could use that in an area we actually need someone? McKenzie has already shown in the game at Port Vale that when called upon he's more than capable of doing a job at covering.

Oh, sorry, am I not behaving myself on YOUR forum?

If there's no need for me to defend him all the time, then there is no need for you (or anyone else) to attack him all the time, yet the VERY NEXT LINE of text that you post is a criticism. He could have gone towards the ball, but Tomlin would have undoubtedly have beaten him to it (I've just had another look and Tomlin is hardly busting a gut to get there) and then he would have had no chance to save it and a bloody good chance of being sent off for clattering into Tomlin, then we really would have been in trouble.

I want someone, anyone, to show me where, in his two performances at this level, that we has fallen so far below the required standard that you can say with any confidence at all that he isn't good enough. So far, I've seen lots of people simply state that he's not good enough, but provide me with nothing but speculative, inexpert opinion as to his failings in a game where he couldn't realistically have affected the outcome in any way, such was the performance of his team mates and the opposition.

Matt.

[AlexGulls]

Eh? I was merely stating that just because YOU think he's good doesnt mean everyones going to change there opinion on him. As I said its a matter of opinions. No one's really right or wrong in these things thats why there's debate all the time. As for Rice I'm not going to go on I thought he had a poor game compared to Oxford but thats just my opinion. I'll give him credit where credit's due but I do think he could of done better with a couple of there goals on Saturday. One of them as you've already said he had no chance with. Would Poke of done better? Who know's.

[Gullscorer]

AlexGulls, just a small point; you express yourself well but it may help others to understand you better if you remember that: 'could of gone' should be 'could have gone', 'should of beaten' should be 'should have beaten', 'could of done' should be 'could have done.' You get the idea? Or perhaps you're American..?? :~D