QPR: Gomez, Green, Foster or Forster - Who do you want as number one?
Mark Hughes has stepped up his search for a new number one for the 2012/13 season and there appears to be four main names in the frame. Tottenham's out-of-favour Heurelho Gomes, West Ham's out-of-contract Robert Green, Birmingham City's Ben Foster, who spent last season on loan at West Brom, and Newcastle's Fraser Forster, who has been in the sticks at Glasgow Celtic for the past two seasons. But who do you want as your number one?
All four of them have the ability to be top class. Unfortunately, they are also all capable to committing monumental howlers. With Paddy Kenny looking likely to team up with his former boss Neil Warnock at Leeds, QPR need someone to fill his gloves, but who?
I'm here to refresh your memories and help you make your decision.
Heurelho Gomes
Brazil is not exactly famed for producing great goalkeepers and Gomes is certainly not a great goalkeeper. Tottenham raised a few eyebrows when Juande Ramos paid PSV about £8m for the Brazilian shotstopper. To be fair in Holland he helped the Dutch giants win four league titles in a row and the KNVB Cup. His reputation was growing and it was only a matter of time before an English club came in to poach him. However, life in England has not gone smoothly for the 31-year-old.
His positional sense, inability to deal with crosses and erratic decisions led many fans to question his signing. High-profile blunders didn't help either.
But for every monumental balls up, Gomes could also rescue games with some blinding saves.
Gomes lost his starting position at Spurs last season following the arrival of American international Brad Friedel. Will Gomes get another crack at the Premier League with QPR?
Robert Green
Greeno has just helped West Ham back to the Premier League but he is seeking a new challenge and staying in London could be his preferred option. They say you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper but the England international is totally sane. Never one for ranting and raving, Greeno just does his utmost to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net.
At 32 Green has bags of big game experience, superb reactions and is a master at saving penalties, as this YouTube clip will verify.
However, most people will remember Robert Green for his blunder against the US in the World Cup in 2010.
But Green has bounced back from that blunder and is stronger for it. With no transfer fee to shell out Greeno could well be Hughes's number one.
Ben Foster
The Birmingham City keeper spent last season on loan at West Brom and played a blinder in helping Roy Hodgson's men into the top 10. At 29, the former Manchester United keeper is still a baby in goalkeeper terms yet has so much experience under his belt. Foster is also a confident character and not many things faze him.
But just like Gomes and Green before him, Foster has been guilty of a few howlers. The most notable one is the one against West Ham United in the Carling Cup two season ago, letting Carlton Cole's tame effort sneak under him.
Fraser Forster
The onloan Celtic keeper is hot property just now and Neil Lennon is desperate to tie him down to a full-term deal at Celtic, but the 24-year-old is keen to boost his chances of playing for England in Brazil 2014 and may see the Premier League as the best shop window to achieve that goal.
At 6ft 7in, Forster is not going to be lobbed too many times and already has more than 100 games under his belt, not to mention a number of league and cup winner's medals. Forster wants to be playing first team football and would improve any side. Here is a superb reaction save which he pulled off against Rangers in 2011.
But he is not exempt from the odd howler himself. Forster held his hands up and took responsibility for this blunder against Rennes.
So there you have the four main targets in action, but Hughes could also be tempted by former Spurs and Blackburn man Paul Robinson.
However, if you were in Hughes's boots, who would you go out to bring to Loftus Road and why? We'd love to hear from you.
