Newcastle and Aston Villa’s goalkeepers have both made errors early in the season.
Pierluigi Gollini of Aston Villa applauds the fans after the game
Aston Villa and Newcastle United were particularly active in the transfer window this summer as they sought to re-shape their squads after relegation.
This meant getting rid of unwanted players or those who didn’t want to be there, and adding new faces.
One decision both clubs made was to bring in new goalkeepers, and they each elected to sign stoppers from abroad, with Villa signing Pierluigi Gollini and Newcastle adding Matz Sels.
Newcastle United’s Matz Sels looks dejected after the match
So far, it has not been an overwhelming success. The duo have each had their issues in adapting to the Championship, both making errors.
Sels was partially culpable for Aaron Tshibola’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw between the two sides at the weekend, while Gollini was involved in an embarrassing mix up early in the campaign in home loss to Huddersfield Town.
Aston Villa’s Pierluigi Gollini looks dejected after Huddersfield’s first goal
Such errors do little for the confidence of the defence in front them, hardly ideal in a critical season for both clubs.
With neither playing having any competitive experience in England, let alone the Championship, it is fair to wonder whether the two clubs have made an error in not looking for a more tried and tested pair of hands.
The real time to judge Gollini and Sels will be at the end of the season, but based on what we have seen so far, there is enough reason to worry that they could be exposed as weak links when the campaign reaches it’s critical stages.
Wolves’ Helder Costa is denied by Newcastle United’s Matz Sels
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
