Sam Johnstone - now retired

[ASHTONVILLA]

Hopefully we get the late season form all season this time. Good signing if we do.

[Five Villa Tattoos]

Not sure that Johnstone is what we need as a number one keeper. I hope he has a stormer and proves me wrong.
Just would have preferred an experienced number one, even for just one season.

[ozzjim]

Seemed a decent keeper once he settled. Certainly won't be our weakest link this season and gives some consistency. With the players in front of him should we get rid of Richards and Elphick and sign Samba, we will have one of the strongest back 4 or 5 units in the league if not the strongest.

His interview suggests he is not the sharpest tool in the box mind.

[cdbearsfan]

We've had a few of those. I'd rather we just picked the best man available, regardless of age.

He seemed to be improving as the season went on, which is a good sign for a young keeper.

Happy with this announcement.

Plus, he called me "mate" at Wigan. Box office, me.

[darren woolley]

I'm glad we've got him back good keeper.

[cdbearsfan]

Darren always says what I'm thinking, better than I can say it.

[dave.woodhall]

Darren always says what I'm thinking, better than I can say it.

And without swearing.

[paul_e]

I'm totally on the fence about him, he's ok, he saves stuff you'd expect and doesn't make many more errors than most in this league but he's not going to pull off world class saves or spot a gap and set us away to score with a quick kick/throw. He's a bit Vanilla for me and I suspect Gollini will be a better keeper than him in a couple of years.

Fine with him on loan though and if it helps keep Bunn away from the team then I'm happy.

[LeeB]

I'm totally on the fence about him, he's, he saves stuff you'd expect and doesn't make many more errors than most in this league but he's not going to pull off world class saves or spot a gap and set us away to score with a quick kick/throw. He's a bit Vanilla for me and I suspect Gollini will be a better keeper than him in a couple of years.

Fine with him on loan though and if it helps keep Bunn away from the team then I'm happy.

I was too, then watching a match-winning performance at Wigan convinced me.

[supertom]

Think he's a good keeper. A full Champ season can set him up nicely potentially for our return to the Prem, where I'd expect us to sign him permanently. I think if we get a settled defence it'll help. I would imagine we will be somewhat settled. Much as I'm not Terry's biggest fan, his ability to organise a backline will also be invaluable in certain games.

[Matt C]

Good signing.

[Gareth]

Excellent signing, should hit the ground running, way better than Bunn, hopefully Steer will be number 2.

Needs to work on his distribution & occasionally catch rather than punch but they are coachable things that we have a goalkeeper coach for, he does the basics very well and personally I felt he was the most secure keeper we have had since the early times of Friedel.

Two very good signings thus far for a promotion bid....hope we add energy and pace rather than Whelan style 'experience' plodders now

[eamonn]

I'm totally on the fence about him, he's, he saves stuff you'd expect and doesn't make many more errors than most in this league but he's not going to pull off world class saves or spot a gap and set us away to score with a quick kick/throw. He's a bit Vanilla for me and I suspect Gollini will be a better keeper than him in a couple of years.

Fine with him on loan though and if it helps keep Bunn away from the team then I'm happy.

I was too, then watching a match-winning performance at Wigan convinced me.

Is that him and Jedinak you fell in love with that day? You must have been in a happy mood.

[LeeB]

I'm totally on the fence about him, he's, he saves stuff you'd expect and doesn't make many more errors than most in this league but he's not going to pull off world class saves or spot a gap and set us away to score with a quick kick/throw. He's a bit Vanilla for me and I suspect Gollini will be a better keeper than him in a couple of years.

Fine with him on loan though and if it helps keep Bunn away from the team then I'm happy.

I was too, then watching a match-winning performance at Wigan convinced me.

Is that him and Jedinak you fell in love with that day? You must have been in a happy mood.

Ha ha yes. We were shit but those two were outstanding.

[old man villa fan]

'Steady Eddie' goalkeeper that has the basics to building on as he becomes more experienced. As long as he does not become over confident in his own ability, he should do well.