Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Max Crocombe (Millwall | England)

880 replies · 200,606 views
18 Dec 02:23
As well we’ve got think about his temperament and personality. 

He was playing for Melbourne Victory. And he was iirc held in less regard than Duncan currently is. Certainly a lesson for Sail, Woud and others. Don’t buy into this derby chirping and work hard and take every opportunity. 

In England every half opportunity or cup game he’s taken and the same with his New Zealand All Whites chances too. 

When you look at players like Singh, Bell, Surman, Bindon, Boxall, McCowatt, Garbett, Waine and others who have not made it to the Championship, let alone past players and some very decent Kiwi keepers, it’s a real testament to work ethic, patience and his quality that he’s now on this run in the Championship. 


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20 Dec 22:57
2-0 loss for Millwall at Blackburn and they drop to 6th.
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23 Dec 22:05
In contrast, Millwall have only won one of their last four. Max Crocombe’s boys were beaten 2-0 away against Blackburn Rovers after conceding twice in the first half, once at the start and once the end. Goal #1 came after Crocombe parried a save back out in front of himself for a rebound. Goal #2 was a shambles as he rushed out for a loose ball only for his defender to head it past him thinking Crocs was still on his line. Easiest finish in the world ensued for the striker running through. Crocombe also made three good saves to keep up his recent workload... seems like he’s not getting a whole lot of protection at the moment, though he didn’t help himself much in the Blackburn loss.

Nevertheless, his spot should be safe for now (unless they do something in the January transfer window). MC has established himself ahead of loanee rival Steven Benda, the coach explicitly confirmed a few weeks ago that Crocs is the first choice between those two. Selections proved that anyway. The question mark came from the return to action of Lukas Jensen from his long-term achilles issue because the Dane had been first choice last season and recently got into it again with the U21s team to build up his match fitness. But he’s suffered a quad injury during his ramp-up and now will miss another couple of months. Millwall face Ipswich and Bristol City over the Xmas/New Year period. They’ve dropped to sixth with these two defeats but could find themselves third again with a couple victories, you never know.

Max Crocombe: “Obviously you want to play every game, that's disappointing at the start. I'm not really one to sulk about it, it was unbelievable just to be part of it and the set-up. I kind of always believe I will play. Even when I'm on the bench, I kind of believe I'll come on at some point, I'll need to come on, I'll need to be ready.”
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26 Dec 12:48 · edited 26 Dec 13:47 · History
Crocs in goal.
0-0 at HT.
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29 Dec 23:35
Crocs in goal for a 2-1 win. Millwall 5th
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01 Jan 22:17
Clean sheet for Crocs with a 0-0 draw
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02 Jan 00:28
Crocs doing what he does best. This is exactly what he needwd to do to maintain the AWs #1 shirt 
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04 Jan 18:42
Passing through London at the moment, so decided to go see Crocs and Marko play in the Kiwi championship derby at the Den. Crocombe played the full game for Millwall and Marko came on for the last 20 for Swansea (presumably being rested after a heavy load of minutes during the festive season).

Millwall came out 2-1 winners thanks to a 93rd minute header, and probably deserved it on balance. Crocombe was solid in goal with a couple of excellent stops. Distribution was a bit iffy at times, including a shanked clearance that nearly resulted in a Swansea goal, but commanded his box well and stood up when it counted. Vigouroux much the busier keeper at the other end (and, incidentally, outstanding).

Marko brought on at the base of midfield and looked tidy on the ball and made a few good defensive interceptions. Didn't have much of a chance to affect the game going forward. However he was marking the Millwall defender who scored the winner at the back post, which he looked pretty gutted about afterwards. That being said, the defender was about 6'6, so can't judge too harshly.


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04 Jan 22:15
Contract for Max up at the end of the year.

Must be in line for a decent wage boost and more lengthy one. 

Auckland will rise once more

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04 Jan 22:52 · edited 04 Jan 23:41 · History
Not necessarily, he isn't the undisputed #1, their #1 from last season is still injured, and there seems to be a few Milwall fans who think they need a better keeper than Max to achieve their ambitions. 

If Milwall do not recognise him as their long term #1 then it is unlikely they will offer him a long extension and big pay rise, and Max might find he gets better offers from other Championship clubs who would see him as being good enough to be their recognised #1 for next season. 

Edit: and if he is brave, he may want to back himself to go to the World Cup as a free agent and hope a really good showing there might result in even better offers
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05 Jan 00:11 · edited 05 Jan 00:20 · History
Take your pick

12 min highlights
https://www.swanseacity.com/video/player/0_gi1jwms9?feed=fc04f3f9-9f3b-481e-aae7-a49107a0603e&section=64f80fdc-c18e-4a30-b45d-150067abc399

2 mins.
https://www.swanseacity.com/video/player/0_15aeg0o1?feed=fc04f3f9-9f3b-481e-aae7-a49107a0603e&section=64f80fdc-c18e-4a30-b45d-150067abc399

And yes even in this brief version the Swans keeper Vigouroux makes a number of top saves. 

With Bravo retired, Vigouroux (English born & raised) is the current Chilean national team keeper, so might be in NZ in March. Hopefully Marko doesn't share too much intel on the AWs.
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07 Jan 00:50
Niche Cache

The January transfer window has opened and Millwall are only two points out of automatic promotion. It’s not out of the question they might decide they need a more renowned goalkeeper to deal with their change in hopes/expectations. Probably not though. There’s Lukas Jensen to return from injury at some stage and Steven Benda is still hanging around. But more to the point, they’re winning these games with Max Crocombe between the sticks. He’s got a save percentage of 75% which is the third highest mark in the division. Six clean sheets in 17 matches.

If you wanna get more analytical about it, he’s ranked in the top ten for Post-Shot xG differential, both cumulatively and also per/90 mins. Obviously the distribution isn’t up to much, that’s never been his strong point, and he kicks long from goal kicks more than any other Championship keeper (he also has one of the biggest boots). But he’s playing well and they’re winning games... what more does anyone really want?
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11 Jan 00:08
Crocs gets rested (Benda in goal) but in good news for the AWs keeper, Millwall get thrashed 5-1.

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17 Jan 12:20
Crocs in goal, Nestory on the pine
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17 Jan 14:54 · edited 17 Jan 14:54 · History
Yet another clean sheet for Max in a two zip win.

Been a great move for him.

Auckland will rise once more

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20 Jan 00:42
Pretty incredible really, a few seasons ago it looked like his career might fizzle out to nothing much, now starting for a side in the championship playoff spots
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20 Jan 11:03
From Niche Cache.
A reminder to never write off a player too early, especially a GK.


When Max Crocombe was 17 years old, he was playing for Buckingham Town in the United Counties League. When he was 20 years old, he was playing for Nuneaton Town on loan in the English fifth tier. After he was released by Oxford Town and then didn’t make a league appearance for Carlisle United, he was 24 years old and had made nine career appearances in League Two. He then dropped down to the sixth tier to join an up-and-coming Salford United project but was replaced after they got promoted and so, at 26 and 27 years of age, he found himself in the A-League with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.

At 28 years old, he returned to England and was playing fifth tier footy with Grimsby Town, helping them get promoted. He was a few weeks shy of his 30th birthday when he debuted in League One with Burton Albion. Now he’s 32 years old and starting games for a Millwall team pushing for promotion from the Championship and he’s about to go to a World Cup later in the year. Talk about a lesson in perseverance.
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20 Jan 11:06

Also from Niche Cache.

Max has just gotta make it through January now. There’s no doubt that if Millwall do get promoted then they’ll sign a more renowned goalkeeper to be their number one in the Premier League... the worry is whether they might sign one this month in order to get to the Prem. They’ve (Millwall) been linked with a loan move for Anthony Patterson from Sunderland, a bloke who just had the exact same experience as would be forecasted for Crocombe – leading the Black Cats to the Prem and then immediately getting replaced by a new signing. It’s a cut-throat business. But Crocs has already seen off one EPL loanee challenger for his position this season, he’ll shrug off another if he has to.
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20 Jan 21:17 · edited 20 Jan 23:14 · History
1-1 at 73 mins
Crocs in goal at Coventry 

Edit - Coventry win 2-1
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21 Jan 04:27
Brief match highlights.

Crocs makes a save, but Coventry gets the rebound ball over the line before AWs GK makes a 2nd save, to get home team's first goal.
Later on Crocs spills the ball, but an off side call saves him.
Then for Coventry's 2nd goal he gets a hand on the low shot but frustratingly can't keep it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeii1GI22lg

Coventry (1st) now 8 pts clear of Ipswich (2nd) but Tractor Boys a game in hand. 
Millwall drop to 5th, they will be frustrated they didn't at least get a draw.
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24 Jan 12:15 · edited 24 Jan 13:46 · History
Crocs in goal.
Edit - Millwall up 1-0 at HT.
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24 Jan 23:37
Another clean sheet for Crocombe, ends in a big 4-0 win.
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24 Jan 23:39
Millwall won 4-0, and sit 5th, 5 pts ahead of Libby's Wrexham (5th).
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28 Jan 23:43
Niche Cache.
Hopefully the rumour at the bottom is incorrect, Crocs has shown he belongs at this level now.

Only one save that Crocombe needed to make - just how he would have wanted it as he claimed a fourth clean sheet in his last seven appearances. An eighth clean sheet overall... there are only three goalies with more shutouts this season and they’re all on nine (Carl Rushworth of Coventry, Radek Vitek of Bristol City, and Christian Walton of Ipswich). Remember that Crocombe didn’t make his Championship debut until two months into the season. What’s more, only Viktor Johansson of Stoke City has a higher save percentage than Crocombe’s 75.3% mark.

The 32yo who had never played above League One before, who started the season as back-up behind a loanee, has sneakily been one of the most effective goalkeepers in the division. 

And yet there remains the high possibility of him ending this month back on the bench as manager Alex Neil, according to reports, remains keen on a reunion with Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson – who helped carry Sunderland to promotion last season but was replaced by new signings as soon as they got there. We’re not here to talk about hypotheticals but it’ll be something to keep an eye on over the last few days of the window.  
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