[bluepooch]

I was thinking more in terms of season long loans for the likes of Cameron Dawson and Jake Eastwood .When we were in for an emergency loan keeper I think Jack said something like clubs were virtually throwing keepers at them because they are desperate for them to get men's games ,No3 and No 4 keepers from bigger clubs .Judging by the 3 we have had in I'm not worried in that department.I agree we cannot make Anyon our No1 .

[Devongone]

I was thinking more in terms of season long loans for the likes of Cameron Dawson and Jake Eastwood .When we were in for an emergency loan keeper I think Jack said something like clubs were virtually throwing keepers at them because they are desperate for them to get men's games ,No3 and No 4 keepers from bigger clubs .Judging by the 3 we have had in I'm not worried in that department.I agree we cannot make Anyon our No1 .

I think you put your finger on the problem with bigger clubs, which is they actively block goalkeeper development. They have a first choice, then they sign an experienced, usually foreign, back-up to sit on the bench in case of emergency. Sometimes it turns out they have a former international from a small nation hidden away as third choice. So even when the first choice is injured, the youngster even if he has several age-group international caps is nowhere near the conservative choice managers permanently fearful of their jobs, always tend to make.

Jordan Pickford sat behind some none-too-brilliant keepers at Sunderland and only got a chance due to desperation and an injury crisis.

Big clubs cream off the best of the junior keeping talent. They then give it nowhere to develop. Eventually in his early twenties the keeper is palmed off to lower league football ........ and only then does he start to make the jump to the men's game. By that time he's lost years of knowledge and insight in favour of theoretical coaching. From the best in his age-group he's become just another fallible keeper hoping for a job in Division Two.