When the playing figures were developed to chip and slide it was
inevitable that the flimsy subbuteo keeper wouldn't save 1% of shots
and so it a new keeper had to come out. I think the toccer keeper is
fine but a metal toccer keeper is too much especially when it it is
much bigger and drastically repels the ball as well as complicating
refereeing when the rod, the post, the goalkeeper, the cross bar and
the goal fixing are all made from metal and sound the same when
struck.

Sports Figures, love them or hate them, revolutionised the game the
game and I don't have a problem with them. I use astrobase or
profibase because Sports just don't suit my style. Most players
should have plenty spares but when They are sold in packs of 10+1
most will has 2 sets of different colours, hence your encounter with
Burns. It is annoying but and you are entitled to have them change
but I don't bother, (just gives excuses for when I beat them).

Toccer figures are weird but are aimed at beginners, at all the
tournaments i've played i've not seen anyone over the age of 14 play
with them (apart from Dave Baxter) and they are fairly easy to play
against.

I think that FISTF need to watch what is happening with equipment
because it seems that there are now about 50 varieties of bases.
I think that Metal Goalkeepers could be removed. but that just my
opinion.

Robert R,
PS see you in two weeks :D