Ross Flitney's Incredible Form

[Deleted]

Like all of us, i have lately been giving a lot of thought to the make up of our squad next season & weighing up who i think will go or stay etc.
I'm sure we will see a far greater clear out than we did last season, but that's all TBC for now.
However, the one position that struck me as a very interesting one, was next seasons no.1 keeper.
Now going back to when Poke was signed, i had made an assumption that Toddy brought him in to be The No.1 and that thought was confirmed by Toddy selecting Poke to go straight into the starting 11 for about 3 games. We conceded a few goals in those games, most of which were not really Pokes fault, but he was subsequently dropped. Since then RF was re-instated and has managed to hold onto the No.1 jersey ever since, producing some fine displays.
So thinking about the keeper for next season, i can't help but think how well RF has been playing, outstandingly in the last few games, and even his kicking has greatly improved. When thinking about why this is, i remembered that when i went to the last home game against Barrow, that there appeared to be a Goal Keeping coach warming both keepers up. I don't know who he is and i don't believe he was with us for the first part of the season, but it would appear that he has had a fantastic effect on RF, and without doubt, is largely responsible for the form of RF playing so well of late and improving his kicking. Equally, i feel that having Poke breathing down his neck, has kept RF at the top of his game. No disrespect to Noice, but he was never going to oust RF long term.
So hats off to the GK coach and hats off to Toddy for bringing him in.
Serious question time now, can we bring in a Striking coach next season?
I feel Toddy himself will naturally be a good Defensive coach and he has Andy Cook to help him their too.
I know these "specialist" coaches cost money and some would rather have that money spent on bringing in better players, but as we are seeing with RF as the example, which is evident not only form RF's performances between the sticks, but also our excellent defensive form, i think it shows that if you bring the right coaches in, you really do yield great results in certain areas & i really feel that our strikers could benefit from this next season.

Whoever you are Mr GK coach, i doff my hat to you sir.

[sayitabitloudermc]

I think it's pokes Dad, if it isn't it's a canny resemblance!

[martfergie]

All I know about the GK coach is that he looks like Poke and appeared at the club just after we signed poke on a permanent deal. Also, the players call him 'Chops' for some reason!! Thought it was quite a funny nickname!

[tenacres]

A positive post from you about one of our players sattsy.

Are you sure you are feeling all right? :0)

[Deleted]

I'm often positive about our players, Rendel.
I give credit when credit is due, and i talk about a players weakness, when i see weaknesses that can be corrected in games.
Better to be that way than just toe the company line & say everyone played great all the time...isn't it?
A critical eye never did anyone any harm. Some learn from it if they are willing to take on board an alternative opinion.
If they can't take a bad word, then it shows a weakness on their behalf.

Is there a better keeper at this level than RF?
If so, i've yet to see him.

[michaelefc]

Player of the season for sure.

[Deleted]

I think Flits could come runner up, but Joe Partington wins POTS in my book.
Consistantly good all season and capable of playing at least 2 leagues higher.
I'd be amazed if we don't have major inquiries about him this summer.

[grumpy]

Flits is definitely a pleasure to watch at the moment, and undoubtedly has kept our playoff hopes alive.

You're right though, for consistency Parts has to be POTS. I hope we manage to keep him next season.

[back4more]

Most people I have spoken to have gone for Joe Partington as Player of the season and for very good reasons. I hesitated between JP and Dan Harding and went with DH because I felt Joe would probably win it anyway. I'd be the first to say that's not how you should decide who to vote for, but not everything has to be logical does it. Dan Harding came into the equation for me because of his total reliability and at the time of voting he had been playing regularly and always seemed to have the opposition's tricky pacey winger in his pocket without having to resort to spectacular heroics.

It does concern me though when we start saying that such and such a player should be playing x leagues higher. There are actually plenty of players in this league and in leagues 1 and 2 who could play at a higher level. They generally are playing for teams near to the top of the league and hoping to progress with the clubs they are at. There are also quite a few examples now over the last five season of players who have turned out for Premier League sides having come up from the non league and in Vardy's case done a lot more than just turned out. Looking at it from my point of view as a supporter I think it's a sign of the club's ambition that we still have Jai Reason and that, hopefully, next season we will also still have Joe Partington and Luke Coulson. We have a chance of promotion still this season but if we don't get to and win the play offs and really want to go up next season, keeping our key core players (not just those mentioned) will be vital and the only party likely to benefit from any move by them away from Eastleigh is likely to be an agent. It's one thing for a player to be good enough to play at a higher level but getting into a new side and building a successful career there can be another story. It would be different if this was a club going nowhere but when you are playing for a very progressive club with an ambitious owner and a good manager you might want to stay put.

Going back to the subject of this thread, I've missed the last couple of away games at Grimsby and Halifax but have seen all the other home and away games in recent months. I'd agree Ross Flitney has been excellent. (Mind you I have seen some very impressive performances and near impossible shot stopping from a couple of visiting keepers as well.) I also believe having the goalkeeping coach has been an important step forward. We don't see what goes on in training but we do see the pre match goalkeeper warm up and that's a lot better than it used to be.

[hantslondoner]

I wouldn't term Ross Flitney's form as 'incredible', but he's been very good in the last 2-3 months. We wasn't bad before that!

I agree that his kicking has improved a lot, and he seems to be making less unforced errors. As said, Poke pushing him for a place also helps. Having a goalkeeping 'coach', or whatever the role is (doesn't anybody know who he is, so he can get some credit?), seems to have been a big factor, as must the boost he got when picked ahead of Michael Poke. 

Ross however is part of a back five that has also largely produced the goods in the last 2-3 months, which deserves much credit too, and even when injury/suspensions come a-calling, the replacements have fitted in pretty well. Ross' communication with the back four is usually pretty good too, which helps.

I think the reason that Partington and Coulson will get the attention from scouts is not just the fact that they're good, also they're young.
We may well get a offer we can't refuse for one or the other over the summer and it would be reward for our system that has allowed us to discover such potential.
Also it would improve our reputation as a developer of young talent rather than a 'moneybags' team which can buy ready-made experienced players, which I'm afraid is still the reputation we have with some of our rivals. In order to cement that it would be nice if we could find a star or two from our development teams, as has already been discussed.

In my opinion Dan Harding is a very good defender but has not looked so comfortable when coming forward. Partington and Coulson (or Yemi) look much better to me down the right than Harding and Cook. For me, Green and Cook would be better as an attacking force, but then we may lose some solidity at the back.

[grumpy]

Ian Harris (Chopper) is his name.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2016 14:15:44 GMT grumpy said:

Ian Harris (Chopper) is his name.

oh ok, he's worked for us in that capacity before, i didnt recognise him.

[grumpy]

Yep. Looked like he left in 2011. Has moved around a bit since then, last year was with Aldershot. Looks like he's back permanently with us now.

[tonysmith]

Now going back to when Poke was signed, i had made an assumption that Toddy brought him in to be The No.1 and that thought was confirmed by Toddy selecting Poke to go straight into the starting 11 for about 3 games. We conceded a few goals in those games, most of which were not really Pokes fault, but he was subsequently dropped.

Paul I think you will find if I recall that Ross was injured with a fracture of the base of his thumb. An injury he picked up pre-season. I think RH felt that Lewis lacked experience thats why Poke was brought in initially on loan until January.

[Deleted]

Tony, yes that was the reason Poke was brought in originally by Hilly, but im talking about when Toddy signed him second time around, on a permanent deal after his release by Pompey.
You don't sign a keeper like that unless your intention is to make him No.1.
I think Flits contract is up this summer, we would be crazy to let him go (imo)