Blog de Brad

Andy Lonergan is, in my view, one of the Championship’s best goalkeepers, but even I thought when watching the highlights against Reading: “Would Alex of done any better?”

Simon Church’s lob, as any cheeky chip that goes ‘over and in’, will always ask questions of a goalkeeper - Especially when he is returning to action after two months on the sidelines, and unintentionally causing the on-field fiasco that was Paul Rachubka.

Alex McCarthy has undoubtedly impressed in Lonergan’s absence, and was obviously left out of the squad that played against his parent-club. But in the wake of it all, Grayson has an interesting choice to make in the goalkeeper he decides to start on Boxing Day.

It is clear that McCarthy wont be here to stay with us permanently in the near future, and as such it is inevitable that Lonergan will be put back in the frame. But his recent comments haven’t really inspired me with any great confidence:

Opinion was divided over whether the 28-year-old was entirely to blame for Reading’s winning goal, scored by Simon Church with a second-minute lob, and Lonergan defended himself in that instance but he was scathing about his influence on the Championship game as a whole. He described himself as “poor” while admitting he had no expectation of receiving the nod from Grayson at Derby on Boxing Day…

…“It’s been a frustrating time for me. I started well and I feel like I’ve got to get back to that level now.

“The only way I’m going to get there is by playing on a Saturday. It’s not something that just comes back to you quickly. I was happy with my form at the start of the season but that comes with the confidence of playing.”

The Yorkshire Evening Post

Has anyone else picked up on the irony in these words? He admits he needs game time to get back the form he had pre-injury, but at the same time has given up any hope of being called to the squad for the Boxing Day clash against Derby?

This was the player Grayson held out for to wear the Number One jersey two weeks before the first game of the season and was automatically selected for that game, even without playing any matches with the senior squad beforehand. “In-Lonergan-We-Trust” was the mantra.

He admits it was “just a blip” against Reading, so I ask why is he being so hard against himself when he can potentially have a second bite at the cherry on Monday?

Either he is an incredibly modest character or incredibly cynical of the way football managers work; I don’t blame him after having his Preston career ended by Phil Brown the way it did. But even so, I find it hard to believe that Grayson shouldn’t trust him for the way Lonergan performed last Saturday

The problem Grayson has is if this “blip” becomes a recurring theme for Lonergan to get back to his best, whilst the young potential and, so far, reliability in Alex McCarthy is wasted.

If Grayson thought the way Lonergan currently feels his manager should, Rachubka wouldn’t have been given the chance to muck-up against Blackpool based on his past performances where mistakes were made. 

As for what Grayson should do on Boxing Day: If he is indeed stuck in a rut between McCarthy and Lonergan, stick Maik Taylor on instead. He is a great keeper who still manages to get called up to his national squad without even having a club to play for - surely that says something.