Does Bettinelli save anything?

No, by all means change him - eventually. Right now there isn't a striker worthy of the name at the club. If there was a decent striker, then Boro would definitely be in the play off places - at least. Then change the midfield because it's not creative enough. Then change the defenders. But priorities first. A striker.

You can't be promoted when you don't score in 40% of your games, and you can't blame the goalie for that.

That’s not how it works. We can’t do anything until the summer but I’m sure you know that... we will be without Bettinelli and archer in the summer so we will need a goalie. We will need strikers too once Britt and Fletcher leave if no new contracts. It’s about replacing all vital positions not in some magical order
 
Oh yes, the guy who punched a corner into his own net and then managed to parry a shot into the top of his own net in the game at St Andrews.

Yes, let's go for him, especially if we want to be in a relegation battle.
If you judge a player after one game then what's the point in signing anyone? Great take...

He was very good for Cardiff especially in the Prem. Let's not sign Alisson either after his last couple of games.
 
Criticised for not saving anything but then criticised for the saves he does make - which help us keep hold of two points - because he hasn't saved them in convincing enough fashion? It puts me in mind of the time Leroy Lita got loads of flak on here because he 'almost' missed a penalty. He scored it and we won. Bettinelli had saves to make. He made them and we won.

I'm not going to argue that he's a great goalkeeper or anything like it but I think he's a bog standard second-tier 'keeper who is decent enough for us this season, for what we're trying to do. Long term we could do better if we have a look around but I really don't think he's as bad as some are making out. And for people to be saying bring back Steele, blimey! This board was littered with threads and posts hammering Steele for months on end when he played for Boro. And every time he dropped a clanger for Sunderland and/or Brighton. Short memories, etc.

Bettinelli isn't great but he isn't sh*t either. It is possible to just be fine. And if our defence is as tight as it was earlier in the season, which hopefully it will be once Fry is back, then we won't have many issues with him. In my opinion.
Completely agree with you Viv, you're not out on your own with this. Too many are quick to condemn without offering a suitable replacement who we can afford. 'Just source a better keeper' they say...if only it were that easy. A few weeks ago we were worried about a Prem side coming in for him in the transfer window...
 
Don’t get me started on strikers!!! We hardly have one worthy of the name- Fletcher being ( just) the only one! In my opinion we need 3 - yes 3! Why? Looking at the stats for the reserves/ development squad from what I make out the top scorer has 4 goals! Britt going, Akpom needs to go.
 
Completely agree with you Viv, you're not out on your own with this. Too many are quick to condemn without offering a suitable replacement who we can afford. 'Just source a better keeper' they say...if only it were that easy. A few weeks ago we were worried about a Prem side coming in for him in the transfer window...

No, we weren't.

Easy to replace.
 
It’s about replacing all vital positions not in some magical order
The smart way to do it is to start with the biggest problems and work from there. The biggest problems are the strikers. If you sign defenders and goalies before you sign strikers, then you run the risk that the budget is used up and you can't buy the ones you want.
 
The smart way to do it is to start with the biggest problems and work from there. The biggest problems are the strikers. If you sign defenders and goalies before you sign strikers, then you run the risk that the budget is used up and you can't buy the ones you want.

Goalkeeper is of equal importance to a striker in my opinion. We need both to improve further next season.
 
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One things for sure with this and to buck the trend in hoping domestic players improve over the length of their contract which rarely happens, Akpom needs to be shown the door in the summer.
 
One things for sure with this and to buck the trend in hoping domestic players improve over the length of their contract which rarely happens, Akpom needs to be shown the door in the summer.

Hopefully the Greek team he was at comes back in for him
 
I fail to see how anyone can defend him. The point about the saves last night that is being made is that they were arguably luck rather than good judgement and in any event are the exception rather than the rule. You say he saved us two points, I say he was dreadful for the opening goal and could easily have cost us all three. He isn't average. He is well below average, as his stats confirm.
 
Too many are quick to condemn without offering a suitable replacement who we can afford. 'Just source a better keeper' they say...if only it were that easy. A few weeks ago we were worried about a Prem side coming in for him in the transfer window...

This is just nonsense. Firstly, condemning or criticising any player is not contingent on being able to scout a replacement. That isn't a fans job.

And at no stage whatsoever was there a worry that a Premier League team was going to come in for him.
 
Disagree with you. A good sound keeper installs confidence in the defence which in turn breeds a winning mentality. Its an important position and the current incumbent is not up to the task. Yes of course we need other areas strenthening too. We want to build a team capable of a promotion push and the keeper plays an important part in that.

Totally agree, the two most important positions on the pitch are strikers (scores goals) and keeper (stops goals).

No matter how well drilled and organised you are as a team you know that most teams will create at least one golden chance a game, top keepers save them and earn their side a point or three. Every side needs a top keeper, should be high up the list of priorities to strengthen if you want to get anywhere.
 
This is just nonsense. Firstly, condemning or criticising any player is not contingent on being able to scout a replacement. That isn't a fans job.

And at no stage whatsoever was there a worry that a Premier League team was going to come in for him.
You're WRONG Adi....
 
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Viv is undoubtedly right that we have a major problem up front and we must solve that for next season if we are to seriously compete for promotion. We don't have a natural goalscorer, or a player to lead the line with presence, let alone one who can do both.
However we also need a vast improvement in our goalkeeper. I do believe that our first choice defence (Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Bola) is a promotion chasing one that needs stronger back up than just the able Fisher. A weak goalkeeper can be disguised by this defence, especially if it is supported by better forward players. When called upon Bettinelli simply lets too many saveable shots in. He is saved by his defence, he very rarely saves his defence.

I personally think he is a better keeper than Assombolonga is centre forward, but both need massively upgrading, it is not either/or.
 
Viv is undoubtedly right that we have a major problem up front and we must solve that for next season if we are to seriously compete for promotion. We don't have a natural goalscorer, or a player to lead the line with presence, let alone one who can do both.
However we also need a vast improvement in our goalkeeper. I do believe that our first choice defence (Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Bola) is a promotion chasing one that needs stronger back up than just the able Fisher. A weak goalkeeper can be disguised by this defence, especially if it is supported by better forward players. When called upon Bettinelli simply lets too many saveable shots in. He is saved by his defence, he very rarely saves his defence.

I personally think he is a better keeper than Assombolonga is centre forward, but both need massively upgrading, it is not either/or.

Yeah would say we need a sub left back too.


Dijksteel
Fisher

Hall
Fry
McNair
Wood

Bola
New LB

Is good for next season. Hope we keep hold of the assets.
 
Yeah would say we need a sub left back too.


Dijksteel
Fisher

Hall
Fry
McNair
Wood

Bola
New LB

Is good for next season. Hope we keep hold of the assets.
I totally agree, but I think Fisher has also played left back quite a bit too.
 
You're WRONG Adi....
I'm not wrong. You said that 'we' fans were worried about it, which simply isn't accurate. In fact, I for one was very pleased that such rumours existed. Another of those 'I'll drive him there myself' moments.
 
I'm not wrong. You said that 'we' fans were worried about it, which simply isn't accurate. In fact, I for one was very pleased that such rumours existed. Another of those 'I'll drive him there myself' moments.
Nonsense, at the time the rumours surfaced we had the best defensive record in all 4 divisions....you were 'very pleased' that he was being linked with other clubs...and would have driven him there yourself ?
Absolute rubbish !
 
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