Exactly. He is SO young for a keeper. One or two seasons in League 1, one in the Championship then he might challenge for the Number 1. No rush.
Ellery Balcombe
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At 22 he is not that young theses days to have had quite modest first team experience at any level. With one assumes a new keeper coming in and Gunnarsson likely to be ahead of him he will need a break through season at Burton to get to the point that he could realistically be considered for first team action for us.
AB
Well-known member
Meslier had modest first team experience before winning a starting spot at Leeds based largely on their first choice being suspended. Balcombe has more U20 caps than he did. It is rare for keepers their age to have a lot of first team games at a high level. Daniels at his age had had a season’s loan at Shrewsbury in L1. Luke Daniel first made it to the bench in the PL at 25. Balcombe has years of development ahead.
HerefordB
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Disappointing for him I would have thought.
Beat Poet
Tubthumping
O'Hara and Garratt were Burton's two main keepers last season and with them being contracted and Balcombe being on loan, he doesn't have any divine right to be starting. But yeah, given he is on loan, there must've been something inserted into the deal which states he can't just spend the season on the bench.
What’s the point of him being at Burton? A loan is to gain experience, I’m not saying Burton should be starting him no matter what but surely we had an idea of what Burton had in mind. Needs to play most weeks, even if it’s at a league 2 or conference side
Isleworth_Bee
Well-known member
Agree.
Mr Cynical
Well-known member
Seems to be a bit of a recurring theme with him unfortunately
brighton bee
Active member
If he hasn’t trained good enough to start then he won’t. Simple as that!
I imagine all parties hoped he would be number 1 at the start of the arrangement. Maybe he will be in time.
I imagine all parties hoped he would be number 1 at the start of the arrangement. Maybe he will be in time.
Beat Poet
Tubthumping
It will do him good learning what it takes to win the no. 1 jersey off another goalkeeper.
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You have to earn your place and he hasn't yet. Garratt the other keeper is playing out of his skin - maybe because EB is pressing him hard .
He needs to train well and prove he deserves a place.
He couldn’t earn his place at Donny and currently isn’t at Burton. Both league 1 clubs, this worries me. I’d be very surprised if he’s anywhere near our squad in the next 2/3 years.
Suffering from being "bigged up" too early perhaps?
Beat Poet
Tubthumping
Made his Burton debut the other night in a 2-1 Paint Pot defeat to MK Donkeys.
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Burton Albion vs MK Dons on 31 Aug 21 - Match Centre - Burton Albion
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Guildford Bee
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I’d be very surprised if he’s still at club in a year’s time, TBH.
He was quite good when he played last year for Donny, but they have a very promising keeper, Louis Jones as their 2nd choice, saw him at my local 3 years ago on loan, he is very talented. I agree though he is 21 and still at a league one club, think he is rated very highly considering we gave him a 5 year contract last year
Beat Poet
Tubthumping
At pulling pints?!
He’s just not playing for Burton.
Two games in the Papa Johns Trophy, six goals conceded.
Still a way to go yet but if their first choice remains injury free I’m guessing we will recall in January and send him elsewhere.
Two games in the Papa Johns Trophy, six goals conceded.
Still a way to go yet but if their first choice remains injury free I’m guessing we will recall in January and send him elsewhere.
HaylingBee74
Active member
Would he not be better off going onloan to non-league maybe somewhere more local where he would be their first choice goalie?
He was decent for Donny in League One last year, reckon he is mid table League One at the moment, pulled off some incredible saves but at times lacked the experience and got caught out according to some Doncaster fans.
HaylingBee74
Active member
Yup but I am not saying he isn’t League One right now but he needs to play and at Burton he is only bench warming. For a goalie playing for say Hampton & Richmond would be far more useful if he was going to play every week
Twickenhamben
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I suspect, given that we have been stockpiling keepers and took on the kid from Wimbledon who is very highly recommended, Balcombe will be playing his football elsewhere next season. A shame as he was very highly rated by us in the past and even made the England U21 squad.
brighton bee
Active member
Gunnarsson only making the bench too in Norway (probably an even lower level)
I agree but I don't think the club would want him dropping to National League to play, would probably look for at least League 2
He is going down the same route as Balcombe, think they both may get recalled, send them both to a League 1/2 club where they will start all the time, think that would be more beneficial
He broke into the team in mid-September and played three on the trot but got sent off in their game 2nd October.
LboroBee
from: parts unknown
Loads of local clubs would like him in loan from January I’m sure, Woking Aldershot Orient, Maidenhead Barnet maybe, as many say game time seems to be key
JANORAK
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It does seem an odd loan, particularly as today’s GK (No.24) is also captain. Was he signed after Ellery?
The starting goalkeeper was signed in 2019, so not before Ellery. The sub GK is meant to be on loan to Mickleover Sports in non-league? Surely Balcombe is injured? Can't imagine a non-league level keeper is beating Balcombe to a spot
He was brought in to compete with Garratt but has obviously not impressed very much in training. Not really given a chance to play and now not even included in the squad.
The loan made sense originally - Burton train at St George’s Park so great facilities and had Andy Quy at the start of the season (our former GK coach). Was a chance to compete for real minutes in a good setup. Quy has since left and it looks like the loan has been a waste of time for everyone.
Think he’s still young for a goalkeeper but with Alvaro, Gunnarsson and Cox we have three great prospects behind Raya now, seems unlikely he will break through here.
james121bees
Member
Tbf as it stands I wouldn’t hold Gunnarsson or Cox in higher regard than Balcombe. Wouldn’t write off his future with us yet, he is also regarded a great prospect just being wasted at Burton…
Gunnarsson is the closer to Balcombe of the 2 I think, bit Cox is nowhere near either of them. Cox didn't get in the squad at Wimbledon
Gunnarsson is ahead of Balcombe now.
Cox is several years younger than both and therefore behind in development, but probably has the highest ceiling of them all.
Isleworth_Bee
Well-known member
What a wasted loan.
rebus
On my final warning
I would put him third in that pecking list now and his five year contract award is now looking decidedly suspect.
Recall him in January and send him to a good League 2 team, just getting a good half season behind him and actually playing and getting confidence. My local Harrogate Town have the smallest squad in the League with only 2 proper keepers, our number one is not fit for the League as he is virtually a scarecrow, can't come off his line or catch the ball. He could learn a thing or two from Ellery and I'm sure someone like us would be happy to have him. Only slight problem is that we are miles up north compared to Brentford and the surrounding area
Holysmit
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Seems to be a regular thing with him tho. Never held down a place anywhere.
Mr Cynical
Well-known member
Gunnarsson is much more akin to Raya than Balcombe and has done extremely well in all his loans so far. Looked the better keeper in the B team and has even had first team minutes. I think he's way ahead of Balcombe now.
Bangor Bee
Bangor Bee
I agree witht he above: Gunnarsson is clearly ahead of Balcombe, who is athletic but has always been a bit too error prone.
Jim Rourke
Active member
Hmmm. Really sad about this.
I feel the biggest challenge for every young player IMHO is attitube.
Ellery is very clearly a very talented keeper.
There is a roadblock to developing that talent.
Feel he needs to really really goood friend / monitor that can give him a massive kick up the .... and a massive hug at the same time. This could deliver a top top keeper. If not (no disrepect) Bedfont Sports
I feel the biggest challenge for every young player IMHO is attitube.
Ellery is very clearly a very talented keeper.
There is a roadblock to developing that talent.
Feel he needs to really really goood friend / monitor that can give him a massive kick up the .... and a massive hug at the same time. This could deliver a top top keeper. If not (no disrepect) Bedfont Sports
westendbee
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Why? Balcombe has done nothing with us, and has had more than one unsuccessful loan
Yeah that's one of Balcombe's advantage, he is very strong and athletic
That may be, but he is extremely error prone which is not a good thing for a goalkeeper.
hanworthbee
Well-known member
Been recalled from his loan
londondude
Come on you bees
Surely will go back on loan somewhere shortly.
We'll be able to put a team of keepers out soon, Raya, Fernandez, Lossl, Gunnarsson, Balcombe, Shepherd, Winterbottom. Any others?