As I said when this idea was originally mooted, I’m not in the least bit bothered. He’s not a particularly good keeper – but he is perfect ‘number 2’ material (no pun intended). Olejnik is our first choice keeper. When fit, he will play. Signing another decent/expensive keeper would represent a waste of money. Save the budget to improve those parts of the first 11 that need improvement. If Olejnik gets injured, bring in a loanee. The most Rice should ever need to play is the remainder of any game Olejnik gets injured in. I think we can trust him to play 45 minutes. Sensible decision for me.
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something."
Fonda wrote:As I said when this idea was originally mooted, I’m not in the least bit bothered. He’s not a particularly good keeper – but he is perfect ‘number 2’ material (no pun intended). Olejnik is our first choice keeper. When fit, he will play. Signing another decent/expensive keeper would represent a waste of money. Save the budget to improve those parts of the first 11 that need improvement. If Olejnik gets injured, bring in a loanee. The most Rice should ever need to play is the remainder of any game Olejnik gets injured in. I think we can trust him to play 45 minutes. Sensible decision for me.
Fonda wrote:As I said when this idea was originally mooted, I’m not in the least bit bothered. He’s not a particularly good keeper – but he is perfect ‘number 2’ material (no pun intended). Olejnik is our first choice keeper. When fit, he will play. Signing another decent/expensive keeper would represent a waste of money. Save the budget to improve those parts of the first 11 that need improvement. If Olejnik gets injured, bring in a loanee. The most Rice should ever need to play is the remainder of any game Olejnik gets injured in. I think we can trust him to play 45 minutes. Sensible decision for me.
Yep, when you put it like that it makes sense.
The thing I am most looking forward is brucie's reaction!
I look at like this have 2 OK-good goalies with budget spread between them or a a very good gk and a poor-OK gk with most of the budget on the 1st choice. Goalies rarely get injured so I am ok with rice as a backup
Fonda wrote:As I said when this idea was originally mooted, I’m not in the least bit bothered. He’s not a particularly good keeper – but he is perfect ‘number 2’ material (no pun intended). Olejnik is our first choice keeper. When fit, he will play. Signing another decent/expensive keeper would represent a waste of money. Save the budget to improve those parts of the first 11 that need improvement. If Olejnik gets injured, bring in a loanee. The most Rice should ever need to play is the remainder of any game Olejnik gets injured in. I think we can trust him to play 45 minutes. Sensible decision for me.
Re-signing McPhee and (possibly) Rice, but turning down the chance to bring Russell back to the club is certainly an interesting way for Ling to try and endear himself to us! :~D
Regarding Rice, as Fonda alludes to, it's important to distinguish between our goalkeeping situation last year and this. Unlike Bevan, there's nothing to suggest Olejnik will miss many games through injury (cue a broken arm at Tivvy tonight!), so Rice's involvement is likely to be in training and the JPT. I'd probably have preferred us to sign a promising kid in the Horsell-mould, but the strikers we sign before 6 August is a far more important issue.
Chris B wrote:Re-signing McPhee and (possibly) Rice, but turning down the chance to bring Russell back to the club is certainly an interesting way for Ling to try and endear himself to us! :~D
Regarding Rice, as Fonda alludes to, it's important to distinguish between our goalkeeping situation last year and this. Unlike Bevan, there's nothing to suggest Olejnik will miss many games through injury (cue a broken arm at Tivvy tonight!), so Rice's involvement is likely to be in training and the JPT. I'd probably have preferred us to sign a promising kid in the Horsell-mould, but the strikers we sign before 6 August is a far more important issue.
The main problem is, to find someone who will sit on the bench as a number 2. Not many keepers will do that, most would rather drop down a level to get first team football.
If Martin is happy to train, play in the reserves, help with the warm up with Bobby, sit on the bench and pick up his small wage packet every week then we cant fault the guy.
tufcbrett wrote:The main problem is, to find someone who will sit on the bench as a number 2. Not many keepers will do that, most would rather drop down a level to get first team football.
If Martin is happy to train, play in the reserves, help with the warm up with Bobby, sit on the bench and pick up his small wage packet every week then we cant fault the guy.
Small wage packet? I wouldn't mind £26k a year to play football!