Echo: https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...4-25-retained-list-amid-ps20m-reports-4634759 Here's a decent Echo article on our goalkeeping situation, if you can bare navigating the website. It points out that we are currently choc with talented goalkeepers and with only a few slots to play for (1st team, bench, u21, u18) what we can do to manage them all. Currently on the books (in order): Anthony Patterson, 24 Nathan Bishop, 24 Alex Bass, 26 Adam Richardson, 20 Kelechi Chibueze, 20 Dan Cameron, 19 Matty Young, 17 Ben Metcalfe, 17 Joseph Cowan, 15 Patterson is obviously our first choice and unless a big offer comes in it is unlikely that will change. The bench is to be manned by one of Nathan Bishop or Alex Bass, which means one of those is very likely to leave this summer, I'd put my money on Bass mostly because he has 1 year left and the club could look to recoup a small fee. Bishop or Bass will also drop into the u21 to keep match fit, alternating with the u21 goalkeeper who will need games for development. Adam Richardson will probably seek a loan move, my guess would be at conference level, to get experience of mens football, freeing up the u21 spot. Chibueze was a surprise on the retained list considering he was mostly manning the bench for the u21s (and a loan to Consett) which suggests he potentially has some coaching/role model attributes, Dan Cameron will likely take pole position for the u21s when Bishop/Bass aren't using the to keep match fit, with Chibueze on the bench. Matty Young did great at Darlington so we'll probably see him go out on loan again, this leaves Ben Metcalfe as u18 starter with the young and talented Joseph Cowan to sign an early scholarship deal and move immediately into the u18 pool.
Bishop and Bass are nowhere near good enough for this level imo. I’d be looking to move them on and bring in some experience on a free/low fee. Feel Patterson would benefit from having an older head around the place pushing him on.
Neither have had a chance to prove or disprove that, nor do I think that an older keeper necessarily "pushes on" a younger player. That is (IMHO) a complete myth
That’s true, I do feel Patterson has felt comfortable knowing he wouldn’t be dropped. Neither back up has impressed me playing for the 21s and I thought Bishop shouldn’t have been beat at his near post against Sheff Wed, but I haven’t watched that one back (thankfully). As for an older ‘keeper, I just feel like we could do with some more experience around the squad in general.
