Goalkeepers
Steve Simonsen
Simonsen did so well on loan a few years ago but had a really bad season last year and this year was not much better. He had spells of good games and actually finished the season really well. It was not his fault we lost the final as he gave a good performance and was down to one kick. A n awful kick but it should never have got to him. I actually felt sorry for him as he seems a really nice guy and honest about everything. However, I then look back at think of the bad things this season and of that there are many.
He is not bad positionally on shots and a fairly decent shot stopper but his decision making is awful. He does not command his box and won’t come for balls either through balls or crosses. He also routinely makes stupid mistakes. The thing that annoyed me most is that he would not commicate with his defenders at all and this caused major problems all season.
A quick look at games this season and you see how many goals he has cost us:
Walsall (H) - Cost us 2 goals. Should have saved Hurst's shot; save and then did not take a cross and it led to another goal.
Wednesday (H) - Came and missed 2 punches leading to 2 goals.
Preston (A) - Header that somehow bounced up and over him into the goal.
Orient (A) - Certain win taken away by a weak punch that led to a goal
Huddersfield (H) - Weak parry led to Novak goal. Another 2 crosses went in when he was nowhere near them.
Charlton (H) - Header in six yard box - should have got cross.
He then had a decent spell and played well in a flurry of games and was superb at Huddersfield but then a further series of poor mistakes/inability to take cross/he through ball came back again:
Oldham (H) - Through ball for Maguire sending off - he stood on line.
Tranmere (H) - Header from almost on the line.
Bournemouth (H) - Not aware of danger and cost us goal with throw out into player.
That is 12/13 goals I am afraid. Pretty damning evidence. That is not including the ones that did not cost us goals.
He has had some decent games and did make some good saves but for a team near the top that is a lot of mistakes. As I say he was a nice guy and seemed as genuine as a footballer can be but with a better keeper this year we would have gone up. He was on a decent wage too I am sure and thus his release was an obvious decision and was completely correct. I am sure he will find another club at this level or in league two but he will probably always be remembered for some of the above mistakes and ultimately for his missed penalty kick at Wembley.
Grade D-
George Long
Long was seen as a real prospect and looked decent against Man Utd in the Youth Cup. Tall, athletic and quite commanding for one so young; he seemed to be ready to press for the first team and had made his debut at Swansea the previous season. He got his chance after Simonsen’s errors and did well against MK Dons but the following week he had a nightmare against Exeter and contributed to 2 or 3 of the 4 goals. His confidence was completely shot and rightly he was taken out of the limelight. He needed to be put out on loan but that ever happened as teams also probably did not want a young keeper learning his trade between their sticks! He ended back up in the Academy team and was not even in the reserves by season end with Howard coming it to be number two. It has been a backward step for Long this season as he went from being linked with Premiership teams to being back playing in front of a few fans at windy Shirecliffe. Next season is a big season as he will have to make inroads into the first team here or get out on loan. He cannot just be in the reserves/youth team for another season.
Grade E
The rest
Mark Howard
I must admit that I don’t know much about Howard. Apparently he is highly rated and seen as someone who could be our number one but I must admit it concerns me that at 25 we are his eight club. He has left clubs quite quickly and never ever made himself a legitimate number one even losing his place at backwaters like St Mirren and Aberdeen. Maybe we have seen something others have not but I have my reservations based on his history.
Next season
Returning players;
Player / PositionYears remaining (contract expires)
Goalkeepers
Mark Howard 2 years (2014)
George Long 4 years(2016)
It seems unless something happens to allow us to get another experienced keeper for a season long loan or ones is suddenly released; we will go into the season with Howard and Long. Howard will probably get the first chance at the number one. I don’t think United necessarily see that Howard is much better than Simonsen and I think if it was not for finances then Simonsen would have been kept and we would bumbled along for another season. I hope Howard gets off to a good start and can command his box/take crosses. I don’t expect him to make stunning saves but do the basics and control his area/defence.