the back-up goalie problem

Ok. we've all pondered over it. we are managing a club with a pretty decent keeper & lets face it, the keeper injuries are quite low this version, but what happens if we do loose the number one?

I for one don't place a back-up on the bench, as I dare say many of you don't. But who do we pick when things do go tits up? how many of us buy a keeper that is quite happy to sit on the bench and be competent when the shit hits the fan?

lets have a look-

free transfer wise, the best-



absolutely the best free transfer wise. still cant believe this guy hasn't got a club. the tendentious situation is a problem but if he recovers from that, a great keeper! remember, sunderland paid £7m for this guy in his pomp!

Julio cesar. ok another really good keeper but I cant help but feel he's lived his life as a back-up. plus he would never get WP if you're playing in England.



ok, looking at other alternative frees as back-ups I have a few-

david james. hhhm... old but still good!



all of these can do a job but some may not get WPs. take a look-









please bear in mind, that these keepers aren't peter shilton!




they are the best free transfers I could find if you need a back-up!

here's more-

and...

all wank! but all free!

Great guide mate! Always had this problem myself so will take a look at these!

ok, we've had a look at the freebies, but if you're like me, you don't want to be spending too much on a player who may or may not sit on your bench.
this bit I'm gunna look at the best GKs for under £1m. again, some you may know, but some you wont. plus not all will get a WP!



this guy is a cracker! he isn't the tallest, but he's a regular international so WP shouldn't be a problem. plus he's 26! an absolute steal.

scott loach. always linked with the England team so he needs a mention-

£150k for a Ghanaian international keeper? say no more!

ok, I really like this keeper-



cheap as chips!

a really competent keeper this one. will defo be a good back up.

this lad has been linked with a few top clubs IRL.



he looks ok for under £1m

ok, im getting into young potential material here, but these guys are defo worth a look...

really cracking young keepers here. all are very highly rated IRL.

wont get a WP for these last 2 but they need a mention. for some reason there seems to be a lot of good Uruguayans in the game!

Ok for this next bit, I thought I would give you a top 20 of my own personal back-up goalie choices, valued from £1m to £5m, from playing experiences during network games. I've avoided going for anyone over 30 years of age as I don't feel they are a good long term investment.
listed from the cheapest-



been a big fan of his for a while now and it was no surprise Monaco wanted him on loan. that's the stumbling block, as they have an agreed price to sign him after a year (£4.2m) if they want him. if not, snap him up. you can do a lot worse than this Argentina international.



needs no introduction does kasper, and he is increasingly living up to his namesake. my only misgivings in-game is his 'handling' which is IMO a bit on the low side. probably could pick him up for less than his market value with a bit of negotiating. is more than capable to warm any premiership bench.



fraser is often linked with a move to Barcelona and England call-ups so he can't be doing much wrong! there seems to be a lot of reasonable priced good celtic players in-game and fraser is no exception. get him for around the £4m mark.



maybe a bit obscure this one, but he's been attracting a interest from top clubs. only just gone to Verona from twente but he's a regular for Bulgaria. you can probably be expected to pay around £5m at the start of the game.



was toying whether or not to include Ochoa as his stats have taken a massive hit since previous versions, especially in 'handling'. but, i think he deserves to be in the mix. has a buyout clause of £7.75m and you can probably be expected to pay around that. seen him sign for man u in one of my games so the AI must still rate him.



love this kid! first discovered him during a network game when I was dynamo Kiev's manager for 3 seasons and he was top draw. ready now IMO. expect to pay just over £10m for this lad but get in there quick as his price rises! defo worth it.



seems to be plying his trade in the championship a bit too much for my liking IRL but I think its obvious he will be a top draw keeper in the future. he will be very difficult to prise away from stoke in the first season, but bear him in mind after that. if you're a premiership club, what's not to love about a young, quality, English keeper?



a FM legend here! still looks quality, still under 30 and still has that £5m buyout clause. what's not to like?



now this Dutch keeper was a regular for RKC in the Dutch top flight on loan for 2 seasons. I think PSV have now realised they have a very good goalie on their books. his stats suggest that also. as a result, they may ask silly money.



another great young English keeper with plenty of potential. he wont be cheap though. expect to pay around £7m.




ospina has always been a reasonable priced keeper with a reasonable amount of quality. £5m-ish should be a good price for this bench warmer.



capped for France and a regular for saint Etienne. again, around the £5m mark would be a good price for this French stopper.



ajax. another in-game team with classy players. and why not? recently won his first Dutch caps and a good bet to make the world cup, around £6m should land you jasper.



a very competent keeper this one. probably should've won more caps. I've signed him many a time and he has never let me down. buyout clause of £11m and I would be surprised if they let him go for anything less. he can be a first team starter rather than an understudy.



now this is a shocker. not at him being included, but that the fact that PSG will accept a bid for around his asking price! a brilliant keeper who will defo do you a job at number 1, let alone from the bench. wages could be a stumbling bloke for some teams though. a top draw keeper.



no doubts about rafaels quality, just Napoli's silly asking price. shouldn't be a problem later on in the game though as they never play him due to having reina. so wait till next season. he was a good back-up in my Chelsea network game, then I flogged him for a profit to everton where he became their first team regular.



always been a big fan of yann IRL and in-game. his stats have always been great and he's always been available for a decent price. a more than competent keeper available for around the £7-8m asking price.

ah ruddy. what's not like? 26yrs old and an outside chance of making the world cup for England. Norwich would be interested in doing business around the £5m mark for this smashing keeper.


the last two are surprisingly Spanish...

kiko's name has been mentioned with a lot of top premier league clubs. £6m-sh will land you this Espanyol stopper.



Valencia through and through but they will listen to offers of around £8m for vicente. at 26, with a decent amount of playing time, both of these last two are more than capable of breaking into the Spanish international team.


feel free to add any comments, questions or your own suggestions!