Are Saints in a goalkeeping crisis.

A year or so ago most Saints supporters rated Bart Bialkowski very highly, his legend grew as Kelvin Davis didnt exactly cover himself in glory throughout the first 3/4 of the season and then came Bialkowski's chance when Davis was suspended for three games and at first it seemed like the big Pole had grasped it with both hands, but the writing was on the wall with the Manager always quick to praise Davis despite the fact he was on the bench but never seeming to utter a public word of praise for Bart.

When he brought back Davis for the 2nd leg of the playoff at Derby, no one was shocked although most felt this was a harsh decision.

When Davis got injured at Eastleigh, again it was nothing but praise for the older man and silence about how well Bialkowski had fared in the summer representing Poland, the fans wanted bart the manager prefers Kelvin, almost it seemed to many to spite the supporters.

So it comes as no surprise that we now have a 20 year old keeper who is shellshocked, he doesnt ever seem to have the backing of his manager who has barely said a word in his defence since the start of the season, no kind words about how Bart will be back and is learning and certainly nothing about the fact that the best goalkeepers in the Premier would struggle behind the defence in the first two games, it was almost as if the manager knew what was going to happen and was protecting Davis until he got in a centre back.

 But nothing much changed at Norwich, OK we looked a lot tighter at the back, but this was due to the new centre back as much as anything else, but what didnt change is that one of the goals came down to a mix up between keeper and centre back, this time Makin and Davis.

So is it time to look elsewhere for a keeper, Bialkowski needs a little bit more time to learn his trade and restore his confidence, he also needs to play behind a defence that is full of defenders and not players out of position, as for Davis, well in this division you need a keeper that comes off his line and domintes his box and sadly this isnt Kelvin, so perhaps its time to bring in experience, surely there must be someone warming a Premier bench somewhere who could bring us that, we could have done with it last term, lets not make the same mistakes as last year.

Sadly I fear that we will and that by Xmas George Burley might not be at the club to celebrate his second anniversary, he has had the best part of two years in charge and throughout he seems unable to learn from the mistakes he has made, unless he starts being a brave man now he might not get the chance, he can start right now by sorting out the goalkeeping problem.  

Photo: Action Images

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