Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Max Crocombe (Millwall | England)

880 replies · 200,606 views
05 Jul 07:32
From Flying Kiwis.

Burton Albion manager Dino Maamria: “I’ve worked with Max before when I was at Southport when he was a young goalie. He showed a huge potential back then and he’s gone on to be an international goalkeeper. He’s a great character. I think he fits in really well with what we’re trying to do as a football club.”

Max Crocombe: “I’m delighted to be here. I’ve worked with Dino Maamria before so that was a big factor knowing how he wants to work. We had a good amount of success when we worked together so I’m really excited to be here. You can tell there’s a lot of really good people at this football club and you can tell that’s the heart and soul of the football club. The last couple of years have gone really well for me and each year has just been a progression from National League to League Two and now League One. I’m excited to get going and prove my worth to the team!”  
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25 Jul 19:57
Was invited by a customer at work to watch Burton v Stoke friendly this evening in the sponsors box. Max named on the bench for Burton and looks like he might be number two to former Chelsea youth team keeper Jamal Blackman who started both halves.

Got a photo of Max warming up at HT.

20230725_203634.jpg 1.9 MB

English based All Whites fan! Would love to watch an All White game one day.  

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25 Jul 20:13
Why leave a starting gig as goalie to be a back up for someone else when you had a new contract on the table.

Just pre-season, so maybe they're giving the number 2 a run to see how he goes?
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25 Jul 22:21
Max didn't get on the pitch for the friendly with Stoke, unused sub as Burton lost 1-0. Burton GK Jamal Blackman named MOM at full time. 

Shame I didn't get to see him play but nice little ground at Burton tbh.

English based All Whites fan! Would love to watch an All White game one day.  

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26 Jul 04:14 · edited 26 Jul 04:23 · History
Blackman has a more impressive CV than Crocombe. On the books at Chelsea, 4-5 seasons in either The Championship or League One. Even a stint in the MLS with LAFC. Same age as the Kiwi at 29.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/jamal-blackman/215676/

Will be a good challenge for Crocombe, and if he did become no 1 at Albion ahead of Blackman, he'd deserve to be starting GK for the AWs. He did arrive at Grimsby Town, and after half a season on the pine upsurped the longtime incumbent. But this is a tougher gig.

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05 Aug 13:11 · edited 05 Aug 22:46 · History
Crocombe on the bench. Blackman starts in goal.

Edit - 2-0 loss for Burton Albion
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09 Aug 18:42
Starting from the pine once more.

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09 Aug 21:03
Need that un This function. Fat fingers

BA lose 0-2
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19 Aug 13:12
Crocombe gets his chance to start in goal, after the injury to Blackman in the League Cup game.

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19 Aug 17:05
Star of the show as Burton hold out for a 0-0 draw. Not a bad way to stake a claim for the starting gig
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19 Aug 23:47 · edited 23 Aug 00:22 · History
Albion's first point of the season. Crocombe with a 92nd min yellow.
He loves some late match time wasting sharkhousery. 

Should be the leading candidate to be in goal for AWs in October.
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22 Aug 10:51 · edited 23 Aug 00:24 · History
Some good saves in here. A keeper in form.

L1 won't break for the FIFA window, and if he's in a tight tussle with Blackman for the starting keeper spot at BA, he maybe unavailable for the AWs in the October window. If so you couldn't really blame him, you feel this is a big season for him up in League One re his career.

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23 Aug 06:15
Flying Kiwis.

Crocombe made save after save, he was magnificent. Eight saves all combined. He was strong against the high ball and, true to his reputation, he picked up a yellow card near the very end no doubt for time-wasting (although it wasn’t immediately clear exactly what he did). Also he punted the ball long on pretty much every single occasion. Gotta do what you’ve gotta do for a battling team that’s dealing with injuries far beyond their (former?) starting goalkeeper.

Max Crocombe even made the EFL League One team of the week. It was an outstanding way to announce himself to his new club and even if Blackman does return soon it’ll take a brave manager to drop the bloke.


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26 Aug 23:55
Gotta be AW number one on this form!


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27 Aug 00:20
martinb
Gotta be AW number one on this form!

A 1-1 draw. BA up to 22nd, and unbeaten with Crocombe starting. 
Kiwi-Aussie Jack Iredale a full game for Bolton.
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27 Aug 02:41
coochiee
martinb
Gotta be AW number one on this form!

A 1-1 draw. BA up to 22nd, and unbeaten with Crocombe starting. 
Kiwi-Aussie Jack Iredale a full game for Bolton.
There’s talk of the Aussies calling up Iredale with Bos injured. Would be a bit disappointing if we lose out on him.
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27 Aug 04:08
He played for Aus at age group level, considers himself Australian and wants to play for the Socceroos. Didn't really develop as a footballer here. Wouldn't be anywhere near as disappointing as losing out on Tyler Boyd or Tyler Bindon. 
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02 Sep 13:15
Crocombe in goal.
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03 Sep 00:18
Albion lose 0-1
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16 Sep 13:23
Crocombe in goal. Blackman is back from injury, but he's now 2nd choice.
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17 Sep 01:21
Burton Albion lose 2-0. They sit 3rd last (22nd).
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19 Sep 19:01


Keeps his starting spot. Hopefully can help Burton to a much needed three points this morning.

1-0 to the Brewers early on in this one.
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19 Sep 23:54
A 3-2 win for the Brewers. Their first win of the League One season. Stay 22nd.
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20 Sep 01:26
Close to MOTM performance, should be an easy choice for the manager Max with 4.7 saves a game in the last 6 with Blackman 1.3 saves out of the last 4 games.
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23 Sep 13:06
Crocombe in goal.
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24 Sep 00:14
A 1-1 draw.

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01 Oct 23:36
0-0 draw at Reading on the weekend, but he's certainly made an impression for his new club. Even if Burton Albion only sit 20th and just above the relegation spots in 20th.

He took a risk leaving the #1 spot at Grimsby in the summer to head to the Brewers. He now looks to have really cemented that #1 spot for Burton Albion and is actually putting in some league leading performances in terms of save % and saves per 90.

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Has to be seriously eyeing up these upcoming internationals against DR Congo and Australia as his chance to grab the #1 for the AW's going forward as well.

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01 Oct 23:53 · edited 02 Oct 00:04 · History
His availability for the Congo DR (Oct 14th NZT) remains a bit up in the air at the moment.

Albion play Lincoln City 15th Oct (NZT) and as yet that game is not postponed. He misses the Lincoln match, Blackman comes in and has a blinder........never give a sucker an even break. Big season this club wise for Crocombe

He should be okay for the Socceroos game 18th Oct (NZT). Albion don't play again until 22nd Oct.

Bindon's Reading have already had their 15th Oct game postponed. Whilst Mata's Shrewsbury Town are still down to play.
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02 Oct 01:39
If Baze has any sense he’ll give Crocombe the number 1 spot whether he plays DR Congo or not.
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03 Oct 01:57 · edited 03 Oct 02:09 · History


Unless they've got some pretty good connecting flights sorted then I'd have a guess that this pretty much counts him out of the DR Congo match.

DR Congo at 6pm 13th October in Spain ➡️ Fly out to the East Midlands Saturday morning ➡️ Join up with Burton Albion and  play Lincoln City 3pm ➡️ Down to London to join the rest of the squad for the Socceroos match.

Might be easier to just tell him he'll be starting against the Socceroos. Just looking at that arrangement makes my head hurt.
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