who's the best goalie in 1st division

surely thats a yes or no question? and the answer is no

What an uninspiring list. If Stephen Robertson keeps up this form all season, he'll only have conceded 12 goals by the end of the season, and will therefore be the rightful winner.

After being mentored by Alan Main for so many years, I'm not surprised if Robertson is developing into a good goalkeeper. I've not seen him myself for a couple of seasons now so can't judge him but I'm still happy having Alan Main in goal for us and despite unusually (unless he's relegating St Mirren) missing a few crosses yesterday he still made one excellent block from Steven Craig in a one-on-one situation. His opposite number Tony Boll[b][b]ocks had a good game as well.

Of the opposition goalkeepers I've seen this season I've not been impressed by Martini, Cuthbert or Cherrie and I think Jon Tuffey, like David Hutton, is massively overrated by their own support.

Not seen Rab Douglas but he's meant to be in cracking form but until I've seen him (and Robbo) I'd still go for Paul Gallacher.

I'd say we're pretty honest with Tuffey, especially if you were to read the posts about him on Jagsforum.net. Some fans were understandably creaming themselves after the Livi game in the cup last year, and the Hamilton away game that finished 0-0, but before February he hadn't been great for us. He's been pretty poor against St Johnstone and I wanted him out after the 2-2 game last Christmas.

His overall game is pretty average at this level. He doesn't command his box that well, and his kicking is ropey. He does show moments of brilliance though, and makes some saves that very few would.

Oh good, how timely, setting Robertson up for a big fall next week.

If he plays like he did yesterday then I have no trouble believing it. Yes for me.

Not for me. Gallacher or Tuffey IMO. Maybe Hutton but I've yet so see him play well.

Stephen Robertson the best keeper in the first division? Yes, yes he is.

Don't want to jinx him but Robbo is !£$%&*$ brilliant

This happens all the time. A keeper plays a few blinders and suddenly he's the best thing since sliced bread. He'll then get completely ripped for his first subsequent howler, or bad kick out, come to think of it.

The Airdrie fans will have a better idea of how he generally plays than I do, but he's never been a standout for me. I think there's a few contenders for the title of 'best keeper' in the division, but it's too close a call.

Having watched him for the last few years I think Robbo is a great keeper, but I'm not sure he's the best. Last time in this division he gave away a lot of stupid goals so he has gotten a lot better. He's solid at blocking shots and I ain't seen anyone better at one on ones. However his weak point is catching high balls. Although he is getting better at this and starting to command the box more. Long may it continue!!

We should have signed him in the summer when we had the chance! don't know if he's any good or not, just to piss off the Airdrie fans.

Sorted that post for you Radders. And I hate to disappoint you, but you win no prizes for having noticed that Peter Cherrie is a dud. Ever thought of changing your username to Insight?

Don't be silly, your keepers are far better than Robbo. Proved it a couple of weeks ago against us.....

.....oh wait.....

Awryte who voted for Cherrie own up!!

Gallacher.

Gallacher is significantly better than the rest, IMO.

I'd love to see him at Saints.

Paul Gallagher was brilliant against us in a game last year and played well in the others as well I think. Coupled with the fact he has played at a much higher level I would say he is the best goalie in this division

Rab Douglas, although I haven't seen him yet, is getting great reviews from Dundee fans and if he is half the keeper he was a few years ago he is the one to challenge Gallagher for top dog.

Of the others none have looked anything too special, Tuffey has played 2 or 3 games for us where he has been incredible but has got too many weak spots in his game.

I think both our keepers have their strenghs and weaknesses so I wouldnt vote for them.

I would have to say Rab Douglas. Has made a few blips in his career like most keepers but was generally very good for Celtic and Dundee.

I think Rab is a great keeper as he's shown this season so far. But Robertson and Gallagher have made top class saves against us to deny us scoring with both results ending in 0-0 draws. Anyway seeing both of them I would have to go for Gallagher for just now after saturdays performance.

I voted for Tuffey simply because he has always been amazing against livi.

Paul Gallacher by a mile, still dont know why he signed a 3 yr deal, could do so much better. I also like the Clyde keeper Hutton, dont know why tho!

I can only judge Robertson based on his one-on-ones with Gary Arbuckle, leading me to believe that he is Scotland's number 1 'keeper. Either that or GA is shite.

i think robbo has massively improved since last year

has to be gallacher

he was a scotland international for gods sake, he deserves better than dunfermline

intrestingly enough i dont think any dunfi fans have made a comment

would be alan main but he cannae kick a bloody ball for shit

I've been one of Roberstons biggest critics. The last time we were in the 1st division and in a few games last season he was a disaster making really bad mistakes in big games but to be fair to him he has been outstanding so far this season and more than deserves his player of the month award.

As someone said earlier on in the thread his main weakness is been cross balls. So far this season we have had 2 fullbacks (Smyth & Hazelly) who have done a great job of stopping teams from putting crosses into our box and that coupled with the 2 centre half's (Donnelly & Nixon) who have got there heads on to anything that has made into our box meant that Robertson staying on his line hasn't been an issue.

Where did you get Hazelly, Donnelly and Nixon from? I think I've heard of Donnelly before this season, but neither of the other 2.

Donnelly was with us last season and before that at Motherwell. Nixon joined from Motherwell as well but this close season (flirted with first team action without getting a run). Haze came from down south (Stoke I think) and is an Irish lad.

Hope this helps

Yeah Hazely was signed from Stoke City. He has played for Northern Ireland at under 21 level.

Shows you what a good bit of scouting can do. Morton were a league above you last year, yet you picked up Donnelly from Motherwell, and they ended up with choosing the horrific Adam Coakley


His names Hazell isn't it. I assume Hazelly and Hazely are nicknames. I thought your left side was very strong against us.

Hazley is the name

http://www.airdrieunitedfc.com/player_profile.asp?player=34

Morton's approach of paying the GDP of a small African country in wages and transfer fees is rather amusing though.

Received P&B wisdom is that budget is everything with good scouting and coaching taking a back seat these days. Bizarrely, many first division managers tend to agree and spend the summer chasing the same players with the resultant pressure on wage levels.

Good management can go a long way towards plugging the gap in resources that smaller teams in any league suffer from.

Nixon was on loan at Queens last season. He was so poor on his debut, against Saints, though that I don't think he featured again and Chisholm was forced to backtrack and bring Andy Aitken back in after telling him he was free to leave.

Can't argue with Airdrie's defensive record though, so he must be doing something right now.

he must have improved ALOT since the last time i saw him as he was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has had a few ropey moments at Airdrie as well but he is still a young lad. He got hooked early doors against Dundee but he was suffering from a virus.

the big boy Nixon is quite slow and as said has had a few ropey moments but beside big bobby they really do look solid . . . last season when balls were being whipped in I used to shut my eyes and pray it would be cleared but theres not that worry this season . . .so far . . .

Robertson was great against us when we drew 0-0 but i will always remember him for letting Lyles 20 odd mousy crawler go through his legs - best goalkeeping howler ive ever seen at a game.

That seems a sensible approach. In our defeat at Firhill, McInnes and Rutkiewicz seemed to think it a good idea to play for an hour with the later suffering from viral meningitis!