And with return respect my friend, the notion that he is not a keeper fit for this system was posited by me -quite vociferously- on this forum. I further criticised the DoF structure for 'gambling' with not having a better suited back-up keeper; it's fair to say many did not agree with that as being a point of wiorthy club criticism.
Anyway ;-)
If you've been watching closely, in recent weeks we have actually adapted how we play back to him in terms of angles and amount of time. There has clearly been a subtle tweak to allow for his lack of actually foot-skill. In the first-half he dealt with everything, as he has been, because as we also have been, we did not use him as much as we would a Vic.
We were 3-0 up when he made that first mistake. Yes, it is poor play/decision-making, but remember the poor pass he made just before that to (I think) Biss which created a bit of negative momentum. He clearly had a brainfart. The second one? There is no need for the player to get close to being able top tackle him, but he was suffering a compounded mental collapse and over-dithered again. I think both are absolutely lock-stock hand-in-hand issues, the inner knowledge that his feet are not his best friends added to an inexplicable lack of concentration compounded by insecurity after the error.
I was of the opinion we should've tried to get Navas on an emergency loan, but there ya go, we didn't. I now think if we do not get a keeper in early January who can play Ange's system (and is able to get down to shots faster too) it will be a criminal act.
What's vital -IMO- right now, is that we continue to play as we play, that we continue to trust him as best we can (with those important modifications) and that he -as the senior pro- steps up, takes it on the chin and declares he's ready for Sunday! I would be beyond angry if Sunday saw us start hoofing it all the time; thankfully that won't happen.
