After some impressive displays in goal, confidence has been growing in Rob Elliot of late. I for one feel quite comfortable with him in goal and I thought I would look a little in depth at two of our keepers. I am starting with Tim Krul who has been a loyal servant to Newcastle United.
Tim Krul (Dutch)
Tim is 27, he is 6’2″ (1.88m) tall and weighs 11st 6lb (72.56kg)
Tim was signed in July 2006 as a trainee, he’s had loan spells at Falkirk Aug 07 – Jan 08 making 22 appearances in the league, 4 in the cups followed by a loan to Carlisle Nov 08 – Jan 09 making 9 appearances in all competitions.
Tim broke into Newcastle united’s senior team in season 2010/11 after an injury to Steve Harper, eventually usurping him as number one choice. Tim played a full part in season 2011/12 but an injury plagued season 2012/13 saw him only play 24 games for Newcastle. In the 2013/14 season he was only 2 games short of a full season when a knee injury struck. Season 2014/15 saw him make 30 appearances and sadly for Tim this season was cut short after a season ending injury after just 8 appearances. Tim has made a total of 152 appearances for Newcastle in the Premier league, 6 in the FA cup and 11 in the capital one cup. He has made 8 in the UEFA cup and played 8 times for the Netherlands.
I will stick to his statistics for this season when comparing to Rob Elliot as appearances to date are not that far apart 8 and 13 respectively.
Tim Krul Stats;
This season Tim has made 8 appearances and he has made 34 saves facing 145 shots of which 50 were on goal. He has one clean sheet in 720 minutes played. He has conceded 17 goals and his save percentage is 66.7.
Tim’s positioning is quite good. His kicking isn’t too bad, though he prefers his left foot. For me his main fault is that he punches the ball away when he should be making the catch. This puts us under undue pressure in my opinion. He has pretty good reflexes and he jumps well enough. Like Elliot, he dives well too but he isn’t too hot on stopping long range shots and we have fallen foul to a few this season. Right now I don’t feel he has as much strength as Elliot but that could be injuries taking their toll.
Rob Elliot (English)
Rob at 29 is two years older than Krul and will be 30 in April 2016, funny he seemed younger than that to me. He is 6’3″ (1.90m) and weighs 96kg.
His youth career started at Erith Town and he turned professional in 2004 with Charlton Athletic who he made 96 appearances with from 2004-2011. He had loan spells with Bishops Stortford (6 apps), Notts County (4 apps) and Accrington Stanley (30 apps) over two loan spells.
In August 2011 he signed for Newcastle on a 5 year contract making his debut on 20th September in the league cup. His first Premier League start was in the 2012/2013 season against Southampton after an injury to Tim Krul, conceding a goal in the 3rd minute.
This season had seen Elliot become 3rd choice keeper behind Karl Darlow but when Tim suffered a season ending injury, Darlow had an ankle knock and Elliot was called into action. We were close to losing Elliot who wanted first team football but luckily for us he stayed and he actually signed a new long term contract back in January 2014. He made his first appearance this season on October 18th against Norwich City, a game we won 6.2.
Rob Elliot stats;
Rob has played 13 Premier League games to date and he has made 42 saves facing 189 shots, of which 63 were on goal. He has 3 clean sheets in 1170 minutes played and has conceded 21 goals. Interestingly his save percentage is exactly the same as Tim Krul’s at 66.7 though he has played more minutes than Tim.
So the question is, who is the better keeper? Is Rob now a keeper as it were or is it too early to tell? Tim’s weakness is saving long shots but his long passing is good and he rarely commits a foul. Elliot commands the box well and is seemingly unflappable when dealing crosses, catching the ball well more often than not. Both keepers would appear to have good reflexes and agility. Both dive well and in truth there is little to separate them other than Tim’s tendency to punch. They both seem strong and vocal and both have had to suffer a very poor defense in front of them for long periods, though the signs are that the defense have picked up of late.So my final thoughts would be this;
For me I’m finding it hard to split them, though i am tending to go with Elliot purely based on the fact he doesn’t punch as much as Krul and seems less flappable, at least for now. It will be a fair while before we see Tim back in action and even when fit he will take time to regain match fitness – so we have Rob in the first team for a fair while yet. It is also clear to me that Darlow is not quite ready to be a regular Premier League starter yet so we should be looking to bring in a loan keeper to back up Elliot until Krul’s return.
What are your thoughts on Tim and Rob, I would love to hear.
Kimtoon
That’s just it, TDS – these prices are no longer above market value. The current prices players are being transferred for are so high that the prices Spurs and WBA are asking don’t even appear to be above the current market value considering a Championshil striker just went to Bournemouth for £12m…
Stuart79(Quote)
True Start. Market value for English players is highly inflated. Which is odd as I don’t see foreign clubs desperate to sign our players for their leagues…surely supply and demand should mean our players are cheaper because foreign clubs aren’t trying to sign them! Football is weird…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TOONDARNSARF
ya dint see many foreign clubs biding for english players cause the decent 1s are prob on wages they cant afford anyway unless ya a barca or real madrid
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
It all comes down to that old chestnut Premier League experience. Clubs in our position may be wary of foreign players adapting quick enough so are looking for a quick fix . The selling club know you are desperate and so milk you for all you are worth.
kimtoon(Quote)
TAE, fair point, plus they only go for stand out players and then it’s the money bag foreign clubs like Real Madrid and Bale for instance.
kimtoon(Quote)
Word is out that apparently we are on the lookout for a young, brilliant, cheapish attacking player with very little interest in good wages. Interested parties please contact Lee Charnley or Graham Carr. 😯
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The good news was supposed to be a surprise at the end of the season but I’m spilling the beans here instead. If we stay up this season Mike is going to clap his chubby little hands together, squeal with glee, and announce “I’m staying forever! Not just until we’ve won something but forever!”
GeordieTwo(Quote)
This Berahino transfer is just a long list of strikers we’ve apparently tried and failed to sign. It’s completely tedious now.
Everton paid £28.8m for Lakaku. He was the same age as Berahino with a similar record. Nobody talks about the transfer fee now as it looks like a decent deal. Why the hell don’t we just lay £26m or whatever it is and get him in? What’s the difference between Berahino and Lakaku? Benteke went for £32m, Carroll for £35m and Villa were paying £18m for the likes of Darren Bent for Christ sakes!
Just pay the money or suffer the consequences
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART79
should we give them the shirt off our back also bud 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – Why? That price is the going rate. Add to that its January and the fact we are in the bottom three plus the fact that if we go down it will cost us at least £60m then I’d say WBA hold all the aces and we need to move with the times.
I see Toney is out for 10-12 weeks now too. It’s not getting any better.
Stuart79(Quote)
debateable if thats the going rate for him maybe paying on the never never maybe 😮
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
So you don’t think the fees of Lakaku, Benteke, Carroll or that Championship striker that moved to Bournemouth have any bearing whatsoever on the prices clubs set? How do you think prices are set for players? It’s about supply, demand and previous transfer fees paid. If your neighbour sold their house for £250,000 why would you sell yours for £200,000 if it was the same house?
Stuart79(Quote)
the fees paid for them are different deals and have nothing to do with the deal for him
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
not keen on him to start with, and i would defo not pay what you would for him ,and at 25 26 million its no thanks from me
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
you been smokeing some of the same stuff them wba bosses are on 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
say ya did sign him and we got an offer for him he will be on his twitter account swearing he will never play for the toon again 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – I can’t continue with this conversation I’m afraid as you don’t seem to grasp simple economics.
Stuart79(Quote)
Speaking of wasting money we’ve apparently bid 7m for Gomis 😐
YouYew(Quote)
says the man wants to throw 25 or 26 million on berhino,dont tell an account he dont understand simple economics 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
YouYew – agreed, but part of me thinks for £7m, sign him. He’d probably get a couple of goals for us, but more importantly he won’t be scoring for Swansea – so that £7m could send Swansea and keep us up.
Sharpy17(Quote)
STUART79
if our next store nebour got 250k for there house id get between 260k for this 1 we got solar panels theres aint simple economics 😉
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
We need a goalscorer and the only 2 that seem to fit the bill are Baharino and Lucazade. Don’t pay Levy the extortion money and we might end up paying a bit over the odds for one of these two. Probably will cost us 20-25 mil.
I think we have quite a few who can play on the flanks – Sissoko, Aarons, Perez, Riviere, Thauvin.
If we don’t buy a specialist forward we have to bring Armstrong back.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC SYKES
saw somewere earlier that he cant be recalled,theres no recall on the deal they said wether thats true or not i dont know
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
if its true they paid a loan fee for him
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Surely we’re not in for Gomis. Another Frenchie on a free who apparently wanted big wages so we skipped him – only to pay a rival for him? 😕 Don’t see the point, I’d like someone with a bit more class, otherwise we may as well stick with what we’ve got up top.
Newkie(Quote)
There is no such thing as economics when it comes to football transfer fees. In the same window Liverpool paid about £24m for Suarez and £35m for Carroll.
I would rate Berahino as a £25m player – based on his stats, but also based on if he was our player, I wouldn’t want less than that for him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What has Gomis done that gives anyone the opinion he would score the goals to keep us up?
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy you’re spot on. If Lakaku was £28m then Berahino is worth £25m easily. It’s also all relevant although some can’t grasp that! The bottom club next year will receive £100m so a striker who scores goals and has already proved they score at this level is not going to be sold for much less than £25m I’m afraid.
Stuart79(Quote)
Although stories are leaking out to the press that we might not even sign anybody due to prices this window. Stories about giving Riviere a chance now… **** me!
Stuart79(Quote)
Newkie – Gomis is 30 now anyway mate so I doubt he’s an option. But he seems to have been a long term Carr target – and he does like to get his man in the end.
The smart money would be £9m for Sandro IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – now he’s fit why not mate?, we could already have a £25m CF in our squad mate 😯 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
when berhino gets sold it will be around the 19 million mark
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Sharpy – I’d take a chance on Sandro too. Great pedigree.
I said a week ago though that I think our window is shut – no more in.
I’m not that fussed. Don’t like Townsend and Berahino has trouble between the ears.
The only problem will be injuries. 8 of our first team have played almost all games – can it last the season? Back up is thin especially up front (please don’t mention Rivi again, please) and at the back. Lose two of those eight and we’ll dip.
georgio(Quote)
Your vote
Is Saido Berahino worth £22m?
Yes
36%
No
64%
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
you grasping them economics yet Stu 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Sharpy – yeah “free” is always a lose term, on the commentary for Swansea v Watford they were saying Ayew’s signing on fee was something like 8 mil. Carr does…for better or worse, just think we should aim a bit higher. Smart money meaning you think we’ll sign him? Or do you want him?
Newkie(Quote)
its a good job you aint in charge of our transfer bussiness Stu we would all be sat here with no shirts on our backs 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Stu @ 328 – not sure I’d say Berahino is that close to Lukaku. Similar ages except Lukaku has a 1/2 goalscoring record pretty much his whole career, and importantly for Everton over the last two or three years, whereas Berahino is more like 1/4 and imo contributes less to play/assists. Though I guess Saido is English which does give him that value boost..
Newkie(Quote)
If you were head of recruitment for Everyon they’d be relegated as you wouldn’t splash out on Lakaku either.
You do know we’re not in the 90’s don’t you?
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART79
<<<<<<<<<<<<< this dude here surgested we bought Lukaku before he went to everton on this very blog 😳
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Did you say you were an accountant TAE?
Stuart79(Quote)
Newkie – yeah I think Gomis was about £5m on a free as well – but Swansea also had to agree on a longer contract than we were prepared to offer, which I think was the clincher in him going there instead of to us.
The smart money as in he could work out to be a steal at that price – £9m is buying a lot of potential, and he looked decent when he was in the Barca first team at the start of the season. Mind you, I reckon I’d look decent in that team 😆 but he didn’t seem to fit the Barca way so I don’t think his future lies with them personally.
Yeah, I’d be happy enough to see us sign him. But I’m probably favouring us spending the money on Townsend & Berahino if I’m honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newkie – Lakaku had one good PL season behind him. Same as Berahino although I think Berahino scored more in that one season than Lakaku
Stuart79(Quote)
yeah i used to be im retired now
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Sharpy – there’s 3 good reasons Sandro couldn’t cement a place in Barcas team. I’d take him instantly.
georgio(Quote)
You know what they say about accountants; Accountants are very good at counting money, but not very good at making money… 😆
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – at this point Lukaku has had 4 good seasos though, while Berahino still only has one. And if I remember right, a fair few of his goals came from pens that year, while Lukaku has had Baines and Lukaku ahead of him in the pecking order at his time at Everton, and I’m not sure he took them when he was at WBA either.
Newkie(Quote)
Baines and Barkley ahead of him*
Newkie(Quote)
Georgio – yeah 3 of arguably the best reasons in world football I’d say 😆 Sandro is cetainly a top player I just worry that we are not really in a place for development projects (as good as he is). I think we desperately need PL experience to get us up the table.
If we were where Stoke or Palace are then he’d be top of the list coz we could afford him time.
But we are far from being safe & we need new signings in who could go straight into the first team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – agreed mate, defo potential although it is hard measuring players when they play in such a classy side. We’re not quite there yet 😀 . Although unlike you I’d probably prefer to take a chance on him than Townsend, who you have have noticed by now, I don’t really rate 😆
Newkie(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<< retired at 40 😆
you still working on the factory floor ? 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
So we are struggling to put out a back four for Sat with a few carrying injury,we have been needing defenders since the summer,all this chasing strikers when imo we must bring in some defenders quick sharp
icedog(Quote)
Newkie – it pains me to admit that I will never make it now – hung the boots up last season mate – the competitive ones anyway.
I’d happily take a chance on him mate coz he’s a good player. I just think it’s slightly move risky than recruiting a player who already knows the league. But to be honest with Gini, Perez & Shelvey in the side, I’d fancy Sandros chances.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – I’d consider a back 3 at the weekend with wing backs.
——————- Elliott —————–
— Mbemba – Lascelles – Colo —
Janmaat ———————– Aarons
—————– Shelvey —————-
—- Sissoko ————— Gini ——-
—————— Perez ——————
—————– Mitrovic —————–
Maybe put Colback where Aarons is if he’s not fit enough yet.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – who’d be your number one target mate? I keep thinking a left back who can cover centre back but nobody really jumps out at me.
Sharpy – yeah, I’d still much rather go for soemone experienced like Remy, still think we have a chance there, Pato coming in and it’s not like Chelsea really have much to play for now. If they were in the race for the title then fair enough, but even if a new manager comes in Remy will be cast aside just as Ba was.
How many times do we hear a player isn’t for sale? Yet when Gus said it everyone just went “Oh ok, we’ll go for Berahinho then”
Newkie(Quote)
SHARPY17
might be a bit to soon for arrons dint want him breaking down again
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Newkie – I’d happily take Remy. I know it’s not building for the future but he would give us the best chance of staying up – then we can build for the future.
TAE – yeah it probably is too soon for him. He’d be on the bench though. What do you reckon – Colback or Thauvin in that spot then?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
would play colback there meself 😉
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Newkie – My point is that when Lakaku was bought by Everton for £28m he had achieved almost the same as Berahino – which is very little. We’re not exactly being radical paying £25m for Berahino, or doing something that other clubs haven’t done.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy – exactly, he would give us at least 3 years good service imo, plenty of time to allow Perez, Mitro and Armstrong to develop. Would also allow us to let Cisse go at the end of the season, Remy is a normal striker and we know what type of goals he will score, whereas Cisse still doesn’t seem to know himself and as we’ve realised over the past 5 years – you just can’t build a successful playing style or consistent side around that kind of player.
Newkie(Quote)
TAE – Nah mate. Have a house in England and Spain, go on holiday all over the world whenever I want while being lucky enough to still work from anywhere using just my phone and laptop. Like I said, you can count and others make. I tell my accountant this every time he complains I’m spending too much… 🙄
Stuart79(Quote)
NEWKIE Matip for me his contract is up this season so shouldn’t cost the earth 5/6mil would do it Vidic is a free agent now he’s in his 30s but knows the PL was the best c/b m/u had in a long time and would be good cover until summer if we don’t get a c/b in
Hope we don’t get Gomis only 6 goals this year and the way Swansea play attacking football he should have had a lot more than that,I’ve watched him play a few times he does nowt for me
icedog(Quote)
STUART79
you saying 25 im saying 19 so im sure well see whos closest,they will defo sell him before the window closes
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Is Cisse out for the rest of the season?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
think cisse will be back about march
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
So he’s out for the season pretty much coz even when he’s back, by the time he’s up to speed the season will be over.
Based on the fact Armstrong has been loaned out & Toney is out for 3 month, it would be CF priority for me like. Goals win games & at the mo and our hopes are with Mit & Perez.
£9m for Sandro is the obvious one for me, then still look to maybe loan Remy if we can.
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/swansea-city-table-bid-for-italy-ace-after-17m-newcastle-united-o
we wont sign him no good for us cant play til next season
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
didn’t we just bid a paltry £10.5M for Berahino ?
ffs
same old under bidding with no intent
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Does anybody think we have enough goals without buying a striker?
Stuart79(Quote)
I personally think £18m-£19m with the money up front is a great deal for them. Spurs offered “£25m” in the summer, but wanted to pay £5m up front & the rest in instalments until 2020 & potential add-ons for England caps/Appearances etc.
West brom by accepting our offer could go and sign Matt Phillips & Peter Crouch and maybe a couple of others Charva Pulis wants before the deadline
It would make more sense but I’m biased obviously… 😉
CC(Quote)
In reality I can see your point, CC on valuation but when you see the other players being sold for prices higher or similar you can see why WBA might not consider selling for more than £20m or so.
Stuart79(Quote)
Here’s the question; Whi thinks Berahino would score the goals to keep us up?
Stuart79(Quote)
Absolutely going off the prices for less talented England players he’s a £25m player, but he has 18 months left on his contract and will be 24 when it expires meaning no compensation.
His value is decreasing Especially with his behaviour and form this season
CC(Quote)
Stu – no.
I’ve read that WBA are using the Sterling fee as their bench – well that really was crazy money so I don’t see them backing down to £18m whether the cash is up front or not.
Sharpy17(Quote)
STUART79
not convinced he would meself hes still a young pup
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)