Mark Flekken (Closed Thread)

[Isleworth_Bee]

His reaction was a bit slow, if he had been on his toes a bit quicker he may have got a block in.

Nah that goal was all down to Collins.

 

[GuyBee]

Obviously not the reason we lost yesterday. But, for me, their 1st goal was a big mistake and any GK who is competent with balls into the box would have just caught it and nobody would even give it a second thought.

You can see from the stills below, the guy has basically hit the cross right at him! But his mindset is not focused on dominating his 6 yard box and that is a problem I think.

View attachment 43642View attachment 43643

Worse than I thought......the guy is having to stoop to head it so he probably just needed to jump up from his starting position.

It was whipped in with pace, a light mitigation perhaps, but with decent footwork he could have caught it in his midriff

Toney to Arsenal and Ramsdale in px?

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

I know he ticks all our boxes re distribution and having Toney back will offer him a proper target but I have yet too see anything about the other aspects of the role that fill me with any enthusiasm or optimism.

Can't argue with that.

 

[westendbee]

It's easy to say he should come for the first, our back line we're so deep and so slow to press the cross it's no wonder he's starting on his line.

Anyone calling him out for the second should give their head a wobble.

His distribution was very good, not sure what some of you expected him to do last night.

His distribution for the crucial third goal was hesitant, which put the defenders under pressure from the high press. (Although Collins’ subsequent decision to chip rather than hit long didn’t help).

And to be fair he actually made a save, though I suspect he was just showing off as we were 4-1 down at the time.

 

[TOXIC BEE]

His distribution is fantastic but statistically going off xG he is the worst shot stopper in the league, that’s not someone’s opinion it’s a real statistic. All 4 goals last night were ones you wouldn’t expect him to save, but the worry is with him he never at any point seems to make any saves you wouldn’t expect him to make. Keepers like Raya would pull off brilliant saves and out of nowhere every now and then that would make you go “wow”, other than Palace at home I barely remember seeing him save a shot that you wouldn’t be criticising him for if he let it in. He makes a few easy saves, lets in nearly all the harder ones, and also makes the odd error like Forest away.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

His distribution for the crucial third goal was hesitant, which put the defenders under pressure from the high press. (Although Collins’ subsequent decision to chip rather than hit long didn’t help).

And to be fair he actually made a save, though I suspect he was just showing off as we were 4-1 down at the time.

He wasn't at fault for the 3rd at all. He had no options all night due to our lack of movement and quality on the ball, didnt surprise me that he hesitated at times. He used the ball and Collins fecked it up.

 

[Thomas Bathurst]

His distribution is fantastic but statistically going off xG he is the worst shot stopper in the league, that’s not someone’s opinion it’s a real statistic. All 4 goals last night were ones you wouldn’t expect him to save, but the worry is with him he never at any point seems to make any saves you wouldn’t expect him to make. Keepers like Raya would pull off brilliant saves and out of nowhere every now and then that would make you go “wow”, other than Palace at home I barely remember seeing him save a shot that you wouldn’t be criticising him for if he let it in. He makes a few easy saves, lets in nearly all the harder ones, and also makes the odd error like Forest away.

️ You're not allowed to use statistical analysis in a negative context on the GPG. Fact.

 

[westendbee]

He wasn't at fault for the 3rd at all. He had no options all night due to our lack of movement and quality on the ball, didnt surprise me that he hesitated at times. He used the ball and Collins fecked it up.

Each to his own, let’s move on to making saves / catching crosses … there’s an argument that defenders should do better in cutting the ball out before it reaches the danger zone, but I’m beginning to find it hard to believe that almost every shot we concede from is a worldie (while Flekken admires it, rooted to the spot), and that every cross leading to a goal is so wicked that there was no point in him coming to claim it in his 6 yard box…

 

[W13 Bee]

His distribution is fantastic but statistically going off xG he is the worst shot stopper in the league, that’s not someone’s opinion it’s a real statistic. All 4 goals last night were ones you wouldn’t expect him to save, but the worry is with him he never at any point seems to make any saves you wouldn’t expect him to make. Keepers like Raya would pull off brilliant saves and out of nowhere every now and then that would make you go “wow”, other than Palace at home I barely remember seeing him save a shot that you wouldn’t be criticising him for if he let it in. He makes a few easy saves, lets in nearly all the harder ones, and also makes the odd error like Forest away.

To be posting this, I hope you've got a background in data

 

[abeeforever]

How many goals have we now conceded via crosses to the far post where his has remained rooted to his line, With no attempt to either catch it or punch it clear, He is now being regularly targeted for that weakness, If we can all see it surely the goalkeeping coach can recognise that's happening? if not, why not, It's time something was done about it and quickly.

 

[CTBee]

I know he ticks all our boxes re distribution and having Toney back will offer him a proper target but I have yet too see anything about the other aspects of the role that fill me with any enthusiasm or optimism.

A couple of weeks ago you were screaming confirmation bias at anyone who dared to criticise Flekken.

 

[SlumanBee]

Not at fault for the last 3, but the first...



Wissa can see already the ball is going back out wide.



He is about to take his first touch and Wissa is STILL jogging out to him.



After taking a touch on his left, Wissa is hardly closer and almost creates a shape for the cross coming in!

Flekken is actually in really good position to come out and collect this.



But as the ball comes in, he totally backs off. Awful, awful decision and we gave Wolves all four goals last night.
Wissa is also to blame for this goal though.

Flekken is clearly elite with the ball at his feet - for all the nervous reactions to his passing, he is in total control but the ball in the area is a MASSIVE problem as any chance from that close, goes in. Agree with a previous poster that he is yet to make a save that denied a 'goal'.

But there are plenty of goals that haven't been his fault but the opposition are just getting so many easy chances.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Not at fault for the last 3, but the first...

View attachment 43644

Wissa can see already the ball is going back out wide.

View attachment 43645

He is about to take his first touch and Wissa is STILL jogging out to him.

View attachment 43646

After taking a touch on his left, Wissa is hardly closer and almost creates a shape for the cross coming in!

Flekken is actually in really good position to come out and collect this.

View attachment 43647

But as the ball comes in, he totally backs off. Awful, awful decision and we gave Wolves all four goals last night.
Wissa is also to blame for this goal though.

Wissa is most to blame imo. Once you allow someone to get a good cross in from that position, anything can happen.

 

[Untouchable]

His distribution is fantastic but statistically going off xG he is the worst shot stopper in the league

Where are you getting your goalkeeper xG stats from please?

 

[AndyS]

Wissa is most to blame imo. Once you allow someone to get a good cross in from that position, anything can happen.

Yep, and as I said in the match thread, he is so infuriating as he spends a lot of time just jogging around doing nothing effective. The only time he sprints is when he's through on goal or has a good chance to close the goalie down. At least Maupay tries to close them down and KLP made a couple of last ditch defensive clearances after sprinting back.

 

[Alan D]

I tend to look at it this way. Is he as good as Raya? I don't think that any Bees fan would claim that. Also if he was at any of the other 19 teams in the league, would he displace any of their first choice keepers? I would suggest very few, if any.

 

[Lush55]

Some comment that Flekken has no one to long ball too.
Maybe if he looked up and fed the ball quicker he may have?
He is so frustrating, always moving the ball with sole of his boot, then passes to defender which 9/10 goes straight back to him.
Nearly always goes with legs first for attempted save and punches ball when it is an easy catch.
Does not dominate his box as he should.
Sorry, but IMHO he is not a top PL keeper, time to bench him.

 

[fredpage]

Some comment that Flekken has no one to long ball too.
Maybe if he looked up and fed the ball quicker he may have?
He is so frustrating, always moving the ball with sole of his boot, then passes to defender which 9/10 goes straight back to him.
Nearly always goes with legs first for attempted save and punches ball when it is an easy catch.
Does not dominate his box as he should.
Sorry, but IMHO he is not a top PL keeper, time to bench him.

I couldn't agree more Lush. Can you remember just one top class save this season? I can't Why not ask Arsenal if they'd do a straight swap for Ramsdale instead of paying us for Raya. After all they think Raya is worth more than him.

 

[Leicester Bee]

I don't like Flekken, personally, but if he bangs it long, towards Wissa, Maupay and KLP, it's almost guaranteeing gifting possession back.
Brighton are excellent at playing out from the back, and I remember them getting criticised for it, but they have pretty much perfected it now. I don't see us changing it for the foreseeable future,
Having said that, it's massively high-risk, and I'm only happy with this when we have our full strength back line and midfield, but I can also get really annoyed by watching oppo defenders win header after header after header. If Toney and Schade were playing, I can guarantee that we'd hit the ball long from time to time.

 

[dickie]

It might all come right with a settled defence etc but Flekken doesn’t seem to do the basics right. Obviously I’m no goalkeeping expert but Flekken always seems so hesitant and slow to react, doesn’t seem to read the game, reverts to scuttling back to his line as a default. Anyone could see that the winger was going to sling a cross in for the first goal. I suppose we’ve been spoilt with Raya commanding his box, but still.
That said if I knew anything I’d be a bloody coach ?

 

[We are Bees]

Good with his feet but doesn’t make enough saves ..
Raya would be a match winner on his day ..

 

[BeesBloke]

I think his lack of agility is a concern, he doesn’t seem very light on his feet. Any shot low down to either side of him is in the net before he hits the floor.

 

[hanworthbee]

Where are you getting your goalkeeper xG stats from please?

Premier League Goalkeeper Stats | FBref.com

Check out 2025-2026 for the Premier League Goalkeeper Stats season.

fbref.com

I also have him having a hand in the third as it was a nothing chipped pass.he should have the confidence to have just whacked it

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

This constant comparison with Raya is tiresome. We know raya is a top 4-6 keeper who we trusted and developed. To replace like for like is near on impossible.

MF doesn't inspire confidence but we've spent decent money on him and I can't see us moving away from him for a good few seasons.

 

[TOXIC BEE]

Where are you getting your goalkeeper xG stats from please?

Goals prevented, can be viewed on SofaScore - Premier League live score, fixtures and results - Sofascore

Flekken is currently on -6.38 meaning he’s conceded 6.38 more goals than xG would expect him to based on the quality of shots he’s faced. For context Raya ended last season on +2.77.

 

[maddogging]

That first was just like one of the Everton goals whereby he has a great starting position yet his default move is to backstep, not fully his fault but he is a unit, would love him to be more commanding

 

[SlumanBee]

I don't like Flekken, personally, but if he bangs it long, towards Wissa, Maupay and KLP, it's almost guaranteeing gifting possession back.
Brighton are excellent at playing out from the back, and I remember them getting criticised for it, but they have pretty much perfected it now. I don't see us changing it for the foreseeable future,
Having said that, it's massively high-risk, and I'm only happy with this when we have our full strength back line and midfield, but I can also get really annoyed by watching oppo defenders win header after header after header. If Toney and Schade were playing, I can guarantee that we'd hit the ball long from time to time.

To be fair - we can't progress as a short passing footballing side that play out the back like Brighton do, without going through this whole process. You've literally just said they got criticised and are now great at it. We can't get to that point by ditching when we have injuries.

 

[Downbeat Bee]

A couple of weeks ago you were screaming confirmation bias at anyone who dared to criticise Flekken.

My feelings pretty much track NLB’s. After a few games I thought he was good and I tried to kid myself that was still the case. All things considered he’s been disappointing so far.

 

[Sandybee]

I’m afraid I’m fast coming to the conclusion that he’s not good enough for the PL.

OK he hasn’t made any glaring mistakes for a while but is that the bar now?

He gives me no confidence that he’s going to stop anything but the most routine of shots.

 

[BuzzingBee95]

Flekken has arrived under challenging circumstances. He’s been tasked with trying to emulate arguably the best performing keeper last season outside top 3.

My concern isn’t so much his ability, it’s more that we’ve been uncharacteristically poor in defence and therefore the relationship at the back hasn’t really developed. Therefore I’m not sure the Flekken trusts the defence and vice Verda yet. Not helped with the amount of messing around at the back we’re doing, these passing triangles that I often find completely ineffective.

Not quite sure how to fix it at the mo. Just have to hope the returning injuries higher up the pitch increases everyone morale

 

[alikat]

Flekken is currently on -6.38 meaning he’s conceded 6.38 more goals than xG would expect him to based on the quality of shots he’s faced.

That's pretty damning.

 

[PGH_Bee]

I have been as patient as I can be but I think it must be said: Unless there is a massive improvement on his end of the remainder of the year, we must have a different keeper come next season. I think we can get away with it this year despite all the injuries due to how poor the bottom teams are. Feels like Europe is impossible or close to it with our current position. Hopefully he improves but he's been given ample opportunity and shown that while he can distribute as well as any keeper out there, he's overall just not up to standard.

 

[TW3Bee]

That's pretty damning.

It's also very worrying.

His performance is down to a number of things.

Confidence on both his part, and the defence in front of him, in each other, also the defence in front of him not being settled doesn't help.

 

[TW3Bee]

I have been as patient as I can be but I think it must be said: Unless there is a massive improvement on his end of the remainder of the year, we must have a different keeper come next season. I think we can get away with it this year despite all the injuries due to how poor the bottom teams are. Feels like Europe is impossible or close to it with our current position. Hopefully he improves but he's been given ample opportunity and shown that while he can distribute as well as any keeper out there, he's overall just not up to standard.

He did keep the most clean sheets in the Bundesliga, last season, but at the moment we don't look anywhere near not conceding a goal.

 

[Leicester Bee]

To be fair - we can't progress as a short passing footballing side that play out the back like Brighton do, without going through this whole process. You've literally just said they got criticised and are now great at it. We can't get to that point by ditching when we have injuries.

Just my opinion, but I think we can still emulate Brighton's way of passing it out, but my preference is to do it with a more settled back line.

 

[PGH_Bee]

He did keep the most clean sheets in the Bundesliga, last season, but at the moment we don't look anywhere near not conceding a goal.

It's also possible that he's just not as good as he was last season - athletes start to decline at different times. The sad truth is that at the age of 30, taking a few steps backward isn't unheard of. I don't subscribe to the argument that he just needs more time to adjust, and that Raya had struggles when he first came here... he is THIRTY. This is the finished product. And IMO, it's just not enough.

 

[SmiffyBee]

I tend to look at it this way. Is he as good as Raya? I don't think that any Bees fan would claim that. Also if he was at any of the other 19 teams in the league, would he displace any of their first choice keepers? I would suggest very few, if any.

At this stage last season...
Raya after 17 games last season conceded 28 goals
Flekken after 17 games has conceded 27...

Raya is better but it took him a while in the Brentford goal to become this good.

 

[Bridge Bee]

Agree he needs to do things quicker. But going long wasn’t an option last night. The 3rd goal proved that. We had no one capable of matching the Wolves players in the air. And the movement of the frontline at goal kicks was non existent. All happy to be marked.

 

[mobbeez]

I am surprised at the criticism Mark is getting for the first. I remember muttering beautiful cross very soon after it was hit. Lower trajectory, fast and accurate. Few keepers would have picked it off. My neighbour at the same time expressed it more succinctly: "ohhhh sh*t".

He has not pulled up any trees, but he has become a bit of a whipping boy. I guess that's Old Brentford for you.

 

[marvelous007]

I am surprised at the criticism Mark is getting for the first. I remember muttering beautiful cross very soon after it was hit. Lower trajectory, fast and accurate. Few keepers would have picked it off. My neighbour at the same time expressed it more succinctly: "ohhhh sh*t".

He has not pulled up any trees, but he has become a bit of a whipping boy. I guess that's Old Brentford for you.

What do you mean by old Brentford pls?

 

[PGH_Bee]

I am surprised at the criticism Mark is getting for the first. I remember muttering beautiful cross very soon after it was hit. Lower trajectory, fast and accurate. Few keepers would have picked it off. My neighbour at the same time expressed it more succinctly: "ohhhh sh*t".

He has not pulled up any trees, but he has become a bit of a whipping boy. I guess that's Old Brentford for you.

He could have caught the cross if he stood still!

 

[Sandybee]

This constant comparison with Raya is tiresome. We know raya is a top 4-6 keeper who we trusted and developed. To replace like for like is near on impossible.

MF doesn't inspire confidence but we've spent decent money on him and I can't see us moving away from him for a good few seasons.

We’ve spent money on him but it doesn’t justify his selection. He’d better learn how to be decisive in his 6 yard box or he’s out, I’m afraid. Anyone can make a mistake, but doing nothing is fatal.

 

[mobbeez]

What do you mean by old Brentford pls?

So often anything bad is blamed on "New Brentford" The need for a whipping boy in tough (and sometimes not so tough) periods has been with us ever since I started supporting the club.

Some vices are very much "Old Brentford".

Once again, I think Mark has not pulled up any trees, but I also think some comments just beggar belief.

 

[marvelous007]

So often anything bad is blamed on "New Brentford" The need for a whipping boy in tough (and sometimes not so tough) periods has been with us ever since I started supporting the club.

Some vices are very much "Old Brentford".

Once again, I think Mark has not pulled up any trees, but I also think some comments just beggar belief.

I don't buy this argument about old brentford v New.

We have always had players that took the blame for mistakes, Kerleigh Osborne springs to mind. I think it just football supporters being football supporters. Some of those supporters at the game against Wolves (who left early) from the other night are also "new brentford" too.

We need to stick together Old and New.

 

[detours]

Distribution and calmness in possession again, excellent.

I'm still in the "Flekken in" camp, but really would have liked him to attack the cross that led to the first goal. His starting position was good, and he retreated when he should have tried to get to it. That said, it was an excellent whipped in ball and we didn't defend it well as a team.

The rest of the goals really nothing he could have done about. Got sold short, each clinical finishes.

Perhaps Flekken ain't the one ?‍ for me the jury's very much still out, but he's really not the reason we're in a funk right now.

 

[Mick.C]

The spine of a spirited team needs characters BIG characters.
Think of Toney. Think of Mee. Think of Raya. No.9 to Centre Half to Goakeeper. Solid, strong, dependable.
Big Voices Big Opinions listened to In the dressing room. Players to depend and look up to.
Flekken is huge in stature 6ft 4in. Flekken is top of his game as his Country’s Number 1.
Two big ticks in his signing.
Two things he isn’t it seems, confident as the main man in this back line and vocal in huge stature.
At the moment he’s struggling to settle on the pitch.
3 clean sheets in half a season and none for two months. The stats are not his friend.
This fella is no Alvaro rabbit in the headlights he’s a league above, but in the PL there is no hiding place.
At the moment he’s part of a back 5 or 6 that shrugs and looks a bit forlorn when it’s breached.
In every interview, he appears super confident in everything, it’s time to walk the talk.
Super unlucky with events since August, with the defence changing every week, no problem, but your big players make their own luck and take the lead, Mark needs to change his luck and peoples perceptions.
Time for Flekken to show he’s an important part of the spine of this team and impose himself on the team.
He will come good, he isn’t passing through and he’s the best goalkeeper in the Netherlands who will be on the main stage at the Euros this summer.
He’s doing Ok and needs to look to follow the big players like Norgaard, Mee, Jensen and Mbeumo who are all a lot better than ok.

 

[GuyBee]

He could have caught the cross if he stood still!

Might have needed to jump a it but yes I agree. What is the point of taking up that 'advanced' position if your first action is to retreat to your goal line?

 

[cheshirebee]

Not at fault for the last 3, but the first...

View attachment 43644

Wissa can see already the ball is going back out wide.

View attachment 43645

He is about to take his first touch and Wissa is STILL jogging out to him.

View attachment 43646

After taking a touch on his left, Wissa is hardly closer and almost creates a shape for the cross coming in!

Flekken is actually in really good position to come out and collect this.

View attachment 43647

But as the ball comes in, he totally backs off. Awful, awful decision and we gave Wolves all four goals last night.
Wissa is also to blame for this goal though.

Flekken is clearly elite with the ball at his feet - for all the nervous reactions to his passing, he is in total control but the ball in the area is a MASSIVE problem as any chance from that close, goes in. Agree with a previous poster that he is yet to make a save that denied a 'goal'.

But there are plenty of goals that haven't been his fault but the opposition are just getting so many easy chances.

I am optimistic that he will come good but I have to echo the above comments on the first goal. We were sitting right behind the crosser and the instant he connected with the ball for the cross I thought ‘no problem, it’s keepers ball’ . I was totally relaxed. MF then, rather than taking a step forward for a relatively simple catch retreated to his goal line and gave himself little chance to stop what was a decent header.
In some ways I find that more concerning than NC’s errors which were just total brain farts whereas Flekkens error here was a quite conscious but very poor decision.
Im hopeful that continued good coaching and his own desire to self improve will get him to the level we need. He is the Dutch no.1 when all‘s said and done.

 

[Beecareful]

Look at Arthur Konokwo at Arsenal. Tall, Big, Brave and did the business for Crewe and now Wrexham. Very 'Chesney'.... wow.

Make a note!

 

[SmiffyBee]

Look at Arthur Konokwo at Arsenal. Tall, Big, Brave and did the business for Crewe and now Wrexham. Very 'Chesney'.... wow.

Make a note!

His name is an anagram of "oh outroar w*nk" so it's a no from me.