[Archived] Paul Robinson

[JAL]

I do suppose I am hoping he will get better. Or that we can sell him for a nice amount and get Joe Hart. Well, we can dream.......................

Anyway, what has happened to Kaspar Schmeichel? He had a period when he was looking pretty good for Citeh, and then he disappeared. I'm not advocating a move, I'm just curious.

Kasper was completely over hyped by the media purely because of who his dad was, you'll be very lucky to see him again, if he ever plays top flight football again.

[Hasta]

What's your point?

I don't blame Robinson for the first goal. If the ball breaks kindly for Rooney 8 yards out you expect he is going to beat you. However you don't have to be a goalkeeping rocket scientist to work out that if you spread your arms and make yourself big then you've more chance of stopping that kind of chance than if you pull your arms in and make yourself smaller. That's something that a goalkeeper should be able to learn.

OK folks, any keeper who saved the first goal would have been LUCKY. Nothing else. It would have had to have been a case of Rooney hitting it right at him. Nothing to do with skill. Nothing to do with reaction times. Nothing to do with positioning.

Spreading yourself as a goalkeeper in that situation is nothing to do with luck. It's reactions and ability. As I said at the time you can't blame Robinson for the goal. However he could have improved his chances of stopping it by making himself as big as possible. I'm making a simple point which is blatantly obvious. You seem to not want to admit it.

[RevidgeBlue]

I thought both keepers did very well today, Robinson made a couple of cracking reflex saves first half, albeit on one of them the flag had gone up and Brown dealt very confidently with several crosses in the second half and pulled off a great late save to salvage the win in the last minute of injury time.

In my view the criticism of Robinson on here has gone so over the top it's beyond a joke. For starters there's nothing any keeper could have done about either goal at Old Trafford.

[Tris]

There has been a debate here on what constitutes a keeper saving his side the game - look no further than Jason Brown today. That's what you call a keeper you can count on, one who can pull out something like that save in the end.

I'd rather we stuck with him.

To be honest, Brown has been an excellent shot stopper. He gives me more confidence than Robinson, without a doubt.

Don't understand these posts at all. There's a reason why Brown has only worn the shirt 7 times in almost 3 years under 3 managers - he's not a top drawer keeper.

Sure, he's ok and hasn't let anyone down when he has been called upon - including today (although he made a couple of bizarre decisions which could have been more costly). But IMO he's well below the standard of Robinson and Bunn.

Robinson today was in fantastic form - if he's not mended for Wednesday then Mark Bunn needs an instant recall from his loan.

I'm looking forward to those people who have managed to pick holes in Paul Robinson's recent performances giving their similarly (un)biased analysis of Brad Friedel's performance for Villa today - using the same criteria they use when judging our own number 1 keeper.

[Presty On Tour]

Any news on the Robbo injury?

If he's unavailable for Everton midweek, Bunn will definitely be recalled.

Think it will be a difficult choice who will play between Bunn and Brown. Personally I would pick Bunn but Sam I think will opt for Brown as he has prem experience.

[thenodrog]

There has been a debate here on what constitutes a keeper saving his side the game - look no further than Jason Brown today. That's what you call a keeper you can count on, one who can pull out something like that save in the end.

I'd rather we stuck with him.

That last minute goal attempt was not difficult in all seriousnes.

[thenodrog]

........ I'm looking forward to those people who have managed to pick holes in Paul Robinson's recent performances giving their similarly (un)biased analysis of Brad Friedel's performance for Villa today - using the same criteria they use when judging our own number 1 keeper.

I don't think Freidel could be blamed for either of Stoke's goals today Tris. Villa's midfield and defence certainly but Brad no.

In my view the criticism of Robinson on here has gone so over the top it's beyond a joke. For starters there's nothing any keeper could have done about either goal at Old Trafford.

Simon, the positioning of himself, the wall and Warnock at OT was absolutely awful. If he'd done those basics right we'd have a point more today.

[Mr. E]

Don't understand these posts at all. There's a reason why Brown has only worn the shirt 7 times in almost 3 years under 3 managers - he's not a top drawer keeper.

Sure, he's ok and hasn't let anyone down when he has been called upon - including today (although he made a couple of bizarre decisions which could have been more costly). But IMO he's well below the standard of Robinson and Bunn.

Robinson today was in fantastic form - if he's not mended for Wednesday then Mark Bunn needs an instant recall from his loan.

I'm looking forward to those people who have managed to pick holes in Paul Robinson's recent performances giving their similarly (un)biased analysis of Brad Friedel's performance for Villa today - using the same criteria they use when judging our own number 1 keeper.

The reason is that we had Brad Friedel and then spent 3 million on a recent English international - not that Brown's not good enough. He has chinks in his game too, but if he becomes a regular starter he would have the chance to smooth them out. He seems a lot more confident and decisive in the air than Robinson, that much I know.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Don't understand these posts at all. There's a reason why Brown has only worn the shirt 7 times in almost 3 years under 3 managers - he's not a top drawer keeper.

Sure, he's ok and hasn't let anyone down when he has been called upon - including today (although he made a couple of bizarre decisions which could have been more costly). But IMO he's well below the standard of Robinson and Bunn.

Robinson today was in fantastic form - if he's not mended for Wednesday then Mark Bunn needs an instant recall from his loan.

I'm looking forward to those people who have managed to pick holes in Paul Robinson's recent performances giving their similarly (un)biased analysis of Brad Friedel's performance for Villa today - using the same criteria they use when judging our own number 1 keeper.

Just interested...what are you basing Bunn being better than Brown on - one match verus Blyth, reserve team football or past league experience?

Not having a go, just wondering if it is worth recalling Bunn if he is only going to sit on the bench.

[Iceman]

The problem is, if we dont recall Bunn then who will be our 2nd choice keeper for the Everton game?Fielding(is he still here) is not what we want on the bench for a relegation scrap should Brown get injured, and Nielsen we just sold to City. So i think Bunn will return on Wednesday, if Robbo is ruled out.

[Paul]

There has been a debate here on what constitutes a keeper saving his side the game - look no further than Jason Brown today. That's what you call a keeper you can count on, one who can pull out something like that save in the end.

I'd rather we stuck with him.

Is your dislike of Paul Ince so great you can't even consider a player he signed might have some good points? I never worry when Robinson is in the side, nor Brown on the few occassions we see him (that's the purpose of a reserve keeper) and to cite Brown's save today as evidence is ridiculous. I tuned in to MOTD expecting to see something truely spectacular. What we got was a good save but only one most would expect a PL keeper to make. One that any keeper would have been criticised for not making.

I don't think you ever go to Ewood (you're always posting when the matches are on) so won't have seen either Robinson or Brown live. I've seen all Brown's home matches and he's good, no doubt about it. I've also seen all Robinson's and based on that would ask you to name a better keeper we could realistically have signed last summer. Only possibility I can think of is Green from WHU who was reportedly unhappy in the summer, though I've not seen him play on a regular basis.

Take off the anti-Ince glasses.

[JAL]

The reason is that we had Brad Friedel and then spent 3 million on a recent English international - not that Brown's not good enough. He has chinks in his game too, but if he becomes a regular starter he would have the chance to smooth them out. He seems a lot more confident and decisive in the air than Robinson, that much I know.

Sorry Mr.E but when ever i've seen Jason Brown in the air it becomes a weakness of his, keeping his feet on the ground stopping shots are definitely his strengths.

[tony gale's mic]

I don't think you ever go to Ewood (you're always posting when the matches are on) so won't have seen either Robinson or Brown live. I've seen all Brown's home matches and he's good, no doubt about it. I've also seen all Robinson's and based on that would ask you to name a better keeper we could realistically have signed last summer. Only possibility I can think of is Green from WHU who was reportedly unhappy in the summer, though I've not seen him play on a regular basis.

Take off the anti-Ince glasses.

Most of us only realistically know Premier League keepers well and a few prominent European ones...apart from those from outside England who might know the ones in their league. If Ince had sent the scouts out then I think we could've found much better keepers playing elsewhere. We certainly wouldn't have suggested the likes of Friedel or even John Filan (who was considerably better than Robbo IMO) before they arrived at Rovers. £3.5 million is actually a fair whack to pay for a goalkeeper, since the 8th most expensive keeper of all time (tied between Reina, VdS in 1999, Kirkland) cost £6 million.

The first Robbo save yesterday was magnificent. But as I've said previously, the combination of the fact he still hasn't produced a single match winning performance this season (you expect at least two or three from your keeper over the course of the season) and the fact statistically he ranks as one of the poorest shot stoppers in the league adds weight to people saying he's just not quite good enough.

I would say though that the Brown save yesterday wasn't anything out of the ordinary and I would've thought Robbo would have stopped that too.

[modes98]

There's a reason why Brown has only worn the shirt 7 times in almost 3 years under 3 managers - he's not a top drawer keeper.

if he's not mended for Wednesday then Mark Bunn needs an instant recall from his loan.

To true. Unfortunately the guy is to short and wide to become a top draw premiership keeper. He is an average backup but you need the height and reach to be a premiership keeper normally.

Bunn must be recalled, even if Robinson is passed fit, for me.

[Tris]

Most of us only realistically know Premier League keepers well and a few prominent European ones...apart from those from outside England who might know the ones in their league. If Ince had sent the scouts out then I think we could've found much better keepers playing elsewhere.

Where is anyone going to send their scouts in the middle of July? The Icelandic league?

[ABBEY]

Where is anyone going to send their scouts in the middle of July? The Icelandic league?

there was this one time at band camp.........

[Majiball]

Most of us only realistically know Premier League keepers well and a few prominent European ones...apart from those from outside England who might know the ones in their league. If Ince had sent the scouts out then I think we could've found much better keepers playing elsewhere. We certainly wouldn't have suggested the likes of Friedel or even John Filan (who was considerably better than Robbo IMO) before they arrived at Rovers. £3.5 million is actually a fair whack to pay for a goalkeeper, since the 8th most expensive keeper of all time (tied between Reina, VdS in 1999, Kirkland) cost £6 million.

Robinson has one advantage I can think off, he speaks English. Any keeper coming from abroad would have to learn the language and whilst not normally a issue considering the role he plays it is important.

Robinson's ability to talk with his defenders from the off meant he would require less time to "gel" into the defensive unit. As such they would presumably/possibly be ready for the start of the season. Its all very well saying we could have signed him or him, but you have to remember we signed him on the 25th July and only had till the 16th August to "gel" them. He had to speak English, so our options just got seriously reduced.

If you really want to keep on comparing Brad and Robbo, I'd like to suggest a different angle. Since there's almost 10 years between them perhaps we should look at what Brad had achieved in the game by the same age as Robbo? And so on, or we could wait and see what the new guy (head doctor) can do with him? I've long said he's just suffering from lack of confidence lets see, if now with trained, experienced help he can get back to nearer his best. Sam obviously feels its a serious issue in the squad (I do too, it explains our 1 half syndrome), so lets give it till the end of the year (we can't do anything about it anyway) and see how Robbo is doing then, as there will no longer be any excuses.

I feel Robbo is getting a bum ride and blame where its not necessarily just him who was part of the reason. The critic aimed at him since the united game is over the top, I notice Nelsen's (I think it was him) miss seems to have died a death (best chance of the game and no different to passing a ball 10 yards), if he scores that, we probably get a point.

[Amo]

Where is anyone going to send their scouts in the middle of July? The Icelandic league?

Intertoto Cup? Pre-season friendlies?

[tony gale's mic]

Robinson has one advantage I can think off, he speaks English. Any keeper coming from abroad would have to learn the language and whilst not normally a issue considering the role he plays it is important.

Robinson's ability to talk with his defenders from the off meant he would require less time to "gel" into the defensive unit. As such they would presumably/possibly be ready for the start of the season. Its all very well saying we could have signed him or him, but you have to remember we signed him on the 25th July and only had till the 16th August to "gel" them. He had to speak English, so our options just got seriously reduced.

If you really want to keep on comparing Brad and Robbo, I'd like to suggest a different angle. Since there's almost 10 years between them perhaps we should look at what Brad had achieved in the game by the same age as Robbo? And so on, or we could wait and see what the new guy (head doctor) can do with him? I've long said he's just suffering from lack of confidence lets see, if now with trained, experienced help he can get back to nearer his best. Sam obviously feels its a serious issue in the squad (I do too, it explains our 1 half syndrome), so lets give it till the end of the year (we can't do anything about it anyway) and see how Robbo is doing then, as there will no longer be any excuses.

I feel Robbo is getting a bum ride and blame where its not necessarily just him who was part of the reason. The critic aimed at him since the united game is over the top, I notice Nelsen's (I think it was him) miss seems to have died a death (best chance of the game and no different to passing a ball 10 yards), if he scores that, we probably get a point.

That thing about English is nonsense. "Any keeper coming from abroad"?! American, Australian, Canadian (all of whom have keepers in this league) all speak English obviously. Then pretty much anyone from Northern Europe or Scandinavia is able to speak English. The only issues in English lie in French/Southern Europeans and South Americans, but if any of them have played in multinational teams outside of their home country chances are that they would've needed to learn some English too. If we're talking up Robbo's abilities at English, then we really are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

If you really want to keep on comparing Brad and Robbo

Pretty much all my posts on Robbo have been comparing him against the other keepers in the league and the teams around us, which he comes off poorly against. I only mentioned Brad (and Filan) as an example that with a bit of knowledge/scouting (Souness knew Brad from his days in Turkey), it should be possible to find players most of us fans havent heard of, so making the argument "who would you have bought then?" completely redundant. I daresay most Man U fans hadn't heard much of the likes of Ronaldo and Vidic before they signed them either.

But if you want to make comparisons between the career trajectories of Robbo and Brad, it's completely unfair on Brad to do that. Brad's career has hardly followed a normal trajectory. He started at UCLA playing college "soccer", didn't leave till 23, tried to get work permits in England but failed, went to Galatsaray, must have done excellently there for Souness to want to bring him back eventually. He then tried to get a work permit in England again, was denied again, went to the States for a season, then went to Liverpool, made a couple of errors and was never given another chance, till we signed him (after having our initial WP applications turned down yet again) and the rest was history.

Robbo was blooded straight into the most promising young team at the country at the time, was given his chance to shine in the Champions' League at an early age, moved to another big club in Spurs when things went wrong there, and screwed it up for himself by making a truckload of errors and hasn't been the same since. He's also had the good luck of being around at the time when there's been no single outstanding English keeper, thus allowing him to pick up so many caps.

As den pointed out before, he's not even making that many howling errors these days so it can't just be a confidence thing. It's been almost 3 years since he made those high profile errors so it's highly optimistic to think a few months with a sports psychologist will change that.

[thenodrog]

Where is anyone going to send their scouts in the middle of July? The Icelandic league?

Well he shouldn't have been in such an all fired rush to show Freidel the door should he!

If he'd had the balls to come in as I suggested and inform all that nobody leaves this close season then maybe he'd still be in a job....... perish the thought.

[AggyBlue]

Well he shouldn't have been in such an all fired rush to show Freidel the door should he!

Yawn

[Stuart]

In an innovative move, the 26-year-old admitted that watching Spurs players take spot-kicks on goalkeeping coach Eric Steele's iPod after extra-time had helped him during the penalty shoot-out.

Makes you wonder what might have happened if we had been able to hang on to Eric Steele instead of trading him in for an inexperienced full back. Sickening that MU are reaping the benefits. Bringing Eric Steele in was probably one of the better things to happen during the Ince tenure. Add to that the great run Van Der Sar is (still) on...

[Jan]

Bringing Eric Steele in was probably one of the better things to happen during the Ince tenure.

You mean "the one good thing".

[Fife Rover]

Robinson has one advantage I can think off, he speaks English. Any keeper coming from abroad would have to learn the language and whilst not normally a issue considering the role he plays it is important.

Robinson's ability to talk with his defenders from the off meant he would require less time to "gel" into the defensive unit. As such they would presumably/possibly be ready for the start of the season. Its all very well saying we could have signed him or him, but you have to remember we signed him on the 25th July and only had till the 16th August to "gel" them. He had to speak English, so our options just got seriously reduced.

If you really want to keep on comparing Brad and Robbo, I'd like to suggest a different angle. Since there's almost 10 years between them perhaps we should look at what Brad had achieved in the game by the same age as Robbo? And so on, or we could wait and see what the new guy (head doctor) can do with him? I've long said he's just suffering from lack of confidence lets see, if now with trained, experienced help he can get back to nearer his best. Sam obviously feels its a serious issue in the squad (I do too, it explains our 1 half syndrome), so lets give it till the end of the year (we can't do anything about it anyway) and see how Robbo is doing then, as there will no longer be any excuses.

I feel Robbo is getting a bum ride and blame where its not necessarily just him who was part of the reason. The critic aimed at him since the united game is over the top, I notice Nelsen's (I think it was him) miss seems to have died a death (best chance of the game and no different to passing a ball 10 yards), if he scores that, we probably get a point.

I feel that you are being a little hard on our gallant captain there. I suspect that what he did was use the far post as an aiming point in an effort to make the ball unreachable to their keeper, and unfortunately for us his aim was just too accurate. I know because I have done the same thing myself on numerous occasions.

[Majiball]

That thing about English is nonsense. "Any keeper coming from abroad"?! American, Australian, Canadian (all of whom have keepers in this league) all speak English obviously. Then pretty much anyone from Northern Europe or Scandinavia is able to speak English. The only issues in English lie in French/Southern Europeans and South Americans, but if any of them have played in multinational teams outside of their home country chances are that they would've needed to learn some English too. If we're talking up Robbo's abilities at English, then we really are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Pretty much all my posts on Robbo have been comparing him against the other keepers in the league and the teams around us, which he comes off poorly against. I only mentioned Brad (and Filan) as an example that with a bit of knowledge/scouting (Souness knew Brad from his days in Turkey), it should be possible to find players most of us fans havent heard of, so making the argument "who would you have bought then?" completely redundant. I daresay most Man U fans hadn't heard much of the likes of Ronaldo and Vidic before they signed them either.

But if you want to make comparisons between the career trajectories of Robbo and Brad, it's completely unfair on Brad to do that. Brad's career has hardly followed a normal trajectory. He started at UCLA playing college "soccer", didn't leave till 23, tried to get work permits in England but failed, went to Galatsaray, must have done excellently there for Souness to want to bring him back eventually. He then tried to get a work permit in England again, was denied again, went to the States for a season, then went to Liverpool, made a couple of errors and was never given another chance, till we signed him (after having our initial WP applications turned down yet again) and the rest was history.

Robbo was blooded straight into the most promising young team at the country at the time, was given his chance to shine in the Champions' League at an early age, moved to another big club in Spurs when things went wrong there, and screwed it up for himself by making a truckload of errors and hasn't been the same since. He's also had the good luck of being around at the time when there's been no single outstanding English keeper, thus allowing him to pick up so many caps.

As den pointed out before, he's not even making that many howling errors these days so it can't just be a confidence thing. It's been almost 3 years since he made those high profile errors so it's highly optimistic to think a few months with a sports psychologist will change that.

I'm sure you'll say its nonsense, but perhaps you could back that up with some personal experience/qualified statement? Just so you know I have moved abroad twice (so have been a person who doesn't have clue whats being said as I can't keep up), also we get 100's of forgein students coming here and they still struggle after over a year or so, its not easy.

I take it you have plenty of experience with people who come to this country and can't communicate, its not as easy as you think, trust me. Accents, local colloquialisms and so on all make it very hard if your armed with school learnt English, even the scandinavians struggle as do the europeans (we have a lot of french and dutch people at our uni).

"any keeper coming from abroad" was used as a general statement, you'll notice the quality of the football in the countries you suggest is not the best.

The point I made was that the defensive unit has to gel and they had less than a month to do it, don't you think it would be easier/better if the keeper speaks English fluently as opposed to using an interpretor or demonstration? one less hurdle?

If you really don't think that having English as a fluent language is not important given the timescale to the start of the season, then thats up to you. Communication is not important in football is it?

You did not use Brad and John as an example you made a point of bracketing that filan was better in your opinion, thats called comparing people, just so you know.

Sorry but using Ronaldo and Vidic as examples of un knowns, is perhaps not the best. Both where very well known about long before they signed for United maybe not in this country but anyone who follows even europe from a distance should have heard about them. You don't seem to apprieciatte the circumstances we as a club had, any new keeper would have to slot straight in, gel instantly and not be a risk financially. The only other realsitic option was Carson, TBH.

Yes I do say "so who would you have bought" but I like to offer solutions when I see problems. I've even gone as far to speak with the chairman over our academy (my bone of contention), perhaps you should go discuss Robbo with him?

Glad to see you bite on the Robbo and Brad compassion, and its interesting to see you say its unfair on Brad to do so. But yet you persist in doing it with Robbo, you can't pick and choose. You also say that Brad made a couple of errors at Liverpool and wasn't given a chance, Is that not exactly what you are doing with Robbo? Even the way you've written about their careers shows you have a dislike for Robbo, Brads is written sympathetically and well Robbo's is hardly flaterring given what he has achieved. Point proven in that you insinuate Robbo was undeserving of his caps as he was un-oppossed, so lets twist it round how much competition did brad have? Does that mean he's undesvering of his caps too or any player in similiar circumstances?

Robbo was picked for england because he was the best, he deserves those caps. If you ever reach the pinacile of your profession please drop me a line so I can diminish your achievements as you do Robbo's, disgraceful statement. I take it that if you achieved 41 caps for england you'd tell everyone that you only got them because you where the best of bad bunch, ###### would you.

I could understand it if you did this sort of thing with all our players IE comparing their stat's with others in their positions and so on, but you only do it with Robbo, why? I'm sure there's quite a few of our players who would not be up near the top this year and yet you say nothing about them, again why?

Psychology is a tricky matter, but as with most issues you get a cascade effect one problem builds into another, again its not as simple as you write it. Just because he's stopped making howlers does not mean everything is alright on the farm. I have good experience/contacts in the field of sports psychology and I know what a difference it makes and how blinkered people can be to the solutions/cause. I don't think its unrealistic to see results IE improved performance with only a few months, sometimes it only takes a few sessions.

If Sam thought there could be no results in a few months I guess he wouldn't have made getting one in a priority, but he did.

I feel that you are being a little hard on our gallant captain there. I suspect that what he did was use the far post as an aiming point in an effort to make the ball unreachable to their keeper, and unfortunately for us his aim was just too accurate. I know because I have done the same thing myself on numerous occasions.

So apply that logic to Robbo. I'm not trying to be hard on Nelsen but am trying to point out that not just Robbo should be blamed for us getting nothing at United.