Surprised to see he didn't already have a thread! Really good penalty save today, thought he got down really well for it. Wonder if he'll keep his place now, not sure exactly why Bachmann was dropped, but if Hamer managed to keep the jersey after Norwich, you'd definitely imagine he'll keep it now
According to fbref.com (other websites are available!) in terms of post-shot xG-goals conceded he's prevented more goals than any other keeper in the league this season with 4.5, averaging 0.75 per game (streets ahead of anyone else, albeit a small sample size!). For reference, Bachmann is ever so slightly in a negative balance at -0.1 goals prevented, and was slightly in credit for last season with about 2 goals prevented across the course of the season
These stats purely measure shot-stopping, they don't measure how many goals you concede because your keeper doesn't come out for crosses, or because he karate-kicked the opposition up the other end of the pitch
For such a small sample size, xG for and against keepers is almost irrelevant. You want at minimum 10 games for it to start forming a meaningful relation to their shot stopping ability.
The penalty save must have a lot to do with that right? Bit like the Rajovic minutes per goal thing, it’ll soon mean very little. I like Hamer, certainly less irritating than Bachman but I think building him up to be anything less than average could be setting yourself up for anger in a few weeks. He’ll do, that’s all still need a new undisputed #1.
A penalty is about 0.8 xG, but this index measures how likely each shot on target is to go in once it reaches the keeper, so while it was a good save, it wasn't the hardest and it wasn't quite in the corner so it won't distort these stats (I imagine Saturday would have boosted his stats though, he made a lot of saves, some very good). I don't think he's been faultless, I think he could have done better for Norwich's second goal, and for the Southampton goal, but he's certainly been better than expected and I thought this was an interesting stat!
These stats are volatile, and it is early days, but unless he starts throwing the ball in the net, he'll still be in credit. I'm not one of Bachmann's biggest detractors, but unless he's bang on form stopping shots, he's a liability (and unfortunately, he's cost us more than he's saved us as his best performances in terms of shot-stopping have been in losing efforts against the better teams of the league)
It's always difficult to read into stats for keepers (I was one in my day), because it has a lot of bearing on how well the defence play. I saw PNE player ratings yesterday, most players got 4s and 5s, their keep got a 4. Looking at the goals, from PNE's keeper's perspective: The keeper was in the right position from Hoedt's cross, Bayo headed the ball down into the bottom corner, it was unsaveable. Effectively a one on one, the defender's position would have force Martins to shoot into the position the keeper was in, once set it's very difficult to shift body position to cut out the low shot. So positioned well, not much he could have done. Took a deflection, not much else he could have done despite reacting quickly. Left completely exposed by defence, got a hand to Bayo's first time shot but not enough, couldn't have done much more. Kone hit it hard and the keeper may have had his view blocked, however out of all of the goals conceded this is the one he should have done better with but by this point it was irrelevant anyway.
I think Hamer is having a purple patch of form right now. He made two top class saves against Preston. The important one when it was 0-0 clawing away a header then he made an equally great save diving to his opposite corner to turn away Robbie Brady's freekick in the last minute. His other saves were basically Preston players hitting the ball right at him. You could say his experience ensured he was standing in the most likely place the ball would go, and I do subscribe to that. Preston hit him two times in the first half with a first shot then a follow up, also they did this from point blank range in the second half when the score was 2-1. What I'm seeing is a player gaining confidence and game time has sharpened him up. His reactions are far better then they've been in previous games I've watched him. Long range shots were easily passing him, even as recently as the Norwich game, but since then I think he's been great. I'm not overly confident with him playing the ball with his feet. He seems to dwell on the ball for a little longer than he should and has been a bit lucky to have not been caught. But, from what I saw at Preston, he's earnt his place. Only a run of mistakes will undo him now. The shirt is his to lose.
Hamer is in my opinion another of our players who needed and is getting a regular run of starts, and to feel wanted and appreciated, and is blossoming as a result. Koné. Kayembe. Lewis. Livermore. And so on. All now regulars, all growing in front of our very eyes. We could even add Ismaël to that. Who’d ever have thought that continuity of coaches or players could bring such results eh, rather than firing every manager at the first sign or trouble or signing 20 players every window. Certainly not Pozzo over the last few hapless seasons.
I'm shocked how well he played v Preston. An outrageous save from a top bins header, perfect positoning on shots faced in various positions and voted MotM in a game where we scored 5. I don't think he's a long term solution but the place is firmly his now to lose, in much the same way it was for Bachmann when he came in for Foster. Is this sustainable form? I highly doubt it. But it shut me right up with me having written him off as a mediocre backup and is keeping his spot on merit.
The difference between Hamer and Bachmann gets bigger every game. Bachmann looked like an 18 year old making his debut against Chesterfield.
Great distribution, commands his area and the defence in front of him. The best contribution that Bachmann did all season was give Hamer the opportunity to shine.
It really shows how bad Bachmann is, and how shocking we are at scouting younger keepers, when the reserve that was never meant to play turns out to be far better than any of the dross you’ve gone out of your way to buy.
And again, he was signed as a PL player. Even at his best now he’s shown himself to be no better than a competent Championship midfielder. That’s obviously welcome in our current squad but he’s far from the player we supposedly signed.
Once again he makes a save and his defence aren't able to help him out on the rebound. I suppose you could say that he knocked it right in the line of fire, but I don't think he could have done much more, especially as he was left high and dry in the first place
Looked like he done well to carry on after he looked like tweaked left his hamstring clearing the ball before we scored ,
Let’s not forget that Ben has been superb since coming into the team, he’s got us out of the muck more than once. Proving to be a really savvy free signing,
He was savvy free signing, but was signed as third choice and wasn’t ever meant to play, so he has only worked out to be a ‘savvy’ signing by compete and utter accident, and it highlights just how bad our signings have been for the first, and even the second choice spot. So I won’t personally be giving the club too much credit for such savvy recruitment, especially when you consider the money wasted on the likes of Okeye to eventually end up playing a keeper who was only every signed as third choice.
Fair point - I’d still stand by Hamer being savvy in my opinion though. Not only for how well he’s done since (arguably fortunately as you’ve correctly said) coming into the side, but also the value he adds to the dressing room as part of the leadership group etc.
Couple of saves today got us the win. If anything I am happy for him. After this season I am sure his agent will have a few people calling for a starting job.
More worried that some bigger team will look at him to give him a cushy #3 job, if he wants to start, he might as well stay here
Is it just me who thinks he looks like he could be Pollock's dad or uncle? Is that why we're called a family club?
