Alex McCarthy

[sandman]

Oh no! We might lose the mighty McCarthy, the end of the world is nigh, the best keeper in the history of the world ever could leave. What are we going to do?

We might as well just fold the club now and be done with it.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

The trouble is that if we move McC to number one we could end up losing both of them by the summer, how strong would we be with neither.

McC leaving would not be down to McD, the decision will be one made by others as well, including financial depending if any offers actually come in for him.

I recall Ashdown going and wishing we had kept him, same with Cox, neither actually made it into top players that we missed.

Of all the areas we coach, goalkeeping is our strongest, and we have more coming through according to reports.

[rhroyal]

The trouble is that if we move McC to number one we could end up losing both of them by the summer, how strong would we be with neither.

McC leaving would not be down to McD, the decision will be one made by others as well, including financial depending if any offers actually come in for him.

I recall Ashdown going and wishing we had kept him, same with Cox, neither actually made it into top players that we missed.

Of all the areas we coach, goalkeeping is our strongest, and we have more coming through according to reports.

In terms of Cox, he would waltz into our team now. As for Ashdown, I remember it being a contract situation. He had wrestled the no.1 jersey from Hahnemann at the end of the season, but then left for Pompey when his contract was up.

This was a big mistake; there is nothing more damaging for a player's development than years on the bench. He's like Steve Harper. Ashdown could have been a much better keeper had he stuck around for a couple more years and gained decent first team experience.

Based upon this, I can understand why McCarthy wants to stay in Leeds. The bench at Reading is no good for him. This has been Fedders' best season for us yet though, so it would be harsh to drop him. It must partly be down to the intense pressure of McCarthy and Andersen behind him. Fans and staff alike will feel confident enough if one of them steps in for Federici. He knows this, so has to keep his game up.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

I thought McDermott sounded like he wanted to sell McCarthy.

Shambles if true.

[Woodcote Royal]

Oh no! We might lose the mighty McCarthy, the best keeper in the history of the world

As opposed to "The best 'keeper in the division" who can't be blamed for any goals when Jimmy Kebe is the last Reading player to touch the ball, his feet get Superglued to the goal line or Joseph Mills is ANYWHERE on the same pitch.

[West Stand Man]

I thought McDermott sounded like he wanted to sell McCarthy.

Shambles if true.

Why? How many top goalkeepers do you need/ can you afford to keep when you are not a top 6 PL team? We currently have a top rate starter (AF) and excellent back up from 2 other excellent keepers. Surely even you can see the logic in cashing in on one of those?

[Woodcote Royal]

Let's see who wants to buy Federici in January..........................and if the club already know there's more chance of hell freezing over than "Fcuk up" filling our next black hole, this might give some credence to Snowball's suspicions.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

I thought McDermott sounded like he wanted to sell McCarthy.

Shambles if true.

Why? How many top goalkeepers do you need/ can you afford to keep when you are not a top 6 PL team? We currently have a top rate starter (AF) and excellent back up from 2 other excellent keepers. Surely even you can see the logic in cashing in on one of those?

I can see the logic. Sell Federici.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

The trouble is that if we move McC to number one we could end up losing both of them by the summer, how strong would we be with neither.

McC leaving would not be down to McD, the decision will be one made by others as well, including financial depending if any offers actually come in for him.

I recall Ashdown going and wishing we had kept him, same with Cox, neither actually made it into top players that we missed.

Of all the areas we coach, goalkeeping is our strongest, and we have more coming through according to reports.

As for Ashdown, I remember it being a contract situation. He had wrestled the no.1 jersey from Hahnemann at the end of the season, but then left for Pompey when his contract was up.

.

Ashdown was offered a good contract, but was free to leave as you say, having been told he would not start the forthcoming season as No1, despite his good performances while Marcus was out. The lure of a Prem club was better than being on the bench at Champ level.

[PistolPete]

Leeds manager Simon Grayson: "We probably didn't deserve the point if you look at our performance.

"The big turning point was the penalty save and it gave us a chance to get something out of the game and it is great that the players had the determination to go until the end.

"Alex's loan finished today and I spoke to (Reading manager) Brian McDermott on Friday about his performances and we said we would talk after the weekend.

"I am not saying we will re-sign him, that is down to Reading and also what we decide to do as well.

"What I will say is that he has been outstanding for us and we are thankful to Reading for letting him come and he has shown all the potential and promise that he will be a top goalkeeper in the future."

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Feck off Leeds you know McC is a crap keeper, it was your top defence that did it, now send him back, ta.

[Cypry]

+1, sell Federici

Fine in principal, as long as someone wants to buy, makes a sensible offer and Feds wants to go - realistically he'll only want to go to a Premiership club where he'll have a sensible chance of starting - I can't think of any realistic options as it stands....we're "selling" to a very limited customer base...

McCarthy, on the other hand, is likely to be attractive to, and prepared to consider, a much broader range of clubs, and is probably actively pushing for a move - another half a season of bench warming is almost certainly not very appealing...

We can't realistically keep three keepers of the calibre we have, yes McCarthy has the potential to be a great keeper, in which case I could see a Shane Long situation as early as next Summer if we fail to get promoted, with a Premier League club coming in for him and us being unable to stop him leaving.....it's a fine line we tread...

I feel that if McCarthy going allows us to strengthen in other areas then that's a price worth paying - I'm still not convinced that Kebe will go in January (financially, the best option for him is to go on a free in the Summer and I cannot see anyone offering silly money for a player who has been on such hit-and-miss form and who has 6 months to run on his contract) - the club might consider that keeping Kebe and losing him on a free, but having him in the side for the rest of the season and hoping he finds his form, is better than accepting a mediocre offer in January. Therefore, if Leeds (or someone else) make us a significant offer for McCarthy, and the incoming funds allow us to look at a decent creative midfielder, or possibly a proven striker at this level, then I think I'd take that....

[Barry the bird boggler]

It's decision time at RFC on our 3 keepers. All are top quality. We will have to outline the future clearly to Alex and hope we can sell Federici IF we want to keep him beyond the summer.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Also have to make sure Feds is well informed as to the whole situation, reality is we do not want to stop either improving themselves, but both can have a future at RFC, probably not together though.

[Jack Celliers]

It's decision time at RFC on our 3 keepers. All are top quality. We will have to outline the future clearly to Alex and hope we can sell Federici IF we want to keep him beyond the summer.

Maybe we need to face reality and accept that a big money bid from a premier league team isn't forthcoming.
The consequences of that is we need to change our tactic.
Basicly so far we've been playing Federici in order to maximize his market value.
Drop him, play McCarthy and sell Federici at more of a moderate price to some mediocre team who'll want to pay a half million or so for him.

Championship Manager is not real life

[Stranded]

It's decision time at RFC on our 3 keepers. All are top quality. We will have to outline the future clearly to Alex and hope we can sell Federici IF we want to keep him beyond the summer.

Maybe we need to face reality and accept that a big money bid from a premier league team isn't forthcoming.
The consequences of that is we need to change our tactic.
Basicly so far we've been playing Federici in order to maximize his market value.
Drop him, play McCarthy and sell Federici at more of a moderate price to some mediocre team who'll want to pay a half million or so for him.

No, we are playing him as he was first choice and despite what most would love to believe has played very well this year. Yes, he has made fcuk up's but so has McCarthy in his short time at Leeds - Barnsley's winner anyone?

At the mo it's a case of McC being better for most as he's not playing for us, so we can't pick on his flaws as we can Federici's.

[andrew1957]

It is clear for all to see that we have a big problem with goal keeping situation, but there is little the club can do about it.

Federici is having an excellent season and has done absolutely nothing to deserve being dropped.

McCarthy might have the ability to be an even better keeper but why would Brain take the risk of dropping the in form Federici just to appease a young player who "might" be a star of the future. It is no different to dropping Kebe and playing Obita - who "might" be a better player than Kebe in the long run.

I am sure that if a PL club comes in for Federici in January we would most likely sell, but it is unlikely to happen. There are no obvious vacancies in the PL. So either we have to sell McCarthy if the price is right and he is not willing to be patient, or he has to wait his turn. I hope he is patient as playing at Reading is probably the best bet for his long term career.

And what about Andersen. How frustrated must he feel? He "might" have even more potential than McCarthy and would probably walk into most Championship sides and yet is effectively our number 3.

Nice problem in some ways but difficult in others and I think we should get behind the club on this issue as Brian and RFC are in a bit of a no win situation.

[Snowball]

Can we play one of the keepers as a big number 9?

[Royal Rother]

Ok, it's what a forum is for I suppose but to me this whole debate is pointless and daft.

Who are the professional football people in the best position to decide who is the right one to play in goal?

Bibbo and McDermott. However they balance up the pros and cons they've done their assessments and Federici has their nod.

That should really be end of discussion.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Ok, it's what a forum is for I suppose but to me this whole debate is pointless and daft.

Who are the professional football people in the best position to decide who is the right one to play in goal?

Bibbo and McDermott. However they balance up the pros and cons they've done their assessments and Federici has their nod.

That should really be end of discussion.

Except that the overriding though (in my mind at least) is that the decision is not being based simply on who is the best keeper (I think there's nothing to choose between them at the moment).

I worry that teh decision is being based on the potential reaction from Federici and any complications from this if he's dropped. Dropping a "number one" keeper says a lot more than replacing him when he's injured.