Mark Flekken (Closed Thread)

[magicbees]

Janelt fault for the goal, but I also felt Flekken could of done better after looking at it afterwards.

 

[jlove]

I don't understand some of our support finding ways to dig out players.

Meanwhile, radio silence on the thread of the real culprit…

 

[zuko]

Meanwhile, radio silence on the thread of the real culprit…

TBF what needs to be said? No one is questioning that Janelt messed up.

 

[jlove]

TBF what needs to be said? No one is questioning that Janelt messed up.

So why try to build a whole story around the goalkeeper who didn’t gift the goal?

 

[TorbayBee]

He is going to divide right now. It would be completely unfair to judge him as "not good enough" which I hear at the Gtech, including yesterday.

Apart from a few weeks ago, can't remember the game, he hasn't made many eye-catching saves and a couple of goals have been debatable at best.

It's fair to say its an 'OK' start with a little more improvement needed.

Damning with faint praise. I think for a goalkeeper getting unfair comparison with an apparently infallible predecessor, playing in a new relentlessly powerful league with an ever changing defence in front of him I would say he has done a lot better than OK. Seems whatever the situation whatever the goal blame Flekken is the default.

 

[magicbees]

So why try to build a whole story around the goalkeeper who didn’t gift the goal?

The ball has gone under his arm, not the first time he let in a similar goal. The big mistake was Janelt but nobody is disbuting that.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Nothing wrong with a debate.

I like him and think hes a good signing. VJ was the reason for us conceding the goal.

However i think he could of done a little better with that. Watching it back he takes a step to the other side and therefore cant quite get to the ball.

Wonder if he thought Brown was going to shoot at the other side of the goal.

Not a straight forward save, but i bet he will be disappointed with it.

Similar goal to the type Jota used to score (Blackburn away) Close to the keeper but still enough about it to beat him unless the keeper is perfectly set to attempt a save.

Not the end of the world and not a keeper error. We move on.

 

[James30]

Of course not.

Can you explain why all shots on the ground must be saved?

Ones that are very close to the keeper yes my opinion he should of done better that’s it !

 

[James30]

Entire, whole not much difference, the clip on here is enough to see that Flekken is at full stretch attempting to save a shot a few inches off the ground at most. Enough information to have a view on how the GK did

Agreed !

 

[zuko]

So why try to build a whole story around the goalkeeper who didn’t gift the goal?

I didn’t. I just questioned whether he could have done a bit better with the shot, while acknowledging that the chance came in the first place from a mistake by the defence. Clearly from the replies, some agree, others disagree. And as always a couple have to go way overboard in both directions.

 

[longtimeagobee]

Not sure if anyone records this stat. But unless he got a touch on the Luton goal I am almost certain that Flekken did not touch the ball in play with his hands for the entire game.

Has anyone re watched the whole game yet to confirm if he touched the ball with his hands ?

Why do you need to watch the entire game to have a view on one incident?

Crossed wires?

 

[sheffbee]

Amazing, we've just won 3-1, gained another 3 points and all we are talking about is whether just about their only shot on target should have been saved .

 

[brentfordfc4ever]

Amazing, we've just won 3-1, gained another 3 points and all we are talking about is whether just about their only shot on target should have been saved .

Heaven forbid we discuss the goal we conceded.

 

[CTBee]

Amazing, we've just won 3-1, gained another 3 points and all we are talking about is whether just about their only shot on target should have been saved .

It's not "all we are talking about".

 

[josht]

As I said it’s pure confirmation bias. A lot of people on here have decided irrevocably that Flekken isn’t up to it and are simply seeing what they want to see to confirm their prejudice.

it is a repetition of what we have seen so many times in the past about the likes of Sawyers and Jensen.

I wonder if it's confirmation bias to simply write off other's valid and reasoned opinions as confirmation bias? No one has jumped on him saying he's awful and needs to be dropped following the game yesterday. But surely posters are allowed to say something if they think a player should do better. I think Mbuemo is amazing, but he was crap yesterday.

I don't think anyone is suggesting Flekken purely at fault for the goal, and I imagine there would be complete agreement that the situation unfolded due to Janelt's error.

I think he should absolutely save that. Whether it's his reaction time, positioning (he shifts his balance just before the shot) or something else, but that shot had a 0.08 xG (if you place much relevance on xG) and was very much not buried in the corner.

Ps. And I should ensure I underscore my credentials for believing I don't fall into the confirmation bias traitor group of supporters given I'm largely happy with Flekken and have been Sawyers and Jensen fans since their first games...

 

[Billy Hunt]

I don’t understand the need to blame an individual player for any goal we concede, but it seems to be a fulfilling exercise for many.

 

[Yiggy]

I don’t understand the need to blame an individual player for any goal we concede, but it seems to be a fulfilling exercise for many.

Especially when we don’t usually blame individual strikers for not scoring every goal they have a go at.

 

[Billy Hunt]

Especially when we don’t usually blame individual strikers for not scoring every goal they have a go at.

Some do ??

 

[Silly Hat]

Amazing, we've just won 3-1, gained another 3 points and all we are talking about is whether just about their only shot on target should have been saved .

Are new around here please? It’s the GPG, FFS ?

 

[TadB]

but, but, but,but, but,but, but,but, but it was a daisycutter and wasn't hit at one million miles an hour!

Placed low down or a lucky miss hit! Whatever, not that easy for a goal keeper to react to the initial mistake and get down low to attempt a save with his hands. Too far for feet. A world class keeper could possibly have saved it, and good premier league keeper possibly not. Flekken is a sound keeper, but not world class, hopefully we will receive £30 million for the one we sold.

 

[SC]

The shot was close to his hands so she should have saved it. Surely, lots of goals are close to goalkeepers hands. But they are good goals as they are placed that way so they are just our of reach.

Confused of Cosham

 

[TadB]

You are missing the point….in the whole 100 minutes did flekken touch the ball with his hands !

Thats as maybe, but your post was off the sub topic in this thread, Flekken at fault or not. Interesting point though, says a lot about our defence or Luton's abilities.

 

[TadB]

Neither was Raya when we signed him

Very big difference Raya was on singing a very young GK whilst Flekken is 30. Raya developed with us into the keeper he is now, and any improvement by Flekken is likely to be at the margins, so a totally different situation.

 

[brentfordfc4ever]

Very big difference Raya was on singing a very young GK whilst Flekken is 30. Raya developed with us into the keeper he is now, and any improvement by Flekken is likely to be at the margins, so a totally different situation.

Anybody telling you they have no concerns whatsoever, however little, are not telling the truth.

What I do agree with, is that we should be 100% behind him, which as far as I can see, we all are.

It's a bloody forum for discussion and opinions. Drives me mad that you cannot say anything about a Brentford player without being called out.

 

[nathanbee]

I don’t understand the need to blame an individual player for any goal we concede, but it seems to be a fulfilling exercise for many.

I think it’s right to understand where mistakes happen but blaming an individual is a step too far …. Unless it’s the oppo goalie …. “ it’s all your fault”

 

[TadB]

Anybody telling you they have no concerns whatsoever, however little, are not telling the truth.

What I do agree with, is that we should be 100% behind him, which as far as I can see, we all are.

It's a bloody forum for discussion and opinions. Drives me mad that you cannot say anything about a Brentford player without being called out.

Yes, I agree totally that this site is for opinions. In this instance as I disagree that Flekken needs to be called out, it being my opinion that he is an average Premier League Keeper, and quite sound, but not as good a David Raya, does not mean that I should suffer a barrage from those with a different opinion saying that I am stopping anyone expressing their opinion.
Let me make it quite clear I have no more concerns about Flekken than I have for any other first team regular, Janelt for instance, or no more concerns than the supporters of any other Premier League side with an average goalkeeper.
Yes, I agree that we should give 100% support for each and everyone of our players, those who digress from this stand point should look at the Everton Maupay saga where it appears that the player lost all confidence as a result of criticism. Which brings me back to Flekken, players read GPG and it must be sole destroying to keep reading unfounded, and relentless, criticism.

 

[Milton Keynes Bee]

The signs are good - very good in possession which is key to how we play. Does need to be more dominant in the air though which hopefully will come with time - the 2 catches last week show he is getting there slowly.

He needs to get there more quickly

 

[JANORAK]

Neither was Raya when we signed him

As an aside, Ars v WW yesterday ended up as Raya v Bentley, his 2 latest predecessors...

 

[Old B]

Citeh keeper should have done better with the first two Spuds goals.

 

[badgerbee]

Citeh keeper should have done better with the first two Spuds goals.

And Janelt was nowhere to be seen for either......

 

[mhead bee]

Raya, IMO, is probably the best keeper in the league, at least in the top 2-3 anyway. Sometimes I used to gasp at his saves they were so unbelievable, I have yet to gasp at one of MF’s yet, there are quite a few I feel he should have done better with though and yesterday was one I think Raya saves.

But does that mean he isn’t good enough or just not as good as Raya.

 

[ruislip bee]

Janelt fault for the goal, but I also felt Flekken could of done better after looking at it afterwards.

Bloody hell it's catching. I'd thought you'd know better Magic. HAVE not OF!

 

[BaildonBee]

Not for the first time some excellent distribution let down by poor shot stopping. Was fantastic with the ball at his feet but had to do a lot better for the goal, Luton did nothing to warrant taking away our clean sheet today.

I think this is so harsh. Whole goal to aim at because Janelt dived in and Mee was wrong footed. Striker could go either side. Harder to stop than a penalty. Seen the front on view and that shot is wide of him at pace. Only one keeper had problems with his shot stopping in this game and that was the guy up the other end.

 

[kendo]

I don’t give a sh*t we won 3-1?

 

[Harrison]

Amazing, we've just won 3-1, gained another 3 points and all we are talking about is whether just about their only shot on target should have been saved .

It only bothers me because it lost me 10 points on my fpl, and even then the only person to blame for that goal is janelt don't know what he was doing but in the end we won who really cares?

 

[stomalomalus]

We're pretty much hitting our XGa, which suggests Flekken has been fine. Raya was constantly bettering our XGa, but he'd been playing in the team for a good few seasons as well as in England for a long time.

Flekken is new to the league, new to the team, and he's hitting what is expected of him so far. I'd say that's good. His distribution has largely been good, too.

I think he's a very good goalkeeper.

 

[hanworthbee]

We're pretty much hitting our XGa, which suggests Flekken has been fine. Raya was constantly bettering our XGa, but he'd been playing in the team for a good few seasons as well as in England for a long time.

Flekken is new to the league, new to the team, and he's hitting what is expected of him so far. I'd say that's good. His distribution has largely been good, too.

I think he's a very good goalkeeper.

Flekken is still bottom of the XG goalkeeper metric conceding 4.2 goals more than expected but that's not necessarily a bad thing as Kaminski is 'top' of that league and the awful onana is 2nd

 

[birdy67]

Janelt fault for the goal, but I also felt Flekken could of done better after looking at it afterwards.

What I find annoying is that there was clearly only one person at fault for the goal on Saturday....Vitaly Janelt. Pretty much every person has acknowledged that as they use this stick to beat Mark Flekken with. There are over 2 pages of "debate" about whether or not he could have done better. Meanwhile on the Vitaly Janet thread the last post was 13th November. WTAF? Why can't people just get off his back? Yes it's an opinions forum and everyone is entitled to theirs, but I'd suggest anyone focussing on criticising Mark Flekken in even the smallest way needs to head over to the VJ thread instead and direct their criticism in the right direction. Or, how about you just STFU or find something positive to focus on? We won FFS!!

 

[Stanley]

As an aside, Ars v WW yesterday ended up as Raya v Bentley, his 2 latest predecessors...

And both pulled off some very good saves. I always liked Bentley and good to see him having a bit of a swansong in the PL

As for the Luton goal can't see any error on Flekken's part would have taken a worldie to save that

 

[wanderer paul]

Can i blame Flekken now for losing us the Eurropa Conference Trophy in 2025?!

Such a stupid error on his part. Tripping over his laces as he was about to clear. FFS.

 

[vcmazz]

What I find annoying is that there was clearly only one person at fault for the goal on Saturday....Vitaly Janelt. Pretty much every person has acknowledged that as they use this stick to beat Mark Flekken with. There are over 2 pages of "debate" about whether or not he could have done better. Meanwhile on the Vitaly Janet thread the last post was 13th November. WTAF? Why can't people just get off his back? Yes it's an opinions forum and everyone is entitled to theirs, but I'd suggest anyone focussing on criticising Mark Flekken in even the smallest way needs to head over to the VJ thread instead and direct their criticism in the right direction. Or, how about you just STFU or find something positive to focus on? We won FFS!!

You don't think he could have been positioned slightly further to the right then?

 

[kingwood bee]

You don't think he could have been positioned slightly further to the right then?

Lets all move on bring on the seagulls

 

[Guildford Bee]

He’s fine, most of the time.

Could really do with a “wow” game or even moment. I can only recall him making one exceptional save - against Palace. Looking forward to seeing more evidence he can be a genuine match winner/saver

 

[Untouchable]

You don't think he could have been positioned slightly further to the right then?

No politics on the GPG

 

[TadB]

What I find annoying is that there was clearly only one person at fault for the goal on Saturday....Vitaly Janelt. Pretty much every person has acknowledged that as they use this stick to beat Mark Flekken with. There are over 2 pages of "debate" about whether or not he could have done better. Meanwhile on the Vitaly Janet thread the last post was 13th November. WTAF? Why can't people just get off his back? Yes it's an opinions forum and everyone is entitled to theirs, but I'd suggest anyone focussing on criticising Mark Flekken in even the smallest way needs to head over to the VJ thread instead and direct their criticism in the right direction. Or, how about you just STFU or find something positive to focus on? We won FFS!!

Well said!

 

[taxi driver]

He is going to divide right now. It would be completely unfair to judge him as "not good enough" which I hear at the Gtech, including yesterday.

Apart from a few weeks ago, can't remember the game, he hasn't made many eye-catching saves and a couple of goals have been debatable at best.

It's fair to say its an 'OK' start with a little more improvement needed.

I'm in alignment with this view ?

We were spoiled with Raya and he has big gloves to fill although Flekken has probably made a better start in a Brentford shirt, in a tougher league.

The positive for me is that he has cut out his really poor decision making and seems to be slightly better in the air than he was previously.

He saves the shots that should be saved but that's about it. I think his stats back this up ?

Opinions on players are just that ? the benchmark is higher now thankfully.

I reckon we will coach him up to the next level

 

[hanworthbee]

Seems a bit flat footed to me for the goals last night.saturdays goal and the 2nd one last night were not miles away from his hand

 

[Kingston Bee]

Seems a bit flat footed to me for the goals last night.saturdays goal and the 2nd one last night were not miles away from his hand

It's all about fine margins.

 

[detours]

Seems a bit flat footed to me for the goals last night.saturdays goal and the 2nd one last night were not miles away from his hand

The anti-Flekken agenda from some on here and on Twitter is so boring and predictable.

Anyone who thinks he could have saved either knows FA about goalkeeping.

 

[Lush55]

No problem with him, except last night it seemed he took an awful long time to distribute the ball.
He will get better.