We briefly touched upon this in another thread earlier in the week - with Loko - but I think this is an area where we need to improve next season. I've done a little digging and found the following data: You can see that the save % of our keepers is only 66.7% (18th) while 5 of the top 6 were the other teams in the play offs with save % greater than 73%. It's interesting to note that we received the same number of shots on target as Brentford but their save % was 73% which resulted in them conceding 8 goals less. I'm unsure how many additional points that would realise but I think it would be significant (5 or 6 maybe?). Interestingly, when you look at our keepers performance both have the same save % from a similar number of games and are ranked 26th & 27th. Additionally, and surprisingly - both keepers ended the season with the same rating from whoscored. In summary, we have two young keepers with similar performance metrics however both have different strengths and weaknesses. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next few months. Do we hope that they push each other to improve next season or do we bring in a new keeper, sell one or let one go out on loan? Personally, I like both keepers and probably prefer Walton but putting that sentiment to one side I think we need to bring a new keeper who will have a better save %. I'm sure the additional difficulty is that we also need one who is good with his feet and sweeping. I'm not sure there are many out there especially in our budget which probably means we'll keep both for another season in hope they improve. Thoughts?
I am guessing’SoTA’ is shots on target against, and Collins’ is only 60 which is low. So it’s a shame there are no stats highlighting how many attacking chances, leading to shots, he prevented by being quickest off his line. His shot stopping ratio may not read well, but his ‘chance stopping’, I am sure would be high, if not top, of any table that were able to include this.
I'm not so sure about the statistics, they don't take into account how easy the save is to make, maybe some keepers are bombarded with better quality shots than others? Or maybe have better defence in front of them
Both our keepers also top the table for interceptions outside the box. Stats don’t tell lies; but you need quality analysis to understand exactly what the numbers mean. if our keepers had gone forward less, then they’d have had more shots at them, and maybe saved more, maybe less. I’m no expert but I’d guess our expected goals against reflects our goalies behaviour and puts us back in the top 6.
Totally agree that there are other variables to consider but I found it surprising how low our keepers are in relation to the other top 6 sides.
As mentioned by others, we allowed very few shots at us, in fact we conceded the fewest shots per game in the Championship this season. When teams actually got in on goal it was usually one one one with the keeper which tend to go in for often than not.
I’ve said many a time - we have 2 good keepers. However, due to us wanting to play the ‘sweeper keeper’ role, Collins has been given the nod, as he is better at this. The best shot stopper and catcher for me is Walton though. His kicking is ok, but a touch behind Collins. But his other attributes are far better. He’s more agile and gets down quicker to the ball - as well as good at catching.
Interestingly I noticed the most saves from keepers in the Premier League came from the West Brom and Sheff Utd keepers (probably due to both being bombarded with shots on their goal). So not necessarily a good thing to be at the higher end.
It's important to remember that ours needs to be a sweeper-keeper, but, having said that Brice Samba looks to have been a great acquisition by Forest and we could do worse than try to get Jamal Blackman from Chelsea, as Rotherham's stats aren't bad. Really interesting spreadsheet there. It also seems to show the value of having an experienced keeper, with the exceptions such as Iverson. I would think that it is an area in which we could strengthen next season, but this is not meant as a criticism of Collins, or Walton - just shows the value of a good keeper to the team.
Opinions are always interesting. I wouldn’t have one of Walton’s strengths down as catching crosses as he’s a nervous wreck with balls coming in to the box and commanding his area. Definitely the better shop stopper, and also better with his feet - not from a starting position perspective but genuinely being more comfortable on the ball. Collins isn’t a natural sweeper keeper by any stretch and slices a lot of the clearances he gets to out for a throw in. Sometimes not even much further than where he meets the ball. But the key thing is he gets there first and the chance is diverted, where we regroup and reset. When we switched between him and Walton initially Collins was far better in commanding his area on crosses than Walton, but was rooted to his line. Val picked him and changed his starting position and he never looked back.
Blackman gets very negative reviews from every Rotherham fan I know of. You’re right, we could do worse, but we could also do a lot better, and I’m hoping for the latter.
Imo Collins strength was coming out of the box he seemed to be more comfortable in doing that, than Walton. Other than that . I believe Walton is at least equal on some aspects and better in most. Clubs are more aware of our tactics and are getting wiser. Tending to go over the top out wide rather than down the middle. I think the role of keeper sweeper may be close to an end.
In all the years I've been watching Barnsley, it's my opinion we've never had two young goalkeepers as talented as Collins & Walton at the club at the same time. Both can and will improve the more experienced they become. Neither are anywhere near their best yet, which is quite understandable.
Collins edges it for me at the moment, but both are good number 2's. Walton would benefit from a season long loan in league 1 as a first choice keeper.
I know statistics are all the rage in football, but some things are difficult to judge and assess from them. How do you measure the quality of a chance, the time someone had to finish, the quality of the player on each side of the duel, the crowd, the pressure, the importance of the match, a bobble occuring, proximity of a challenge. Aside from a couple of wobbles from Walton (think Stoke and was it Bournemouth at home?) they've both had very decent seasons and are still very early in their careers, conditioning to a completely different style of play to what they had before. The last position I'd be looking to strengthen is the goalkeeper.
Our best chance of improving our goalkeeper is to keep and continue to development of the keepers we have.
If I sit and think about strengthening for next year the gk position is very low on my priorities unless we lose one or the other of them.
