The Gr8 Keeper Deb8

[JC]

Garth Crooks included McCarthy in his team of the week on the BBC website

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Woodcote Royal wrote: McCarthy was the better keeper when he was dropped 2 seasons ago and he's STILL the better 'keeper since his return with every performance being superior to Federici's 3 outings this season.

+ 1 on this comment WR.

Federici did a fantastic job for us last season between the sticks!!!!

[Big Foot]

Federici would've been too fat to make some of the worldy saves that McCarthy made over the weekend - thanks and c ya, don't shut the door on the way out of our club

[MouldyRoyal]

Last season, Federici was fantastic, my player of the season for us. He had cut out the semi-frequent blunders that had characterised his play the seasons before (see, Forest at home). I was as confident as anyone that he would step and be solid for us in the Premier League.

The facts are that he has struggled this season, either through injury or form/confidence. That is in no way "hating", it's just how it is. McCarthy has come in and (after a dodgy performance against Spurs) has proven himself capable between the sticks at this level.

The shirt is now his to lose, but the same rules apply to him as Federici, if he goes through a bad patch there is no point keeping him in the side out of loyalty.

[Stuboo]

Federici would've been too fat to make some of the worldy saves that McCarthy made over the weekend - thanks and c ya, don't shut the door on the way out of our club

Why do you hate Federici so much? He was brilliant for us last season.

[jumpers for goalposts]

In short we all knew early on that McCarthy was the future keeper for RFC. As it turned out, Feds made a few errors, and McCarthy got his chance sooner than expected, and has taken it. Feds can sulk all he likes, but he needs to get used to warming the bench. If he wants to leave, then let him. We have Andersen in the wings, who is another excellent young keeper. Feds never was the brigtest spark though, as was shown through his 'come and get me' speech on sky sports news after we lost the playoff final. He only has himself to blame for getting dropped, and we could certainly survive without him. Sentiment has no place in football.

[Big Foot]

Federici would've been too fat to make some of the worldy saves that McCarthy made over the weekend - thanks and c ya, don't shut the door on the way out of our club

Why do you hate Federici so much? He was brilliant for us last season.

That error v Forest
The Sky Sports News interview
That error vs Stoke
That error vs Peterbrough
The tweets from his mrs
His weight
His new haircut
Displacing McCarthy after McCarthy's great form in 2011
The Instagram photo

[Pepe the Horseman]

What about that error v Chelsea?

[Alexander Litvinenko]

The "camera" saves, where he makes a perfectly routine save look spectacular. (Although, tbf, some of those are only spectacular because he reacts so late)

[ManchesterRoyals]

To be honest Feds hasnt done him self any favours lately

I wonder if friedel reacted the same after being dropped by spurs yest and hes been playing brilliant

[Pepe the Horseman]

To be honest Feds hasnt done him self any favours lately

I wonder if friedel reacted the same after being dropped by spurs yest and hes been playing brilliant

He didn't, but his wife did

Tracy Friedel @TrayFriedChicken
Can't believe Brad's been dropped after over 300 consecutive games. AVB's a dick #numb #ih8football

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

mccarthy is our keeper for now, unless he has a huge drop in form i dont see feds getting in any time soon. i hope he is taking this as a lesson and working hard to get his place back instead of moaning...

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Federici makes too many errors hence why he was dropped.

[marlowuk]

I can't see this on any other topic or on the OS so...

Congratulations to Alex Mc on being included in Garth Crooks's (I know!!) premiership team of the week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19866518

GOALKEEPER - ALEX MCCARTHY, READING
Alex McCarthy

I totally understand why Brian McDermott is reluctant to criticise his players in post match interviews and it is admirable. However, Reading fans must be increasingly frustrated by their team's lack of ability to close out games. What more could Alex McCarthy do to give his team their first Premier League victory? Outstanding performance from a keeper who deserved more from his defence.

Did you know? McCarthy made more saves (eight) than any other goalkeeper this weekend, in fact only Jussi Jaaskelainen (nine against Norwich and nine against Fulham) has made more saves in a game so far this season.

PS And before anyone mistakes me for a newbie and gives me the traditional welcome ... I have changed my username from koranuk and have been supporting RFC for over 50 years now! Although I never got the trad welcome as koranuk so feel free!!

[Big Foot]

What about that error v Chelsea?

Add it to the list

[Stuboo]

What about that error v Chelsea?

Add it to the list

Jeez guys, let it go. It's better for the soul. It's not as if he's Neil Warnock.

[Big Foot]

What about that error v Chelsea?

Add it to the list

Jeez guys, let it go. It's better for the soul. It's not as if he's Neil Warnock.

Agreed, at least Warnock has some redeeming features.

[Stuboo]

Hahahaha. Nice one Big Foot. I'm seriously struggling to think of a single redeeming feature of Warnock though.

[seahawk10]

fuxk off newbie

Good tidbit, I would be happy for McCarthy to remain our starter even when Feds is healthy.

[PistolPete]

Reading fans, you embarrass me.

There is not a single save that McCarthy made on Saturday that Federici wouldn't have. It was an ideal game for McCarthy in that he was able to look good; keepers dream of games like that. In fact, had McCarthy not got lucky with the post on either of those saves they would have been errors (I genuinely think that both Luke Moore's header and Ki Sung Yeung's long range shot should have been comfortably pushed around the post). Don't get me wrong, McCarthy is a good keeper, but he's been shaky so far - 31st minute vs Tottenham anyone? People who say McCarthy made 'worldy' saves against Swansea need to get their eyes checked.

It was however fair and correct that Federici was dropped, he deserved to be with his two errors costing us up to 5 points. But let's not chastise one of Federici's greatest character traits, his ambition. The same ambition that caused his 'disgraceful' come-and-get-me pleas to the premiership and of course him taking the dropping so badly. But his ambition isn't all bad, we were shown early signs of this ambition when he riskily left Australia without a club, begging clubs like Wolves and Leeds to give him a trial. It's the same ambition that has led him to work hard enough to gain a full time contract at Reading and national caps for Australia despite not having the backing of a great youth set up like many top pros. Come on, honestly, who here wouldn't have wanted a move to the premiership if they weren't a Reading fan? Anyone who say's they wouldn't is either unambitious or a lier.

But again to the question of whether Federici is a worse keeper than McCarthy all of a sudden? No, in my opinion. Could McCarthy become better than Federici? Perhaps. However, ask Ipswich fans what they think of McCarthy and the reviews will be decidely mixed. Goalkeeping is a strange position, just ask De Gea, Bosnich, Taibi and Tim Howard- all of whom had big reputations before wobbling at Old Trafford. Federici had a wobble, that is all!

So please, can we get some perspective and try to stop being so fickle, hypocritical and sanctimonious?