Palmer is not guaranteed to be first choice keeper

New loan signing Alex Palmer is not guaranteed to be Plymouth Argyle’s first choice goalkeeper, manager Ryan Lowe has declared.

The 22-year-old has been brought to Home Park on a season-long loan from Championship club West Bromwich Albion.

However, Lowe has insisted it will be ‘a straight fight’ between Palmer and 19-year-old Michael Cooper to be the first choice shot-stopper during 2019/20.

Palmer completed his move to Argyle at the start of this week after returning from a pre-season training camp with West Brom in Spain.

He then played the whole game as the Pilgrims lost 3-1 away to Torquay United at Plainmoor on Tuesday night.

Palmer, who played four games for England under-16 earlier in his career, has come highly recommended.

Lowe told Plymouth Live: “It has been on the cards for a while. We got some good feedback on him and, ultimately, the boy wanted to come.

“He has not played many games. He has been the (under) 23s’ goalkeeper at West Brom.

“When I spoke to him he said he was relishing the opportunity to get out and play league football, and wants to be a part of something special.

“A goalkeeper of his calibre, who has represented England and is on West Brom’s books for a reason, they don’t become available often.

“We got loads of ‘keepers thrown at us, and we done our homework and made sure it was the right one.

“He was away with West Brom for a week and then drove down to Plymouth on Sunday night.

“He’s going to give us something different and him and Coops, it’s up to them.

“There ain’t no one and two. It’s just about two young, quality ‘keepers fighting it out for one position.”

Neither Palmer nor Cooper have much first team experience but that does not concern Lowe.

Palmer has not made a first team appearance for West Brom, although he played four times for the under-21s’ side in the Checkatrade Trophy last season.

He also had emergency seven-day loan spells at Oldham Athletic and Notts County in 2018/19, playing for each club once.

Cooper, meanwhile, has made two substitute appearances for Argyle’s first team and started one Checkatrade Trophy group game.

Lowe said: “They are two young quality ‘keepers and they have got to start somewhere haven’t they? I’m happy to give them a chance.

“Michael Cooper will probably wear the number one jersey, but it’s a straight fight between them.

“Alex knows that, Coops knows that, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Refreshing way of doing it, both young and hungry and if you get an opportunity and do well you keep the shirt, how it should be imo.

Standard practice to have 2 keepers similar in ability these days.

So pleased Cooper is getting a proper chance to show his abilities unlike last season.

i rather cooper battled it out with a more senior keeper myself someone who actually played more than a handful of games. 

having two inexperienced keepers no matter their potential and developing abilities could be a problem if that defence isnt sorted like it was with Macey and that shower of shit. Regardless we will need a 3rd keeper on the books hopefully that one will have the exp to pass on to he other two.

Aye I'm sure that Mcormick benefited from training with and being mentored by Larryo.

This is the position that worries me the most after last season specially after the Maceymare
Puzzling why they don’t go and get expirenced L2 keeper ..if anythink don’t know why they let letheren go to Salford ..tbf he played blinder when he came in the side and nearly kept us up with some of his performances just a shame he got injured you never know we might have stayed up

I felt sorry for Macey to be honest, thrown in at the deep end behind a terrible defence, he didn't stand a chance.

Earwegoagain wrote:

I felt sorry for Macey to be honest, thrown in at the deep end behind a terrible defence, he didn't stand a chance.

It’s true he was hopelessly exposed behind a shite defence. But in those situations, because the defence was so hapless, the keeper gets plenty of chances to show how good he is. Macey wasn’t even fulfilling the basic requirements of commanding his area and being a competent shot stopper.

Last season, for me was collectively the worst defence/keeper(s) combination I’ve ever had the misfortune to watch.

Earwegoagain wrote:

I felt sorry for Macey to be honest, thrown in at the deep end behind a terrible defence, he didn't stand a chance.

even though the defence was bad so was he with some of his clangers
Teams were doing there home work on him knew he never came for corners teams would put two man on him one would stand in front of him and one behind and basically just bog him down and get in his way cos they knew he wouldn’t come for corners After Charlton used that tactic on him after most clubs followed suit Southend where another side that worked that tactic brilliantly on him and roughed him up was Southend at HP

Czarcasm wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

I felt sorry for Macey to be honest, thrown in at the deep end behind a terrible defence, he didn't stand a chance.

It’s true he was hopelessly exposed behind a shite defence. But in those situations, because the defence was so hapless, the keeper gets plenty of chances to show how good he is. Macey wasn’t even fulfilling the basic requirements of commanding his area and being a competent shot stopper.

Last season, for me was collectively the worst defence/keeper(s) combination I’ve ever had the misfortune to watch.

i disagree with you about the shot stopping. Commanding the area yes he needs to work on and that will come with experience but De Gea would have struggled with that defence they truly have no buisness being pro footballers let alone get trusted all season long by the manager.

Cooper needs to be playing if he's going to make it and this gives him the best opportunity to do that. Having an experienced keeper around would just see him on the bench week after week. If it goes tits up we can always abuse the emergency keeper system.

Coxside_Green wrote:

Cooper needs to be playing if he's going to make it and this gives him the best opportunity to do that.  Having an experienced keeper around would just see him on the bench week after week.  If it goes tits up we can always abuse the emergency keeper system.

And having another young talented keeper wouldn't? his career is in his hands he will have to earn his starting place whether its with Palmer or an experienced keeper.

the emergency system only works if both or at least one is injuried or suspended.