Football is a simple enough game. Two teams play each other and the winner is decided by whoever manages to put the ball into the back of the net more. The final objective of the game makes the position of the goalkeeper absolutely pivotal. While mistakes committed by other players can go unnoticed or even ignored, a keeper’s misjudgment often leads to the opposition scoring and thereby changing the course of the match. The game of the custodian is dependent on very fine few moments and a ton of nerves. His game is more in the mind than anywhere else.
Confidence for a keeper to blossom is crucial and a loss of trust of the manager or the team can ruin their careers way more significantly than for players in other positions. While loan moves are believed to be the modern day technique used by clubs to help their off form players get back into the right track or help the young ones develop, the dark truth of it remains the same; the player is simply not good enough yet to cut it at the present club.
For a keeper, who has been loaned out to four different clubs in the last 5 years, the mental strength of the player must be immense. Ryan Allsop who signed for Bournemouth back in 2013 as a young, promising goalkeeper from Leyton Orient has failed to cement his place in the Cherries side.
Upon his arrival, the Englishman was impressive and performed for a string of matches helping his club clinch promotion. However, his joy was short-lived as three months into Bournemouth’s 2013-14 campaign the player lost his spot to new signing Lee Camp.
Ever since he has not been a backup option in the team and played little part in the club’s journey to the English Premier League. He was loaned out for the 2014/15 season where he was a regular but upon returning to the club for the 2015-16 season, he was once again a backup option. He spent the remainder of the season on loan again, this time with two different clubs in the form of Wycombe and Portsmouth.
While on loan at Blackpool this season, the 25-year-old made 23 appearances but failed to make a mark. His loan spell has ended and the player has returned to Bournemouth. The Cherries have a top keeper in Asmir Begovic this season. The former Stoke City goalkeeper was signed from Chelsea in the summer for a fee of 8 million pounds and is now the first choice keeper at the club.
It seems Allsop is set for another frustrating six months at Bournemouth and should instead try and opt for another loan move where he can at least get regular game time.
