Arsenal
Why won't Wenger up the ante on Schwarzer? Robson right?
Keeper required?
By Boris Mellor
August 20 2010
Some Arsenal fans are perplexed at the club's slow progress in signing a new keeper; especially as Schwarzer and Given seems to be there for the asking. Others were also surprised to hear Stuart Robson say that Almunia is better than both of the above. It's a strange situation where a keeper is awarded the no1 spot yet the manager is involved in looking for a replacement at the same time.
Now I don't want to rain on anyone's parade here, I agree we need more input in the goal keeping department, but I do feel we have to look at the issue of a replacement seriously, using analysis rather than emotion. The kind of emotions Fabianski created with his performance at Porto.
I think Stuart Robson is an astute commentator, one of the best; could he be so wrong about Almunia? Why isn't Wenger in a rush to top £2 million for Schwarzer- if it is Wenger's decision?
For a top four team like Arsenal it is unusual not to have a keeper in the Premiership's top ten table. However, neither Almunia, Schwarzer or Given are in the top ten, but Cech and Van der Saar are.
When it comes to goals conceded per game Almunia at 1.19 is actually better than Schwarzer (1.24) or Given (1.2). Of course that can be an unfair comparison as goals conceded depend on the defence in front of you.
A better indicator is the ratio of shots on target conceded, for Almunia that is 3.59, i.e. he lets in a goal for less than every 4 shots on target. On this basis Schwarzer comes out best at 4.98, and Given at 4.64. It would appear that Schwarzer is the best shot stopper.
It should be kept in mind that Cech outdoes them all by only conceding .88 goals per game, but he isn't as good a shot stopper at 4.8 as Van Der Saar at 5.29, or even Schwarzer at 4.98.
Clean sheets
Manchester Utd kept 19 clean sheets (all keepers), Chelsea 18 ditto, Arsenal 14 ditto, Fulham 12 ditto and Man City 11 ditto. Clearly Man U and Chelsea have better organised defences and defenders than the other three. However it can hardly be argued that Given or Schwarzer would make such a difference to Arsenal that Van Der Saar or Cech might. It's quite incredible that the Gunners have more clean sheets than City or Fulham with a combination of Almunia, Fabianski and Mannone. Are we putting too much in store on the keeping position?
On the basis of the stats, and yes I know they are not everything, Schwarzer would be a slight improvement on Almunia, but Almunia has had a poor season, he could possibly get his form back, at 37 how long before Schwarzer goes into decline? At the best he would be an effective stop gap, not a world class keeper with a glittering career ahead of him.
Why would a club pay much more than £2 million for him? Lehmann was a far better buy at £1.5 million. I would rather we bought a world class keeper, but at the telephone number prices such a keeper would command we are not about to see that.
So what is Wenger up to? Who knows - but let's try a few possible scenarios.
- He gets Schwarzer at a fee he consider reasonable (i.e. cheap); as the Fulham Keeper is 37 he would soon step aside for one of Wenger's young prodigies.
- He fails to sign him, wrings his hands and says I tried my best, but meanwhile he has given Almunia a good kick up the backside.
- He ups his bid for Schwarzer and actually clinches the deal
- It's all a smoke screen and he is secretly completing a deal for a world class keeper.
Well I know which scenario I believe, but you are the punters, you pays your money and you takes your choice.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:22:11:16:56 by Padre Pio.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
He is hardly a bargain at any consideration. since I wrote this Given has been declared a crock, its not looking good.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Problem Wenger has is if he signs no GK and the calamity twins dont improve their form he will get slaughtered.
I mean he's even got us saying maybe we should just stick with what we've got lol
top notch on the holy one's part if you ask me...hopefully he has some else in mind...but right now I only see him sticking with the current crop
Although there is not much of a gap it could mean an extra 6 or 8 points for Arsenal over the course of a season and lead to us mounting a serious Title challenge.
I for one hope we sign him. I hope we don't have another "groundhog" season. A new goalie and an experienced Centre back should help us.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:20:18:48:31 by brian from the b.o.f.
A better indicator is the ratio of shots on target conceded, for Almunia that is 3.59, i.e. he lets in a goal for less than every 4 shots on target. On this basis Schwarzer comes out best at 4.98, and Given at 4.64. It would appear that Schwarzer is the best shot stopper.
It should be kept in mind that Cech outdoes them all by only conceding .88 goals per game, but he isn't as good a shot stopper at 4.8 as Van Der Saar at 5.29, or even Schwarzer at 4.98."
So Schwarzer is a better stopper, I have seen the other figures you refer to and they are marginally better than Almunia's but they do not make him World Class - he is only marginally better. Should also keep in mind that these are Almunia's worst figures for several seasons
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
5) decides to put his money back in his pocket and give Fabianski a go 'He is young and has great promeeeese, it is not always a goalkeeper who is responsible for letting in a goal, he is gooood at traineeeng, he will learn from his errors etc etc.'
I know where my bets going.
celine's idea could be the one, especially the mental stength. After all if I was that $hyte I wouldnt have the nerve to turn up.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:21:03:09:06 by zombiez.
It is a matter of who blinks first, knowing Schwarzer ahd handed in the transfer request and can leave on a Bosman in July 2011..
Imagine a disgruntled goalie who will not play his hearts out thinking all the time.."what if.....my last opporunity of glory.."
Taht was what prey on Fabregas' mind in trying to join Barca as he felt that he may missed the boat during Barca's Golden Era....
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