Alex McCarthy No.1

[RobRoyal]

just dont see anyone coming in for a player with 3-4 months first team experience in the most experience reliant position on the pitch
and nr do i see us being up for letting him go, especially not at th eprice likely to be offered

Ashdown? Allaway?

[brendywendy]

It's quite palusible that a big 4 club would buy him and immediately send him to another club for a season-long loan before deciding whther to keep him on or let him go.

that i could maybe see

[brendywendy]

just dont see anyone coming in for a player with 3-4 months first team experience in the most experience reliant position on the pitch
and nr do i see us being up for letting him go, especially not at th eprice likely to be offered

Ashdown? Allaway?

did they go to a premiere league team?

[RobRoyal]

just dont see anyone coming in for a player with 3-4 months first team experience in the most experience reliant position on the pitch
and nr do i see us being up for letting him go, especially not at th eprice likely to be offered

Ashdown? Allaway?

did they go to a premiere league team?

I think Allaway went in 2001 or 2002 so yes, both did go to premiership teams.

Extending it beyond ourselves, Luke Steele and Ross Turnbull spring to mind.

[brendywendy]

we'll see.

[Hoop Blah]

Ben Foster went to Man Utd for a cool £1m even before playing at Championship level.

[Ian Royal]

Given all the plaudits Leigertwood is getting for never playing in a beaten side this season, I though McCarthy should get a few too. He's now played 11 games and we've won 9 and drawn 2, leaving him also unbeaten.

He's also kept half as many clean sheets as Federici in about a third of the games.

Well done Alex, keep it up 'til the end of the season and you'll be deserving of starting as No 1 for us next season.

[roadrunner]

+1

Been brilliant for us and has a lot more about him than Federici. For such a young keeper he oozes confidence and commands his area well. I never feel as comfortable with Federici in goal.

As you say, his record speaks for itself. I hope in pre-season nothing changes to let Feds back in.

[Stranded]

Story in The Sun today claiming Arsenal are "closing in" on Alex McCarthy.

[rhroyal]

Story in The Sun today claiming Arsenal are "closing in" on Alex McCarthy.

Madness. They have the Polish kid.

[NR_Royal]

Story in The Sun today claiming Arsenal are "closing in" on Alex McCarthy.

Sauce?

[Stranded]

Story in The Sun today claiming Arsenal are "closing in" on Alex McCarthy.

Sauce?

Err, The Sun - in the Football League round up of Goals.

[roadrunner]

Story in The Sun today claiming Arsenal are "closing in" on Alex McCarthy.

Sauce?

Err, The Sun - in the Football League round up of Goals.

Not much of a source to be fair.

[Ian Royal]

Oops.

[prostak]

They could at least have made up this story to feature a team who actually need a promising keeper.

[Snowball]

I seriously expect Arsenal to be VERY interested in McCarthy.

English.

Cheap (ish)

Will be England's senior keeper eventually.

By the time he's 25, as he bulks and gets more experience, he'll be very good indeed.

[Hoop Blah]

That's a hell of a statement there Snowball!

I think McCarthy is showing great promise but he's got a long way to go to continue that progress to being a Premier League keeper let alone an England international.

At his kind of age (only 21) there are a lot of keepers of similar ability forming a tidy queue behind Joe Hart (only 3 years older) who could easily dominate the position for the next 15 years if, like McCarthy and the rest, he continues to develop and maintain his form and fitness.

As well as McCarthy you have the likes of Fielding, Lewis, Heaton, Loach, Steele, Stockdale, Smithies and god knows how many great talents that are a few years away from coming through.

[Snowball]

That's a hell of a statement there Snowball!

I think McCarthy is showing great promise but he's got a long way to go to continue that progress to being a Premier League keeper let alone an England international.

At his kind of age (only 21) there are a lot of keepers of similar ability forming a tidy queue behind Joe Hart (only 3 years older) who could easily dominate the position for the next 15 years if, like McCarthy and the rest, he continues to develop and maintain his form and fitness.

As well as McCarthy you have the likes of Fielding, Lewis, Heaton, Loach, Steele, Stockdale, Smithies and god knows how many great talents that are a few years away from coming through.

I'm aware of that, but it's still my belief (serious injuries avoided, of course)

[Bandini]

He's the new Richard Wright!

But in other news he does look like he's pretty good. I hope that we get the chance to see him develop a bit more with us.