Federici - the best keeper in the Championship?

[Ian Royal]

I think it's easier for BMc to keep it as it is - dropping Feds would be a real slap in the face for him, so keeping the younger, less-experienced McCarthy as second choice is easier in terms of man-management.

does this suggest brian mcdermott doesn't have broad enough shoulders, or a strong enough backbone?

federici was injured and mccarthy stepped in. he impressed, looked a lot more commanding of his area and collecting crosses and with the exception of one or two shakey moments, as any keeper has most weeks, he was outstanding! federici returns to fitness and is still on the bench, he gets a little grumpy and for no fault of his own mccarthy is dropped and federici reinstated as number one.

now it's easy to hide behind the fact that one keeper was more experienced than the other, and we were heading into a challenging part of the season (federici was awful in the final fwiw), but for me it was clear that federici didn't like being kept out of the side, made it known and was put back in the side swiftly to prevent having an unhappy keeper wanting out in the summer.

It's a marginal call either way. As such you can completely understand McDermott going with the experienced well paid "star" over the up and coming youngster. It's less likely to cause disent in the ranks afterall. I happen to think it's the wrong call (as I thought persisting with Long was this time last year) it may or may not pay off. And we'll never know whether making a different choice would have paid off better.

[Elmer Park]

For what it's worth in most games we play I seldom come away from the game thinking either keeper is anything other than decent - no more, no less.

Luke Steele's against us and Federici's last night have been the two best one off performances by keepers in the matches I have seen this season but in general there isn't much to choose between the lot of them in my view. I would include McCarthy in the same category at the moment.

[The Rouge]

Camp, Schmeichel, Stockdale, Gilks, Fielding, Speroni, Davis, Green (altho i personally think he's cack) you could say with some comfort are > Federici and could realistically be number 1's at Prem level.

I'd put Federici in the same bracket as Lonergan, Murphy, Myhill, Ikeme, Marshall, Steele, Loach, Ashdown, Grant in the middle tier. solid Championship keepers that would all be a 2nd choice at best at Prem level.

With Sullivan (these days), Ankergren, Basso, Jones, James (these days), Forde as keepers that while ok aren't ever going to be better than championship level.

In summary, i'd rate Federici as a decent enough championship keeper. As such he'll have some good days, some bad days but overall you'd give him 6 or 7 out of 10 over the course of the season.

For me McCarthy has more to his game than just making 2 or 3 camera saves. He has a command of the area and a natural ability that is hard to coach. I think given time, games and the opportunity he could become a keeper in that top bracket.

It's a fair point to say who wanted Federici? In the summer he made it very clear he wanted a move to the Prem and there wasn't any interest at all. Even from a couple of the new boys who were actually after keepers.

As someone who watches a ridiculous amount of football I would say Ashdown has been very average and Myhill, barring one big error, has been great.

Keepers are kings one week and paupers the next. I think Feds is one of the better keepers in the league. He lets in some goals most would save but also saves many more that others wouldn't.

[SCIAG]

Camp, Schmeichel, Stockdale, Gilks, Fielding, Speroni, Davis, Green (altho i personally think he's cack) you could say with some comfort are > Federici and could realistically be number 1's at Prem level.

Camp and Schmeichel, definitely. Those two are probably the best players at their clubs. Speroni is very similar to Federici, good at camera saves, but his handling is awful. Gilks is solid, Green has been but he's looked off for a while now. Fielding and Stockdale? Neither are on Feds' level, or McCarthy's. Fielding was fourth choice at Blackburn, who are far from a leading Premiership side, and he hardly impressed at Derby last season, and Stockdale has looked cack whenever I've seen him play. I rate Scott Loach more highly as well, but he's been in poor form of late. I'd agree with Rouge about Myhill.

Personally, I'd rate Feds as the fourth or fifth best goalkeeper in the league, with Westwood leaving and Kenny getting promoted. It's harder to tell with McCarthy, but I think he'd be first choice at a lot of clubs. I'm sure Bristol City would love him on loan.

[FiNeRaIn]

Fielding and Stockdale? Neither are on Feds' level, or McCarthy's. Fielding was fourth choice at Blackburn, who are far from a leading Premiership side, and he hardly impressed at Derby last season, .

Except he was chosen ahead of Mccarthy for the u-21's

[sandman]

Yeah but Stuart Pearce is a crap manager.

[peterroyal76]

Yeah but Stuart Pearce is a crap manager.

Crap maybe a bit strong, but I agree he's not very good.

[SCIAG]

Yeah, that's a pretty awful point. Pearce picked Danny Rose ffs!

[johnnym]

i would agree that he's not the best keeper at the club, that is clearly McCarthy.

Potentially maybe yes, but clearly McDermott doesn't see it like that at the moment.

Or do you think he might be giving him game time in the hope he performs well enough to put him in January's shop window perhaps? I suppose it's not beyond the realms of possibility but seems pretty unlikely BM would select his 11 with that in mind.

no, i think BM has to pick a number one and then show some faith and back his own decision. i don't think fed has done enough to warrant being dropped but he wouldn't be my number 1. it's easier to chop and change a bit with the outfield

[Svlad Cjelli]

Yep, and to expand on my other point yesterday, dropping Feds (assuming he's not injured) would be telling him that he's no longer number one, which would probably damage his ego (and we all know he has a big one).

I have no idea how he'd react to that, but for the marginal short-term improvement it's probably much easier, from a management point of view, to leave things as they are and maintain the status quo. BMc has enough problems to worry about without adding the hassle of soothing damaged egos in what is already an under-stress dressing room.

It's not about "lack of backbone" it's more about being pragmatic and looking at the benefit vs the hassle of each decision, and choosing which ones are worth it. In the short-term Federici is fine, but in the long-term I see McCarthy there (as long as he doesn't lose interest in waiting so long) so the potential hassle of this is too much now for minimal short-term advantage.

The time do do it, if he's going to do it, would be in December - because dropping Federici would almost certainly result in him wanting to leave, so doing this just before the transfer window would be perfect. (There might even be a "gentleman's agreement along those lines anyway...)

Of course, if there's an injury to Feds then it all comes much easier.

[Rick_Dangerous]

Maybe not the best but on his day he's day or thereabouts.

[roadrunner]

Maybe not the best but on his day he's day or thereabouts.

Think you spelt gay wrong m8.

[YateleyRoyal]

ManueLOL ALOLmunia

[Radders]

On his day I think he is a good keeper, but the gap between 'his days' seem to be quite wider.

And the way he dives for a shot, with his arm out straight (all good so far) but doesn't look back, just keeps his arm out, seems to say that 'I couldn't get there, and i'm nearly perfect so no-one could have made that save', instead of actually reading the game better and moving quicker, might not annoy me so much. Have a look next time he doesn't make the save. Smug git.

[paultheroyal]

On his day I think he is a good keeper, but the gap between 'his days' seem to be quite wider.

Yeah, all of about 4 days and 1 match!

[FiNeRaIn]

The haters are awfully quiet after that performance.

[fester_royal]

Player of the month so far, three clear goal chances for boro today all resulting in world class saves. Plus he's now taking greater control of the back four and telling them what's going on.. I think reading fans just love to hate

[West Stand Man]

Player of the month so far, three clear goal chances for boro today all resulting in world class saves. Plus he's now taking greater control of the back four and telling them what's going on.. I think reading fans just love to hate

Not 'Reading fans' just a vocal minority of idiots on this board.

[floyd__streete]

Yes, well played again today. He performs some miracle saves. Which makes his all too regular absolute howlers all the more frustrating. Playing behind a defence of Mills_Gorkss_Pearce_Cummings he is always going to have plenty to do in every game

[Ian Royal]

The haters are awfully quiet after that performance.

We all know he's got top draw performances in him. It doesn't change a preference for McCarthy in some though.