Steffen: Keep or Dump?

With Steffen wonder if Fettis' coaching has really helped - as the season went on he just looked a better keeper, better shot stopper and more sensible with his decision making. Yes, one or two "moments" but over the second half of the season, big improvement.
 
If we compare to our last No.1s (Lumley and Bettinelli)

Then surely people can see how difficult is to get a keeper with the quality of Steffan
 
As others have alluded to there is no way in a million years we will attract a keeper who is a) better and b) more suited to how we play while playing in the Championship. As I have said on other threads for me Scott, Bauser et al should be bending over backwards to sign him on a permanent. I don’t think people appreciate how much more difficult our style will be to implement having a poorer option to Steffen in goal. He is crucial to our style and as I have seen mentioned elsewhere you would hope that he has developed an affinity with the club as the season has gone on, because it certainly appears so from his attitude away from the pitch. I genuinely think he will go on to become a fans favourite if he stays here.
 
I’m surprised the question is being asked.

You need a keeper who can also play football in the modern game. He started to make important saves as well as the season went on and his confidence improved.
 
h_m_boro said:
Dunno, think a lot of fans have already made their minds up - he's shyte.

Same ones who thought Pears was "too small" and Schwarzer " couldn't kick it long enough".......

🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️
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I’m not so sure you know. As the season went on he grew in popularity. Who was the last keeper we had who had a specific song being sung about him?
 
Beverleyred said:
Despite all the comments regarding Zack, I suppose ultimately it will be down to whether he actually wants to remain at Boro. Personally, I would welcome him back, as it appeared that throughout the season, Alan Fettis had improved his game immensely. I have to admit, however, he can be a bit marmite with our fan base; you either like him or not, as the case may be.
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I presume that the ones who don't like Steffen are the same ones who didn't like Schwarzer, a club of which of course nobody these days admits to being a member of.
 
h_m_boro said:
With Steffen wonder if Fettis' coaching has really helped - as the season went on he just looked a better keeper, better shot stopper and more sensible with his decision making. Yes, one or two "moments" but over the second half of the season, big improvement.
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I totally agree. The question - as with all signings is - is he worth what he would cost and could we use the budget better?
I don't know what he has cost, or would cost. Neither does the rest of the board.
I wouldn't want a huge chunk of budget being spent on him is my point.

billsykes said:
I presume that the ones who don't like Steffen are the same ones who didn't like Schwarzer, a club of which of course nobody these days admits to being a member of.
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This sort of line - like the one above mentioning Pearsy - is ridiculous.
Schwarzer in my opinion was light years better than Steffen and I loved him. Not nearly so bothered about Steffen.
 
coluka said:
Threads like this are great at outing who understands the true art of goalkeeping along with all its aspects and who doesn't.

People are free to apply their own interpretation to what that means 😏
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They certainly are. Those who want to get rid of Steffen are the same type who are probably screaming “Get rid of it” when we’re playing it out from the back.
 
I'm not sure if it's a better keeper we need or defenders who are better at giving and receiving the ball. Playing out from the back in the final, we put ourselves under pressure several times and were our own biggest enemy.

I'm sure Carrick will know which one it is. Do that.
 
Was a big critic of him when he first came, but second half of the season and in particular probably the last 10 or so games showed how vital he is to the way we play. Absolutely should keep him if we can afford him
 
BoroJake said:
Was a big critic of him when he first came, but second half of the season and in particular probably the last 10 or so games showed how vital he is to the way we play. Absolutely should keep him if we can afford him
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He didn't get particularly better over the season, people opinion changed because the defenders got better at receiving the ball from him. He has been a very good keeper from day one.
 
Even if City want to sell him we can’t afford his current salary, so will depend on if he prefers the money or game play.
 
WoodallServices said:
They certainly are. Those who want to get rid of Steffen are the same type who are probably screaming “Get rid of it” when we’re playing it out from the back.
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I dare say some are, It is the right way to play though and Steffens was relatively good at that aspect of it, he improved in the round as the season wore on, and some of the scarier moments playing out were sometimes due to defenders not concentrating rather than due to Steffen, but as I have said before, there is more to goalkeeping than that aspect as I am sure you know. Goalkeeping is a very much underrated skill by the average spectator. I did note that some coaching work has gone in to Steffen, as he was latterly catching crosses rather than punching them. His performances in the second half of the season were much improved, but we should always be striving to improve, nobody should be a shoe in. I just happen to think Henderson is better in the round, and that due to his injury, it may open a window for a loan as some PL teams may see it as a risk.

I think it is very wrong though for anyone to assume that everyone who might prefer a replacement ‘doesn’t understand the modern game’ or want rid for the sake of it because of how we pass out from the rear. I think that is an incorrect assumption to throw everyone in one basket. I certainly don’t support changing our style in any way. Passing out to beat a high press is not a skill you are born with though, it is a skill that can be coached and when it goes wrong, it can often be as much the outfield players fault as the keeper anyway.

There are other keepers with reasonable pedigree out there who can do it and have different qualities in other areas of the game who should also be looked at. I have mentioned and explained my preference (I think that is still allowed). I also understand with Henderson it would not be an easy deal, maybe even impossible, good goalies are usually in high demand, but a few do seem happy to warm a bench too, unfortunately. Steffen wants to play regularly and presumably leave City, I think they will sell him and would not be surprised to see him back in Germany or maybe Italy. I would be surprised to see him back at Boro on a loan, but you never know. Were he to come back, I hope like any player the fans are behind him.
 
If he’s available from Man City for a couple of million tops and if he’ll accept £20k per week max it’s a decision we can debate otherwise it’s pointless as we frankly can’t afford him.

The ball is in his court but he won’t be getting first team football unless on loan as no one in the prem will be in for him I’d think.
 
hendrieswondergoal said:
I'm not sure if it's a better keeper we need or defenders who are better at giving and receiving the ball. Playing out from the back in the final, we put ourselves under pressure several times and were our own biggest enemy.

I'm sure Carrick will know which one it is. Do that.
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It may well be both, after all, to keep Steffen would likely cost a sizeable fee and a whack of wages at a time when we need a huge number of incomings, loans and buys. I think City will sell, but as i said, the fee will be significant id think, probably too much.

Financially we can’t throw too much at the keeper, hence why I touted Henderson as worth asking the question. Additionally, It is not just defenders who receive the ball, our CM’s do too. It is crucial that when whoever is in goal, the outfield players stay switched on and ready to receive and plan where it will go when they do receive a pass. There have been times when the outfielder has dithered and tried a Cruyff turn and been robbed when they weren’t expecting it. I think Howson did that in one game early on. As the season wore on it was obvious people were more comfortable with the system, anyone coming in needs to adapt quickly, keepers included.
 
We aren’t paying him 80k/week and when his Man City contract runs down in 12 months his following contract will be a lot less than 80k
 
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