GK Back up

Now Mark Paston has hung up the gloves Glen Moss is now our first choice goalkeeper, and by some distance! What worries me is who do we call upon should Moss be unavailable?

Poor old Glen has had a few injury problems over the years and I do not see a lot of quality behind him in reserve. 

Gleeson didn't really shine in the ONC last year while Spoonley and Williams lack international experience. Basalaj is doing ok in Scotland but nowhere near the first team at the moment while it's too early to assess Crocombe's international credentials yet. 

Who else is coming through? (If we play some friendlies) I'd like to see some of the others get some game time to give them the experience to be able to be called upon should Moss be out injured. Anyone to look out for? 

Michael O'Keefe is usually mentioned as one of our best - NZ keeper at the London Olympics last year where he did okay generally (apart from one howler): 

Currently playing for Ocean City Nor'Easters (New Jersey) in the Premier Development League (fourth tier) in the USA in his first season after graduating from Fairfield University, USA where he was a highly-rated keeper: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_O'Keeffe

The Premier Development League is mostly an u-23 comp (only 8 players in a 26 man squad may be over 23) and produces many future professionals and internationals.

July: Ocean City Nor'easters win Eastern Conference Title

PDL National Championship Playoffs: Friday August 2nd AWAY Austin Aztex - Nor'easters 0-1 Austin Aztex

O'Keefe: Nine games played

One of three candidates for the team's defensive MVP 2013; one of four candidates for overall MVP

http://www.oceancityfc.com/oceancityfcpdl/715439.html

Mike O’Keeffe (U23 New Zealand National Team & Fairfield) – O’Keeffe is a 6-1 goalkeeper, hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, who has established himself as the Fairfield number 1 going into his senior year. He was the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. O’Keeffe gained international experience as a member of the New Zealand Under-15 and Under-17 squads. He also played for New Zealand’s Under-17 World Cup team, and served his teammates as a captain during his stay with the team. Number one for the New Zealand Olympic side, London, 2012 (three appearances).

Coach Tim -“Mike is a proven and established GK at both the collegiate and international level with New Zealand.  He excels in all areas from that position- shot stopping, distribution, communication, and dealing with service. He is hoping to use this final season post graduation at the PDL level to position himself with some opportunities to play at the next level.”

Michael is from Marlborough.

Marinovic. End of.

This

What is Marinovic doing?

Their is not a bad list of names Spoonley, Marinovic, O'Keefe, Gleeson, Williams, Basalaj

Recently transfered to 1860 Munich. Playing for reserves in 5th or 6th tier

4th rather

According to tranfermarkt.com, only signed on 15 November. So maybe no appearances yet.
 

Really good he found a decent club - 1860 Munich, the second biggest club in Munich who share Bayern's home ground, the Alianz Arena (cap. 71,000). In Bundesliga 2 since 2004 but mostly a Bundesliga 1 club before that. Even playing for the reserves is a good gig for him - in the shop window more than the smaller clubs he was with and never got game time for.

However, they have seven goalies on the reserve team's roster, so his opportunities may be limited.

Champions League side a decade ago.

1860 Munich first team: Avg home attendance 2012-13: 22,682

First choice goalie Gabor Kiraly is a 90 cap Hungary international & ex- Crystal Palace, Burnley & Hertha Berlin keeper.

Aussies Ned Zelic and Paul Agostino played for them a decade ago (Agostino: 248 apps, 77 goals; Zelic: 102 apps, 3 goals)

1860 Munich II Reserve Team: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSV_1860_M%C3%BCnchen_II

http://int.soccerway.com/teams/germany/tsv-1860-munchen-ii/

Functions as the club's u-23 side. Almost qualified for Div.3.Bundesliga last season (national third tier)

Champions of their regional league last season: "The club enjoyed a very successful 2012–13 season, now in the Regionalliga Bayern, where it won the league championship and qualified for the play-offs to the 3. Liga but missed out on promotion when it lost to SV Elversberg 3-4 on aggregate."

Currently third in the league behind leaders Bayern Munich II. Bundesliga Div. 1 sides Nurnberg and Augsburg also field reserve teams in the league. 

First choice goalie for 1860 Munich II this season has been first team number two Michael Netolitsky (age 29)

One of the star players is 21 year-old current US international striker Bobby Wood (makes a few apps every season for the first team).

Stefan Marinovic on the TSV 1860 Munich club website:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.tsv1860.de/teams/u21/spieler/2013-2014/stefan-marinovic-248/lebenslauf&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dstefan%2Bmarinovic%2B1860%2Bmunich%2BII%26start%3D20%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1C1AFAB_enNZ468NZ468%26espv%3D210%26es_sm%3D93%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D666

Complete official reserve team roster (called "u-21's" but is clearly misleading): one of seven goalkeepers!!!

http://www.tsv1860.de/teams/u21

Basalaj has some talent from what if seen from him but id say Gleeson would probably edge him over number two keeper at the moment for me.

Basalaj: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mttBthGaegQ

Gleeson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdwP1zUYRrA&feature=player_detailpage#t=61

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s73SM_mRS-c

Technically I'm playing at a higher level than O'Keefe right now.

Based on recent All Whites and Olympic squads, the top 6 in no particular order are: Moss, Spoonley, Williams, Gleeson, O'Keefe and Basalaj.

At present, based on what I have seen as all six,  I'd go in order: Moss, Gleeson, O'Keefe, Spoonley, Basalaj, Williams

Gleesons howler in honiara isnt forgetten

Harsh on Spoons

Moss Spoonley O'Keefe Gleeson Basalaj Williams

Might have been a bit hard on Spoons. Always looked a bit shaky at ASBP when I saw him play, but looks like he's improved since being with Nix. 

Quite hard to judge the guys overseas and how they might have improved over the last year. So have probably extropralted a little bit. 

Over the past 2 years think I've seen these guys in this environment:

Moss - Nix, All Whites
Gleeson - All Whites, Odd highlights package from Timbers
O'Keefe - Olympics, Miramar
Spoonley - ASBP, Nix
Basalaj - Junior AWs, Central League, Team Welly
Williams - One game v Nix

Still can't figure out how Williams ever broke into the AW set up.

Spoonley number two for me. Who was the other NZ goalkeeper on the books of Phoenix during the September international window?