Butland reiterates first-team desire (From Daily Echo)
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Butland reiterates first-team desire
12:05pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Saints News
Jack Butland
Birmingham's highly-rated teenage goalkeeper Jack Butland is desperate for regular first-team football with the club next year.
The 19-year-old has been named in the Team GB squad for the Olympics and was England's third-choice at Euro 2012 but has yet to make his senior debut for Blues.
He has nevertheless attracted the attention of Barclays Premier League newcomers Saints, who have had a £6m bid for him turned down, while others have also been keeping an eye on the player.
At the moment, though, Butland is focusing on sealing his place in Birmingham's first XI.
"I want to play as many games at the highest level as I possibly can," he said.
"I should be pushing for a first-team place at Birmingham. That's what I want, not to be sitting on the bench. It is time I played now.
"I've had some great experiences with England at the European Championship and I can't wait for the Olympics to start.
"My name has been linked with some interested clubs and that's flattering. It's not an option for me now though, I need games."
Comments(10)
billythesaint
says...
1:12pm Thu 12 Jul 12
billythesaint
says...
1:25pm Thu 12 Jul 12
billythesaint wrote:I probably should have read the article!
Although Butland is obviously a class keeper he's being a bit over ambitious to think he's going to be first choice for a Premier League team when he's only played 3rd division football up to now. 19 for an outfield player maybe but for a GK that is very young and inexperienced. I'd love it if we bought him and slowly bedded him in to be our number one in a year or two but I think this one will fall away unfortunately unless he gets a reality check. Even if he's the finest goalie ever lived is he really going to command his area and boss the defence as a teenager? Nah.
hamblesaint
says...
2:15pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Tubbystubb
says...
2:31pm Thu 12 Jul 12
In my opinion better to leave well alone.
St Retford
says...
2:38pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
5:16pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Tirau Dan
says...
10:44pm Thu 12 Jul 12
White and red till dead
says...
6:18am Fri 13 Jul 12
Alicesdad
says...
2:19pm Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford wrote:Agreed.... And we know that NC is highly skilled in negotiation. It also helps that we are PREMIER LEAGUE!!
What demands is he making? He's just saying he'd rather be playing games in the Championship than sitting on the bench in the Premier League. It's a commendable attitude imo. The skill from Nicola's point of view will be in convincing him of the opportunities he'll get at Saints.
If this fella is as good as they say then everyone will be happy. I think that if we buy him he will not be a shoe in for a first team place straight away. We had a supposedly top class reserve keeper before .. and we all know what happened there.
Football is a funny game, you make your decisions then see what happens.
Paul Lucas says...
12:50pm Thu 12 Jul 12