So, if David Stockdale’s tweet is anything to go by he won’t be starting against Palace tonight.

Seen it a mile off

— David Stockdale (@stockogk1313) October 21, 2013

It’s tough on the Englishman, who hasn’t done too much wrong any time he’s gotten a run in the team but always finds himself dropped for whoever our allotted number one is at the time. He never takes it well either, and is always quick to share his disappointment on social networks, often before the team news has been confirmed (such as tonight). I feel that it’s harsh, and maybe Stockdale would have developed enough so that Stekelenberg wasn’t needed if he managed game time ahead of Schwarzer, but when you compare him to either keeper we had at the present he always fell short.

The worst thing for Stockdale is how his move to Hull fell through in the Summer. It was a great pity for him, as he would have found himself playing regular first team football in the Premier League, but Hull refused to stump up £3m (a fair price I think) and went out to get the cheaper option of McGregor, who I consider a liability. But what’s done is done and it seems as if Stockdale will never get a chance to stamp his authority here at Fulham.

Moving on to the new guy, Stekelenberg came with a fair bit of fanfare but, after injuring each shoulder one after the other, found himself out for two months. Not the best way to settle in to a new side, especially making some magnificent stops in our 1-0 win over Sunderland. I think that we have missed him, and maybe thin margins like the difference between Stekelenberg and Stockdale are the reason we are not doing so well – but of course our problems are a lot more fundamental than that. Still, I am looking forward to seeing him play and hopefully recapture his form that made him goalkeeper of 2012, and with a place at the World Cup up for grabs he will be looking to take the opportunity, as well as his saves, with both hands.

LRCN