A look at our keepers this season, and what lies ahead
In the first of a three part series, we look at each player to turn out for us this season. Today, we start with the goalkeepers.
Ben Amos
Amos played just the once, in the EFL Cup defeat. He had been vying for the number one spot with Mark Howard during pre-season, but Phil Parkinson`s summer signing was the one who got the nod. He was loaned out to Cardiff City, and when Neil Warnock took over as manager there, Allan McGregor was brought in after a few errors. I can see Amos moving on this summer, the permanent move here hasn`t gone as anticipated.
Mark Howard
Howard started the season as number one until a broken finger sustained at Peterborough put him out of action. He had to wait to back in the side and Ben Alnwick`s injury at Shrewsbury ensured he would close out the season as undisputed number one. Overall, I think he has done well, although his distribution hasn`t always been great. His number of shanked kicks in the wind at Oldham led me to think he wouldn`t make a good golfer.
Ben Alnwick
An August deadline day arrival replacing Amos, Alnwick did well replacing Howard after his injury but he did have his wobbles. His head seemed to have gone in the first half at Bradford, and he does have a tendency to flap at stuff in the air. The goalkeeper situation is a weird one next season. We have three reasonably good keepers, but all seem to have their cons.
We could probably do with a more established Championship-level keeper, but we`ll need bodies in elsewhere, so it may not end up being a priority position. Also, don`t forget Jake Turner, who having sat on the bench for the first team so often, may potentially get some action at some point next season, circumstances permitting.