Will Dennis

[GlenSTFC]

Surprised to read we’ve signed a new loan goalkeeper. I think Rhys has pulled off quite a few saves and has great potential. I would have thought it’ll be another defender we’d sign instead of a goalkeeper. But Will has very good pedigree and being full time training should make him a decent keeper, time will tell and I’m guessing he’ll start tomorrow (he wouldn’t come to sit on the bench?). I’m a little concerned we’ll alienate Rhys with this signing and end up losing him. I wonder if this was the one other signing Scott wanted to make?

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Surprised to read we’ve signed a new loan goalkeeper. I think Rhys has pulled off quite a few saves and has great potential. I would have thought it’ll be another defender we’d sign instead of a goalkeeper. But Will has very good pedigree and being full time training should make him a decent keeper, time will tell and I’m guessing he’ll start tomorrow (he wouldn’t come to sit on the bench?). I’m a little concerned we’ll alienate Rhys with this signing and end up losing him. I wonder if this was the one other signing Scott wanted to make?

Rhys has done nothing wrong and if he continues to progress he will be a top keeper but with the position we are in the league experience is everything which is what Will Dennis will bring to the club.

Have to admit I would have thought a central defender or a left back might have been a higher priority.

I suppose the opportunity came up to sign Will Dennis which couldn't be refused.

Edited January 20, 2023 by Reading Rebel

[GlenSTFC]

https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/dennis-signs-extension-and-departs-on-loan/

[BFR]

Rhys not listed in the squad for tomorrow. Hope he's getting a game somewhere else to continue his development 

[GlenSTFC]

Feels a little harsh on Rhys, but hopefully Scott has made the right call. Again I would have preferred another quality defender rather than a goalkeeper but hopefully Will will show his willingness and willpower… ok I’ll stop.

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

Have to say, this has shocked me a little, kind of feels like Rhys has been made a scapegoat for the team defending badly as a whole

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

as a goalkeeper you control your defenceso maybe just a wakeup call by scott nothing like a bit of competition to up your game

[Irishadrian]

5 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Rhys has done nothing wrong and if he continues to progress he will be a top keeper but with the position we are in the league experience is everything which is what Will Dennis will bring to the club.

Have to admit I would have thought a central defender or a left back might have been a higher priority.

I suppose the opportunity came up to sign Will Dennis which couldn't be refused.

No matter how much Scotty may want a quality defender it has to be the right one and Im guessing none are available right now  He cant pass on a quality player in another position while he waits imo.

[Scott Davies]

Feel like I have to say something here…

Rhys and I have had a really good chat, and things are fine. He’s been great. I’ve explained that we have conceded the most goals in the league and that he is the only player to have played every game since coming into the starting 11.

Other players in every position get dropped, rested, left out, whatever you want to call it and goalkeepers should be no different, but in this situation there seems to be questions, which I don’t mind.

Rhys is up there with the best when it comes to shot stopping, no hesitation in saying that, but he’s admitted he doesn’t talk enough or loudly enough when he does. His kicking has been questionable at times also which he openly admitted to me, so there are two areas of his game which he’s been trying to improve.

A keeper that is loud, organises and gives good information can make a huge difference for our back line and it’s something that we would like to improve on so that’s why we’ve made the decision for now. There’s no secret that Rhys has had to get through a lot of work this season making saves, but hopefully with someone behind the back 3 or 4 organising, we hope that the new keepers workload will become less. 
 

It’s important that Rhys continues to play, to develop and to learn parts of his game. I’ve sorted a loan to step 3 which would be good for him for now where he can continue to do this but it’s been put on hold for now by his agent, which is fine. I understand he has to do best by his player.

Taking a keeper out of the firing line is no different from leaving any other player out. He’s come so far in a year and I’ve told him yesterday how proud he should be of that as he’s achieved a lot, even dislodging Northy is a massive achievement, a goalkeeper who has played over 350 games at this level! 
 

Nobodies career is ever in an upward trajectory year after year, it’s sometimes one step back to two take or three forward. I believe Rhys will be a top keeper and player higher than the Conference South but for now I/we feel it’s the right thing for us.

I’ll be accountable for the decisions I make in giving us the best possible chance to stay in the division and I’m doing/giving everything I can to do that to make sure that we achieve it, so let’s see.

Hope that helps 👍🏼

[Irishadrian]

4 minutes ago, Scott Davies said:

Feel like I have to say something here…

Rhys and I have had a really good chat, and things are fine. He’s been great. I’ve explained that we have conceded the most goals in the league and that he is the only player to have played every game since coming into the starting 11.

Other players in every position get dropped, rested, left out, whatever you want to call it and goalkeepers should be no different, but in this situation there seems to be questions, which I don’t mind.

Rhys is up there with the best when it comes to shot stopping, no hesitation in saying that, but he’s admitted he doesn’t talk enough or loudly enough when he does. His kicking has been questionable at times also which he openly admitted to me, so there are two areas of his game which he’s been trying to improve.

A keeper that is loud, organises and gives good information can make a huge difference for our back line and it’s something that we would like to improve on so that’s why we’ve made the decision for now. There’s no secret that Rhys has had to get through a lot of work this season making saves, but hopefully with someone behind the back 3 or 4 organising, we hope that the new keepers workload will become less. 
 

It’s important that Rhys continues to play, to develop and to learn parts of his game. I’ve sorted a loan to step 3 which would be good for him for now where he can continue to do this but it’s been put on hold for now by his agent, which is fine. I understand he has to do best by his player.

Taking a keeper out of the firing line is no different from leaving any other player out. He’s come so far in a year and I’ve told him yesterday how proud he should be of that as he’s achieved a lot, even dislodging Northy is a massive achievement, a goalkeeper who has played over 350 games at this level! 
 

Nobodies career is ever in an upward trajectory year after year, it’s sometimes one step back to two take or three forward. I believe Rhys will be a top keeper and player higher than the Conference South but for now I/we feel it’s the right thing for us.

I’ll be accountable for the decisions I make in giving us the best possible chance to stay in the division and I’m doing/giving everything I can to do that to make sure that we achieve it, so let’s see.

Hope that helps 👍🏼

That explains your reasoning fully what concerns me a bit is that either he or his agent may decide not to extend his time with us beyond the end of this season  any chance?

[Reading Rebel]

6 minutes ago, Scott Davies said:

Feel like I have to say something here…

Rhys and I have had a really good chat, and things are fine. He’s been great. I’ve explained that we have conceded the most goals in the league and that he is the only player to have played every game since coming into the starting 11.

Other players in every position get dropped, rested, left out, whatever you want to call it and goalkeepers should be no different, but in this situation there seems to be questions, which I don’t mind.

Rhys is up there with the best when it comes to shot stopping, no hesitation in saying that, but he’s admitted he doesn’t talk enough or loudly enough when he does. His kicking has been questionable at times also which he openly admitted to me, so there are two areas of his game which he’s been trying to improve.

A keeper that is loud, organises and gives good information can make a huge difference for our back line and it’s something that we would like to improve on so that’s why we’ve made the decision for now. There’s no secret that Rhys has had to get through a lot of work this season making saves, but hopefully with someone behind the back 3 or 4 organising, we hope that the new keepers workload will become less. 
 

It’s important that Rhys continues to play, to develop and to learn parts of his game. I’ve sorted a loan to step 3 which would be good for him for now where he can continue to do this but it’s been put on hold for now by his agent, which is fine. I understand he has to do best by his player.

Taking a keeper out of the firing line is no different from leaving any other player out. He’s come so far in a year and I’ve told him yesterday how proud he should be of that as he’s achieved a lot, even dislodging Northy is a massive achievement, a goalkeeper who has played over 350 games at this level! 
 

Nobodies career is ever in an upward trajectory year after year, it’s sometimes one step back to two take or three forward. I believe Rhys will be a top keeper and player higher than the Conference South but for now I/we feel it’s the right thing for us.

I’ll be accountable for the decisions I make in giving us the best possible chance to stay in the division and I’m doing/giving everything I can to do that to make sure that we achieve it, so let’s see.

Hope that helps 👍🏼

Thanks Scott.

 

[Scott Davies]

5 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

That explains your reasoning fully what concerns me a bit is that either he or his agent may decide not to extend his time with us beyond the end of this season  any chance?

For a goalkeeper who is 23 and playing at step 2, I wouldn’t be surprised if Slough wasn’t his agents first choice of clubs come the summer anyway. As much as people think that the club have to protect and look after players for the future etc, you have to remember that players will also be looking to move higher each season.

Ive seen it first hand how it works, if I’d had a good season as a young player (had one or two 😅), my agent was working tirelessly back in the day for me to move onto bigger and better things. I was always thinking what’s next, as was he! 
 

Im not saying Rhys is thinking like that, but the objective is to keep the club in this league and then I’ll worry about the summer when it comes. I’ve been offered 8-10 goalkeepers in the past 6 weeks from pro clubs and said no each time because of age, stature, league. We just felt this one was too good an opportunity to turn down.