I’m expecting a pretty rapid response to this piece and obviously have the tin hat at the ready.
But occasionally I like to go where angels fear to tread – sorry about the cliche – and my subject this morning is Lukasz Fabianski.
Some may have noticed that I have mentioned this very briefly in ratings and before going on let me make it crystal that in general terms i am a big fan of our keeper.
But there is an aspect of a game that seriously frustrates me and that quite simply is his delivery.
I am no closet Man U fan but I do remember the brilliant Peter Schmeichel very well indeed and he would often prove to be the most offensive player in that great team of Sir Alex’s.
His rapid delivery to an in space player set United on their way to many brilliant counter attacks and victories.
Fab on the other hand is often the direct opposite and fails to release the ball for anything up to a minute or more, allowing the opposition to re-form and ensure that there will be no rapid piercing of their defence.
Goalkeepers are judged on their shot stopping more than any other aspect of their game but even at rising 36 it’s hopefully not too late for the Hammers stopper to see a free player and get things started a bit more quickly.
Beyond that? TOP MAN.
COYI
His kicking from the ground this season, and last season to be fair, has been really poor. I wonder if the desire to hold onto it for longer is a Moyes instruction so as to let Soucek get into position to head it from his kicks?
Trouble is it was the same with his delivery before Soucek
I think the quality of his delivery is the issue more than the timing. He finds touch with his kicks far too often. There’s not many I’d swap him for though.
I’m glad that you have mentioned this Hugh, it’s been niggling me for a while. We wait for the opposition to get back into position, then he releases the ball. But, he is still a top keeper. And for the money we paid, we got a bargain.
just keep the ball out the back of net. let the orther 10 players worry about the rest.
We should have already started enquiries for
Areola
Johnstone
Pope
It’s just smart planning.
Sadly we missed our chance with Henderson last summer.
Agree. Fabianski would make a great mentor for a young one
Totally agree, & the amount of times I have seen him launch a kick and it goes out for a throw in to the opposition! 😡
There seemed to be a big change against Sheffield Utd….he was releasing very quickly, with lots of throws out. Maybe that will be a positive result of playing without a recognized striker?
I get your point Hugh – one thing that it’s hard to judge when we’re not in the ground, and which I’ve missed most having to watch all the games on TV, is the poor quality of the editing so you often see a close-up of the goalkeeper holding the ball but cannot really see whether there are options open short and players screaming for the ball. As others have said, it is either a fundamental flaw in his game or a deliberate instruction, to ensure that the team are in shape and not caught by giving away the ball without having defensive pattern established. Given the genuine quality of his performances as a goalkeeper, and the fact that my recollection as with some of the other posts, is that this seems to have been something that is developed over the past 18 months rather than being a permanent feature of his game, is that this is a deliberate instruction from Moyes, just as the more rapid distribution on Monday night, may have been as a result of a weakness in Sheffield United’s ability to get back into position quickly.
Excellent comments Ridders. It’s not up to the goalkeeper to pick out a man 60 yards away with a pinpoint pass. Most long clearances take enough time getting where they are going for anyone in the vicinity to pick up or challenge for. As with any pass out from the goalie, it needs teammates looking and ready to receive. Always found it very frustrating when defenders pass the ball back to the keeper in anything but desperation. Keeper can’t pick it up and nobody wants it. So out it goes. Outfield player could have done that! We won’t find a better keeper anywhere at the moment. Fab indeed.
COYI
What Taffy said.
Yes definitely hugh ,totally agree ,,his delivery ,either kicking or throwing is not great…but like you say ,we will put up with it as long as he keeps clean sheets ….he is a solid keeper apart from that
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Definitely see that but for what we paid Fabianski has been best keeper in years. I think he showed it in Blades game how important he is but we do need to prepare for life without him. And a keeper who is better with his feet would be great, clubs look for that more in keeps then just shot stopping. I think even if Fab has a solid two years left in him we need to start scouting & looking bc won’t get a keeper of his class on a free & of we do will be because did homework prepared & not blind luck. Also think Anang should go on loan, Trott is good shot stopper but definitely needs work on distribution & Hegyi is very well rounded but young. Leeds leak slot of goals but Meslier is 20 & Emi Martinez I think was another massive mistake but Arsenal been keeper of season imo. They also let Dasilva go Gnabry, Bennacer, Szczesny for Peanuts Biliek, & more. Hopefully we keep hiring scouts, add to our Analytics & find a good Keeper who can come on before Fabianski is done.