Simon Mignolet

[PTP]

I don't think there's anything wrong with his distribution. I do think his decision making when coming for crosses needs improving as he's still flapping too often. He's an excellent keeper and will grow as his confidence does from performances like yesterday. Us defending better would do him a favour too.

he can't kick the ball it's pretty poor.

[G]

A few times yesterday he lofted very high balls that didn't even make the half way line and immediately put us back under pressure. I've been watching it and he often puts us under pressure that way. Later on in the game though he hit two beauties into their half which got us on the front foot. He's a mixed bag and needs to improve on that score. His shot stopping is excellent and he has time to improve the rest.

[Kenneth]

he can't kick the ball it's pretty poor.

Yeah, I know that's the prevailing wisdom, but I just don't see it.

[Kenneth]

A few times yesterday he lofted very high balls that didn't even make the half way line and immediately put us back under pressure. I've been watching it and he often puts us under pressure that way. Later on in the game though he hit two beauties into their half which got us on the front foot. He's a mixed bag and needs to improve on that score. His shot stopping is excellent and he has time to improve the rest.

But that's completely normal

[Trippendicular]

Yeah, I know that's the prevailing wisdom, but I just don't see it.

You should probably start watching the game then. I really like Mignolet, but his distribution is demonstrably awful.

[Chris]

Last season he had a better pass completion % than Reina did for Napoli, the supposed distribution king. Is he better at that? Obviously not but it's nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be. Every goalie on the planet sends some kicks straight to the oppo or straight out of play.

[Tee]

Great shot stopper and generally a very good keeper, just does not dominate his box IMO as much as our defence needs him too.

[Exiled_red]

A few times yesterday he lofted very high balls that didn't even make the half way line and immediately put us back under pressure. I've been watching it and he often puts us under pressure that way. Later on in the game though he hit two beauties into their half which got us on the front foot. He's a mixed bag and needs to improve on that score. His shot stopping is excellent and he has time to improve the rest.

In fairness I think a fair few of those times he was under pressure, I thought that the outfield players put him under pressure with a number of backpasses and he had no real option but to put his foot through it and clear the (immediate) danger. Perhaps a keeper more confident with his feet would have tried a drag back to buy himself time, but I'm not really a fan of that kind of thing.

[danperkins]

His distribution is pretty poor alright, had a tendency last season to put of defenders under pressure with hospital balls for the want of a better word.

He was excellent though yesterday, with a more settled back line hopefully he'll start coming into his own.

[baitman]

Superb keeper, he does what he's supposed to and keep the ball out of the net.

keep the ball out > > > everything else

[Gibbo]

I think distribution can be taught a lot easier than the ability to be a decent shot stopper though, which is good for us.

I like Mig, he's not the best keeper in the world but he's far from the worst. Think keeping Reina as backup may have been a good option for us but I don't think that we are calling out for another goalie.

[G]

But that's completely normal

Short high ones that go to straight to the opposition? Don't know Ken, I can't comment on other keepers I only watch our one. You have a different view but I'm not alone in thinking it's an area where he can greatly improve. The two that stick out in my mind he was under no pressure at all and put us under massive pressure with his kick. We've seen it before though and we probably don't help him. Knock it around at the back, get closed down and have to go back to the keeper who launches a long aimless one and loses us possession. Those two appeared to be miskicks . As I said later in the game he hit a few good ones including one where he was being quickly closed down and he hit it straight into sterling's feet.

[Kenneth]

You should probably start watching the game then. I really like Mignolet, but his distribution is demonstrably awful.

Go ahead then.

So he kicks a few up in the air. So does every keeper, and it doesn't usually equate to gifting the opposition the ball, a high ball should be a 50-50 if the midfield and strikers are doing their job. Since when do we expect kicks up field to consistently hit a man space? It's never been like that in the real world.

He plays the ball to defenders and that is clearly part of Brendan's philosophy rather than the keepers decision.

This is one of those where an idea is planted in people's minds so they notice examples that fit the idea more and give it disproportionate consideration.

[dom9]

Ok, who do we replace him with?

[Fredo]

His decision making is his problem I think, which doesn't help his commanding of the penalty area, which he really needs to improve. Don't think his distribution is that bad. It's not the best, but he doesn't give the ball away too much. He puts people into unnecessary pressure at times though, which kind of tails in with his decision making issue.