[Archived] Paul Robinson

[Bing]

It's a bit of an irrelevant statistic, like the pass completion statistic. A midfield plodder who passes it sideways and backwards 5 yards will invariably have a better percentage than an adventurous player who looks to play through balls and create chances.

A goalkeeper who plays behind a watertight defence is going to facing a higher proportion of desperate pot shots from long distance that are comfortable to keep out. A keeper whose defence is a shambles and is constantly getting carved open is going to face one-on-one chances and strikers who have clear shots at goal - they're going to have to constantly pull off worldies to keep them out.

[Kelbo]

It's a bit of an irrelevant statistic, like the pass completion statistic. A midfield plodder who passes it sideways and backwards 5 yards will invariably have a better percentage than an adventurous player who looks to play through balls and create chances.

A goalkeeper who plays behind a watertight defence is going to facing a higher proportion of desperate pot shots from long distance that are comfortable to keep out. A keeper whose defence is a shambles and is constantly getting carved open is going to face one-on-one chances and strikers who have clear shots at goal - they're going to have to constantly pull off worldies to keep them out.

Exactly!!

[tony gale's mic]

It's a bit of an irrelevant statistic, like the pass completion statistic. A midfield plodder who passes it sideways and backwards 5 yards will invariably have a better percentage than an adventurous player who looks to play through balls and create chances.

A goalkeeper who plays behind a watertight defence is going to facing a higher proportion of desperate pot shots from long distance that are comfortable to keep out. A keeper whose defence is a shambles and is constantly getting carved open is going to face one-on-one chances and strikers who have clear shots at goal - they're going to have to constantly pull off worldies to keep them out.

That's very wrong and if you read your own post and looked at the table you'd realise that. It's a much more relevant statistic than pass completion.

Players have individual control over the passes they play and some players can choose to play adventurous passes and some can choose to just play sideways balls. Keepers don't have this choice.

Your explanation does have some logic behind it but then if you look at the table itself it doesn't reflect that at all. And if you look at the fact that defence has actually been one of our strongest points this season (bar one or two games) then that doesn't tally. Also some of Robbo's worst moments this season have been from speculative pot shots from distance.

We're not "lucky to have him", he's Premier League class but definitely lower half Premier League class. People are still blinded by the fact he's played for England. Has improved this season though and before the injury had a couple of cracking games.

[Eddie]

So are James, Jussi, Cech, Given and Howard bottom half keepers then? It's a statistic that could reveal a lot when broken down more, but in a basic form like that it doesn't mean a lot.

[tony gale's mic]

So are James, Jussi, Cech, Given and Howard bottom half keepers then? It's a statistic that could reveal a lot when broken down more, but in a basic form like that it doesn't mean a lot.

I said Robbo is a bottom half keeper not based on this table but based on a more subjective view (which is how it should be in football). However these stats help to back that assertion up, especially when last season's were similar as keepers' seasons can vary from season to season. Cech has been in decline for years, Jussi is not the keeper he was, Given and Howard are a bit too low here and would ordinarily be higher but I seem to recall most of the ones you named being higher last season. Robbo has been low down both seasons. Any statistical analysis you can find players who don't do as well as is fair but Robbo was even lower on this last year too and while other positions have far more parameters to their game, with keepers by far and away it's shot stopping that you judge more than anything.

[jim mk2]

Premier League class but definitely lower half Premier League class..

And the same could be said of Blackburn Rovers FC.

Robinson concedes goals such as cross-shots and shots from distance that a better keeper would save but he has also pulled off some outstanding saves this season. Unless the club discovers a pot of gold and is able to buy players of a higher class we should be happy to have players like Robinson at Ewood. Is Robinson a very good keeper ? Yes he is. Are we lucky to have him? Yes we are. Can we afford anyone better ? No we can't.

[Pedderz0912]

I agree totally he has been v.good overall this season that save v UTD against valencia was exceptional and please remember his performance over the last 5 games last season he did as much as any1 to ensure our survival - particularly at home to Wigan

May even get Player of Year.

[Hughesy]

Shots vs Stats can easily be skewed as others have pointed out.

Whether it be through how many 1 on 1's a keeper faces, or be it that teams score better goals against you....better stats would be things like penalty saves/ one on ones/ own goals/ goals conceded from free-kicks etc.

[DP]

Very poor benchmark IMO

Jensen saving 66% of 200 saves is arguably much better than Van der Sar's 80% of 61 saves. And arguably it isn't. Stats for you.

Even with James it could be argued that like the rest of the Pompey team he's probably only be half motivated for a lot of games this season. Sad, but more than likely true.

Freidal does stand out though, and Villa have kept a pretty mean defence this season as well. I'll give em that one.

[Majiball]

Even with James it could be argued that like the rest of the Pompey team he's probably only be half motivated for a lot of games this season. Sad, but more than likely true.

I've never really understood comments like this, but its a sad reflection of the game. Not motivated to do a job that almost the whole country would kill to be capable of doing. Even if they are extrinsically motivated the 60 odd grand a week would have me chomping at the bit every week. Footballers are so out of touch with reality these days.

[Hughesy]

The only reason James may not be motivated is because he wanted to jump ship earlier in the season. Poor excuses for being a crap keeper!

[Majiball]

The only reason James may not be motivated is because he wanted to jump ship earlier in the season. Poor excuses for being a crap keeper!

Well that makes sense, I want out so need a transfer so I'll play like a monkey to get teams interested in me???? James is not what he was and would rather entertain local footballers with his glory stories in Timepiece in Exeter.

[DeadlyDirk]

To be honest I haven't seen a lot of James this year but I'd imagine he's been doing everything he can with it being World Cup year, if that's not going to motivate him then nothing will.

[S15]

I've never really understood comments like this, but its a sad reflection of the game. Not motivated to do a job that almost the whole country would kill to be capable of doing. Even if they are extrinsically motivated the 60 odd grand a week would have me chomping at the bit every week. Footballers are so out of touch with reality these days.

Or the bloke who wrote the post this quote is in response to is out of touch with reality?

[Amo]

There's a rumour that if Arsene Wenger cannot land his first target (Sunderland's Craig Gordon), he'll turn attention to Robbo this summer.

Thoughts?

[Bobby G]

If they give us 10 million, Id take it.

I wouldnt put much in that rumor as I doubt Gordon is his first choice anyway. Far better keepers out there if they have the cash.

[OsloRover]

There's a rumour that if Arsene Wenger cannot land his first target (Sunderland's Craig Gordon), he'll turn attention to Robbo this summer.

Thoughts?

Doesn't Robbo care a bit too much for Spurs to go there?

[Hughesy]

£10m no less....otherwise no thanks.

Fantastic today - deserves to be on the plane to SA

[Amo]

£10m? What planet you on?

[Bobby G]

If Capello chooses 4 keepers in his 30 then Robinson deserves to be one of the 4 for sure. But somehow I feel Capello made up his mind on Robbo ages ago.

[thenodrog]

If Capello chooses 4 keepers in his 30 then Robinson deserves to be one of the 4 for sure. But somehow I feel Capello made up his mind on Robbo ages ago.

Capello's not the only one.

[doctorryan]

There's a rumour that if Arsene Wenger cannot land his first target (Sunderland's Craig Gordon), he'll turn attention to Robbo this summer.

Thoughts?

Tell him to go sit on a stick of dynamite.

[Amo]

I don't think Robbo is an outstanding candidate for SA. England have plenty of decent shot-stoppers who are prone to rushes of blood, it's just bad luck that Robbo is the one left out this time.

[philipl]

Gordon Banks perplexed by Robinson's omission by Capello

[John]

Looking back, Robinson came on stronger during the season and was a major influence in our good run of form in the later half of the season.

He looked shaky, and not convincing, until December but after that has def improved.

Like his attitude and seems a decent fella too!