Keeper power/influence in winning PL

**Whaddya mean was he?** · 28-01-2012, 17:49

I'm sure there are exceptions but the Premier League is won or lost between the sticks in most seasons. For me, by far and away the best buy Fergie ever made was Peter Schmeichel. The Great Dane was absolutely immense and pulled off saves that no human being should make. This in turn meant that games Utd would have lost, they ended up drawing. Games they would've drawn, they ended up winning. I know there is no way of measuring it but, on the basis of individual performances, I'm pretty sure that no player would have saved/earned more points for Utd than Schmeichel (even popped up with a few goals as well!). By pulling off great saves, it did two things; 1) gave Utd belief and confidence allowing them to play with freedom and 2) compeletely frustrated/deflated their opposition (psychologically devastating to know that you should have scored but didn't).

It obviously helps that they were banging them in for fun at the other end too but the solid defence imo was the building block for Utd's success. Fast forward several years and Edwin van der Sar gave a similar strength at the back. Contrast his last year with the current performances of de Gea. Tbf, it is not right to compare the two - vdS was at the peak of his powers with 20+ years of professional experience who had played in the PL for the majority of that time. de Gea is relatively inexperienced and obviously still getting to grips with the physicality of the English game. You see some of the goals that have been conceded this year and think ' vdS would've saved that'. You can see the difference in confidence in the rest of the team.

Meanwhile, in the blue half of Manchester, Hart has pulled off some of the most unbelievable saves. He has really kept his team in it (doing exactly what Schmeichel & vdS have done in the past).

de Gea is a good goalkeeper and probably just needs time to adjust (looks like he could use a good feed too!) but I don't know how long SAF will keep faith with him.

Fair assessment? Thoughts?
If you think I'm wrong, who has been better than Schmeichel since PL started?
What about worldwide? How would Buffon or Casillas fair in PL for example?

**KingKenny** · 30-01-2012, 21:24

Originally Posted by Rimsky

I'm saying there's far more being made of his mistakes cos he plays for the biggest club in England. People seem to be forgetting his age and if i remember correctly,when Reina came from Spain he was exactly the same,if not worse,in his first 2 seasons...couldn't catch a cold or cope with the physicality of the Premiership. And he was a good bit older than de Gea is. I know de Gea hasn't lived upto anywhere near his pricetag but he'll come good!

F**k the last time i checked De Gea doesnt do nets for liverpool