There is new ownership in place at Burton and they’ve hired Mark Robinson to be the head coach – who used to be AFC Wimbledon boss and was really good with Nik Tzanev during that time, allowing Tanz to win the number one duties and then giving him a three-year deal (which recently expired, leading him to move to Northampton Town as a free agent). It appears that Coach Robbo has put a heavy emphasis on passing out from the back which is very much not Crocombe’s strong suit. This media exchange after a recent preseason fixture is rather enlightening...
Derby Telegraph: “Goalkeeper Max Crocombe is being asked to play more with the ball at his feet, as a sweeper, than he has been used to and his misplaced pass led to one of the goals. But bringing him off at half-time for Harry Isted wasn’t a punishment for that, was it?”
MR: “Not at all. Max has been excellent and I said to him at half-time, you’ve done lots of great things. We are asking him to do something different. We’re challenging people, taking them out of their comfort zone, and there are going to be errors. But the change was always planned, as were all the others, including taking Billy Bodin off after scoring a wonder goal! I took him off 20 seconds later and it probably looks like the worst substitution ever but they were all planned”.
In goal for 0-4 loss to Blackpool. One of his defenders sent off in the 11th min
Can't wait for the highlights. Despite conceding four, he got a fantastic 7.8 rating on Fotmob and apparently saved a penalty - can't have been too poor of a performance for Crocombe
In goal for 0-4 loss to Blackpool. One of his defenders sent off in the 11th min
Can't wait for the highlights. Despite conceding four, he got a fantastic 7.8 rating on Fotmob and apparently saved a penalty - can't have been too poor of a performance for Crocombe
6 saves plus 4 high claims an area where Isted struggled in the last match.
In goal for 0-4 loss to Blackpool. One of his defenders sent off in the 11th min
Can't wait for the highlights. Despite conceding four, he got a fantastic 7.8 rating on Fotmob and apparently saved a penalty - can't have been too poor of a performance for Crocombe
6 saves plus 4 high claims an area where Isted struggled in the last match.
As per Niche's Cache's above comments this week, BA have a new gaffer who wants a keeper good passing out from the back (doesn't everyone). He should have phoned Bournemouth.
But yeah not so much Crocs strong suit. Though he started last season the same as the no 2, and then just through his consistency as a no errors quality shot stopper he locked down the keeper's spot. I think even back at Grimsby he won the starter's spot off the incumbent early on.
Team mate's sending off looked harsh. Technically arm in an unatural position but he was just throwing out a leg to block the shot, so your arms are never natural went you lunge to do that.
Max Crocombe saved a penalty in Burton Albion’s EFL Cup defeat to Blackpool
Six saves, four aerial claims, 75% passing accuracy overall… his team got thrashed but Crocs did his bit in response to his contention dropping last match#FlyingKiwispic.twitter.com/crRxSEFMf7
Niche Cache. Still getting comfortable under the new BA gaffer, and requirement to play out from the back more than last season??
Max Crocombe won his starting spot back for game two of the League One campaign.
Where... he almost immediately made a complete howler to cost his team the first goal. Hesitated trying to play the ball through the press and ended up just giving it away. This was pretty much why they dropped him in the first place, because of his messiness in possession. But he kept his head back up and his team equalised almost immediately and Crocombe actually ended up having another strong game full of impressive saves and decent-enough passing. Alas, he was beaten by an own goal late in the first half then conceded from the penalty spot on 90+7’ after one of his defenders got too grappley at corner kick time. 3-3 was the final score. Should have been a win. The highlights are very eventful... https://youtu.be/4TplzuXTmQk
Hopefully Crocs still retains the starting spot, though nobody’s safe when the team has conceded 10 times in three matches. Crocombe’s made 11 saves in two games and had to face a penalty in each of them (one save, one not-save) so we probably oughta look towards the defence if we’re being honest about it.
Niche Cache. Good news for Crocombe, re retaining the GK spot hopefully at BA.
Good news for Crocs is that Burton’s game against Crawley Town (September FIFA window) has been postponed since Burton have hit the three-player threshold on international call-ups. That means he won’t have to miss a game for this tour, as has been an issue in the past. Terence Vancooten of Guyana is one of the other internationals at the Brewers... he and Crocombe are the only capped players in the Burton squad but obviously someone else had to have been summoned.
Niche Cache. Be interesting to see who gets the GK gloves Stateside. Suspect it will be Crocs. Paulsen is out of season.
At least unlike in March we have the Woodsman to try hold up any long balls from Crocombe.
Northampton Town and Burton Albion played out a 0-0 draw in which Max Crocombe made five saves in another solid performance (his distribution seems to be trending back towards inaccurate long balls... albeit that could be a good sign if it means his manager is easing up on playing out from the back).
For the moment BA have a L1 game (Charlton on the 13th) to be played in the October FIFA window. But that may be postponed once international teams are soon announced.