Sam Johnstone - now retired

[Kevin Dawson]

Steer has been out for the best part of 10 months with an Achilles injury. He was far from proven as an able deputy, even before his injury. Sarkic is 19 and has never played a senior game for the club.  Keeping Bunn around for what is going to be a crucial season just seems like a sensible move to me.

He's far from brilliant, but for a 2nd / 3rd choice in the Championship, he's fine. He's also a rarity - keepers who are happy to be back-ups aren't that common. If Steer impresses in training, it makes much more sense to send him out on loan (Sarkic too) than it does have him not improving through not playing any football.  Having Bunn around give us the option of doing this.

Stuart Taylor has made 75 appearances in a 20 year career.........

[dave.woodhall]

Steer has been out for the best part of 10 months with an Achilles injury. He was far from proven as an able deputy, even before his injury. Sarkic is 19 and has never played a senior game for the club.  Keeping Bunn around for what is going to be a crucial season just seems like a sensible move to me.

He's far from brilliant, but for a 2nd / 3rd choice in the Championship, he's fine. He's also a rarity - keepers who are happy to be back-ups aren't that common. If Steer impresses in training, it makes much more sense to send him out on loan (Sarkic too) than it does have him not improving through not playing any football.  Having Bunn around give us the option of doing this.

Stuart Taylor has made 75 appearances in a 20 year career.........

 ...won a Premier League and two FA Cup winners' medals.

[RussellC]

I'm happier going into the season with Bunn, Steer and Sarkic as back-up than I would be with just Steer and Sarkic, yes. I also cant's think of a cheaper, better option than Bunn for that role. I fully expect Steer to start the season on the bench, but it would just further stifle his progression if it looks likely that he's going to spend the whole season there.

He's also not shit. he was capable of keeping clean-sheets in Premiership wins against Norwich and Palace, behind one of he worst defences in the Club's history. Yes, he also had games where he looked happless, but any keeper coming into the side in that situation would have struggled.

As I said, having Bunn gives us the flexibility to nurture Steer and Sarkic, rather than expect them to sit around on the bench/in the stands before being thrown into the deep-end as-and-when Johnstone picks-up an injury.

I think people underestimate how difficult it is to be a goalkeeper not playing consistently. The pressure - and the effect that pressure has on performing - is hugely different to that of an outfield player. Bunn, is an adequate and affordable back-up keeper for the position we're in.

[KevinGage]

If Johnstone broke his arm on the first of September would you play Bunn until January and not be fucking terrified by the prospect?

If the answer is yes then fine but if not the reasons for keeping him are solely because it feels right to have an experienced backup rather than a kid.

To flip the first line Bunn is proven (for me) not good enough to be a deputy so we should get rid and if it turns out that Steer and Sarkic aren't good enough either then we should be looking for someone who is good enough, not keeping someone we know is shit but is ok so long as he doesn't have to play.

Would agree with most of that. 

Johnstone also strikes me as the sort of keeper who might benefit from being out of the spotlight from time to time.  He is still young (ish) and finding his way.

Ideally we'd have an older head come in and actually push him for that starting spot.   Seen enough of Bunn to be doubtful this can be him.  In fact my heart sinks whenever I see his name or Mad Tom in the Starting XI.

[paul_e]

The thing is Sarkic and Steer can still be playing for the reserves so it not stopping them from getting any game time but how will we know if they can offer something if we constantly write them off as inexperienced and have a guy in the squad who's only purpose is to stop them being on the bench.

[Clampy]

I don't think Bunn has done too badly whenever he's been called upon. Sarkic may well go out on loan which won't do him any harm at his age.

[RussellC]

We don't have a reserve side any more though which is the problem. You could potentially share-out U23 games between them, but then you're also restricting the game-time of the actual U23 keepers.  And again, playing in goal in games at Bodymoor, etc is completely different to having to deal with a Championship crowd. You're s sitting target for opposition supporters and it takes a completely different mindset to cope, than that of an outfield player.  Can anyone honestly tell me that they'd throw Sarkic into a Blues game (home or away) ahead of Bunn next season?

There's also the training dynamic to consider. The club kept Andy Marshall around for years, as he was (apparently) regarded as a great help on the training field. I'm speculating of course, but it wouldn't surprise me if Bunn is seen in the same light.

[paul_e]

I don't think Bunn has done too badly whenever he's been called upon. Sarkic may well go out on loan which won't do him any harm at his age.

Bunn is ok for 1-2 games and then he gets gradually worse because the defence get more and more nervous.

I agree that Sarkic might be best going on loan, he's still a kid really but Steer is 25, if we don't trust him to be around the first team squad now then we should get rid.

[RussellC]

Steer is 25, if we don't trust him to be around the first team squad now then we should get rid.

But that's kind of the point. We don't know, partly due to his age (25 is still young for a keeper)and partly due to his injuries. Surely it's in everyone's interests for him to go on loan again, and play regularly. Why does it have to be a case of either making him our substitute keeper or getting rid of him?! Having Bunn gives us the option of letting him rehabilitate and improve, without having the pressure (and lack of game-time) that sitting on our bench would bring.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I'd rather have a permanent deal done and dusted but i'd still rather have him on a season long loan than nothing

[Clark W Griswold]

I'd rather have a permanent deal done and dusted but i'd still rather have him on a season long loan than nothing

True, but my guess (and it is only a guess) is that the player doesn't want to commit his longer term future to a championship club. You would hope that something is in place to definately sign him permanently should we go up.

[cheltenhamlion]

He stops permanently if we go up.

[eamonn]

Well, let's think about getting someone better if that happens.

[Toronto Villa]

Well, let's think about getting someone better if that happens.

What if he's better for the experience? I'd like to think we'd give him a chance.

[Dave]

As I said, having Bunn gives us the flexibility to nurture Steer and Sarkic, rather than expect them to sit around on the bench/in the stands before being thrown into the deep-end as-and-when Johnstone picks-up an injury.

"Nurture" Steer? He's older than Johnstone and has played nearly as many matches at this level as him. And would almost certainly have played more than him had he not been injured last year.

We should be going into this season with Johnstone and Steer as our two keepers, if they decide that Bunn is worth a couple of grand a week to hang around and help with goalkeeper training then that's fine, but he shouldn't be playing matches ahead of a fit Steer.