Chris Weale

[Charl91]

Ricardo has played fewer games than Weale and still cost us more points than Weale this season.

When? You must have been watching different games to everyone else.

[Mark_w]

Weale is inadequate. He was for Bristol. He is for us. Simples. Yes he has had a good few games, but sometimes I win a few quid on the lottery, it doesn't mean I'm going to win the jackpot.

He was on loan at Yeovil doing pretty well and earnt the right to be playing for a Championship team, are you saying that because Mark Davies was on loan at us he wasn't good enough for Wolves? No I thought not, just because someone isn't given a shot at one club doesn't mean he isn't good enough at that level. And it's not like he had 'A Few Good Games' we had one of the best defences in the division last year, you can't tell me that's only because of the four defenders, you think we'd have done as well if Logan had been in goal all year? And did you really think a new keeper was a priority at the start of last year when he had a manager who didn't mess him about? Get a grip Weale's a good keeper, yes we can do better with the money we have, and should do so, but he'll make you look stupid at whatever championship team he ends up at next year.

[Guest Col city fan]

The flaw in your point though is that a good defence makes up for Weale's inadequacies for which I have on numerous occasions pointed out. We cannot afford to rely on a GK who is heavily reliant on the defence to do all the work and for them to remain relatively silent throughout a match.

When the defence is closing down, and heading balls clear on a constant basis Weale looks comfortable. When they err in judgement or allow the opponents an opportunity to shoot on goal. 9 times out of 10 we all know the result. Unless you are playing Sheffield United who are on a downward trajectory to League One. But every Goalkeeper will have an outstanding game or two after eating their Ready Brek. Look at Logan for examples of this.

I reckon I agree with you to be fair... which is why when I posted my 'What I'd do' suggestions a few days ago, I said I'd change both Weale and Ricardo for something better, if that person becomes available. You're spot on... Weale is a confidence keeper, which is why it was NO COINCIDENCE that he looked better under a solid Pearson defensive unit, not brilliant, but better.

Anyway, we'll put that one to bed for now mate

[Nick]

1 - The only example you can find of a Championship manager taking over mid-season and winning promotion comes from eight years ago? Shows how easy it is. Look at Warnock taking over QPR toward the tail-end and scarcely improving their position last season, taking in a 4-0 pasting at our place? One pre-season later, funding in the transfer market and hey presto, they're in the Prem.

2 - The mercenary? Have you not seen the turnaround from October? The team Sven inherited was unfit, lacking in cohesion, had zero confidence and was bottom of the table. You only have to look at Sheffield United to see what could have happened if we'd got Sousa's replacement wrong. Again though, judge him after a pre-season where he has had the chance to make signings and properly impart his philosophy on the team.

3 - He was great under Pearson, no question. Though even then he had a couple of howlers, Derby away anyone? This season he has cost us more points than he has earned us, it's a sad fact but true. The problem is that Weale is many a fan's favourite purely he is one of 'Pearson's men,' I daresay the Anti-Sven Brigade, if we must get into divisions, wouldn't be nearly as forgiving if Ricardo had made the same errors Weale did yesterday and in other games and would be falling over themselves to blame Sven for signing and selecting him.

[tomtom]

Ricardo has played fewer games than Weale and still cost us more points than Weale this season. I'm not saying Weale is perfect but he was in fantastic form and we where starting too look really strong defensivley before he was messed about by Sven, sure you can't blame Sven for Weale's mistake but I don't think that mistake would have been the end of the world had Sven left him in from Derby to now, perhaps a good game against Derby were he made that mistake would have re-boosted his confidence. He was arguably are best player last season (And was linked with West Ham and Spurs in the Summer) and although we will be able to sign better in the summer, and I think we should, Weale deserves a lot of credit for what he's done for us over the last couple of years, not to be remembered for two stupid mistakes, but I guess that's not how most football fans work.

Hahahaha, how deluded are you? for all Ricardo's mistakes and there were a few only one directly led to a goal

[MC Prussian]

Did Dowie need a pre-season to take Palace up?

The only afflicted people on here are the ones still deluded enough to believe the mercenary will lead us to the promised land of the Premier League.

What about the performances Weale gave to win us games under Pearson? Or the ones this year at Sheff United and Boro?

You're clinging onto pieces.

For every solid performance from Weale, there's about two negative examples.

He was good at Middlesbrough? Apart from a saved penalty, he wasn't.

Leaves the Sheffield United match.

But one swallow doesn't make a summer, I'm afraid.

And calling Sven a "mercenary" is pathetic - what's the percentage of managers sticking around for longer than two years at one single football club?

Legends like Ferguson at Manchester United are the exception to the rule.

But hey ho - happy Sven bashing, you tool.

[sphericalfox]

He was on loan at Yeovil doing pretty well and earnt the right to be playing for a Championship team, are you saying that because Mark Davies was on loan at us he wasn't good enough for Wolves? No I thought not, just because someone isn't given a shot at one club doesn't mean he isn't good enough at that level. And it's not like he had 'A Few Good Games' we had one of the best defences in the division last year, you can't tell me that's only because of the four defenders, you think we'd have done as well if Logan had been in goal all year? And did you really think a new keeper was a priority at the start of last year when he had a manager who didn't mess him about? Get a grip Weale's a good keeper, yes we can do better with the money we have, and should do so, but he'll make you look stupid at whatever championship team he ends up at next year.

Really? I look forward to seeing him make a fool of me. He did really well at Yeovil? Well done Chris. What division was that in?

Mark Davies was given an opportunity with us because he was recovering from injury and needed proper game time that Wolves could not offer him. Yes he was good enough for Wolves, he was just unfit. How are the two even comparable?

Weale is better than Logan. But you are missing my original point. Weale has not been under scrutiny as much last season as this because we did have a more settled defence. However they prevented the ball on the majority getting near the goal. They shut out the opponents on the whole. Weale has always looked susceptible to error in my view. I stand by that. Clearly the managers who have looked at him have thought the same. I don't get down the training ground, but I am making that logical assumption.

[Mark_w]

Hahahaha, how deluded are you? for all Ricardo's mistakes and there were a few only one directly led to a goal

That wasn't really the main point but this season Weale has only made a few, plus as you pointed out Ricardo's mistakes have only 'Directly' cost us one goal, but the countless mistakes he did make can't have exactly inspired the defence, not to mention the fact that in the run before the Derby game Weale saved us a lot of points. I take your point that yes directly Weale's mistakes have been more costly but Ricardo has made more mistakes which certainly could have been costly and won't of exactly given the defence confidence. Anyway I don't really want to get drawn into a Weale vs. Ricardo debate the point still stands that when he was given a consistant chance last year Weale proved he's good enough for a Championship team, even if we could do better next year.

[Guest Bilo]

Roy Keane also did it at Sunderland

Warnock also has decades of experience in this league, which is more than the mercenary does.

Unfit? No confidence or cohesion? Clearly nothing like the side we've seen in recent weeks then..

The performances of Yakubu and Bruma yesterday (which I witnessed and you didn't) suggest the manager's philosophy is already rubbing off on the team..

None of our keepers this season have covered themselves with glory. Weale however has been repeatedly knifed - first by Sousa (who preferred the less than convincing Carl Ikeme) and then by his successor. Is it any wonder that Weale's confidence is shot to pieces when he's been dumped in favour of a semi-cripple and then an ageing import with more rust than a Skoda scrapyard?

1 - Hardly mid-season when he took over after four games. Even if we decide that's mid-season, we're still talking six years ago.

2 - Sven has decades of experience in the game too, and has enjoyed success everywhere he's gone. Won the double in Italy and Portugal, was England's best manager since Alf Ramsey and achieved Manchester City's joint-highest ever points total in the Premiership, becoming so popular the fans revolted against the owners when they tried to sack him and his players were on the verge of going on strike. Warnock by contrast has two seasons in the top tier to show for his 'decades of experience,' both relegations.

3 - Sven's gambled on the defence and it hasn't paid off, on this I agree with you. He did however inherit a shambles that he doesn't seem to have been able to arrest.

4 - This point is just too weird and weak to address. Not sure how poor performances can be part of a manager's philosophy. I daresay the performances against Barnsley, Derby away were more indicative of what Sven wants from his players; i.e. his footballing philosophy. And I did watch the game thanks, albeit on Sky thanks to work commitments.

5 - Weale was great for us last season but was always suspect from long shots and hasn't been the same since Sousa mucked him around. The best keepers though recover from errors and improve their game, no evidence of that from Weale sadly. He was Number 2 at Bristol City for a reason before coming here, and he hardly had to unseat Gordon Banks there with Adriano Basso as his competition. Sven's replacements have been sub-standard but goalkeepers are spectacularly tough to get hold of mid-season. You're restricted to bench warmers, out of contract players and kids because no team worth their salt is going to release their first choice keeper and will even be reluctant to release their second choice keeper mid-season. To replace Weale properly, Sven should have waited till the summer but that he needs replacing as first-choice is beyond dispute.

Furthermore you undermine your already weak arguments by childishly referring to Eriksson as 'The Mercenary.'

[Bugg]

Ricardo has played fewer games than Weale and still cost us more points than Weale this season. I'm not saying Weale is perfect but he was in fantastic form and we where starting too look really strong defensivley before he was messed about by Sven, sure you can't blame Sven for Weale's mistake but I don't think that mistake would have been the end of the world had Sven left him in from Derby to now, perhaps a good game against Derby were he made that mistake would have re-boosted his confidence. He was arguably are best player last season (And was linked with West Ham and Spurs in the Summer) and although we will be able to sign better in the summer, and I think we should, Weale deserves a lot of credit for what he's done for us over the last couple of years, not to be remembered for two stupid mistakes, but I guess that's not how most football fans work.

I stopped reading there. No he hasn't, name me the games where Ricardo's errors have cost us points, and then name the games that Weale has cost us points in. Weale is a useless piece of shit and Ricardo is a slightly less useless piece of shit (at least Ricardo can distribute). Get over the Weale love, he is awful.

[Mark_w]

I stopped reading there. No he hasn't, name me the games where Ricardo's errors have cost us points, and then name the games that Weale has cost us points in. Weale is a useless piece of shit and Ricardo is a slightly less useless piece of shit (at least Ricardo can distribute). Get over the Weale love, he is awful.

That's been pointed out and I have answered it, if you'd read the whole thing you'd realise that it isn't just 'Weale love' heck I think we should replace him, my point was that he is good enough for a championship team as he proved last year when he was the goalkeeper for a team that almost got promoted from the championship.

[tomtom]

That wasn't really the many point but this season Weale has only made a few, plus as you pointed out Ricardo's mistakes have only 'Directly' cost us one goal, but the countless mistakes he did make can't have exactly inspired the defence, not to mention the fact that in the run before the Derby game Weale saved us a lot of points. I take your point that yes directly Weale's mistakes have been more costly but Ricardo has made more mistakes which certainly could have been costly and won't of exactly given the defence confidence. Anyway I don't really want to get drawn into a Weale vs. Ricardo debate the point still stands that when he was given a consistant chance last year Weale proved he's good enough for a Championship team, even if we could do better next year.

I'm hungover to hell and don't want to argue with a fellow fan,.. I was just pointing out the fact you said Ricardo had cost us more points than weale and that blatantly isn't true!

We both agree though that neither are good enough long term

[acooling08]

Oh ****s sake Chris. It looked bad from the corner but on the replay it's appaling.

[Babylon]

Ahh, the Ipswich and Cardiff games. No doubt the pro-Sven brigade will find a way of blaming Weale for those too.

But the fans with an IQ (of which there aren't too many on here) knows where the character flaw lies. And it isn't with Weale or any other of the playing staff.

Ha ha ha deary me.

Funny how most of the people on here with an "IQ" also seem to have several warnings next to their name.

[Haydos]

Ricardo has played fewer games than Weale and still cost us more points than Weale this season. I'm not saying Weale is perfect but he was in fantastic form and we where starting too look really strong defensivley before he was messed about by Sven, sure you can't blame Sven for Weale's mistake but I don't think that mistake would have been the end of the world had Sven left him in from Derby to now, perhaps a good game against Derby were he made that mistake would have re-boosted his confidence. He was arguably are best player last season (And was linked with West Ham and Spurs in the Summer) and although we will be able to sign better in the summer, and I think we should, Weale deserves a lot of credit for what he's done for us over the last couple of years, not to be remembered for two stupid mistakes, but I guess that's not how most football fans work.

He's cost us one goal, tops. And that's if you're being harsh.

[The Doctor]

Did Dowie need a pre-season to take Palace up?

The only afflicted people on here are the ones still deluded enough to believe the mercenary will lead us to the promised land of the Premier League.

What about the performances Weale gave to win us games under Pearson? Or the ones this year at Sheff United and Boro?

the one where he conceded 3, the first one a simple save which he should have made after ****ing up and forcing a team-mate into a position where he was never going to be able to retain possession?

The one where he failed to command his area and come to deal with a cross which resulted in an equaliser?

Me thinks the penalty save has clouded peoples judgement somewhat.

Ricardo has played fewer games than Weale and still cost us more points than Weale this season. I'm not saying Weale is perfect but he was in fantastic form and we where starting too look really strong defensivley before he was messed about by Sven, sure you can't blame Sven for Weale's mistake but I don't think that mistake would have been the end of the world had Sven left him in from Derby to now, perhaps a good game against Derby were he made that mistake would have re-boosted his confidence. He was arguably are best player last season (And was linked with West Ham and Spurs in the Summer) and although we will be able to sign better in the summer, and I think we should, Weale deserves a lot of credit for what he's done for us over the last couple of years, not to be remembered for two stupid mistakes, but I guess that's not how most football fans work.

Bullshit - the only goals with even the slightest bit of blame attached to ricardo are pompey home and cov home, costing us a maximum of 3 points (and thats if you're being harsh, bruma + PVA were more at fault for the cov goal and bamba for the pompey goal) meanwhile weale:

Palace away - failed to save a tame long ranger from ambrose - 1 point lost

Watford away - came racing out and got nowhere near the ball - 1 point lost

M'boro away - two mistakes already alluded to earlier in my post - 2 points lost

Palace home - massive ****-up with a long range shot - 2 points lost

Forest away - poor attempt at saving mcgugans long ranger in the build up to the second, you should always push shots away towards the corner, then the 3rd goal - less said about that the better - 3 points lost.

Just off the top of my head (i'm sure i could find more) - weale has cost us 9 points, 3 times as many as ricardo.

edit: oh and with those 9 points, we'd be in the P/O spots at the moment.

[Fox92]

I agree. Weale has cost us on lots of occasions, not just this year either. I slated him last year and got slated back by a lot of posters, ecspecially Lou who hardly posts anymore.

This season though, the first Middlesbrough goal went underneath him, the Palace goal at home he should have caught, Nottingham Forests' 3 goals yesterday, theres loads.

His distribution is poor, he doesn't talk, he looks dodgy from long range shots. He got took a knock yesterday because of his inability to communicate.

I have never rated Weale.

[Mark_w]

the one where he conceded 3, the first one a simple save which he should have made after ****ing up and forcing a team-mate into a position where he was never going to be able to retain possession?

The one where he failed to command his area and come to deal with a cross which resulted in an equaliser?

Me thinks the penalty save has clouded peoples judgement somewhat.

Bullshit - the only goals with even the slightest bit of blame attached to ricardo are pompey home and cov home, costing us a maximum of 3 points (and thats if you're being harsh, bruma + PVA were more at fault for the cov goal and bamba for the pompey goal) meanwhile weale:

Palace away - failed to save a tame long ranger from ambrose - 1 point lost

Watford away - came racing out and got nowhere near the ball - 1 point lost

M'boro away - two mistakes already alluded to earlier in my post - 2 points lost

Palace home - massive ****-up with a long range shot - 2 points lost

Forest away - poor attempt at saving mcgugans long ranger in the build up to the second, you should always push shots away towards the corner, then the 3rd goal - less said about that the better - 3 points lost.

Just off the top of my head (i'm sure i could find more) - weale has cost us 9 points, 3 times as many as ricardo.

edit: oh and with those 9 points, we'd be in the P/O spots at the moment.

And I've accepted defeat on the matter already, in this thread, I'm just frustrated with all the Weale hate when he has been such a good player for us certainly last year, and for some of this year before he was messed around with, he's a good Championship keeper is what I was essentially arguing.

[The Doctor]

I agree. Weale has cost us on lots of occasions, not just this year either. I slated him last year and got slated back by a lot of posters, ecspecially Lou who hardly posts anymore.

This season though, the first Middlesbrough goal went underneath him, the Palace goal at home he should have caught, Nottingham Forests' 3 goals yesterday, theres loads.

His distribution is poor, he doesn't talk, he looks dodgy from long range shots. He got took a knock yesterday because of his inability to communicate.

I have never rated Weale.

tbf to those posters - when you started slating him, weale wasn't dropping that many clangers and as such i did defend him then but you can only defend players to a certain point and now he's making mistakes at the frequency he is at the moment - he just can't be defended anymore.

[Corky]

I agree. Weale has cost us on lots of occasions, not just this year either. I slated him last year and got slated back by a lot of posters, ecspecially Lou who hardly posts anymore.

This season though, the first Middlesbrough goal went underneath him, the Palace goal at home he should have caught, Nottingham Forests' 3 goals yesterday, theres loads.

His distribution is poor, he doesn't talk, he looks dodgy from long range shots. He got took a knock yesterday because of his inability to communicate.

I have never rated Weale.

At the time it seemed like you were looking for any slight excuse to slate him.

Since the Derby match last season generally he's looked less than assured, and made two errors yesterday with the Palace goal fresh in the mind.

That mistake will haunt him for a long time, so basic as it was.

[Guest ttfn]

the one where he conceded 3, the first one a simple save which he should have made after ****ing up and forcing a team-mate into a position where he was never going to be able to retain possession?

The one where he failed to command his area and come to deal with a cross which resulted in an equaliser?

Me thinks the penalty save has clouded peoples judgement somewhat.

I'm no goalkeeper, but i reckon there's a good chance I would have saved that penalty from Arca. It was fucking awful.

I wouldn't say you can particularly blame Weale for that one incident though.

It would be interesting to find a similar thread from last year. I'm sure everyone was rimming him then.

[Leicester_Loyal]

The fact Sven is getting the blame for Weales mistakes is laughable. Especially when you consider most of these people blaming Sven are the ones who were calling for him to replace Ricardo two months ago.

We really do have some brain dead fans, I salute those of you who are actually watching them and not considering them from last leason or just thinking of the service they have given us.

[LCFC_FAN_1995]

He always makes mistakes against rivals. last season at Derby and now Forest

[Simmo86]

The blokes the a coont end of!! Should never have the honour of playing for us again