With the acknowledgment that this has now become an issue it deserves a thread of its own.

For me the biggest problem IE has now with Crellin/the goalkeeper position  (and it can be argued that he has added fuel to this one) is that of how he handles it from a personal perspective. As fans all we want to see is a keeper in goal who is confident, not making too many errors and showing progress.  Let’s be honest the majority of us don’t give a stuff if Crellin is dropped and how this affects him mentally as long as Bolton win.

Of course IE wants this too, but he also has the delicate situation of handling how BC is as a person, what’s best for him, regardless of whether  he still sees him as a keeper who has a bwfc future. It’s a balancing act. 

Because of IE outburst post Cambridge we’re in the unusual position, as fans, of knowing some of the managers true feelings about his keeper. We know he has doubts about him, he is well aware of the errors that he is making, but we also know he still has faith in his ability to become a good keeper at a professional level. 

So with this in mind what does he do this week? As a fan playing football manager on the computer, looking at his performances and stats I’m saying drop him Tuesday give Alexander/Gilks a go. 

But putting myself in IEs shoes I’m not sure that course of action is correct, especially if he still sees BC as having a bwfc future. It’s a risk, but if he wants to demonstrate  the faith he has in him, provide him with a confidence boost to bring the best out of him, he selects him Tuesday but IMO tells him regardless of how he plays he’ll be rested and out of the limelight for 10 days while he gives Alexander a chance in the cup game. That way he’s keeping all options open, including looking at free transfers/making room in the squad for a keeper back up.

The one liners; drop him, sack him, send him back to Fleetwood, shouldn’t put on a bwfc shirt again are easy soundbites. How he manages this situation and when he chooses to drop him/rest him/motivate him/find another keeper, will not only make a difference to a young players mental state/motivation but will also influence how this position affects our season. 

11 minutes ago, LeggyMountbatten said:

Crellin ranked 31/32 of all L2 keepers used this season.

I can only imagine his two saves from shit penalties are the only reason he's not #32

Just now, DazBob said:

I can only imagine his two saves from shit penalties are the only reason he's not #32

The keeper ranked below him is some YTS keeper from Oldham that played 45 mins when the senior keeper got injured.  If Evatt doesn't drop Crellin, he's going to get himself fired.

Not happening Crellin will be in the team tuesday though i see Baptiste to be on the bench.

29 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Not happening Crellin will be in the team tuesday though i see Baptiste to be on the bench.

I tend to agree, I don't see Crellin being replaced.  There is clearly no confidence in Alexander judging by the subs bench and the theory stated by others that Gilks simply isn't here to play matches rings true.  If Gilks replaced Crellin it would look like the teacher saying "I give up, just let me do it for you".  And IE stated early on Crellin was his No 1, to go back on that wouldn't look good either for IE or Crellin.  Not that it should matter - what matters is picking the best team available.

I think any future argument for or against IE staying or going (for another day), can almost come with the rider that if IE stays its IE-with-Crellin.  The debate then becomes do we want Evatt/Crellin or new manager/new keeper?  I might be completely wrong in 24 hours when the team's announced but that's my gut feeling.

Edited November 2, 20205 yr by Johnnyrotten
error

If BC was our keeper for longer than a season i could see reason to stick with him and try and build him up. He's not and was brought in to be first choice so if he's not up to the job there should be a replacement.

The fact that Phoenix and Evatt haven't brought one in is baffling.

24 minutes ago, frank_spencer said:

If BC was our keeper for longer than a season i could see reason to stick with him and try and build him up. He's not and was brought in to be first choice so if he's not up to the job there should be a replacement.

The fact that Phoenix and Evatt haven't brought one in is baffling.

Is an odd one, what if Crellin had broken his arm in the first game? There must be some scope for replacing him.

6 minutes ago, Mantra said:

Is an odd one, what if Crellin had broken his arm in the first game? There must be some scope for replacing him.

There's just nobody in the chain with any experience.

Crellin hardly any league experience and not much cop at Chorley.

Gilks. Never been a GK coach before Evatt brought him in.

Evatt. No coaching experience at League level . People go on about Sean Dyche but he worked as a Academy, Then No 2 for about 10 years.

Phoenix. About 6 months at Macc' That's it. Most fans only knew that he was there when he left.

Board level. Anyone with football experience?

So it's not surprising we are where we are.

See that our ex Jake Turner is getting some top reviews at Morecambe. He's a much better bet than Crellin and good on crosses.

 

10 minutes ago, passmosster said:

There's just nobody in the chain with any experience.

Crellin hardly any league experience and not much cop at Chorley.

Gilks. Never been a GK coach before Evatt brought him in.

Evatt. No coaching experience at League level . People go on about Sean Dyche but he worked as a Academy, Then No 2 for about 10 years.

Phoenix. About 6 months at Macc' That's it. Most fans only knew that he was there when he left.

Board level. Anyone with football experience?

So it's not surprising we are where we are.

See that our ex Jake Turner is getting some top reviews at Morecambe. He's a much better bet than Crellin and good on crosses.

 

Take your points but surely you don't need much football experience to know you need at least 2 solid choice GKs.

If Alexander and Gilks are really not fit to step in then that's a massive issue that's been overlooked, so my point is - Crellin can't be our only option to play as I don't think they (the board, Evatt, Phoenix) would've been that naive to only have one choice for GK.

Believe Kenyon has helped the board and he has plenty of experience. Phoenix, Evatt and Gilks all lacking experience yes but couldn't expect too much being in L2. I guess we could've gone for a Grayson or a Bowyer but think most fans were optimistic about the appointments at start of the season.

Maybe Evatt signed him after a couple of good saves in this game. Shame he didnt do a more thorough job scouting him. 
https://www.chorleyfc.com/2019/09/24/recap-barrow-h/

Alexander is even less experienced than Crellin, he won't be getting a league start any time soon. Yeah, he made some saves v Coventry, but adrenaline and it being that team's "moment" saw him through. Some slightly less generous linesmen in place and we lose 3-0 that day.

No keeper on bench is silly, but it would mean one of the five/six substitute defenders making way.

18 hours ago, Mantra said:

Is an odd one, what if Crellin had broken his arm in the first game? There must be some scope for replacing him.

He might be better playing with one arm as long as he doesn’t punch with the other one

18 hours ago, Mantra said:

Is an odd one, what if Crellin had broken his arm in the first game? There must be some scope for replacing him.

Think you can make an emergency loan signing for goal keepers . You could in the past May be breaking is arm would be a good option 

IEs comments do nothing to reduce concern.  Gilks is "stepping up training" - confirmation that he wasn;t previously considered as a 1st teamer, and with Alexander not being considered we went into the season with no competition for the goalie.  It seems bizarre that Gilks wasnt training at full throttle in the same way Alexander would.  And nobody can suggest physical fitness for a keeper has to be near that of outfield players anyway, so how unfit can he be?

IE also says mistakes "get highlighted when you lose games".  Well against Bradford we won, he kept a clean sheet, made a decent penalty save and still every Bolton fan knew he'd had a poor game.  And we got 2 decent enough draws at Barrow and Cambridge - no defeats in 3, but those were the games pre-Orient when it became obvious where the main problem lies.

I reckon a keeper needs to be very fit. The ability to fling themselves about and get up again as quickly as possible, to take hits whether on the ground on in the air, etc as well as mental strength to keep focused are all paramount. 

Perhaps Rudy may be able to offer more detail. 

Its not all Crellin fault our defence is just not right. Brockbank should not be lwb and Baptiste should not be anywhere near the team.

I

 

 

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

IEs comments do nothing to reduce concern.  Gilks is "stepping up training" - confirmation that he wasn;t previously considered as a 1st teamer, and with Alexander not being considered we went into the season with no competition for the goalie.  It seems bizarre that Gilks wasnt training at full throttle in the same way Alexander would.  And nobody can suggest physical fitness for a keeper has to be near that of outfield players anyway, so how unfit can he be?

 

You do spout some shit, but that really takes the biscuit... You still think they are the fat kids who get picked last? 

 

What a whopper 

Blob Wilson

Fat Jennings

Gorge On Banks

20 minutes ago, Dr Faustus said:

You do spout some shit, but that really takes the biscuit... You still think they are the fat kids who get picked last? 

 

What a whopper 

 Sorry for spouting shit but you dont have to read it.

I'm going off the fact that he's a professional footballer who was goes to training every day with the 1st team.  He was signed as a professional keeper a few months ago and as far as we're aware hasnt been injured, so he's already quite fit.  He's not been signed from Clitheroe vets league, he's come from a division above.

Brad Frydel

Gianluigi Buffet

Huge LLoris

as well as lonergan being a free agent , here's another -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Howarth

39 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

 Sorry for spouting shit but you dont have to read it.

I'm going off the fact that he's a professional footballer who was goes to training every day with the 1st team.  He was signed as a professional keeper a few months ago and as far as we're aware hasnt been injured, so he's already quite fit.  He's not been signed from Clitheroe vets league, he's come from a division above.

Its the fact you think keepers arent as fit as outfielders.