01 Aug 2018 09:55:16
Want to kick off a bit of a debate about our GK options.

If the rumours in the press are to be believed, both Migs and Karius could depart.

If that happened, would you be happy to have Gabara and Kelleher as our No2 and No3 keepers? Also rumours about a 20yo man mountain from Barnet - Kai McKenzie-Lyle - who's been on trial with us. 6'7" and a couple of Ghana caps, but he's only 20 and has come from non-league.

If a more experienced backup to Alisson, who would you go for?

My personal view? Its a toughie, but on balance, I would be fine with Gabara and Kelleher. Yes its a risk, albeit a much smaller one that with a key outfield position, and we have all bemoaned how, for example, Ward never got the chance. So let's see if the 'kids' can step up!


1.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 10:06:48
by all accounts not a bad prospect
and lol he is from Guyana in the West Indies
Think he has played a couple of under 23 games for us already.


2.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 10:08:33
I would like to see an experienced keeper come in. Could also help in the coaching and advice to the 2 young guys.


3.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 10:20:18
Good question Z think experience is essential but who is a good question mate.


4.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 10:20:42
Need another decent keeper imo, not saying these kids aren't decent, but most clubs have someone else there more experiences to push, or at least be there in case anything (knock on wood) happens to Alisson. I'm hoping both Mignolet and Karius are moved on.


5.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 10:57:12
Difficult one isn't it mate. My heart tells me to keep with the two youngsters but my heads telling me buy a more experienced number two.


6.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 11:04:54
I hope we go for someone old and experienced (I know he’s not available but a Reina type player) and lock them in for a years contract in the twilight of their career. We can then send the Kelleher on loan in the championship and Grabara can lead the u23s and step up as our no.3 if required.

That would give both Kelleher and Grabara lots of playing time to develop further, with probably Kelleher being perfectly placed to step up as a no.2 next season with some professional competitive football under his belt.


7.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 11:06:25
Bah, only around 150 ranking places separate Ghana and Guyana!

*covers face*

Looks like, on balance, most of you are swinging more towards an experienced backup.

If we go down that route, I reckon it'll probably be a lesser known player.

However, on that I looked at before, purely down to his distribution, was Kiko Casilla.

Why would he go from No 2 at RM to No 2 at Liverpool? Well, if Courtois comes in and Navas stays, he'll be No 3.

Thoughts?


8.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 11:25:01
I would have liked to see Reina, Patrício or Handanovic.


9.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 11:33:29
SGRed, of those 3, I only see Reina being remotely happy with being 2nd choice.


10.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 13:20:28
I think we need to bring in experienced first team keepers in. This ain't FIFA, grabbara and kelleher aren't gone have their OVR go up a point every couple months bt just sitting on the bench.


11.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 12:41:51
The way we get on players backs I think it would be a bad move to use the kids as back up. I’d like to see karius kept on as no. 2.


12.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 12:42:23
I think an older experienced head should come in, now that someone might not necessarily provide any help to Allison in terms of technique ect but they could prvoide help with regards to the mental aspect of the game and they'd be invaluable to the likes of Grabara.


13.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 13:53:24
If they’re good enough they’re old enough - look at Donnaruma.

However, I’m not sure they’re good enough to replace Alisson. Need an experienced head.


14.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 13:59:34
It may seem a bit left field and probably completely unrealistic as I am sure he is going to play pretty much every game this season. But I would love to have Scott Carson back as our number 2 should Migs and Karius leave.

Should Alisson get injured, relying on those two young lads is very risky and could potentially destroy their careers with us before they ever get properly started if things go badly!


15.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 14:26:53
Left a comment on the other thread but I've never seen the lad on trial with us playing because he didn't get many minutes over the past two seasons. But whenever I see him warm up he gets down to low balls REALLY slowly. Like slow-motion slowly. Not sure what, if anything, to read into that but you don't see many keepers warming up letting half the balls put into a particular area go past them.

Also while he's technically from non-League, he's really from League 2 - Barnet were relegated last season so he's never actually played in the conference.


16.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 16:10:45
2014–Barnet games 1

2016-Cockfosters (loan) games 4

2017 St Ives Town (loan) games 3

2017–2018 Hayes and Yeading United
(loan)
This is his playing record according to wiki so may not be totally accurate.


17.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 16:20:22
Too soon for both Grabara and Kelleher, aside from perhaps a couple of cup games, if absolutely required.

The mindset at LFC has changed drastically in the last couple of seasons. From "possible winners", management has adopted a "win at all costs (literally) " attitude which is probably the right way to go. See the improved contracts being handed out and the world record purchases being made. So with this in mind, you can't have inexeperienced backup GKs. Otherwise, the lessons received since Reina left have not been learnt. As simple as that.

I think Karius will stay.


18.) 01 Aug 2018
01 Aug 2018 17:04:39
Lol Guyana is in South America. It's true, it borders Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil. I know because I watched a thing on Jonestown. My god, poor folks. Horrific but very interesting.

Anyway, I digress. We need a decent backup. The young guns may step up and surprise us all, if they are ever called upon, but I don't like the odds of a crunch game in the league or champions league with what amounts to an amateur in goal. I say amateur because having no professional experience means that they are amateurs. If they are deemed good enough for future first team opportunities then they are of an age where there is time for them to be patient. Right now the club has invested extremely heavily, clearly with short term goals in mind, leading to long term benefits. Those efforts won't be undermined or jeopardised by putting kids in goal for important games.