The January Transfer Window 2020

[Aceface]

How much more would it have cost to sign Etheridge as a genuine alternative option instead of our usual preference for a "back-up keeper"?

As opposed to Randolph, he excelled when he was last in the prem.

Hard to credit that we can have observed the dumpster fire that just occurred when Fabianski was injured and immediately gone back to a don't-worry-he'll-never-have-to-play mindset.

[Hugh Jargon]

Dont care about the money. Randolph is a larger than life character and popular. Great bloke to have as a back up.

[Gsbgsb]

This just about sums it up. Randolph was a decent shot-stopper, and to be fair, is / will be a decent backup. But we sold him to move on. Once again we're showing our complete lack of scouting by panic buying our old goalkeeper back. Where is the desire to find a goalkeeper who is 23-27 that we can nurture up until Fabianski calls it a day? Where is the planning?

Maybe, just maybe, they see either Trott or Anang as being that player.

Fredericks gets injured and immediately people demand we buy another RB when that might just be the chance Johnson needs. We used to be a club that prided itself on developing its youngsters now it seems a lot of fans have moved to the ‘buy, buy, buy” response to practically anything.

[Aceface]

Maybe, just maybe, they see either Trott or Anang as being that player.

If that was the plan you'd sign a player on a six-month loan.

Given historical precedent, us spending £4m on a keeper is proportionally like Liverpool committing £60m to Alisson.

[Gsbgsb]

If that was the plan you'd sign a player on a six-month loan.

Given historical precedent, us spending £4m on a keeper is proportionally like Liverpool committing £60m to Alisson.

No you do not do a 6 month loan. That simply puts off the problem until the summer, Trott and Anang need to play at league level which means loans, they will not develop sitting on the bench.

You get in a genuine number 2 for a couple of years ( as they thought they had with Roberto). Fab continues as your number 1, the young keepers get experience out on loan and in a couple of years they have developed and can challenge.

[smuts]

A proper backwards step for me. Good shot stopper but pretty poor on crosses and high balls.

[Aceface]

If the plan is to endure a crappy second goal keeper for two or three years on the outside chance that Anang or Trott become good enough then the plan is even shittier than I thought.

Demand better.

[Billy Hunt]

Far, far better option as a back up keeper than what we have currently. Surely that cannot be a bad thing can it ?

[S-H]

Far, far better option as a back up keeper than what we have currently. Surely that cannot be a bad thing can it ?

Not when considered in isolation, no.

But just continues to show a lack of forward planning.

[Gsbgsb]

If the plan is to endure a crappy second goal keeper for two or three years on the outside chance that Anang or Trott become good enough then the plan is even shittier than I thought.

Demand better.

Your privilege to “demand better” but please do not be someone who complains if the younger keepers then move on seeing their path blocked and turn out to be far superior to the one we signed.

As I say some fans have zero interest in developing youth but they are entitled to their view.

[psychoscoredthelot]

next level

[Puff Daddy]

Back up GK? Yeah, f*** it, he's cheap, have him then. Sullivan's transfer strategy in one short sentence

[The Old Man of Storr]

It's possible that Darren Randolph has improved since we last saw him seeing as he was the first choice Goalkeeper for Middlesbrough and also got in the Championship Team Of The Year 2018/19 season - definitely good enough as our Back-Up Keeper .

[Aceface]

Your privilege to “demand better” but please do not be someone who complains if the younger keepers then move on seeing their path blocked and turn out to be far superior to the one we signed.

As I say some fans have zero interest in developing youth but they are entitled to their view.

You literally just said it would be several years away – and going by the age most keepers become permanent starters it may even be underselling it. In what world is buying a competent second keeper this month blocking their path?

When Randolph signs we will have bought three keepers in six months. It's perfectly possible to shuffle the deck, and quickly, according to circumstances. Including youth players proving to be good enough.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

it isn't *that* easy to purchase a reserve keeper, especially when a club has an absolutely undisputed number 1 like we do who will probably be first choice for at least 18 months

There are not that many keepers who would be prepared to give up any real chance of first team football

Randolph isnt the best, but he has experience of the club and the league and is a much much better option than what we currently have

[Wilko1304]

In defence of it, he’s homegrown (I think) and was a reportedly a good character. You need characters in reserve, especially when they’re gonna get limited time.

I still think it’s an unimpressive signing, but it’s a backup keeper and it’s been done fast. I won’t pull my hair out, basically, even with previous criticisms of the scouting - which is more of a wider thing rather than this specific transfer.

The £4m is an issue too. Seems an unnecessary spend

[PlaistowIron]

I think the homegrown element is a factor here. We could always get Joe Hart back :lol:

Wasn’t it Randolph who was pictured boozing with Shandy Barrel at 8 in the morning??

[HammerAl]

We must have LOADS of money to spend this window, considering we're spending £4m on a back-up keeper (is he our second most expensive keeper ever?)...

Now just a left back, right back, two central midfielders and a striker to follow...





:arry:

[PlaistowIron]

Unless Fredericks is out for a good few months, there is zero chance of us considering signing another right back.

Didn’t seem like a full on hamstring tear by the way he pulled up, more a slight pull/strain. I’m optimistic that he’ll be back in 2-4 weeks.

[WienIron]

If the plan is to endure a crappy second goal keeper for two or three years on the outside chance that Anang or Trott become good enough then the plan is even shittier than I thought.

Demand better.

Totally agree.

Moyes, Randolph, Cresswell extension, scouring for free RBs... the evidence is mounting that the owners' intention is to keep us plodding along over the next 3 years, with minimal spend, before they can make a sale and keep all the profit without losses to the taxpayer. The most we'll get is a first team CM to partner Rice if the fans kick up enough of a fuss.

We have a first XI good enough to backfill with young, hungry, stars of the future, but they clearly don't have the scouting infrastructure, nor the will, to push us forward in the medium to long term.