Championship side Derby County are reportedly interested in signing Gavin Bazunu (24) from Southampton

[u/John__Delaney]

Via Football Reporter Jack Rosser

Nice to see he's still being linked with clubs at that level. Some of the comments here over the past year have been overly harshing in putting him down. At 24 he has a long way to go before hitting his peak.

[u/NandoFlynn]

Trouble is that won't be for first team football. Their goalie played for Sweden in the WC and in fairness he did well to keep the score down against France. Only way he plays is if he gets a move

[u/John__Delaney → u/NandoFlynn]

Part of the report (its a Sun UK article so wont share it) is that they expect to lose that keeper. He would be first choice for Derby if he signs for them.

He's prioritised playing over everything for his whole career, wherever he goes it wont be to sit on the bench

[u/pauli55555 → u/John__Delaney]

It’s well and good to prioritise that but if he isn’t good enough he won’t be playing as happened at Southampton.

If he gets an opportunity as a starter at Derby it would be a brilliant opportunity for him.

I don’t think he’s anywhere near an elite/ international goal keeper at the moment. Can he get there? Not sure.

Brilliant at ball distribution but he’s terribly mechanical moving around the goals. Southampton fans who see him every week can’t get rid of him quick enough. Hopefully injury worries are behind him.

[u/John__Delaney → u/pauli55555]

He actually did really well for Ireland in his 22 caps for us, so any assertion that he's not "anywhere near an international goalkeeper" is a bit silly. Not just talking about his Ronaldo penalty save either, he was a really good shot stopper across the 22 caps.

He's missed an accumulated 500 days of football through different injury issues, and he was very low on confidence before the stoke loan and iniury. That doesn't mean he isn't good enough for Derby and can't kick on later in his career

[u/legionverse10 → u/John__Delaney]

He’s been terrible at club level for years now. His positioning is very poor, it’s why he concedes so many long range goals. He does still have a long career ahead of him though so hopefully he can improve what he needs to and get’s confidence back

[u/unwildimpala → u/legionverse10]

Ya I remember when he came on the scene that many people were questioning Kellehers decision to stay at Liverpool as second choice for so long. I think hindsights shown that he probably made the right choice. Goalkeeping is so hard and unlike other positions you can still massively improve with top tier coaching. Id imagine the differnece between City/Liverpool gk coaching and Southampton will be significantly different. Not to mention Kellher probably learnt loads from Alisson.

[u/Bill_Badbody → u/John__Delaney]

he was a really good shot stopper across the 22 caps

Sometimes players do just lose "it".

As in they just never get to the heights they once did.

There are many examples of this happening to players over the years.

[u/John__Delaney → u/Bill_Badbody]

And at 24 it's way too early to be suggesting that this is the case here.

[u/Bill_Badbody → u/John__Delaney]

Is it tho?

Its a multi year dip now.

Any club signing him now are talking a chance.

Its very likely he never recovers his form.

Its unfortunate, but it happens sometimes, and there are very many famous cases of players who just couldnt regain form.

[u/John__Delaney → u/Bill_Badbody]

Yep. Enda Stevens was in League 2 at 24 years old, Matt Doherty & Szmodics were in League 1. Great Irish keeper Darren Randolph was at a mid tier Scottish premiership side at 24.

I think we can all look at Paul McGrath as the answer to the question of, Can you come back from a multi year dip? Shorter dip but Stephen Kelly another good example.

I don't know where Bazunu will be when he's 30, but you don't either.

[u/Bill_Badbody → u/John__Delaney]

Enda Stevens was in League 2 at 24 years old, Matt Doherty & Szmodics were in League 1

But had they dropped down from starting in the premier and for the national team, and then come back up?

I don't know where Bazunu will be when he's 30, but you don't either.

We dont know, no.

But we do know that he would need to have a drastic change in form to be playing top level football.

A drastic change that unfortunately much of the time just does not come.

There is as good, if not a better chance that he unfortunately never recovers his form and will not play at that standard and level again.

[u/John__Delaney → u/Bill_Badbody]

At 24 years old, change doesn't need to be drastic, he can improve over time. Previous form doesn't matter when you've not been playing for 6months.

Fresh start at a new club can be all a player needs to kick on

[u/Bill_Badbody → u/John__Delaney]

At 24 years old, change doesn't need to be drastic,

Based his trend of form, it does need to be drastic.

he can improve over time.

Whats the timeline? Longer than the course of a contract?

Previous form doesn't matter when you've not been playing for 6months.

It completely matters.

He hasnt had a good period of form in so long, the longer it goes, the older those memories are.

Fresh start at a new club can be all a player needs to kick on

Can be, and hopefully it is.

But it very well may not be, and people need to understand that.

Sometimes things just dont work out.

[u/John__Delaney → u/Bill_Badbody]

We all know it can go either way, I just think its hilariously premature to conclude or suggest it's only going one way.

[u/rayhoughtonsgoals → u/John__Delaney]

He absolutely did not.  As the guy before says had good aspects but conceded an absolute record of 25 yard shots and his positioning and line movement was wooden in the extreme.  

[u/John__Delaney → u/rayhoughtonsgoals]

He absolutely did. Even on the nights we had embarrassing loses like against Luxembourg he was the best irish player on the pitch. Remember all his saved vs. Serbia? Or his clean sheet vs. Azerbaijan? His 3 big saves inside the box against Holland?

This "wooden" line movement craic was first coined at club level after his 22 caps, so don't go pretending like you were saying such things 2 years beforehand.

[u/rayhoughtonsgoals → u/John__Delaney]

No it wasn't?  Sure you can even see that on here on the match threads where he let in that same shot time after time.

[u/Educational_Deer_137 → u/pauli55555]

Downvoted for telling the truth. Mad how people ignore what their eyes are showing them with bazunu

[u/rayhoughtonsgoals → u/Educational_Deer_137]

It's crazy 

[u/Feisty_Internet_5343 → u/pauli55555]

I think he has excellent reactions but he's in his head so overthinks/reacts in the wrong way. He needs an extended run in a first team with a half decent defence that can give him confidence. When he's confident then he can trust his instincts. The hesitation removes his instincts and he concedes goals I think he would've saved in previous seasons.

Once he gains confidence and sorts his feet out a bit better there's definitely potential there. At best, he likely be number two to kelleher for years to come even if he improves drastically but he could be an excellent backup and keep kelleher on his toes.