On a side note-and please don’t take this personally Return to Senda- ‘Dude, chill’ are two words I never thought I’d see on here. Never mind our development squad, the Gasroom youth policy is obviously in good hands!
Just for clarity, my own tweets from before the line-up was even announced on Saturday:
"Just for the record, it is possible to get behind Dickinson *and* be annoyed at the situation which means he'll need to play today.
"That said, it's pretty natural to have reservations about a goalkeeper who's never played above the eighth tier starting the season opener for League One promotion hopefuls..."
Of course I have confidence in the choices made by the management, but this isn't a situation they wanted to be in.
We'll all support the young lad every minute he's on the pitch.
But if there's a prospect of bringing a quality keeper in, when we have aspirations of being a big player in this division, we surely have to aim for that.
As for the Mehmeti comparison, you can't give a goalkeeper 15/20 mins here and there like you can an outfield player. It's a totally different development process.
I do think, from everything that had been written and said that it was an open secret that the plan was for Bishop to sign with us on loan. This hasn't happened, for whatever reason (and I think it is now exceedingly unlikely to happen) but a new goalkeeper will* be brought in before the transfer deadline (I actually think possibly by Friday) as first choice.
This isn't to say that Dickinson may not have the ability to be number one (and its entirely possible that he could end the season as that), but he is inexperienced and unproven to deliver week in week out and whilst I have no doubt that GA and Dobson do have faith in his abilities, goalkeeper is such a specialist position if he was to suffer a loss of confidence (and it can happen to anyone - I seem to remember Rocky suffering such a spell 3 or 4 seasons back) we would be left extremely vulnerable. Using your own example: "Mehmeti made plenty of mistakes in his first few games." These probably cost us only potential goals for (although I do seem to remember one misplaced pass leading directly to an opposition goal), but for the goalkeeper these are much more likely to lead to goals against.
If we were blindsided by the hitch that stopped the (alleged) Bishop deal however, we may be starting from a fairly poor position so it may take a little while until the right fit is found. Until they are I am sure that the management team will trust Dickinson.
I doubt anyone on here (with the obvious exception) wants Dickinson to fail but I think the vast majority of us would be more comfortable if we did have a relatively experienced and proven goalkeeper in our squad.
*If we don't bring one in (once my raised eyebrow is surgically replaced to normal) I shall probably become a card-carrying member of the 'angry' brigade on here. (Well more realistically the 'slightly peeved' brigade).
I'm happy for the club to bring in the best quality players it can get (within financial constraints) for every position. I just don't understand how a young goalkeeper was deemed unworthy of making his debut, based on nothing more than he hadn't made his debut.
When GA said he was happy with the squad he had got to start the season, but would like to bring in a couple more players, I took that as meaning he had confidence in the players he had got, goalkeeper included, but would still look to strengthen the squad.
Let's not forget that when Stockdale arrived he was far from fit, and anyone who comes in, as free agent or loan is not No.1 choice elsewhere, and I doubt that anyones first choice keeper would be available at an affordable price.
Is it just me but I do find it quite staggering, if in the words of our chairman we are going for automatic promotion, we still haven’t landed a goalkeeper or perhaps not so important until the end of the window, another centre half. Crucial positions if we are to challenge at the top end of the division. Perhaps this inactivity is a result of still being ‘ little Wycombe’ ( of which I am hugely proud ) despite the Chairman’s protestations we’re not.
We pretty desperately need a goal keeper and a centre back if we're going to be serious contenders this season.... Anyone suggesting otherwise is burying their head in the sand
There was never any doubt in my mind that Dickinson could play well in goal, Grimmer at CB and Wheeler at RB, but across a season when the margins are so small, it's whether they're an improvement on what we had last season when we didn't go up
Wheeler at right back could be a long term masterstroke, but no one can put a true case down for the other two being remotely close
but no one can put a true case down for the other two being remotely close
I don't think anyone's trying are they? Some are saying the transfer window hasn't closed and it's no big deal to make do for a few games until it has, and some are having kittens about Tyla being allowed to play one game.
1 or 2 points could be the difference at the end of the season so I agree with people it is a massive risk even for a couple games.
If we're happy to be a decent league1 outfit who could make the play offs with a good season, that's fine. (I personally would have no problem if that is us as a club because of the financials)
If, as has been suggested, we see ourselves as one of the genuine promotion contenders, every single point is crucial, and going into the first game(s) of the season without a senior keeper and only 1 full senior center back in the squad is mad to me. We might get away with it, and it is likely not what was planned/ was out of our hands at least partly, but it is still a mistake IMO.
I do not see us with the size of the club, attendance and our budget as ' genuine' promotion contenders, but I do think (as has been shown) it is possible. As I have said before, having a well run club with an outside chance of glory every season will do for me.
I do expect the manager, players and chairman to see us as genuine contenders though...so it does not upset me to hear it despite recognising the reality of the down the back of the settee money we have to spend...
The counter argument to the 'well it is a stupid risk as we could lose 1 or 2 points with an inexperienced goalkeeper' is that when in a key game later in the season our No.1 Goalkeeper is sent off (probably for time wasting) our back-up keeper on the bench is a bundle of nerves having never played a minute of league football in their life and lets in 3 howlers that lose us the game.
I've every sympathy with the club for the Bishop saga (assuming it is remotely true) as it just seems to be that something changed from the original agreement they reportedly had to loan him. It may then take time to assess the best option, whether that be a few days or weeks. In the meantime, playing Dickinson is a risk, but one that could benefit us later.
The centre back dilemma is slightly more interesting. I have no problem with Forino and Taff as first choice centre backs (so no direct replacement for Stewart) but another experienced centre back in the squad does seem crucial. Grimmer (and/or JJ) is okay as a temporary fill-in but given that this was arguably where we lost the momentum for automatic promotion last year it is clearly a position we need to fill. If Forino had been playing regularly pre-season I would have shrugged my shoulders at Saturday's line up but his absence seemed predictable (and knowing the injury news we get could mean several months out...).
I am more intrigued than concerned at the moment. We presumably have a target (or targets) and in a way it is reassuring that GA (etc) doesn't need to panic. As a passenger along for the ride however you end up looking at the red light approaching thinking, surely he should start to brake by now... Then you remember that you have a highly skilled driver in charge who knows what they are doing and start to relax... Before starting to wonder who carries out the maintenance on the brakes...
I’m not particularly into hip hop or rap, clever as rap can be ‘lyrically’ (and I’m often amazed by the density/rapid delivery of the words and the ability of the rappers to remember them). Probably about a decade ago, I was very taken with the voice, words and delivery of ‘Eminem’. ‘Music to be Murdered to’ and other delights !
We mainly watch documentaries about musicians in the Imagine and South Bank Show format. Whatever else you may think of Alan Yentob (and mrs micra, for reasons I can never recall, is not at all fond of him), his documentary programmes are consistently excellent.
In recent times we have particularly enjoyed one about a young genius who combines electronic jiggery pokery with vocals and orchestral composition. And also, a brilliant documentary about a remarkable family of black classical musicians whose names typically escape me. The eldest son is a cellist who won the BBC Young Musician of the Year several years ago and played at one of the recent Royal weddings.
Apart from that, as the much missed @EddieMonsoon knows only too well (!), I am very fond of a huge and very varied range of jazz.
Sounds like Henderson had a torrid time at United before going out on loan this season...perhaps the new manager is fire-fighting a lot of fall-out from the last regime and is a bit wary of the deals being done at whatever level.
This is a good question - last year it was Sep 1. If we're now in a situation where we won't know if we've got Bishop until Ten Hag knows he can't use him, there's a good chance it'll be the same for any decent 3rd or 4th choice prospect at another Premier League club. Could Gareth keep Dickinson as no 1 for another month?
I don't think for one moment that I am the target demographic for rap. And my under garments are not on display to emphasise that. However this particular documentary charts an amazing parallel story that takes in everyone from Springsteen to NWA. One of those stories well you can't believe two guys were at the centre of so many musical moments.
Duly checked out ! Might have had the words written down, perhaps ?
I’ll stick to Marshall Bruce Mathers, I think.
We had lunch recently with someone who spoke disparagingly about rap and commenting that it wasn’t going to last as long as eg the Beatles and Rolling Stones. I disagreed but I suppose she could be right.
Comments
On a side note-and please don’t take this personally Return to Senda- ‘Dude, chill’ are two words I never thought I’d see on here. Never mind our development squad, the Gasroom youth policy is obviously in good hands!
Just for clarity, my own tweets from before the line-up was even announced on Saturday:
"Just for the record, it is possible to get behind Dickinson *and* be annoyed at the situation which means he'll need to play today.
"That said, it's pretty natural to have reservations about a goalkeeper who's never played above the eighth tier starting the season opener for League One promotion hopefuls..."
Of course I have confidence in the choices made by the management, but this isn't a situation they wanted to be in.
We'll all support the young lad every minute he's on the pitch.
But if there's a prospect of bringing a quality keeper in, when we have aspirations of being a big player in this division, we surely have to aim for that.
I'm not even that young!
You are compared to most Gasroom regulars!
As for the Mehmeti comparison, you can't give a goalkeeper 15/20 mins here and there like you can an outfield player. It's a totally different development process.
Anyway, Tyla played on Saturday, we won and kept a clean sheet. Which is all good.
I do think, from everything that had been written and said that it was an open secret that the plan was for Bishop to sign with us on loan. This hasn't happened, for whatever reason (and I think it is now exceedingly unlikely to happen) but a new goalkeeper will* be brought in before the transfer deadline (I actually think possibly by Friday) as first choice.
This isn't to say that Dickinson may not have the ability to be number one (and its entirely possible that he could end the season as that), but he is inexperienced and unproven to deliver week in week out and whilst I have no doubt that GA and Dobson do have faith in his abilities, goalkeeper is such a specialist position if he was to suffer a loss of confidence (and it can happen to anyone - I seem to remember Rocky suffering such a spell 3 or 4 seasons back) we would be left extremely vulnerable. Using your own example: "Mehmeti made plenty of mistakes in his first few games." These probably cost us only potential goals for (although I do seem to remember one misplaced pass leading directly to an opposition goal), but for the goalkeeper these are much more likely to lead to goals against.
If we were blindsided by the hitch that stopped the (alleged) Bishop deal however, we may be starting from a fairly poor position so it may take a little while until the right fit is found. Until they are I am sure that the management team will trust Dickinson.
I doubt anyone on here (with the obvious exception) wants Dickinson to fail but I think the vast majority of us would be more comfortable if we did have a relatively experienced and proven goalkeeper in our squad.
*If we don't bring one in (once my raised eyebrow is surgically replaced to normal) I shall probably become a card-carrying member of the 'angry' brigade on here. (Well more realistically the 'slightly peeved' brigade).
I'm happy for the club to bring in the best quality players it can get (within financial constraints) for every position. I just don't understand how a young goalkeeper was deemed unworthy of making his debut, based on nothing more than he hadn't made his debut.
When GA said he was happy with the squad he had got to start the season, but would like to bring in a couple more players, I took that as meaning he had confidence in the players he had got, goalkeeper included, but would still look to strengthen the squad.
Let's not forget that when Stockdale arrived he was far from fit, and anyone who comes in, as free agent or loan is not No.1 choice elsewhere, and I doubt that anyones first choice keeper would be available at an affordable price.
Is it just me but I do find it quite staggering, if in the words of our chairman we are going for automatic promotion, we still haven’t landed a goalkeeper or perhaps not so important until the end of the window, another centre half. Crucial positions if we are to challenge at the top end of the division. Perhaps this inactivity is a result of still being ‘ little Wycombe’ ( of which I am hugely proud ) despite the Chairman’s protestations we’re not.
Who said he was unworthy of making his debut?
Anybody who suggested he should not have played last Saturday because he didn't have enough experience.
I've not seen anyone suggest that, but fair enough.
We pretty desperately need a goal keeper and a centre back if we're going to be serious contenders this season.... Anyone suggesting otherwise is burying their head in the sand
You've blocked @Wanderers82 and his constructive criticism as well then?
I must admit my trepidation regarding the team sheet last Saturday proved to me I know nothing and it's possible GA and Dobbo do know things...
There was never any doubt in my mind that Dickinson could play well in goal, Grimmer at CB and Wheeler at RB, but across a season when the margins are so small, it's whether they're an improvement on what we had last season when we didn't go up
Wheeler at right back could be a long term masterstroke, but no one can put a true case down for the other two being remotely close
but no one can put a true case down for the other two being remotely close
I don't think anyone's trying are they? Some are saying the transfer window hasn't closed and it's no big deal to make do for a few games until it has, and some are having kittens about Tyla being allowed to play one game.
I think I just zone out
1 or 2 points could be the difference at the end of the season so I agree with people it is a massive risk even for a couple games.
If we're happy to be a decent league1 outfit who could make the play offs with a good season, that's fine. (I personally would have no problem if that is us as a club because of the financials)
If, as has been suggested, we see ourselves as one of the genuine promotion contenders, every single point is crucial, and going into the first game(s) of the season without a senior keeper and only 1 full senior center back in the squad is mad to me. We might get away with it, and it is likely not what was planned/ was out of our hands at least partly, but it is still a mistake IMO.
I do not see us with the size of the club, attendance and our budget as ' genuine' promotion contenders, but I do think (as has been shown) it is possible. As I have said before, having a well run club with an outside chance of glory every season will do for me.
I do expect the manager, players and chairman to see us as genuine contenders though...so it does not upset me to hear it despite recognising the reality of the down the back of the settee money we have to spend...
The counter argument to the 'well it is a stupid risk as we could lose 1 or 2 points with an inexperienced goalkeeper' is that when in a key game later in the season our No.1 Goalkeeper is sent off (probably for time wasting) our back-up keeper on the bench is a bundle of nerves having never played a minute of league football in their life and lets in 3 howlers that lose us the game.
I've every sympathy with the club for the Bishop saga (assuming it is remotely true) as it just seems to be that something changed from the original agreement they reportedly had to loan him. It may then take time to assess the best option, whether that be a few days or weeks. In the meantime, playing Dickinson is a risk, but one that could benefit us later.
The centre back dilemma is slightly more interesting. I have no problem with Forino and Taff as first choice centre backs (so no direct replacement for Stewart) but another experienced centre back in the squad does seem crucial. Grimmer (and/or JJ) is okay as a temporary fill-in but given that this was arguably where we lost the momentum for automatic promotion last year it is clearly a position we need to fill. If Forino had been playing regularly pre-season I would have shrugged my shoulders at Saturday's line up but his absence seemed predictable (and knowing the injury news we get could mean several months out...).
I am more intrigued than concerned at the moment. We presumably have a target (or targets) and in a way it is reassuring that GA (etc) doesn't need to panic. As a passenger along for the ride however you end up looking at the red light approaching thinking, surely he should start to brake by now... Then you remember that you have a highly skilled driver in charge who knows what they are doing and start to relax... Before starting to wonder who carries out the maintenance on the brakes...
When do the Premier League clubs announce squad lists
I’m not particularly into hip hop or rap, clever as rap can be ‘lyrically’ (and I’m often amazed by the density/rapid delivery of the words and the ability of the rappers to remember them). Probably about a decade ago, I was very taken with the voice, words and delivery of ‘Eminem’. ‘Music to be Murdered to’ and other delights !
We mainly watch documentaries about musicians in the Imagine and South Bank Show format. Whatever else you may think of Alan Yentob (and mrs micra, for reasons I can never recall, is not at all fond of him), his documentary programmes are consistently excellent.
In recent times we have particularly enjoyed one about a young genius who combines electronic jiggery pokery with vocals and orchestral composition. And also, a brilliant documentary about a remarkable family of black classical musicians whose names typically escape me. The eldest son is a cellist who won the BBC Young Musician of the Year several years ago and played at one of the recent Royal weddings.
Apart from that, as the much missed @EddieMonsoon knows only too well (!), I am very fond of a huge and very varied range of jazz.
Sounds like Henderson had a torrid time at United before going out on loan this season...perhaps the new manager is fire-fighting a lot of fall-out from the last regime and is a bit wary of the deals being done at whatever level.
I’m often amazed by the density/rapid delivery of the words and the ability of the rappers to remember them
@micra You should check out Alphabet Aerobics by Blackalicious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlynqOgBAUw
This is a good question - last year it was Sep 1. If we're now in a situation where we won't know if we've got Bishop until Ten Hag knows he can't use him, there's a good chance it'll be the same for any decent 3rd or 4th choice prospect at another Premier League club. Could Gareth keep Dickinson as no 1 for another month?
I don't think for one moment that I am the target demographic for rap. And my under garments are not on display to emphasise that. However this particular documentary charts an amazing parallel story that takes in everyone from Springsteen to NWA. One of those stories well you can't believe two guys were at the centre of so many musical moments.
Duly checked out ! Might have had the words written down, perhaps ?
I’ll stick to Marshall Bruce Mathers, I think.
We had lunch recently with someone who spoke disparagingly about rap and commenting that it wasn’t going to last as long as eg the Beatles and Rolling Stones. I disagreed but I suppose she could be right.