Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Ruddy Hell -Give Declan a Go
Ruddy Hell -Give Declan a Go
Wednesday, 20th Oct 2010 12:12 by The Mutz NutZ

John Ruddy never got a look in at Everton and spent much of his time either on loan or in the stands. When reports suggested he was being signed by Paul Lambert we all looked to his loan spell at Motherwell, where he had the best record for clean sheets in the Scottish Premier League.

Ruddy had a hard act to follow. All early moves to keep Fraser Forster at Norwich having failed, Ruddy was selected as it was deemed his experience put him ahead of our home grown talent, Declan Rudd and Jed Steer.

Early mistakes led to Ruddy defending his position by telling the Press that he was a different person to Forster and, given time, he would demonstrate such. But the search for his previous experiences had started, and it didn't look inspiring.

2004–2005     Cambridge United    

2005–2010     Everton    

2005              Walsall (loan)    

2005              Rushden & Diamonds (loan)    

2005–2006     Chester City (loan)

2006              Stockport County (loan)

2007              Wrexham (loan)

2007              Bristol City (loan)

2008              Stockport County (loan)

2009              Crewe Alexandra (loan)

2009–2010     Motherwell (loan)

2010–            Norwich City

A closer look is revealing. Until his arrival at Carrow Road, Ruddy had made 133 appearances, 34 of those at Motherwell, with just one for his "parent" club, Everton. No doubt in some obscure knockout fixture.

He did pull off a penalty save against Swansea, and it seemed like he had settled in and would serve City well. Alas that is not the case. Paul Lambert clearly sees little fault with Ruddy, but he is a relative newcomer to the goalkeeping factory that is Norwich City.

Heroes of the past include Ken Nethercott, who played 30 minutes aginst Sheffield United with a dislocated shoulder; Kevin Keenan, who saw many records made during his 17 year stint with the club; Chris Woods, who earned 43 England caps; Bryan Gunn who only had four Scotlans caps, but remains a City legend, despite his disastrous spell as manager and Robert Green with 10 caps to his name, and the finest collection of gaffes in the game, but still a product of Norwich City.

So Ruddy has still e very long way to go, and Paul Lmabert should look beyond backing his players to the hilt when there is a good chance that a younger, but a better prospect is made to play second fiddle.

So there is that penalty save, but how many would hold their hands up to say that Ruddy inpires confidence when going for a cross ball? How many would say that he commands his area completely? How many feel confident that Ruddy will not fumble another ball? And how often has a defender hoofed the ball out into the stands or out for a corner when, if Ruddy had loudly proclaimed that the player had time to turn and pass the ball upfield?

Not, for one moment, is this to suggest that Ruddy is directly responsible for the defeat to Crystal Palace, but was he reminding his team mates who was unmarked or who was not marking the man he was supposed to?

With Declan Rudd only called upon to cover when Fraser Forster served out his suspension for a straight red card and as cover when Ruddy was absent due to a late Colney injury (that still mystifies, even though it is years since Worthington left), a grand total of four appearances, of course he is untried at senior level. However, a bold manager must eventually play Rudd based upon his ability and not his experience. Is Paul Lambert that bold manager?

I quite often hear around me that Ruddy fails to inspire confidence when under attack. So givve Young Rudd his break. Already capped at youth level, there is another top flight keeper waiting in the wings. Ruddy hell, Lambert, change the choice of keepers.

 

 

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Colchester United Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024