Is Green now the weakest link?

Regulars to this blog will know that I am not Rob Green's biggest fan. Even when West Ham fans were hailing him England's Number One, I was saying that he was a very good shot stopper but an average all round keeper because of his weakness under crosses, his poor kicking, his failure to command his six yard box and his fragile temperament. Then along came the USA game to undermine the very good shot stopper argument and a season that confirmed him as England's 666.

It would go going too far to say that Green has cost us automatic promotion but his mistakes have proved costly. He should have done better with Cardiff's winner at Upton Park and that lost us a point and, most crucially of all, he was at fault for the Bristol City goal which lost us another two vital, vital points. There were other mistakes too, but he is human and all keepers, even the very best make mistakes.

The trouble is, Green makes them at the worst time and that's because of his suspect temperament. The USA game was the classic example. Green knew the eyes of the world were watching him so he made the howler to end all howlers. His fans will try to argue differently but the more the pressure mounts, the more vulnerable Green becomes.

And so, as we have got to the business end of the season, so Green's form has dipped. Argue his case as much as you like but it is a fact that Green has been at fault for the last two goals we have conceded. The Bristol City goal had echoes of the USA game, a long shot that should have been comfortably dealt with, whilst the attempt to punch to safety the Hull goal was frankly laughable.

Against Cardiff we were very comfortable but Green still made a hash of one punch, dropped a cross when unchallenged and was in no keeper's land when Cole cleared the ball off the line. Deliver a decent high ball to the edge of the six yard box and Green is all at sea, his feet rooted to the floor, a mist descending over his eyes. It is worrying, very worrying indeed, and if I was Woy I would say, "Sowwy Gweenie, no Euwos for you".

As Fareham Hammer writes: "With Green in goal,anything could happen, especially if Cardiff score early on.The man was awful and has been awful for some time now. He is a disaster waiting to happen as regards crosses. He's that bad with crosses ,he doesn't even bother to come for them anymore! Staying rooted to his goal line, leaving the opposition strikers a free header at goal. He's flapping so badly at crosses now, his punching of the ball has gone to pieces! I would drop him and play Henderson, which Allardyce won't do. The only possible way round it is to play Faye in Reid's place, a tad unfair as the lad's done well but Faye has the ability to cut out crosses, before the reach the danger zone. It's no coincidence that Green's form has been at its best when Faye's been in the team. As soon as Faye's out..trouble."

Of course, a centre half is there to cut out crosses so maybe Reid is at fault too if Fareham is right and we are stronger with Faye at the back, but no matter who is there, a keeper must do better than Green has done in the last three games. One poor game is a blip, three poor games in a row is a dip, and with the roller coaster ahead, the last thing we need is for our keeper to be a big dipper!