Goalkeeping Options?

The Options Open To Flynn?

A look at the PFA transfer directory shows 81 goalkeepers who are available to clubs. These are just the ones that are listed under free transfers assuming this is what we are going after. Some of the names I will admit mean nothing to me so difficult to comment on their pedigree but there are some interesting names.

It was tough to think of criteria but the main one I looked at was experience together with a maximum age of 32. Ideally I think we should be looking at a younger keeper but you have to start somwhere don't you!!!!

First on the list was the name of Adam Sollitt (pictured right). A 25 year old keeper he has been released by last season's third division champions Rushden and Diamonds after playing five games for them last season and prior to that 18 appearances at Northampton Town over a two year period. Hardly massively experienced at league football but over 80 appearances for Kettering in the Conference.

An interesting name that comes up then is the name of Aleks Kolinko (Pictured left) recently released by Crystal Palace. A Latvian international, he played almost 100 games for the Eagles in a three year period at Selhurst Park. He played almost half of Palaces league games last season and 7 internationals during the course of the season, keeping four clean sheets in the process. His last game came at the start of July when he helped Latvia to a 2-1 win over Lithuania.

Coming down the list we see a familiar name of Andy Marriott (pictured right) who has been released by Birmingham. Approaching his 33rd Birthday in October. Taken to St Andrews from Barnsley at the end of last season, Andy is vastly experienced in league football (coming up to 400 appearances) with possibly only his age being a stumbling block as far as we would be concerned? Also worked under Brian Flynn at Wrexham between 1993 and 1998.

Daryl Flahavan (Pictured left) is available on a free transfer from Southend United. He has been an almost ever present in the Shrimpers side for the past three years making a total of 134 appearances for the side. Aged just 24 this is the kind of pedigree that maybe we could be looking for and of course he let us have three goals last season in our double over the Roots Hall men. Well worth a look in my opinion if we are looking for relative youth and experience rolled into one?

The name of Gavin Ward (pictured right) is one that makes you think of experience. Just turned 32 he has been released by Walsall and has over 300 appearances behind him at 10 different league clubs - including Cardiff City. Just 7 games last season at Walsall but prior to that he made 100 appearances over a three year period at the Britannia Stadium with Stoke City.

Nathan Abbey (pictured left) may not be a keeper that you have heard of but he meets the criteria that we have looked at here. Over 100 league appearances spanning spells at Luton, Chesterfield and Northampton last season. The season before last he was an ever present in the Chesterfield side and has just celebrated his 25th birthday.

Over 400 appearances are under the belt of Scott Howie (pictured right)who has been an almost ever present at Bristol Rovers for the past two seasons. Previous spells have been spent at Reading, Coventry, Norwich and Motherwell during a career that started back in 1990 at that well known side Ferguslie! Scott is 31 years old.

I guess the final name that comes out of the list is Stoke's Simon Banks. 337 appearances over a 12 year career that started at West Ham and finished last season at Stoke. However, it is less than 80 appearances over the last 4 years since he moved from Blackpool to Bolton Wanderers but maybe the experience of a Premiership club will have helped him? Was 31 back in February but meets the criteria that we looked at.

Certainly from what I looked at there is no shortage of goalkeepers out there and the buck was passed over the weekend to Brian Flynn to have a look at some of them. One thing that we all know is that a goalkeeper is a reasonably (!!!!) essential part of the team and one of them before we play our next match may just give us more chance of winning the game!!

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