Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion hit in Andy Lonergan chase
Monday 12th July 2010, 10:59AM BST.
Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson is ready and eager to face a fresh challenge to his club and country ambitions – as a potential challenger slipped from view today.
The Baggies had confirmed that Preston’s highly-rated No 1 Andy Lonergan was one of the three contenders on head coach Robert Di Matteo’s radar to join Carson and veteran Dean Kiely in the goalkeeping ranks.
But Preston manager Darren Ferguson has moved swiftly to stamp on the speculation that the 26-year-old Lonergan would be moving.
Carson, now with the Baggies at the start of their pre-season training camp in Holland, is relaxed about Di Matteo’s confirmation that he wants to find a new No.2 to challenge and understudy the former England man.
He said: “I’ve had a challenge with Deano over the last couple of years. There will be fresh face coming in who I don’t know. But I’ve come back this year fitter than ever. I feel really good and can’t wait to get started.
“I know there is going to be someone pushing me and I’m going to work as hard as ever to make sure I’m No 1.”
Carson believes his long-time rival and colleague, Kiely, can also add dimensions to his game.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Deano. He has played the game at the highest levels for 20 years or more and knows everything there is to know about the position.
“I think his appointment as goalkeeping coach was a terrific move by the club.”
With Kiely taking a step back from his support role – although still retaining a player’s registration – Di Matteo is scouring the market for a No 2 but Preston are determined to keep Lonergan.
Deepdale sources had suggested the goalkeeper, witnessing a difficult period for the Lancashire club fighting to overcome crippling debts and with their one-time promotion-challenging squad now threadbare, was unsettled and seeking a move.
But Ferguson said: “Andy won’t be going anywhere, it is as simple as that. He’s the sort of player you want to build your team around rather than lose.
“I think everyone is going to be speculating about some of our more high-profile players, if you want, because I think obviously the rumours are that we are struggling financially.
“But the simple thing is that we can forget about all that because there is no way we can sell Andy Lonergan.
“We can’t afford to, we can’t replace him – for me he is the best goalkeeper in the Championship by a mile and I don’t want to lose the boy.
“He’s very happy here, I have spoken to him. I am well aware of the rumours, but we can’t afford to be selling players like Andy.”
Sponsored Links
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Microsoft Comes to the University of Wolverhampton
Last week Microsoft visited the University of Wolverhampton to give students the chance to develop their own phone apps that could be published on the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Technology blog
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
lol – still cant sign anyone..
Gonna struggle this season, I mean you cant rely on a club throwing the last game of the season like pompy did in the year of the great escape!!
Report abuse
I wonder if their chairman shares the same view.
We can only be upfront, put a bid in and if it’s rejected with no room for negotiation, then move on. Rather than drag this story through the media for a few weeks.
Anyone going to Venlo this weekend?
Report abuse
I suppose hes better than Carson but we need an experienced box controller not a championship keeper.
Report abuse
Baggiefan
If a Championship keeper isn’t good enough, then where should we be looking for this keeper? Serie A, La Liga? Maybe we should throw a bid in for Casillas?
Any keeper worth his weight in gold in the Prem will already be playing for their respective teams.
Carson is likely to start next season as number one (why wouldn’t he? I’m still not entirely sure what he’s done to offend so many of you), so isn’t a young, hungry goalkeeper from the Championship a good place to start the search for ‘competition’?
Carson’s 24 and a decent keeper with lots of promise. David James hadn’t played for England at 24 and was regularly dropping clangers for Liverpool. Why not give the lad some encouragement instead of taking every opportunity to run him down?
Report abuse
He will be with us soon as it’s obvious the manager is doing it to raise his value, It’s inevitable!
Carson IMO should and will keep the No1 jersey.
Report abuse
Scott carson is a great keeper and at 24 will only get better & be around for years to come – thats got to be a put off for a decent keeper who is a regular, even in the CCC.
Unless Carson is injured or suspended you would think that he will be No1 so whats the attraction for a keeper like Lonergan ??
We have seen some of our players like Koumas, Kamara ect move to the prem only to sit on the bench – seems like a waste of a career… that said, I hope he comes as its good for the club.
Report abuse
Happy. You have been saying that about Carson
since he was signed. He has not improved one iota since he was signed as “Englands No1″ I seem to remember.
The attraction fiwh Lonergan is he is better that Kit Carson. Full stop.
Report abuse
lets go get henerssey from wolfs hes always wanted to play for a big club aye boing boing
Report abuse
6 – yes I have… and he has proven me right. He had a great season last year and is getting better all the time.
I guess you are another one of those who like to have a dig but have hardly seen him play – but trust me, he is better than the Boy Blunder you have just signed for another 5 years.
Carson will be an England regular for years and at 24 is only gonna get better..
Report abuse
6. Next thing you’ll hear is,
“Get your kit Carson, England expects….”.
We have a few moaners at The Hawthorns, that I’ll admit, but you really churn them out at Moulinex. However, I applaud the fact you didn’t come in disguise. Well done for that at least.
Report abuse
8.I would be surprised if any Wolves fan would swap Hennessy for Carson.
You say Carson will be an England regular for years??At what sport?It wont be football. In fact I’m willing to bet he never plays for England again whilst at Albion. Interested?
Report abuse
“He would be better of coming to a stable”
so said Stafford Wolf on another post earlier on. And he meant Moulinex! I applaud his honesty. Horses for courses hey? Or donkeys?
Report abuse
What you Carson haters need to remember is that Carson was only slated by the press and other football fans because of the error against croatia in the euro qualifiers. You all need to remamber how long ago that has been. Since he has signed for Albion, you can see a new confidence in him and at 24 he has still got a long way to go in his career.
If people are goiong to remember him for the Croatia game, then surely Rob Green is going to be remembered for the USA game at the world cup.
Stop the negative attitude towards ayoung keeper that could be a potential Englad regular in the future.
Report abuse
10 – you rubbish Carson – and then say he won’t play for england “whilst at Albion”… whats albion got to do with it ??
I accept that Albion players will not be high on Capello’s viewing list but thats just usual bias which wolves will endure too – but would you take the bet if he got a transfer to Spurs, Everton or Arsenal??
He is as good as Green, Foster or James right now, and will push hart for the jersey over the coming years.
Report abuse
Jeremy Peace should save his money and buy a
decent striker instead,Luke Daniels is far better than anything in the Championship.
I hope Roberto Di Matteo plays a wing-back
system at Chelsea to make us hard to beat.
Possible Albion 18:
——————-
SCOTT CARSON
GONZALO JARA
PABLO IBANEZ
GABRIEL TAMAS
JONAS OLSSON
MAREK CECH
JAMES MORRISON
YOUSOUFF MULUMBU
GRAHAM DORRANS
GILES BARNES
ROMAN BEDNAR.
SUBS:LUKE DANIELS.GK
ABDOULAYE MEITE
STEPHEN REID
CHRIS BRUNT
JEROME THOMAS
SIMON COX
ISHMAEL MILLER.
Report abuse
I agree with all the comments in support of Carson and Tipton Baggie touch on the Croatia game after which he got all the blame but in my opinion,humble as it is,I saw it as Terry’s he was in command of the situation,he tried to head the ball 2ft of the ground while running back to Carson,Carson’s thinking what’s he going to do now, shall I go or stay,Terry should have put it in the stand,but we can’t blame the then blue eyed boy, blame the rookie.
Report abuse
6, ive no doubt that in a few years hennerssey will break into the wales squad,aye boing boing
Report abuse