Álvaro Fernández

[Hippobee]

Raya has probably been one of the best keepers in the PL this season so far. So he has massive shoes to fill.

He is our number 1 now so he needs massive support to help him

His distribution(especially his left peg) is not as good, Raya’s passing has been .
Obviously he Needs work on catching crosses and not punching as much .

I am sure the GK coach will be on it and so will be Raya with words of advice.

In principle I agree, but more and more goalkeepers appear to be trained to punch away crosses when competing with defenders, rather than catching them. I assume it's down to percentages and how confident a goalkeeper is to do this and win it every time. It's something in the 'modern' goalkeeper I detest and why I like Raya so much, as he tries to catch most things and is successful for the most part. I agree with others that he is in the top 3 or 4 PL keepers based on performances this season.

Raya has always tried to do this and didn't need to be coached to do it. It all depends what Alvarez's natural instinct is to do. If he isn't confident enough to catch under pressure, there's little point trying to coach him to catch, as it's likely to lead to critical mistakes arising from a lack of confidence in that what he is doing will be successful. If he's a 'puncher' then the coaching needs to focus more on his positioning and areas in which best to punch clear.

There's no other position on the pitch where what goes on between the ears is so critical. We saw that with Bentley going backwards after appearing to be coached to try a different approach.

 

[Mark H]

In principle I agree, but more and more goalkeepers appear to be trained to punch away crosses when competing with defenders, rather than catching them. I assume it's down to percentages and how confident a goalkeeper is to do this and win it every time. It's something in the 'modern' goalkeeper I detest and why I like Raya so much, as he tries to catch most things and is successful for the most part. I agree with others that he is in the top 3 or 4 PL keepers based on performances this season.

Raya has always tried to do this and didn't need to be coached to do it. It all depends what Alvarez's natural instinct is to do. If he isn't confident enough to catch under pressure, there's little point trying to coach him to catch, as it's likely to lead to critical mistakes arising from a lack of confidence in that what he is doing will be successful. If he's a 'puncher' then the coaching needs to focus more on his positioning and areas in which best to punch clear.

There's no other position on the pitch where what goes on between the ears is so critical. We say that with Bentley going backwards after appearing to be coached to try a different approach.

Well put.

 

[Mr Cynical]

Defence in front of him all over the shop, don't think you can blame him too much for today.

 

[Banana]

I used to think Raya was not fantastic. Minutes mean everything.

 

[newarkbee]

Don’t think he had much chance with any of the goals, really good save with the one on one…he’s definitely not the biggest concern from today’s performance

 

[Kingston Bee]

May not have been 5 star from Alvaro today but you have to take into account the worst defensive performance we have given for some time, could not have been easy. We were poor all over the place today, so very unfair to make any sort of valid judgement on Alvaro today.

 

[Balders Bee]

No.chance with 1st & 3ed goals. Still sorting out communication with his defenders. One excellent save & distribution variable. He will improve but let's hope he's a quick learner as this league is unforgiving.

 

[Babbelfish]

Defence in front of him all over the shop, don't think you can blame him too much for today.

Agree, but I wonder if our defence was so unusually poor today *because* (subconsciously) they lacked the confidence that Fernandez would sweep up and position himself in the same way Raya did. I’m sure the relationship will build the more that they play together.

 

[PDXUSA-Bee]

Burnley played very well in the 1st half.

On the first goal Alvaro was way too far out of the box. He'll get better.

Tough day today but Roger Bennett is going to a half hour show on Brentford's promotion Sunday in the USA

 

[rebus]

Solid Championship keeper but I’d have been cursing our luck a lot more if he was still here! It might take Alvaro a while to adjust but I think he’s capable of being as good as Raya. Which is why we brought him in. Daniels never was going to be even though he’d have been solid enough.

This.

 

[Hullbee]

No.chance with 1st & 3ed goals. Still sorting out communication with his defenders. One excellent save & distribution variable. He will improve but let's hope he's a quick learner as this league is unforgiving.

1st goal he was a long way off his line had he been a couple of yards back would have given myself a bit more time to react

 

[AB]

1st goal he was a long way off his line had he been a couple of yards back would have given myself a bit more time to react

He was probably positioning himself on the basis of Pinnock clearing or touching it to Rico so that if Wood did get it from either action he’d have been able to close him down while getting the ball under control. Pinnock nudging the ball neatly into Wood’s path for a snap shot was not in the plan so the positioning for it was not ideal.

 

[RAF_Patto]

It's going to take time. Definitely a good keeper in him, otherwise why would we have him?

Feel him and the back 3 just need to learn who is dealing with balls into the box. I felt on occasion he wanted to come for a cross, but then held back and vice versa. Once he learns and knocks the hesitation then I think we'll be good.

 

[Guildford Bee]

His positioning looked off for all three goals, particularly the second.

Probably wouldn’t have much of a chance with the first and third anyway but the second was a bit iffy.

 

[sonofabee]

He looks too small and doesn’t command his box based on what I saw today. He wasn’t helped by a calamitous display from three of the back four first half

 

[AB]

He looks too small and doesn’t command his box based on what I saw today. He wasn’t helped by a calamitous display from three of the back four first half

I think he’s actually taller than Raya!

 

[sonofabee]

I think he’s actually taller than Raya!

That’s why I said he looks too small and not commanding

 

[mhead bee]

1st goal he was a long way off his line had he been a couple of yards back would have given myself a bit more time to react

Had he stayed on his line it would have been a routine save or Woods would have had to take another touch and the chance fizzles out.

I also though Raya was favourite to the ball last week for LCFC second goal but changed his mind and retreated which made it easy for them to tap in.

Nobody is perfect.

 

[Hullbee]

Had he stayed on his line it would have been a routine save or Woods would have had to take another touch and the chance fizzles out.

I also though Raya was favourite to the ball last week for LCFC second goal but changed his mind and retreated which made it easy for them to tap in.

Only banana is perfect.

Need mistakes or slight misjudgements in football for an exciting game.

Toney hitting the ball straight at the keeper in first half was equally as poor

 

[Tom the bee]

Can't blame him for the first goal. Excellent pass from Burnley player - if AF had stayed in his goal, it would have been too defensive; he had to come out.

One of those situations where whatever he would have done, people would be citing the other option he could have taken. Realistically it was a great move that was very tough, if not impossible, to save

2nd goal - should have committed to coming off his line and jumping, stuck in no-man's land. Easy instinctive move to make tho

3rd - nothing can be done

 

[Mr Cynical]

Agree, but I wonder if our defence was so unusually poor today *because* (subconsciously) they lacked the confidence that Fernandez would sweep up and position himself in the same way Raya did. I’m sure the relationship will build the more that they play together.

I don't think that's a good enough excuse. You're talking about 2 senior internationals and one of our players of the year from last year. Frank said they just didn't do what they had been training to do all week. We lacked organisation and direction in defence. It may be that that actually usually all comes from Raya which I guess could be a reason for what happened today? Having said that we've got players out there (including our captain) who should be able to do that in his absence.

 

[sonofabee]

I don't think that's a good enough excuse. You're talking about 2 senior internationals and one of our players of the year from last year. Frank said they just didn't do what they had been training to do all week. We lacked organisation and direction in defence. It may be that that actually usually all comes from Raya which I guess could be a reason for what happened today? Having said that we've got players out there (including our captain) who should be able to do that in his absence.

100%

 

[Edmundo]

I used to think Raya was not fantastic. Minutes mean everything.

Really? I thought he was the real deal from the first time I saw him. But there was an error rate that was worth accepting as part of the whole. That error rate has come down substantially.

 

[TW3Bee]

Defence in front of him all over the shop, don't think you can blame him too much for today.

Just seen the highlights, AF may have done better with one of the goals, but as you say the defence was shocking, with the ball over the top being our undoing for the goals.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

If Raya had let in those goals his performance wouldn’t have been questioned.

 

[Travel Tavern Bee]

Didn’t look like he did much wrong to me , It’s always the same bollox from the same people , It’s the same when we get a new striker if he doesn’t score a hat trick in his first game it’s “ don’t think much of him etc “ . This lad has played for Spain for gods sake , He’s going to be great for us and we better get use to him as he’s going to be Rayas replacement next summer (maybe) .

 

[w7 bee]

Wasn't at match but read all the reports and saw the highlights, my takeaway was no matter who we had in goal in that 1st half the overall performance was only ever going to lead to a defeat. Clearly work to be done with new keeper & developing the understanding with his defenders which will need some time.

 

[LostBee]

Did well today, no chance with the goals.

Couple of good saves, held on to everything and distribution was quick.

Keep it going Alvaro

 

[shaun]

He was alright today.

 

[BFC1997]

Yes was fine today, and more minutes under his belt can’t be bad.

 

[Jim Rourke]

Hard listen today at the back of the West Stand. One guy laying into him after first goal. I just started at him!

 

[Gee Bee]

He was ok, think there is communication issues at times, which will get better with game time. However Wikipedia states he’s 6ft 1. Nowhere close surely?

 

[IslandBee]

It was one of the few upsides for me today that he looked much more comfortable, as did the CBs with him.

 

[davewfilms]

Looked far more assured today Well done Alvaro

 

[horshambees]

He did alright today.
All the talk of missing David Raya will not do him any good as this fella has had to hit the ground running and needs all the support and backing possible.
He knows why he is in the side. He just doesn't need reminding.

 

[Balders Bee]

The hardest thing for Alvaro is simply that he's not David Raya. He did ok today and the defenders appeared more at ease with his game.

 

[Mr Cynical]

Thought he picked out some nice passes including a very Raya-esque one out to Mbeumo. Did what he had to but was left exposed by his defence on far too many occasions

 

[Sandybee]

He did alright today.
All the talk of missing David Raya will not do him any good as this fella has had to hit the ground running and needs all the support and backing possible.
He knows why he is in the side. He just doesn't need reminding.

I do hope he hasn’t signed up to the GPG ! He might not have a very good grasp of English anyway, for all I know. I sometimes wonder how managers get their tactics, or point across, given the many different nationalities in teams these days.

 

[djheavens]

He’s not the biggest for a keeper I have to say but he was tidy enough yesterday .

 

[horshambees]

I do hope he hasn’t signed up to the GPG ! He might not have a very good grasp of English anyway, for all I know. I sometimes wonder how managers get their tactics, or point across, given the many different nationalities in teams these days.

He needs to stay away from Facebook too.

 

[sonofabee]

Thought he looked composed and confident in everything he did yesterday. Defeat was not down to him in any way

 

[Bridge Bee]

Not his fault we were tackle shy for the 1st goal and positionally poor for the 2nd. How we have 3 centre backs and one straight ball takes them all out is beyond me.

 

[Nickabee]

I thought he showed promise and generally was alright apart from the penalty where he was moving along his line too much and when he went one way it was calmly put the other side

 

[Leonardo]

Wasn't at match but saw score live and was thinking more defence shambles since Raya injured. But no watching the highlights he looked good. No chance or could have done better on the goals. Also some nice distributions. The English game is much physical than Spanish and when he has played a few more games and adpted I think we will all see why the club signed him on loan with right to buy

 

[JasonBee]

I thought he showed promise and generally was alright apart from the penalty where he was moving along his line too much and when he went one way it was calmly put the other side

i quite liked him trying to put the player off and making pukki think about it. Pretty much all goalkeepers have to dive slightly early or just end up doing a Peter Shilton and watching the ball fly into bottom corner.

 

[shepperton bee]

One of the few positives of yesterday , not that he had a fantastic game but he looked completely comfortable with all aspects of his game , safe handling , decent distribution and dealt well with anything that came his way that he could save , no chance with either goal .

 

[Stanley]

He's getting better every game, not tested that much yesterday but he did what he had to do well. He looks good with his feet and his distribution is getting better and better as he gets to know the team on the pitch. I think he will be fine.

 

[Friji]

Not at fault for any of the goals. Chaotic defending at fault for both.

Was impressed with how well he got down for the penalty, if he'd have guessed the other side he'd of 100% saved it. Plus made some smart saves when called upon. I feel slightly less anxious about the goal keeping position now.

 

[BFC1997]

His long balls forward were a lot better yesterday and Toney was able to win the first contact much more often.

Really liked this ball forward to Mbeumo to get us up the pitch quickly after a Norwich free-kick too:

View attachment trim.85E6FBFE-8CDA-4140-8BAE-2ED9D6A212E5.MOV

 

[Ealing Bee]

I thought him decent yesterday, all things considered.

Optimistic he'll hold the fort adequately, at least until Raya returns.