Mark Flekken (Closed Thread)

[Artixbee]

One dodgy kick at the end (Raya sometimes did this too). Otherwise faultless performance!

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Totally agree. Calm and confident with the ball. Lots of lobs out to players lifting it over the heads of their attackers, and one long ball down the middle near the end that Schade (I think) couldn't quite control. solid saves when needed in second half toom great start

Chips! ??

I agree. And this was a pretty tough test of his nerve, vision and technique, against a high-pressing team intent on hunting down the last man (keeper). Not all sides do this and he will have less stressful afternoons in this regard.

 

[josht]

I think he'll be a little disappointed with conceding their second goal, but all in all a very solid start. Excellent distribution. Will continue to improve as he gets used to this league.

 

[mundee4england]

His distribution was outstanding! Looked comfortable in other areas otherwise. A solid start!

 

[Les Beeavinu]

All good here. Need to see the 2nd goal back but my first reaction was that nobody is saving it.

 

[FJBee]

Really grew into the game, so pleased for him after a couple of mistakes in pre-season. Thought GK would be the hardest position to replace (especially after Lossl / Fernandez) but the club might have pulled it off!

 

[Brentford77]

Really grew into the game, so pleased for him after a couple of mistakes in pre-season. Thought GK would be the hardest position to replace (especially after Lossl / Fernandez) but the club might have pulled it off!

Agree. I actually thought, based admittedly on a very small sample size, that his distribution was slightly better than Raya. And I never expected to think that…

 

[Deanos196]

A good start and will get better couldn’t say the same for the spurs keeper ?

 

[Wooburn Bee]

Like what I’ve seen so far, slotted I’m well. Unlike Fernandez who didn’t inspire me or feel that safe in between the sticks.

Confident and good with his feet. Would need to see their second again but he claimed and saved what he had to.

He looked far more in control and assured than Spurs keeper

 

['Ayes B]

A good start tgat should bow well for both his and our confidences

 

[UnsungZero]

One dodgy kick at the end (Raya sometimes did this too). Otherwise faultless performance!

I was pleased with him overall but think it's fair to place some of the blame for the opening goal on him. He missed a corner that he came for but got away with that when Spurs gave the ball back. He then cleared to a Spurs player and the resulting attack led to Maddison buying the free kick which was headed in.

 

[ChertseyBee]

I was pleased with him overall but think it's fair to place some of the blame for the opening goal on him. He missed a corner that he came for but got away with that when Spurs gave the ball back. He then cleared to a Spurs player and the resulting attack led to Maddison buying the free kick which was headed in.

You sound like the bloke sitting near me in the south stand. Spent the entire game complaining about EVERYTHING Flekken did.

 

[beetee]

Looks better with the ball at his feet than Raya imo

 

[UnsungZero]

You sound like the bloke sitting near me in the south stand. Spent the entire game complaining about EVERYTHING Flekken did.

A reasonable comparison given I said I was pleased with him overall ?

 

[BFC1997]

Extremely confident about this guy.

 

[andyrew]

Impressed

 

[RAF_Patto]

Impressed with his goal kicks. I noticed in the second half that we had Collins forward for them, each time Flekken put it straight on top of him.

The kick out to Bryan as well, curved perfectly and really does highlight how we've managed to retain a key asset from Raya.

All in all, it didn't really feel much different to having David between the sticks, and thats the best compliment I can give him.

 

[mundee4england]

My main concerns this season were losing Raya’s distribution and losing Ivan’s ability to relieve pressure by holding the ball. From today’s showing one of those appears it won’t be an issue.

 

[upnorthbee]

He’s cool as a cucumber and his long range passing is arguably better than Raya’s.

The only thing that got me slightly nervous is when he received the ball back from defenders and shifted it over to the right (with the outside of his right boot). If he’s comfortable with that then fair enough but it’ll take some getting used to.

All in all a good, nerve settling performance.

 

[alikat]

Had a decent game but hard to work out how 6 people (as it currently stands) made him MOM on the MOM thread.

 

[Indian Bee]

A competent 7/10 performance I thought considering this was his first PL game. I came away from the game feeling very reassured.

 

[wanderer paul]

.............a very good start..............

Say that again, again, again!

Flekken had a better debut than a number of former keepers, including Raya.

He knows what he’s doing, he knows how we play and he knows where the long pass is.

Give the man a month or two and we’ll be staying Raya, who?

 

[Friji]

Some really good distribution yesterday, minus his wild clearance right at the end! Must of been huge pressure so fair play to him, keen to see what else he can do!

 

[LingfieldBee]

His distribution was fantastic at times and it will be needed if we are to break teams that press high like Spurs and also adapt to a more playing style. Some great saves in their too.

When you compare the £13m we paid for against Spurs new keeper £20+ was it? chalk and cheese, how many mis placed passes did their keeper make! lol Again another sign of how great our recruitment is.

 

[nick logan]

Very good , another Hoddle like keeper

 

[JANORAK]

When you compare the £13m we paid for against Spurs new keeper £20+ was it? chalk and cheese, how many mis placed passes did their keeper make! lol Again another sign of how great our recruitment is.

I was waiting for him to be subbed ‘injured’, or sent off! We managed to get to him 2x pressing (Wissa + anor), which probably didn’t help his nerves. They could’ve had Raya for a paltry £12m more….

 

[Mark H]

My first impressions were that he is not yet as agile as Raya was and therefore there will be shots that he might not save that Raya would.

Passing is as good as Raya but will no doubt get caught out as he pushes the boundaries.

There were a couple of crosses I felt he might have come for but was understandably cautious on his home debut.

I doubt anyone was saving the 2nd goal.

All in all a good home PL debut.

 

[Tom the bee]

Some people were blaming him for the second goal. Almost all keepers would not have stopped it. A good shot, hard and low in the corner.....

 

[brentfordfc4ever]

Some people were blaming him for the second goal. Almost all keepers would not have stopped it. A good shot, hard and low in the corner.....

I've seen it again this morning. No chance he saves that. Shot come completely out the blue too.

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Didn’t get to an early corner after coming for it?, faultless afterwards, excellent passing on show, I like.

 

[WARFIELD BEE]

Some people were blaming him for the second goal. Almost all keepers would not have stopped it. A good shot, hard and low in the corner.....

Roy Keane felt "a top keeper would have saved it"

 

[Delbee]

I've seen it again this morning. No chance he saves that. Shot come completely out the blue too.

You could possibly blame lack of blocking and closing down the shooter

 

[James30]

You could possibly blame lack of blocking and closing down the shooter

Think we gave them far to much space in midfield didn’t get close enough most of the game.

 

[Edmundo]

Watched him practising his long range distribution in the warm up with Ellery Balcombe and was extremely impressed with his accuracy (Balcombe's ball control with his feet was pretty good too, in fact!).

 

[shaun]

Roy Keane felt "a top keeper would have saved it"

Not like the tramp to be talking out of his backside.

 

[readingbee]

Roy Keane felt "a top keeper would have saved it"

We can’t afford a top keeper. Mr Keane talks out of his backside at times.

 

[Wooburn Bee]

His distribution was fantastic at times and it will be needed if we are to break teams that press high like Spurs and also adapt to a more playing style. Some great saves in their too.

When you compare the £13m we paid for against Spurs new keeper £20+ was it? chalk and cheese, how many mis placed passes did their keeper make! lol Again another sign of how great our recruitment is.

Agreed, some of his long passes were excellent, will setup a goal or three for us this year. Could also be why we played 5 at back so Rico can push forward as his control of such passes is up there with anyone and he has an immediate burst of space to get around back of covering defender. An alternative to long ball to Tobey minus Ivan.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Very good debut.

I thought he should of hit balls in behind them more often. Spurs were playing a very high line.

Will only get better. His passing was a joy to watch.

 

[GuyBee]

Some people were blaming him for the second goal. Almost all keepers would not have stopped it. A good shot, hard and low in the corner.....

But it wasnt in the corner, it was probably a couple of feet in from the post. He should have saved it. Happywith his distribution, but yet to see him make a good save that isnt a close range block.

 

[James30]

But it wasnt in the corner, it was probably a couple of feet in from the post. He should have saved it. Happywith his distribution, but yet to see him make a good save that isnt a close range block.

Have to agree think David saves that.

 

[detours]

He should have saved it.

You're talking with complete certainty about something which is anything but certain. There were players in the way obstructing his vision, and the ball was hit low and hard.

In my opinion, most goalkeepers don't save that shot.

Yes... maybe another goalkeeper on another day could have saved it, but there's no "should" about it.

 

[stevil]

Roy Keane felt "a top keeper would have saved it"

Ben Foakes would have saved it.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Ben Foakes would have saved it.

That Fulham **** would have waved it in.

 

[mobbeez]

Have to agree think David saves that.

Just like he saved the first goal Leeds scored last year. You know the one that was further out, with an unobstructed view.

Not knocking David, he was great for us; but let's not pretend he was perfect and judge Mark by unrealistic standards.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

From the behind the goal view nobody would have saved it unless they were in a very un-natural starting position.

 

[Stormbee]

Thought he played well. Just a shame that our tactics of passing it around too much at the back and often putting our keeper under pressure were still there to see.

 

[kingwood bee]

Thought he played well. Just a shame that our tactics of passing it around too much at the back and often putting our keeper under pressure were still there to see.

I did not think Flekken was under pressure at all with us passing it around at the back, he was very composed with the ball at his feet, but i do agree it sometimes make us fan’s nervous

 

[GuyBee]

You're talking with complete certainty about something which is anything but certain. There were players in the way obstructing his vision, and the ball was hit low and hard.

In my opinion, most goalkeepers don't save that shot.

Yes... maybe another goalkeeper on another day could have saved it, but there's no "should" about it.

I think you are playing with words......have you never said or thought 'he should have put that away' when a striker missed a sitter, exact same case. I guess I might have said I think he could have saved that, but that is splitting hairs

I respect your right to have an opinion different from mine, please afford me the same respect

 

[Mr Cynical]

Thought he played well. Just a shame that our tactics of passing it around too much at the back and often putting our keeper under pressure were still there to see.

Without the out ball to Toney you’re going to see a lot more of that!! Hold onto your seat!! ?

 

[Billy Hunt]

I think you are playing with words......have you never said or thought 'he should have put that away' when a striker missed a sitter, exact same case. I guess I might have said I think he could have saved that, but that is splitting hairs

I respect your right to have an opinion different from mine, please afford me the same respect

Big difference between could and should.
Should is a bad word