Alex McCarthy

[Always_Royal]

From the horses mouth...

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/sport/foo ... reading_fc?

[marcusopp]

On the whole 'keeprs are more patient, and have smaller egos than forwards.
If a keeper makes a gaff, the first player to console him after the game is the opposition keeper.
Feds slep on Sonko's floor, sat on the bench, and waiting for ages to get his chance.
He's improved loads, and is still getting better, he's easily one of the best in the division.
Premiership clubs will ofetn buy from overseas because championship players have an inflated price tag.
We'll still have both come the end of the season, unless Leeds really splash out on McCarthy.
Like many of you have said, a good dilema. Think of all the sh1t 'keepers that have played in the top flight! Our 3 are way better than most premiership keepers too.
I'd have feds, alex or mikel over De Gea any day of the week.

[Big Foot]

I'd have feds, alex or mikel over De Gea any day of the week.

Genuine LOL

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'd have feds, alex or mikel over De Gea any day of the week.

Genuine LOL

Ennit. Alex and Mikel aren't even keepers

[marcusopp]

I'd have feds, alex or mikel over De Gea any day of the week.

Genuine LOL

Ennit. Alex and Mikel aren't even keepers

I see your gag!
I was doing the football fans familar addressing of players by their first names.
Fans usually do that when someone does something good. Either that or ass a "y" to the end of their name.

[marcusopp]

I'd have feds, alex or mikel over De Gea any day of the week.

Genuine LOL

Maybe getting a little carried away, but they are all quality

[Silver Fox]

Not to keep playing the same record but...how on earth is he not our first choice?!

It's prolly been mentioned but I believe the answer is because Federici is a bettr goalkeeper

[RoyalBlue]

As McCarthy is younger it's easier to keep him second choice. Federici's ego is so big that if he was dropped he'd probably storm off in a huff and there'd be all sorts of grief.

Is very strong self-belief being confused with ego?

Keepers need incredibly high levels of self-belief, as they are subject to greater levels of scrutiny and criticism than any other position. Frequently portrayed as the villain, only very rarely as the hero.

Strikers can make numerous mistakes and miss countless clear opportunities in a game but that will all be forgotten if the keeper makes one error that in any way can be considered to have contributed to a goal being conceded. Forget the fact that but for all the strikers gaffs the score would have been 4-1 in the team's favour. With the exception of some like Ian Harte, defenders also get away with making more (and just as serious) mistakes.

As for the glory side of things, there's always talk of Golden Boots but how often does anyone make a Golden Glove award?!

That's why keepers have to have very high levels of self-belief that can come across as arrogance and ego.

On the whole 'keeprs are more patient, and have smaller egos than forwards.
If a keeper makes a gaff, the first player to console him after the game is the opposition keeper.
.

That is very true. Keepers also tend to be more intelligent and articulate (albeit with a liberal dose of madness!). And the Goalkeeper's union is the strongest of the lot. The friendships and support extend across and within clubs. Despite directly competing against each other for the one valued place, and knowing that a place on the bench brings little prospect of a game (unlike other positions), keepers in a club usually will be incredibly supportive of each other.

[Wycombe Royal]

Well Leeds have signed Maik Taylor now so does that suggest that McCarthy's loan won't be extended.......

[leicsRoyal]

Well Leeds have signed Maik Taylor now so does that suggest that McCarthy's loan won't be extended.......

I don't think it was ever on the cards for the loan to be extended. The first choice keeper is expected to be back on 17th Dec which is when we play Leeds and McCarthy's loan finishes the week before.

It's a good six games of first team football for McCarthy which also unfortunately raises interest from others.
I wouldn't be surprised if he went out on loan again in January.

[Cypry]

Does make me wonder if a deal's already been done (or is almost finalised) to move Feds on in January, and the whole McCarthy to Leeds loan was planned to give him some game time at the right level in the anticipation that he'll be #1 from January.
Under those circumstances loaning him to Leeds would make perfect sense.....

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

McCarthy can learn a lot from being on the bench and going out on short term loans at the moment, we just need him to stay patient and understand he has a better chance of pushing from Reading in 2-3 years than leaving now.

Not really true though is it, Marcus went to Wolves and thanks to injury to the No1 got a couple of seasons in the prem. McC is in the shop window, his potential is known , the more he actually plays the higher his worth and status becomes. Keepers are in a situation where they have one position to play, and there seem to be a lot of them around, perhaps it is easier to coach a keeper than any other position?

Ashdown has made a lot of money, and has ben no1 for a season or two now.

Marcus moved after a long stint at Reading, not sure what that has to do with what i was saying.

Ashdown may have made a lot of money, but if he is like any sportsmen i know, he would of been extremely fustrated to sit on the bench and would rather be playing. McCarthy should not consider moving until he has enough expeirence from us to warrant a 1st team place at a higher standard club.

I guess you know a lot of Prem footballers then, there is no guarantee of a first team place, either at RFc or a team higher up, Marcus was taken by Wolves as back up and managed a couple of seasons playing a good number of games, his alternative might have been to stay here, on much lower wages, with his age that would have been the worst of the two choices. Even Siggy had not got the experience to to warrant a place at a higher level, and many said the same as you that he should have given this level one more season, but that is another season at a lower level.

If anyone comes in for MsCarthy then he will have to make that choice, if the deal is better for him, and the competition lower then good luck if he decides to move on.

[Hoop Blah]

I don't think we even offered Hahnemann a contract extension.

It was seen a time to sweep out the old guard and give the new squad a chance.

[pea]

I love Leeds fans, according to them last season Schmeichel was by far the best keeper in the division, despite conceding more goals than almost any other keeper (although to be fair Lonergan and Lillis? played less games). And this season, despite Schmeichel still being in the same division, Lonergan is apparently the best keeper, closely tied with McCarthy now, despite McCarthy not being able to get in our team because Federici is a better keeper...

I wonder how long it will be until they're claiming that Rachubka is the third best in the division

[LoyalRoyal22]

I would rather have McCarthy as number one, but this has probably been Federici`s best season so far, he has cut out blatent errors. I wonder how much it would take for us to sell McCarthy.. 3 Million???

[sandman]

Because he is better than Federici.

Doesn't really work because there isn't a keeper in this division who is better than Federici. Imo of course.

[The Rouge]

I am just pleased that we haven't got players that are easy to hate - e.g. Bellamy, Diouf, Lita even - so we are reduced to some people 'hating' someone for the odd mistake and some camera saves.

[royal67]

Does make me wonder if a deal's already been done (or is almost finalised) to move Feds on in January, and the whole McCarthy to Leeds loan was planned to give him some game time at the right level in the anticipation that he'll be #1 from January.
Under those circumstances loaning him to Leeds would make perfect sense.....

Interesting theory but I thought that McCarthy went to Leeds due to their 1st and 2nd choice keepers being injured?

[melonhead]

Does make me wonder if a deal's already been done (or is almost finalised) to move Feds on in January, and the whole McCarthy to Leeds loan was planned to give him some game time at the right level in the anticipation that he'll be #1 from January.
Under those circumstances loaning him to Leeds would make perfect sense.....

Interesting theory but I thought that McCarthy went to Leeds due to their 1st and 2nd choice keepers being injured?

which would affect the cub he went to not the general "plan"

[pea]

Does make me wonder if a deal's already been done (or is almost finalised) to move Feds on in January, and the whole McCarthy to Leeds loan was planned to give him some game time at the right level in the anticipation that he'll be #1 from January.
Under those circumstances loaning him to Leeds would make perfect sense.....

Interesting theory but I thought that McCarthy went to Leeds due to their 1st and 2nd choice keepers being injured?

Their second choice keeper probably wishes he was injured but McCarthy went because their second choice keeper was so bad that he got subbed in the middle of a match and replaced by their academy keeper. Grayson is so keen not to ever play him now that he's brought in two more keepers (McCarthy and Maik Taylor - yes thats five keepers in total), and loaned the guy out to Tranmere. Poor guy..