Is it just me or has he improved dramatically recently?

I share your opinion, a number of players appear to have found a bit of confidence since Lee’s arrival..... of course there are those that will disagree, of which I was one, but I stand corrected.
Still like to see the youngster given a game though., just out of curiosity.

didn,t go yesterday but i haven,t seen much difference. always a decent shot stopper but as a FL pro so he should be. doubt any of his saves anyway would be leage 2 saves of the season contenders, just ones you expect keepers to make.

Pools have definitely improved defensively since Lee and Nelson took over from Challinor - only 13 goals conceded in the 15 league and cup games played since 2nd December, and that includes the 2 scored by Palace.

Everybody deserves credit for that, including Ben Killip. He's always been a good shot stopper and is a confident player - apart from a wobble right after he joined us. He's seen off all his rivals while he's been at Pools, including Mitchell, who in now a regular starter in League One, so he must be doing something right.

That said, I'm one of those who is never going to be completely happy with a keeper who can't command his box against crosses, lets himself be pinned to his goal line and is a hopeless flapper at times.

I am prepared to take the positives and negatives of Killip as a package.
Let's get behind the guy.
He is not a PL keeper and we are a L2 club.

He definitely has started to make more crucial saves. Saying that can you go into play off final games, cup semi finals with keepers who are dodgy from crosses? It nearly cost us the play off win, let's hope it doesn't come back to haunt us again in the really big games.

thats the reason why he will never win me over but i,m always happy for pools players i do not rate to prove me wrong. Come on Gav if you are reading this.

Our record since Lee took over has shown a more resilient defence.

well if lee and nelson do not know about defending then nobody does. think the only thing people remember of DC in his playing career was his throw ins.

And his Leg breaker.

do not remember stockport fans of that. 12 months ago they did not want him anywhere near them because of that. something that they have now conveniently forgotton.

Tbh he should be improving - hes had Ross Turnbull and Dimi as coaches. If them 2 cant make a GK out of you then your a no hoper and should join the Dole queue.

his kicking and shot stopping has always been his strongest points - his reactions are good (its shown more than ever in this league as the strikers can actually hit the target more often than not). But he still gambles when he shouldnt - still makes the odd dodgy short pass - plus his commanding of the box is the worst ive seen in a long long time. But yes hes improved and long may it continue. Id still like to see the new lad have a chance though.

Watched rotherham yesterday and they score their goals from set pieces so thats a big problem we have to solve,they are the land of the giants team.

I remember Roy Keane talking about the failings of one of the England central defenders. He said words to the effect that he's had the best coaches in the world.....he just can't do it, he isnt good enough. I wonder if the same could be said of Killip (maybe not the best coaches in the world but good coaches at this level)? As a young player he would have been coached and honed his skills. Is he now at the point where he isnt going to get any better? Good coaching may improve a player but it cannot insert ability which just isn't there. Just a thought. I mean an average league 2 striker would be playing for Man City if it was possible to actually change a players ability purely by the right coaching. Just a thought. Maybe Killip cannot command his area and never will regardless of how much he is coached: he just cant do it.

this is very true - seen it time and time again. Those have natural ability and those that simply have been coached and worked hard to be where they are in the game. Alot of the South american players seem to just have that natural flair. They live and breathe the game. For the average British lad trying to get into the game sometimes they are picked purely on their height or stature at a young age regardless of talent. Hence why the England team hasnt wont jack since 66. Years and years of picking the wrong players - but hey thats a conversation for another day.

Killip for me (if he hadnt been promoted with Pools) would always be a steady away decent enough NL player. I think he may be one of those that hits their best seasons when he is 33-35. Bit more experience and not trying to take on the defenders and running out the box with the ball sometimes.

Rotherham will be a massive threat from their set pieces - for me we have to not give away silly free kicks in the final 3rd.

Let’s not bull Rotherham up. If they were that good they’d be in the Premiership or winning the FA Cup.
Building a team around a squad of ‘big foots’ is handy in physical contact and bullying in the box, but to be fair, nature usually compensates and they’re absolute shit on the ground.
When these teams come up against teams prepared to keep the ball on the ground, their collective brains hurt.

Rotherham are walking League One at the minute and there must be a lot more to them than physicality. That said, Pools turned over Blackpool so of course the game is winnable at home.

Rotherham are walking League One at the minute and there must be a lot more to them than physicality.
just another case of a good big one being better than a good small one. some of those tricky ball players you see nowadays are hardly dwarfs like ronaldo they are 6 footers.

:laugh:

I'll give you the shot stopping but Killip's kicking has always been wayward and it was absolutely atrocious in the second half tonight. Practically every time he had the chance to relieve pressure on the defence he put it straight into touch. Jamie Sterry was going his ends with him.

within a few minutes in the second half we saw the best and worst of killip. flapping at a corner and missing the ball and then an excellent save.