David Martin

[Father Ted]

I wasn't at the game today but I heard he had a shocker. Some terrible mistakes from crossing and by the sounds of Stringer he could have done something about their goal?

Personally, I crap myself whenever he goes anywhere near the ball and after watching Alex Cisak in the warmup before the game against the Posh, he looks as if he could pull it off at this level. So, I reckon it's time to bring in another goalkeeper or give Cisak a go until Henderson comes back because to be honest - stats don't lie and Martin has let in many more goals then Hendo and can't be allowed to play as he is a liability to the team.

But I know this isn't going to happen as Pearson see's something in the lad...

[CosbehFox]

There was little he could about the goal. The cross should have been stopped and the fella tapped in from two yards out unmarked.

[syston_fox]

He's a strange keeper in that sometime he can make an unbelievable catch from a cross, claiming the ball full length over about 5 players... and then he'll drop the ball or perform a weak punch that nearly costs us. Luckily it didnt cost us today thanks to a great goal line clearance from (Insert name here). Possibly Berner?

[Cobbo]

Well, Hendo being out injured will be playing something in him playing too. I would not want to throw a kid between the sticks.

Martin's record is pretty good to be fair and a lot of goalkeeping is done verbally, which you cannot see in the stands. He seems to be a great talker.

[Father Ted]

He's a strange keeper in that sometime he can make an unbelievable catch from a cross, claiming the ball full length over about 5 players... and then he'll drop the ball or perform a weak punch that nearly costs us. Luckily it didnt cost us today thanks to a great goal line clearance from (Insert name here). Possibly Berner?

According to the radio it hit the post

[Cobbo]

Yeah it was the post, I don't know why everyone keeps saying it was a goal line clearance - Leeds fans thought it was too.

[whitlock]

I wasn't at the game today but I heard he had a shocker. Some terrible mistakes from crossing and by the sounds of Stringer he could have done something about their goal?

To be honest, i dont think he did that badly at all. Made a good finger save from a shot to just put it around the post. Made a good catch from under pressure in the second half. Seems quick off his line and kicking seems okay. Wouldnt call them dodgy punches just weak connection didnt go too far. End of the day we're in league 1, we're not going to have a Petr Cech play for us. IMO i think David Martin is perfect keeper for us and league 1!

[Father Ted]

Well, Hendo being out injured will be playing something in him playing too. I would not want to throw a kid between the sticks.

Martin's record is pretty good to be fair and a lot of goalkeeping is done verbally, which you cannot see in the stands. He seems to be a great talker.

To be honest, that's where I disagree. He lacks communication. Obviously having a player in Hobbs that he has been playing with for 2/3 years helps him but I still see no communtication but I have to admit it has improved since the beginning of the season.

[Craig]

According to the radio it hit the post

It was definately cleared off the line

[Matt]

I didn't go today but I have seen enough of him to know about him, and i'm not impressed, fair enough at the moment Hendo is injured so it Martin or Cisak but I would like to see Cisak from what I have seen of Cisak warming up (Which admittedly you can't judge to much from) he looks just as good as Martin, so give Cisak a chance - If Hendo isn't fit.

Martin needs to go back!

I've read that apparently Pearson doesn't rate Hendo, not sure how true that is, but if he doesn't rate Hendo then I ain't got a fecking clue why he persists playing Martin because he is worse!

That is really the only argument against Pearson I have.

[RowlattsFox]

I don't think he's as bad as some people make out, he does make some errors but he is young and still learning, I think he has improved since his return to the side anyway. We can do better than him, no doubt about that and Henderson is probably better than him at the minute but I think our defence is good enough for us not to have a perfect keeper at the moment. If one is available in Jan though for a decent price then we should get him because I don't think neither Martin or Henderson are good enough to be number one should we go up.

[Daggers]

stats don't lie and Martin has let in many more goals then Hendo and can't be allowed to play as he is a liability to the team.

And your solution is?

Cisak?

Recalling Logan?

Tunchev?

[Father Ted]

I don't think he's as bad as some people make out, he does make some errors but he is young and still learning, I think he has improved since his return to the side anyway. We can do better than him, no doubt about that and Henderson is probably better than him at the minute but I think our defence is good enough for us not to have a perfect keeper at the moment. If one is available in Jan though for a decent price then we should get him because I don't think neither Martin or Henderson are good enough to be number one should we go up.

To be fair, I reckon Hendo can still do a job at Championship level. But if the rumours are true - he's off back to Australia...

[Father Ted]

And your solution is?

Cisak?

Recalling Logan?

Tunchev?

Cisak, and in the long-term finding a replacement or better back-up for Henderson.

Although, I am a keen fan of Logan and if he lost a couple of stone I would definitely welcome him back. I hear he's been doing quite well at Luton.

[Ultra]

Martin was well protected today, apart from the equaliser.

The Becchio shot (which DID hit the post - I was in line with it) came about as a result of a horrendous attempt at a punch under pressure from David Prutton.

He also flapped at a couple of crosses in the second half, although, to be fair, he also made a couple of excellent catches.

But his kicking was erratic, and I don't see any reason why he should keep the keeper's jersey when Hendo returns to fitness.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Yeah it was the post, I don't know why everyone keeps saying it was a goal line clearance - Leeds fans thought it was too.

Well consider the Leicester fans were all sat in the corner opposite to the post in question, and Berner throwing his legs at the ball, that proberly tells you why most thought it was a goal line clearnece. Certainly looked one.

Martin did take an excllent cross late on in the game. The first one, looked horrible - Leeds player came across the front of him and distracted him I think. There was a punch in the second half - correct dicsion to come and get the ball, bad execution. End of the day, if the lads making positive coreect decisions thats a good start, hopefully the execution will come.

[Daggers]

Cisak, and in the long-term finding a replacement or better back-up for Henderson.

Although, I am a keen fan of Logan and if he lost a couple of stone I would definitely welcome him back. I hear he's been doing quite well at Luton.

I can't see either of those being an improvement on what Martin is.

If the question was "Do we need to find a decent full-time keeper?" then my answer is "yes".

If the question is "Do you feel that this is the most important area of the team which needs addressing?" then my answer is "no".

[Father Ted]

I can't see either of those being an improvement on what Martin is.

If the question was "Do we need to find a decent full-time keeper?" then my answer is "yes".

If the question is "Do you feel that this is the most important area of the team which needs addressing?" then my answer is "no".

There is no part of the team that really needs addressing when Henderson comes back. We are strong in all areas and that's why we're top of the league.

[Daggers]

There is no part of the team that really needs addressing when Henderson comes back. We are strong in all areas and that's why we're top of the league.

So there we have it - until Hendo is better we keep Martin

</thread>

[DJ Barry Hammond]

There is no part of the team that really needs addressing when Henderson comes back. We are strong in all areas and that's why we're top of the league.

Not Championship strong - if you can get quality in, get it in. An impact player for the bench would be handy, but to be fair, if that player had that much of an impact I think he'd then go into the first 11.

[Father Ted]

Not Championship strong - if you can get quality in, get it in. A impact player for the bench would be handy, but to be fair, if that player had that much of an impact I think he'd then go into the first 11.

We are strong in all areas for THIS division. One criticism of Pearson would have to be his selection of the bench and his substitutions. When you've got players like Gradel, Adams and DJ who barely make the bench then we are either way better than we are or something is wrong. We need to bring on Gradel and DJ towards the ends of matches to add pace. Look back to Fulham when we bought on Gradel and Hartlepool in JPT when we bought on Dudley. People are moaning about why Dickov gets on and Dudley isn't even on the bench and even though I don't totally agree with them, they are right.

[Asha]

Father Ted, I appreciate your dislike of Martin but going with Cisak instead really wouldn't be an improvement. I agree that Hendo is better but is he not injured at the moment? Didn't think he could of done anything about the goal to be fair.

[Joe.]

He was a disaster waiting to happen today.

It was like old times with Henderson - as soon as the ball comes in from a cross you feel yourself wincing in anticipation that something disastrous is about to happen. Not good on this showing.

[Father Ted]

He was a disaster waiting to happen today.

It was like old times with Henderson - as soon as the ball comes in from a cross you feel yourself wincing in anticipation that something disastrous is about to happen. Not good on this showing.

But can anyone name a good showing (especially when Tunchev hasn't played)?

The answer to that is no.

[RowlattsFox]

I can only think of one game where Martin has had lots to do and that was Dagenham and he was excellent that day. Other than that I can't think of a game where Martin has been brilliant, but then I can't think of a game that Henderson was brilliant either. Both have had so little to do this season.