The Aynsley Pears depreciation thread.

[bluebruce]

38 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Nonsense. What would Toth have done differently for the Wrexham and Ipswich equalisers?

I fully agree Toth can save shit that Pears probably wouldn’t, and over the course of the season it makes a difference, but the lack of clean sheets in the last two games would have happened with those goals regardless of who was in the nets.

 

I feel like you didn't read/understand my post so I'll just leave you to it.

[RevidgeBlue]

5 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

I feel like you didn't read/understand my post so I'll just leave you to it.

I agree with Hasta.

Pears is not very good but tbf he has been fairly faultless since we had no choice but to bring him back in.

It would have made zero difference having Toth in nets, the goals that have been conceded have been down to individual defensive errors or poor defending as a unit.

[wilsdenrover]

48 minutes ago, KentExile said:

boooo

poooo

[StHelensRover]

In the last 3 or 4 years I've regularly torn my hair out about Pears to the point I've hardly any left.

However, since he has recently returned to the starting XI  I don't think he has done anything wrong. I don't blame him for any of the results we've had and can't see how Toth would have made a difference. Overall Toth is a more skilled goalkeeper and I would put him back in when available, but Aynsley's not a villain for me at the moment. He does like playing against Sheffield Wednesday though...

Edited December 6 by StHelensRover

[Andy]

He's made a couple of errors per game, but none have been significant and/or have been punished.

Today's example was the dropped catch, under no pressure.

But, as I say this as his biggest anti-fan, otherwise he's been perfectly ok in the games he's filled in for.

As many have said before, he's acceptable as a number 2.

[aletheia]

Made a good save with his leg right at start of second half -but don't let that interfere with anyone's prejudice. 🙂 

[B16Rover]

We're all a couple of weeks into the cyclical 6 weeks of Ainsley Pears.  He starts surprisingly well, pulls out a few decent saves despite some flappyness by week two.  By week three we've conceded a few but any keeper would.  We peak in week 4, and then it all starts to crumble.  By week 6 the flappyness increases.  Week 7 we stop altogether coming for crosses and by week 8 we disorganised the defence.  

Then, after an international break he starts again quite well.  Pulls out a few decent saves despite some flappyness...

[Tom]

He’s been fine enough, made some decent saves and nothing howling that’s led to a goal, got away with a couple at Preston but didn’t cost us

[Andy]

22 hours ago, aletheia said:

Made a good save with his leg right at start of second half -but don't let that interfere with anyone's prejudice. 🙂 

In fairness, I don't remember anyone being unfairly critical of him.

He's just made proportionately huge - costly - mistakes in important games for us, pointing to a lack of general competence as a number 1 goalkeeper at this level.
Just take the single error against Sheffield at home last/previous season in isolation; no professional GK should be making that mistake.

And he's rightly criticised for that.

[GHR]

On 06/12/2025 at 14:22, StHelensRover said:

In the last 3 or 4 years I've regularly torn my hair out about Pears to the point I've hardly any left.

 

Given what allegedly happened in summer, so was he.

[oneandycrawford]

4 minutes ago, GHR said:

Given what allegedly happened in summer, so was he.

Late entry for post of the year!

[Tim Southampton Rover]

All in all, I think Pears has done well since Toth got injured. We all feared that would be a major issue, but his performances, aside from a few decisions in the Portsmouth game, have meant we have coped a lot better in goal than we expected to. 

The question now is: have those performances given Val something to think about, or will Toth walk straight back into the team?

I know what most fans think: as soon as Toth is fit, he starts. But what do you think Val will do?

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, Tim Southampton Rover said:

All in all, I think Pears has done well since Toth got injured. We all feared that would be a major issue, but his performances, aside from a few decisions in the Portsmouth game, have meant we have coped a lot better in goal than we expected to. 

The question now is: have those performances given Val something to think about, or will Toth walk straight back into the team?

I know what most fans think: as soon as Toth is fit, he starts. But what do you think Val will do?

I would start Toth as soon as possible. Pears lack of communication is a problem for me and we witness it a couple of times on Saturday 

[Tomphil2]

Pears has been exactly what he is, a capable enough stand in for a better keeper.

We need to remember if it was up to the penny pinching powers that be he wouldn't be here now and we'd have had a raw kid in making the mistakes they all do when learning the trade.

 

[KentExile]

5 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

Pears has been exactly what he is, a capable enough stand in for a better keeper.

We need to remember if it was up to the penny pinching powers that be he wouldn't be here now and we'd have had a raw kid in making the mistakes they all do when learning the trade.

 

Although, the way Pratt & Litherland have stepped up so far, will probably embolden them to try again to offload one of Pears or Toth whilst promoting Michalski instead of replacing them

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Once Toth is back, it would make a lot of sense to loan out Michalski to play first team football. If Pears and Toth are here until the end of the season, both definitely won't be at the start of next, so Michalski getting experience is vital.

[KentExile]

8 minutes ago, Tim Southampton Rover said:

Once Toth is back, it would make a lot of sense to loan out Michalski to play first team football. If Pears and Toth are here until the end of the season, both definitely won't be at the start of next, so Michalski getting experience is vital.

 

Yes, completely agree

Unfortunately these days, sense very rarely takes precedence over cost cutting

Edited 3 hours ago by KentExile

[Tomphil2]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

Although, the way Pratt & Litherland have stepped up so far, will probably embolden them to try again to offload one of Pears or Toth whilst promoting Michalski instead of replacing them

It's guaranteed to happen if we drop a league.

[DE.]

Toth absolutely must return to No1 spot when he's fit again. It only takes one mistake for Pears' confidence to drain and then you get repeated mistakes for multiple games. We would ideally see Toth back in the sticks before that occurs this time. 

Pears has proven himself a capable backup. Not sure if he's on backup wages, mind. 

[Rogerb]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

 

Yes, completely agree

Unfortunately these days, sense very rarely takes precedence over cost cutting

Could be a contribution to a wage though which certain people would like so may happen

[Andy]

He's been fine and hasn't made any match-defining errors, so I think we've come away from what was a concerning period for the majority of us, when Toth got injured.

But, for sure, Toth comes straight back in.
He's proven to be levels above Pears, when he was given a proper run in the side.