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Post by svh on Nov 1, 2023 6:08:45 GMT
Yes a big upgrade on Mitov. I was concerned at the start of the season but I certainly shouldn’t have been.
Excellent shot stopper, good with his feet and loved seeing him coming for plenty of crosses into the box last night.
Speaking of Mitov, I was told he asked the club if the contract offer was still on the table in the summer but we’d already signed Stevens.
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tojo
Reserve team regular
Posts: 3,439
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Post by tojo on Nov 1, 2023 6:35:06 GMT
Absolutely agree, admit I was also worried by the signing at first, he's been superb so far, a far better keeper than mitov for sure. Mannions not far behind imo, but Stevens deservedly our number 1.
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danielcufc
First team star
Posts: 8,260
Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
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Post by danielcufc on Nov 1, 2023 8:36:00 GMT
Agree with all the above posts about Stevens. Been very impressed with him. The way he came and took crosses last night is what Mitov never used to do. I also like his Danny Potter-esque time wasting!
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Post by zx10racer22 on Nov 1, 2023 9:03:47 GMT
Yeah he was superb last night. Not just shot stopping but coming for crosses under huge pressure.
I love Dimi and always will, but Jack has been a fantastic replacement.
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Post by treadmore on Nov 1, 2023 9:04:14 GMT
I know it’s only 16 games into the season and he’s played in about 13 but I’ve been so impressed by Stevens overall so far. A fantastic crucial save tonight with his feet and his kicking and distribution is head and shoulders above Mannion and Mitov’s. Maybe his seemingly lack of height for a keeper means he will occasionally get beaten by the type of goal Cheltenham scored but his shot stopping from one on ones is excellent and he caught every cross he came for tonight. Can see why he was highly rated early on at Oxford before his illness and really glad he’s our player. Of course he will now drop one right at Clark-Harris’ feet a yard out in a couple of weeks now I’ve praised him so much . Regarding his "lack of height" both Wikipedia and Soccer base have him at 6ft 2 inches so seems like he's tall enough for a keeper. Incidentally Mitov is exactly the same height (according to Wiki).
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Post by El Goodo on Nov 1, 2023 9:08:25 GMT
Speaking of Mitov, I was told he asked the club if the contract offer was still on the table in the summer but we’d already signed Stevens. Made his bed so has to lie in but, if that's true, can't help but feel a little sorry for him. Only a little though. As Digby said, sometimes it's important to take stock & appreciate what you've got.
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Post by zx10racer22 on Nov 1, 2023 9:49:20 GMT
Speaking of Mitov, I was told he asked the club if the contract offer was still on the table in the summer but we’d already signed Stevens. Made his bed so has to lie in but, if that's true, can't help but feel a little sorry for him. Only a little thought. As Digby said, sometimes it's important to take stock & appreciate what you've got. I do wonder how often things like that happen. Maybe it’s just me, but if I was a player, I would want a solid contract offer before I confirm I’ll be leaving the club I’m currently at. I was really surprised this summer, how long it took for guys like Dimi, Knibbs, Smith and Jones to be confirmed at their respective new clubs. Maybe in the case of Knibbs and Smith that had something to do with Reading’s financial situation, but in the end it all looked a little bit last-minute from the outside, and I’d have thought the departing players would have known their futures earlier.
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Post by svh on Nov 1, 2023 9:54:37 GMT
There is that logic but players will hold out for the best deal. I feel Dimi probably thought he was going to get another move but it didn't materialise and we'd already signed the replacement. That's the risk you take as a footballer.
With all the players mentioned above, none have kids to worry about so it's less of a risk to them to hold out and make a move. Whereas Digby for example has a wife who was pregnant at the time so it was most likely all about being settled for him.
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Post by El Goodo on Nov 1, 2023 9:57:03 GMT
Didn't she give birth on the final day of the season? But yes, for sure. Changes the equation hugely.
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danielcufc
First team star
Posts: 8,260
Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
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Post by danielcufc on Nov 1, 2023 10:08:34 GMT
Speaking of Mitov, I was told he asked the club if the contract offer was still on the table in the summer but we’d already signed Stevens. Made his bed so has to lie in but, if that's true, can't help but feel a little sorry for him. Only a little though. As Digby said, sometimes it's important to take stock & appreciate what you've got. Maybe messers Knibbs & Smith may think that come the end of the season.
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tojo
Reserve team regular
Posts: 3,439
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Post by tojo on Nov 1, 2023 11:51:58 GMT
Made his bed so has to lie in but, if that's true, can't help but feel a little sorry for him. Only a little though. As Digby said, sometimes it's important to take stock & appreciate what you've got. Maybe messers Knibbs & Smith may think that come the end of the season. As long as they're still getting paid I doubt it. Mitov maybe different, there's no way imo he'd have gone to Scotland, had he a better offer L1/Championship, that just didn't happen, I don't buy into the suggestion he went there for any other reason
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Post by Andrewlang on Nov 1, 2023 12:12:28 GMT
We were told Mitov had championship offers, which I'm inclined to believe but not as first choice which was probably a sticking point for him. He's probably happy enough with the level he's at and with his call up(s?) but I doubt those will continue if John St Johnstone get relegated. Much like the other lockdown boys I wish him all the happiness, y'know.
Anyway, as for Stevens...yeah, you could see in that first game against Cardiff that he had something about him. The shot stopping, the command of his area and the distribution were all on show then and have been evident all season so far.
There's was a wibble about lack of communication in that Stevenage game but if that was the case then I've not seen much evidence if it since. Maybe last night with him rushing off his line and Liam punting it back to him but, nah. I think it all happened too quick for 'communication' and it was just a decisive act. He headed another one clear just outside his area earlier so I guess that was in his thinking.
Andrew
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Post by mike_CUFC on Nov 1, 2023 12:18:18 GMT
He's definitely quicker off his line, have seen that in a fair few games this season and that's definitely helped out the defence on a few occasions.
He's endeared himself to the crowd very well with his fist pumps and attempt to get the crowd worked up. I've been impressed by him and those clean sheets are proof of that (particularly as like EG pointed out, the number of one on one saves he has made too). He's bailed out his defence plenty of times.
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danielcufc
First team star
Posts: 8,260
Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
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Post by danielcufc on Nov 1, 2023 12:32:24 GMT
Maybe messers Knibbs & Smith may think that come the end of the season. As long as they're still getting paid I doubt it.
Mitov maybe different, there's no way imo he'd have gone to Scotland, had he a better offer L1/Championship, that just didn't happen, I don't buy into the suggestion he went there for any other reason Reading are a basket case at the moment and HMRC have issued another winding up order so if they are getting paid its possibly late. I just wonder how they will feel it they get relegated and find themselves in Lg 2 next season. I was always surprised that given his goal record, Smith didnt end up a higher league 1 club. Maybe there wasn't as much interest in them or as their agents hoped possibly even money wise.
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Post by El Goodo on Nov 1, 2023 12:52:19 GMT
Yeah Smith was the surprising one, given his goal record in a mediocre-to-poor L1 team & availability on a free. Perhaps he wasn't going to be first choice, perhaps he was asking for too much, perhaps location-wise there was a wrinkle, perhaps a combination of 2/all 3. Impossible to say without knowing all the ins and outs really.
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