Tom Heaton: gone

[themossman]

Meh he should have held onto that bicycle kick from negrero!

Some great saves in there. My favourite is the one from deeney. Not just because it’s deeney it’s great improvisation and a strong hand.

[Hookeysmith]

I actually thought he was a small keeper but he is listed as being 6'2" so the clips where he gets down very quickly is quite impressive

Another intelligent and seemingly well thought out transfer

I am loving our work this year

[manic-road]

Yeah very happy with this, although it is going be a bit tough on Jed Steer.

I'm hoping that Steer is given the chance to start, with Heaton ready to step in as necessary.

Why would you start with an inferior keeper rather than a top drawer keeper?

[wittonwarrior]

We needed a keeper without a pending mistake in him every game and Heaton ticks that box - really important signing. Tough on steer no as he’s clearly not good enough at the top level and smith chasing a keeper appears to agree with me

[AsTallAsLions]

Not some obscure player we’ve not heard of but here’s the obligatory YouTube anyway. Some absolutely stunning saves.

Been saying it since he was first linked, he is a wonderful goalkeeper. He'll be proving some of his doubters wrong while doing the business for us this season. Hopefully.

[villadelph]

The only keeper still in the England squad left over from Euro 2016.. despite being the oldest at the time. I went back and watched some interviews he's done over the years, seems a good bloke. This signing is assuring and I'm glad its happening.

[Chipsticks]

Yeah very happy with this, although it is going be a bit tough on Jed Steer.

I'm hoping that Steer is given the chance to start, with Heaton ready to step in as necessary.

Why would you start with an inferior keeper rather than a top drawer keeper?

I think that Jed has earned his right to start until proven otherwise.

[cdbearsfan]

It's a shame for Jed, but Heaton will be starting. I'd be tempted to bring Steer on if the opposition get a penalty late on, like Holland did with Krul in some World Cup or Euros.

Partly because younger, shorter, goalkeepers tend to be better at saving penalties, partly to psych out the opposition.

[Richard]

By that criteria you'd also start Hourihane based on his form end of last season instead of Luiz ?

[villadelph]

Heaton will be the presumed starter, wouldn't be surprised if he has the armband off and on throughout the year. I think with all the new, young signings he will be a good leader for the squad.

[cdbearsfan]

By that criteria you'd also start Hourihane based on his form end of last season instead of Luiz ?

I think it might be a couple of games before we see Luiz as he hasn't had any preseason, has he?

[OCD]

It's been Jack, Hourihane and Chester that have been leaders with helping new signings adjust but you would think Mings and Heaton would become leaders there too. Luiz is obviously a leader too with him being the captain of the Brazil under-23's.

[Chipsticks]

By that criteria you'd also start Hourihane based on his form end of last season instead of Luiz ?

To be honest I would.

[Risso]

It's a shame for Jed, but Heaton will be starting. I'd be tempted to bring Steer on if the opposition get a penalty late on, like Holland did with Krul in some World Cup or Euros.

Partly because younger, shorter, goalkeepers tend to be better at saving penalties, partly to psyche out the opposition.

Problem with that is I reckon you'd piss off the first choice keeper no end.  Also from the Youtube video at least, Heaton seems to have the reflexes of a cat.

[cdbearsfan]

Yes, maybe. I just like the idea of making the opposition wait to take their penalty, and all the while thinking "fuck, he must be an expert at saving penalties if they're bringing him on".