Still not worthy of a thread

[Guest Howaythetoon]

De Gea's the best PL goalkeeper.

 

Ever? He’s the best at the moment, but the Great Dane was much better.

[Tiresias]

Best premier league keeper was Gomez (is he still at watford) for that time he thought he was taking a free kick but it was still in play and Nani just tapped it into the goal iirc.

[The College Dropout]

De Gea is better than Schmeichel was imo. De Gea might be the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen.  Commands his box. Great with his feet, Schmeichel played in an era when that was less important.  The Dane seemed moe likely to save penas and score goals.

 

Of course Peter played in a better team and his big moments accounted in bigger trophies. 

 

Buffoon’s longevity marks him as the best I’ve seen. No hidden weaknesses exposed. Not overly reliant on reflexes.  Demands of the modern game never got the better of him.

 

You don’t want to go out like Casillas.  Feel like Schmeichel was shit at Villa iirc.

[ponsaelius]

De Gea is a better shot stopper than Schmeichel. That's it.

[Tooj]

 

 

De Gea is better than Schmeichel was imo. De Gea might be the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen.  Commands his box. Great with his feet, Schmeichel played in an era when that was less important.  The Dane seemed moe likely to save penas and score goals.

Did you even see Schmeichel play?

 

[Guest]

De Gea is better than Schmeichel was imo. De Gea might be the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen.  Commands his box. Great with his feet, Schmeichel played in an era when that was less important.  The Dane seemed moe likely to save penas and score goals.

 

[Guest]

We're champions of England if Man Utd have De Gea as he is now, in 1996 like. That's not a slight at De Gea as he's brilliant but Schmeichel was something else.

[Tiresias]

If Ederson keeps up his debut season he may be the better keeper than De Gea I reckon. De Gea is a faultless shot stopper but Ederson complements his team so well and allows them to push up. I may be wrong but haven't seen him make a significant mistake.

[Guest firetotheworks]

 

 

De Gea is better than Schmeichel was imo. De Gea might be the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen.  Commands his box. Great with his feet, Schmeichel played in an era when that was less important.  The Dane seemed moe likely to save penas and score goals.

Did you even see Schmeichel play?

This is the only conclusion to be drawn here like. De Gea is categorically not better than Schmeichel was, like. Absolutely nowhere near.

[mrmojorisin75]

 

 

De Gea is better than Schmeichel was imo. De Gea might be the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen.  Commands his box. Great with his feet, Schmeichel played in an era when that was less important.  The Dane seemed moe likely to save penas and score goals.

Did you even see Schmeichel play?

This is the only conclusion to be drawn here like. De Gea is categorically not better than Schmeichel was, like. Absolutely nowhere near.

 

hm, not sure that's true personally...not as good but he's very fucking good

[The College Dropout]

So wait.. De Gea isn't a better shot-stopper and passer of the ball?

 

Schmeichel's impact might only be superseded by Ederson in the PL. At the time he was the most comfortable with the introduction of the backpass rule. He was a key part in a dominant side. Ability wise, he commanded his box better/dealt with aerial balls better. But that was a bigger part of goalkeeping in his era.

 

FWIW I don't think either goalkeeper looks as good if they swap era's and Man United teams.

 

[triggs]

I didn't see Schmeichel at his best but I'm not sure how De Gea can be absolutely nowhere near another keeper in terms of quality given he very rarely makes errors and consistently makes unbelievable saves

 

[ponsaelius]

De Gea's distribution is nowhere near as good as made out. In fact it's a major hindrance to Man United's game. He gives away possession all the time short and long, especially since Mourinho came in. Nowhere near as good as Schmeichel was in that aspect.

 

He is possibly the greatest shot stopper I've ever seen however. Consistently saves goals some other keepers wouldn't get near to, always clears shots away from the box too.

[The College Dropout]

De Gea's distribution is nowhere near as good as made out. In fact it's a major hindrance to Man United's game. He gives away possession all the time short and long, especially since Mourinho came in. Nowhere near as good as Schmeichel was in that aspect.

 

He is possibly the greatest shot stopper I've ever seen however. Consistently saves goals some other keepers wouldn't get near to, always clears shots away from the box too.

 

The demands of having the ball at your feet where so much less in Schmeichel's era. Every football team and coach in the era was brought up with legal backpasses. It took more than a decade for gk's ability on the ball to be a factor in attacking. Being able to pass it under a bit of pressure made you good on the ball in that era.

 

GK and fullback has changed so much in the last 25 years. Shot stopping is probably the biggest constant factor.

[midds]

Remember people being in absolute awe of Schmeichel's long throws when he first burst onto the scene. He could release the likes of Giggs really quickly and set up attacks from nothing. Coupled with his outrageous ability to get himself looking huge on a one on one and his ability to organise his back 4 he was outstanding. I'd even go so far as to say he probably revolutionised the position and how's its played.

[mrmojorisin75]

yeah schmeichel at 1 on 1's ffs

[Infinitely Content]

Surprised to not hear Oliver Kahn's name in this goalkeeper discussion. He was outstanding, better than some of the names mentioned - as much as I rate De Gea and the likes.

[SuperFlat]

Added bonus of being fucking mental, as all keepers should be.

[Guest]

So wait.. De Gea isn't a better shot-stopper and passer of the ball?

 

Schmeichel's impact might only be superseded by Ederson in the PL. At the time he was the most comfortable with the introduction of the backpass rule. He was a key part in a dominant side. Ability wise, he commanded his box better/dealt with aerial balls better. But that was a bigger part of goalkeeping in his era.

 

FWIW I don't think either goalkeeper looks as good if they swap era's and Man United teams.

 

[Guest Howaythetoon]

There ws not one area of Schmeichel’s game that was even remotely weak, he was a colossus in goal and probably individually won Man Utd the title over us that year because had we beaten them at SJP where he was immense, it was game over. De Gea is a wonderful ‘keeper, their only world-class player IMO, but he would come a huge second to the Dane in any list.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Surprised to not hear Oliver Kahn's name in this goalkeeper discussion. He was outstanding, better than some of the names mentioned - as much as I rate De Gea and the likes.

 

Good shout.

[Guest]

Kahn

Buffon

Mike Hooper

Neville Southall

Dino Zoff

Van Der Sar

Gianluca Pagliuca

 

Some of my favourite as a young lad flinging myself around between the jumpers on the shitty field.

[Bimpy474]

Kahn

Buffon

Mike Hooper

Neville Southall

Dino Zoff

Van Der Sar

Gianluca Pagliuca

 

Some of my favourite as a young lad flinging myself around between the jumpers on the shitty field.

 

Wut 

[nemtizz]

Xavi Hernández has written an emotive letter to his former Barcelona squad-mate Andrés Iniesta as the Manchego born player plays his last game in the azul-grana shirt:

 

An open letter to my friend, Andres Iniesta

 

The first time I saw Andres play will always stay in my memory. Someone from the club said: ‘Xavi, in the youth team there is a player who will be incredible. They say he is outstanding. Andres is very similar to you.’ Then, when I saw him play, I said to myself: this player is different. He doesn’t play like me, he dribbles and gets past people, can play in numerous positions. Since he was a kid he had the air of an artist for the way in which he used his body before receiving the ball, using both feet equally well. The most surprising thing was his way of placing the ball with his body, without even the necessity to touch the ball.

 

To watch him play was spectacular. What you imagined outside of the pitch, he did on it. It seemed at times as though he could hear your thoughts. Later he did it with such ease that it gave the impression he didn’t even need to think. Andres always connected well with other players, played with the head held high and did not lose balls. Concepts which we took years to work on with Joan Vila, he had built into his body from the start. He was four years younger than us, but he had it in him from the start.

 

Andres is for me the most talented player in the history of Spain, that I have seen anywhere. He has a spectacular amount of talent. If we talk about the person, I wouldn’t know where to start. He is admirable in all senses, an example for others and the personification of a team player. He is a leader on the pitch, who always wants the ball. Do you know the importance of that? When many don’t want the ball anywhere near them because there is no way out, he asks for it. Andres always wants the ball.

 

He is a blessing for his team-mates. This is what it means to have personality, to be a real leaders. A quiet leader, but an authentic leader. As a natural pass-maker all my life, I needed players like Andres, like Leo, like Busquets. They have been the best partners imaginable, always giving me an option even if the situation looked bad. I don’t know how, but Andres always appeared to me in the right moment. Look I’m here! But he didn’t tell it to me by speaking.

 

We never spoke much on the pitch in over 10 years playing together. It wasn’t necessary. We understood each other with a look.

His body language was always the best means of communicating. Sometimes in games we stood astonished and looked at him – how on earth did he get out of that situation? It was impossible. I got the impression that nothing was impossible for him when he had the ball. Dribbling, final pass, acceleration, one-two, he is as happy playing in midfield as he is on the wing. A true maestro, in every sense of the word.

 

People thought Andres was not strong. But when he put his body into it, no one was able to take the ball from him.

 

He has been strong mentally as well, especially in those moments which not many know about. He passed a difficult time away from his family, and if you ask him now I’m sure he will tell you it was worth the sacrifice. But who would have known that it would come to this? That strong mentality of his has made him come all this way.

 

In the end, Andres is a guy who has a guardian angel. He is like Iker Casillas. The rest don’t have that something special, but they do; to play that winning pass, that vital save, the goal that wins the title. We have lived it with Andres in Barcelona, and in the national team. In Stamford Bridge, in Johannesburg. If you watch the final in South Africa again, the whole game, there is only one person who logically could have scored the winning goal: Andres.

 

And to remember now that they said we couldn’t play together! But we know how things go, Andres, in a club full of debates. I always knew that I needed people to connect with by my side. I connect best with those who have technical quality, not the physical players. Even in the most difficult moments which Andres has passed through with injuries, with the help of his family he was able to turn it around, thanks to that incredible mentality which he has.

 

Sometimes, I have the impression that you cannot explain in words what Andres represents as a player. He does everything with such ease that you think anyone can do it. But no one can do it like him. On the pitch, he is transformed.

 

That’s where his real personality appears. He is in his natural habitat. If he doesn’t touch the ball, he isn’t happy. Now that I am a little away from elite football, I realise what Andres is and what he represents.

 

When he leaves Barcelona, he will understand what I mean. He has won everything, played in an incredible way, and is respected in the whole world. He is leaving in the way he deserves, because he never had a bad word or gesture for anyone. Look at how he is loved across the world. Soon you will really know and appreciate what you have done for football, my friend, Andres.

 

[Twinport53]

I have something in my eye.