Sam Johnstone - now retired

[DennisHodgetts]

If, I mean "when" we go up, we should fork out the money and sign him. He seems to have fitted in to what seems a very well bonded group and we need to keep the belief and core of that together for next year with the clear need to improve in various areas. Also, we know what we are getting with Johnstone, better the devil etc.... and he can work on dealing with corners and distribution over the Summer!

[West Derby Villan]

I agree, we should move heaven and earth to sign him at the end of the season dependant on FFP of course. I believe he is improving nearly every match and will continue to do so. I hope he is ambitious and I hope we can match his aspirations. Agree again, we need to build on the core next season, i.e. Johnstone, Chester, Grealish, Snodgrass.........

[Hookeysmith]

Sorry but I disagree - he is a great shot stopper  - but they all are at that level

Other fundamentals in the art of modern goalkeeping

Kicking
Quick distribution
Domination of 6 yard box
Cross calculation and collection
Management verbally of the back 4

He is found wanting a lot in these areas I am afraid

[Ads]

He's an excellent shot stopper, in fact he's Bozzie level in that regard. He seems keen to punch when perhaps he should catch it, but as long as he gets distance on it, I'm not too bothered.

Its not about dominating your box, its about the centre halves knowing what you're going to do so you can operate as a unit. By and large that's worked well, but I think his confidence has taken a bit of a knock recently and you start to think about decisions rather than deciding what to do out of instinct.

He kicks to a consistent plan. That's management and coaching.

[wittonwarrior]

Above average championship keeper but would struggle higher up where distribution is the key. Can only kick with one peg and even then it is hit and miss

[Ads]

 The best keeper we've probably ever had couldn't kick to save his life and Johnstone's better than Bozzie at that. He's told to aim for Snoddy or Elmo.

[Hookeysmith]

Its not about dominating your box,

I have to disagree

The very good keepers dominate everything within the 6 yard area - the true great keepers dominate the 18 yard box as well.

In the 6 yard area anything in the way of the ball is clattered as you come for it. If it is low or high it is yours - in fact if it is high then you take it at its highest point and in the 6 yard box once committed no one could out jump you unless they foul you.
Over time the confidence is built into defenders that anything in there will result in a call and a take. Fail to do that and hesitancy in the 6 yard box can mean chaos with defenders

[Ads]

Its about organisation for me. The crowd like to see a keeper come marauding through a stack of players and if that works, fine, but if the centre halves know its their job to deal with the aerial threat and they know where the keeper is going to be, then you are dominating your box.

That said Johnstone does come for the high ball, depending on depth of the cross, he just chooses to punch more often than not.

[wittonwarrior]

Bozzie better than rimmer no no no.  But at least the Aussie could punt sfor netimes the ball which Johnstone can’t seem to achieve consistently.  I would say he is the modern type of keeper good on his line but as Guzan found out poor distribution is quickly punished in the premiership.  This is why I think steer will also struggle

[Mister E]

Above average championship keeper but would struggle higher up where distribution is the key. Can only kick with one peg and even then it is hit and miss

Distribution is coachable - it's up to the player and the coaches to sort it out.
I wouldn't like to guess how effective he is at organising the players around him: that, for me, is probably the single most important attribute of a decent keeper (over and above the obvious skills required to be considered in the first place).

[dekko]

Dont forget 24 is young for a goalkeeper, and a lot of his flaws are things that can be coached

[Ads]

Johnstone consistently finding the wing. His distribution isn't that bad and he's playing to instructions.

Bozzie was world class in every aspect apart from his kicking, especially from the ground, which was atrocious.

That performance up at Roker Park was phenomenal. I've yet to see anything like it in the 24 and a bit years since.

[Richard E]

Johnstone consistently finding the wing. His distribution isn't that bad and he's playing to instructions.

Bozzie was world class in every aspect apart from his kicking, especially from the ground, which was atrocious.

That performance up at Roker Park was phenomenal. I've yet to see anything like it in the 24 and a bit years since.

We were comprehensively outplayed and won 4-1!

[Ads]

I know, it was ace. Imagine if it had been against Sheffield Wednesday? They'd still be writing letters now.

[Richard E]

Those two League Cup winning runs were just bloody brilliant. Beating Spurs and Arsenal away, coming back from 2-0 down at Highbury and playing them off the park, doing Blose home and away, the Tranmere second leg. Everything apart from Tranmere away.