03 Aug 2018 08:00:50
Morning everyone

Long time fan of the site, haven't posted enough so thought it's about time. when asked to pick an all time greatest united 11 it's normally relatively easy. Pick class of 92 mixed with a few others. However the hardest part was picking a goalkeeper.

So my question is: who is uniteds greatest goalkeeper?

The Great Dane Peter schmiechel was arguably the best in the world during his years at United, pulled of several fantastic saves and was a commanding presence in the area.

Edwin van der sar was unbelievable for us especially after the rather average keepers we had before him, it's disappointing we didn't sign him 4-5 years earlier such was his contribution to us.

David de gea is now undeniably the best keeper in the world and has saved us so many points in recent seasons, his progression from shaky in commanding decent shot stopper to best in the world and first name on the team sheet is remarkable.

So opinions which 1 would you pick? Personally I'd go with de gea purely on the number of times he's saved us but it's such a tough decision.

1.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 08:28:35
It's Schmeichel for me and I barely had to think about it.

2.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 08:34:30
I always go on Schmeichel, he absolutely dominated that box, made all kinds of saves, started attacks off and was a leader on the pitch, gave out a rollicking when needed plus I think because he was there, an unknown at first during our first period of success.

3.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 08:58:53
Big pete. Followed jointly by vds and ddg.

4.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 08:59:08
Big Pete for me too. Real leader on the pitch scared the rubbish out of attackers and even scored.

5.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 12:40:25
It's close but I would go for Edwin Van Der Sar.

DDG is a great goalkeeper and probably the best in the world at the moment. However, questions still remain about how he dominates/ controls the penalty area. If this was based on shot stopping he would be top.

The romantic in me wants to go with big Pete, he was incredible. Totally dominated the area, phenomenal in one on ones. However, he was a great shot at for his size. His size was a massive advantage when it came to scaring the crap out of the opposition, and helped massively in the way he dominated his box and in those one on ones. Yet it made it hard for him to enjoy that longevity at the height of his powers. It also ment he wasn't as good a shot stopper as the other two.

Edwin in my opinion is massively underrated by our fans.

At his peak he was every bit as good a shop stopper as DDG. He expertly controlled his area, he helped Ajax win the UCL, he helped us to 3 finals in 4 years.

Personally I always prefer a flexible intelligent goalkeeper over a hulking beast. Buffon over Khan every day of the week. In today's game of lighter balls, that move quicker and are less predictable those reactions and ability to change direction quickly are far more important than the ability to bowl over half the opposition when claiming a cross. Which of course no one is really allowed to challenge you for.

In today's game if you dropped VDS and Pete at the height of their powers into a match VDS's skillset and ability would make him the better more useful goalkeeper.

6.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 13:24:31
Shappy, good point about Schmeich’s intimidation factor and for me that’s what makes him the best. He was enormous and I think he scared the crap out of most forwards, even 1 on 1s, they’d look up and see this man mountain bearing down on them. He was also incredibly vocal and a huge personality. I take the point about the modern game but I’d still take Schmeichel over the others today.

7.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 16:48:07
Schmeichel is the best GK I have ever seen .
His shot stopping first class
Distribution first class
Commanded his box
Excellent on crosses
Excellent on 1 on 1s
Organised his defence .
Intimidated the opposition .

Had everything.

8.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 17:08:32
Jred, good po Not, I forgot to me tiThe j that his throwing was better and more accurate than most others’ kicking.

9.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 22:21:47
Guys this a silly conversation in my opinion.

Big Pete had everything both VDS and De Gea have/ had and more. He made unbelievable saves, excellent 1 on 1, would pick balls out of the air one handed with half a dozen players around him and then throw the ball half way down the pitch more accurately than half our players could now do with their feet. All that as well as towering over opposition players physically and vocally.

VDS had a great if not our greatest defence in front of him, and De Gea has had years of development to get where he is now without true competition.

It is a reflection of the size of our club that these conversations can take place, that we can compare 3 players who played for us at different times where each could be regarded as best in the world at the time.

But Schmeichel was the best and from day one we knew he was.