2025/26 Season's first choice goalkeeper

[Gremlin]

is that a rhetorical question?

Since there's no question mark it doesn't seem to be a question at all. A statement of opinion, I'd say.

 

[wildheart]

To be frank, neither of them are outstanding. I think the reason we have gone on this decent run is because Hayes has come in. Collin's ball kicking distribution is awful, I remember one game early in the season when he kicked the ball out of play four times from goal kicks. Having said that he's a better shot stopper that Hayes. As a ex goalie myself, its a crucial position for stability. Trevor Roberts, Paul Sansome, Royce & Flav's were my favourites but Bentley, Collis and Mildenhall were very good too. For me a keeper is as important as a goal scorer. I like to see Dave Martin back, he'd make such a difference.
Even some of the Premier League keepers look very poor these days?

 

[Richard Hearn]

Trevor Roberts, Paul Sansome, Royce & Flav's were my favourites but Bentley, Collis and Mildenhall were very good too.

No Merv the Swerve?

 

[wildheart]

Both Merv & Bart were good keepers too, just love Sammy though. When you look back we have been blessed in this department until very recently.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

To be frank, neither of them are outstanding. I think the reason we have gone on this decent run is because Hayes has come in. Collin's ball kicking distribution is awful, I remember one game early in the season when he kicked the ball out of play four times from goal kicks. Having said that he's a better shot stopper that Hayes. As a ex goalie myself, its a crucial position for stability. Trevor Roberts, Paul Sansome, Royce & Flav's were my favourites but Bentley, Collis and Mildenhall were very good too. For me a keeper is as important as a goal scorer. I like to see Dave Martin back, he'd make such a difference.
Even some of the Premier League keepers look very poor these days?

Bit harsh on Collin to say his kicking distribution is awful. He got a few wrong as do all goalkeepers, not one of Nick Hayes strengths either. Collin's kicking improved as the season went on, still a work in progress I should imagine. Why do people always look for negatives ? At the end of the day, Collin keeps clean sheets and Hayes doesn't. Collin is still only 21 and has so far kept 35 clean sheets in 80 games, not too shabby.

 

[wildheart]

Bit harsh on Collin to say his kicking distribution is awful. He got a few wrong as do all goalkeepers, not one of Nick Hayes strengths either. Collin's kicking improved as the season went on, still a work in progress I should imagine. Why do people always look for negatives ? At the end of the day, Collin keeps clean sheets and Hayes doesn't. Collin is still only 21 and has so far kept 35 clean sheets in 80 games, not too shabby.

The thread is about the goal keepers we have and going forward. I can only comment on the keepers I am watching. As I stated neither of them are great in my eyes, maybe Collin will improve? But we want out of the National league. Maybe hang onto him as a number two to learn from someone like Dave Martin or another. Distribution with feet seems to be keen in the modern day, if that's how we intend to play? I do like the quote that Collin has kept 30 odd clean sheets but only goes to highlight our lack of goals up front, which of course is another negative.

 

[Holy Joe]

I do like the quote that Collin has kept 30 odd clean sheets but only goes to highlight our lack of goals up front, which of course is another negative.

Doesnt that highlight the lack of opposition goals?

 

[shrimperjon]

Can’t chose between either really. Collin has gone backwards this season since Martin left as hasn’t looked anywhere near as confident this season as last but he is a decent shot stopper. But doesn’t always command his 6 yard box. There were games at Fylde and Wealdstone where he should have done better plus one other but can’t remember which game it was but all goals were similar. Hayes commands his area better and his height helps him from corners etc. we are away so missed Saturday and some say he was at fault for the equaliser some say he wasn’t, I would look at the players infront of him before being to harsh. But the second goal at Boston was defo his fault. They are both NL keepers for a reason and I’d be happy with either. I can’t see anyone coming in for Collin in the summer he isn’t EFL standard yet so it is likely to be a shoot out between the two of them through the summer I guess. But if a better option become available in the summer then we might take a punt but we’d have to move one on like we might have to with other members of the squad

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I’d happily take Collin on as first choice next season, he’s proved he can keep a clean sheet and he’s young and developing. Some I feel are way too harsh on him. Nice lad too.

 

[Supershrimper]

Whilst Collin hasn't been as good this season as some believe he started in 24 and kept 11 clean sheets (10 if you wipe out the clean sheet against Dagenham when he got injured. Last season he started 33 and kept 11 clean sheets (an ankle injury keeping him out from mid September to December)

I guess we (I) expected him to kick on from last season. But you have to remember the ever changing back line. Beginning of the season he had Kensdale in front of him. When he left i think it took 5 or 6 games before we got a settled back line with injuries etc

For me its Collin as Number 1 next season unless we pull off a decent goalkeeper who can compete or push Collin to the bench. Hayes good for a number 2 and a decent number 1 at this level as well. But consistency in the back line brings confidence in the keepers.

 

[rigsby]

To be frank, neither of them are outstanding. I think the reason we have gone on this decent run is because Hayes has come in. Collin's ball kicking distribution is awful, I remember one game early in the season when he kicked the ball out of play four times from goal kicks. Having said that he's a better shot stopper that Hayes. As a ex goalie myself, its a crucial position for stability. Trevor Roberts, Paul Sansome, Royce & Flav's were my favourites but Bentley, Collis and Mildenhall were very good too. For me a keeper is as important as a goal scorer. I like to see Dave Martin back, he'd make such a difference.
Even some of the Premier League keepers look very poor these days?

Thats when he was still under instruction to hit the touchline with his kicks. A tactic we used the previous season when he was also slagged by those that didn't understand. Thankfully it has now been dropped. It didn't sit well with fans and had a negative impact on Collin.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

I would really like to see both here next season slugging it out for the #1 shirt after a proper pre-season, and a settled back three/four integrated early.

Even if we don't go up (and it's looking good Ray, it's looking good) next season could be our time.

 

[Grayson]

Collin is far better with his feet than our fanbase credit him for. So many people **** the bed at him threading a pass to somebody. It's a them problem, not a Collin problem.

 

[Clarky176]

Collin is far better with his feet than our fanbase credit him for. So many people **** the bed at him threading a pass to somebody. It's a them problem, not a Collin problem.

100%. The amount of nervous jitters I hear after a perfectly good pass that starts us off on a move is ridiculous sometimes.

Last season’s final game against Rochdale, our excellent goal began from a move with Collin and Kensdale close to our goal. Plenty of people shouting get rid of it, including one bloke just along from me who shouted down from the South Upper to Collin as he was below “just ****ing kick it”, and Collin heard this. We scored a great goal from the resulting move and Collin and Kensdale gestured “calm down” to the guy!

 

[wildheart]

Doesnt that highlight the lack of opposition goals? Not with our points total!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Thats when he was still under instruction to hit the touchline with his kicks. A tactic we used the previous season when he was also slagged by those that didn't understand. Thankfully it has now been dropped. It didn't sit well with fans and had a negative impact on Collin.

A tactic we were able to drop because we signed Tom Hopper to give us the missing aerial presence through the middle. Of course those who bemoaned the kicks to the touchline probably want Hopper dropped which would mean we’d need to kick to the touchline again!

 

[Hadleigh-shrimper]

Please not Colin

 

[rlb999]

Both are under contract until 2026 (I think) so that surely means if we get another one in, we need to ship one out. If that’s feasible, I’d be in the market for another keeper as neither of these 2 are great. We keep finishing as also-rans and if that’s going to change we need to move a few out to get a few in.

 

[Simon Templar]

I’d happily take Collin on as first choice next season, he’s proved he can keep a clean sheet and he’s young and developing. Some I feel are way too harsh on him. Nice lad too.

Watch back games of last season when it was 0-0 and the out standing saves Colin pulled off to keep it that way. All before we went on to take the points. Sure he’s still young and can improve,but Colin is a lot better keeper than people realise.