Exactly this. Although no-one think it is doable we could still make the playoffs. Or lose all 9 and go down. Clearly both miniscule probabilities but while they can both happen there is no way we can only have 1 fit keeper and that being someone who has played 2 professional matches. That would be bonkers.
Absolutely no way either possibility will happen. I don't see the point in spending cash we don't have on getting in another loanee, when we 99.99% have nothing left to play for. Let this season play out, we'll finish somewhere between 12th-18th, but won't trouble either up or down. Save the cash for summat useful in the summer.
I think we should bring a keeper in. Even if we continue to play Flavell. We've still got to be professional and have an adequate replacement on the bench. And there's training to consider, another keeper will help Flavell. It's all gone to pot and we have wasted money on signings, but we need an emergency loan.
We've got Hayton as back up, spent his life, all but the last 2 years, at Spurs. As the last 2 have come from Chelsea and Villa, why isn't he atleast on a par.
We need to give our academy lads opportunities to play, otherwise honestly what’s the point in having them
But if they aren't ready? Sorry but no realistic way (if Smith and Gauci out medium term) that we could/should play 20% of the season without a senior goalkeeper at the club. It's madness to suggest it. Presumably Flavell started the season as 4th choice for a reason. Way too much pressure on him esp with no other keeper here. Yes we're 99% safe in the division and 99% sure not to go up but still can't get why people don't see the issue? Or are we saying sod it, play all the U21s for the rest of the season? Which is the same logic surely......
This stage of the season surely clubs wouldn't ask for loan fees? Even if they did would be peanuts? Also I don't know the specifics but presumably if we don't do it this week and nothing changes we can't do it later if he has a nightmare at the weekend as we currently don't see it as an "emergency". If we feel he is ready great. But we clearly don't and it makes perfect sense to me to get cover. No brainer.
Time flies. Didn’t think he’d packed in that long ago. To be fair, I always refer to COVID as ‘a couple of years ago’ only to realise there was an anniversary the other day, and it’s been five years. I’d have thought Flavell with Hayton should get them through until one of the others is fit. But considering the team was 5th entering the transfer window and the club’s idea of strengthening was to add Farrugia, Lembikisa, Rodrigues, Lewis and Gauci, and a few weeks later the head coach has been sacked with the team now 10th and nine points adrift of the top six, it’s probably best not to think. If Flav is the only fit ‘keeper, I guess they’ll have to add a 17th goalie of the year. Exciting. I hope he’s from France and is actually a winger.
I’d stick with Flavell. Good experience for him. Although also appreciate with the heckling the team are getting at the moment, it might not be the best time to make an impact - but he’s got to grab the opportunity and run with it.
I keep seeing comments of young players not being ready. How do you get ready? In our work lives, how do we learn? How do we get better? By doing, by making mistakes, by adapting, by showing resilience. We can watch and let others do things forever, but it does nothing to enhance our skills or 'get us ready'. At some point you have to have a go, and if given all those injuries and with nothing to play for we still look to play someone else's kid instead of our own who many have said did well at the weekend, then seriously, why on earth are we bothering with our academy? Back in the 80s and 90s (granted we had a settled team) towards the back end of the season, you'd often get a sprinkling of young kids appearing in the team. Some might make a few appearances and then a little down the line, get more game time. David Watson, Carl Tiler, Nicky Eaden (it would be a very long list so I'll stop there) got opportunities when the cupboard was bare of first team players or there was nothing to play for. Yes, there were Sean Dunphys and Mark Burtons and Warren Feeneys who didn't break through. But if you never play them, they never will. So if the best we can do is loan these kids to non league and hope they learn how to be league one or higher players from that experience... Shut the Academy, save the expense and reduce an area of focus to prioritise any one of the hundreds of aspects at BFC that are substandard.