I will forever remember him trying to save Paul Scholes' goal 
Victor Valdes retires
- Thread starter Jaybomb
- Start date
He was a good keeper. I don’t think he was near the top elite but he wasn’t average. He did make some incredible 1vs1 saves and his ball playing ability was superb.
hes a cnut
Average keeper that got lucky playing for one of the most dominant outfield teams in history.
I almost don't think of him as a former United player, but good for him.
I will never understand how a borderline championship level keeper was a starter for (arguably) the greatest team of all time. He was so bad it was laughable 
He's Catalan. That's why.I will never understand how a borderline championship level keeper was a starter for (arguably) the greatest team of all time. He was so bad it was laughable
Completely forgot he played for us
Because even if he wasn't legendary, he was good enough to have a spot in a top 10 team in any place of the world, he was consistent, and the most important aspects, he handled the pressure and was a big game player.I will never understand how a borderline championship level keeper was a starter for (arguably) the greatest team of all time. He was so bad it was laughable
Since Cruyff let go Zubizarreta to implant the Keeper-sweeper role only Valdes and Hesp had a lock on our goal in 20 years. Neither of them was world class but they had the mental strength to deal with the role and the consistency to no get exposed 3 games in a row and ride the bench.
Vitor Baia, Dutruel, Rustu or Lopetegui were hyped as great gk's and failed miserably, Enke and Reina never showed their potential with us and Busquets, Angoy, Arnau or Jorquera were a joke for a club of our level.
We've been on fire with our GK's later, but in the 20 years prior to that only 3 guys (Hesp, Bonano and Valdes) were able to look good for us. Our GK's need a specific skillset, even blowing 80M in Buffon wouldn't land us better results, even when he was an option back in 2006.
Talk about over over exaggeration, he was a decent keeper, good instincts and was able to participate in their buildup pretty well.I will never understand how a borderline championship level keeper was a starter for (arguably) the greatest team of all time. He was so bad it was laughable
Had some blunders, saves some worldies too, he was no Neuer, but he was a good keeper.
Top player
This won't end well. Volatile bloke with mood swings.
I wish he was just the GK trainer of Barça B.
I wish he was just the GK trainer of Barça B.
He was the best "mano a mano" GK of his generation (saved a lot vs Top CFs) and easily the best GK of all time playing with his feet-link with the CBs-wings or even the DMFs.I will never understand how a borderline championship level keeper was a starter for (arguably) the greatest team of all time. He was so bad it was laughable
The "he was crap" lie is just ridiculous.
I had respect for him. Then he joined Utd and he decided to change my opinion on him.
K thanks. Bye.
Good luck to you valdes
It's always quite amusing to remember he seemingly only signed for United because of LVG, only to then have a falling out with him in a space of few months and then promptly leave right after that.
Such a weird transfer.
Such a weird transfer.
I wouldn’t take him over most keepers who played in Portugal in the last 10 years let alone in a top team in the world.
I remember Sporting were linked to him a few years ago and I hoped to god he did not come.
An other over exaggeration.
Why is it either black or white, he wasn’t the best of all time in anything.
That’s your problem, you’re allowed to have weird opinions and express them, Portugal had horrific keepers over the years though, like really really shite, in reality Valdes was a good keeper.
Over exaggeration panda says, "NO!".
I mean everyone is entitled to an opinion but he was just bang average every time I saw him play.
I remember a few commentators saying during the CL tie vs Chelsea that Barca could have 10 or 15 shots and Cech could save 12 of them but Chelsea just need 1 chance and it will go in because of how weak valdes was for Barca.
I can see how he fit Barca style of play but he would not start in most top teams in the world.
I will never understand how a borderline championship level keeper was a starter for (arguably) the greatest team of all time. He was so bad it was laughable
Really fascinating how opinions on some players vary so much.
Because, as I've said, he was the best with the feet + great in 1vs1 situations (the rare occasion when Puyol or Pique fecked up-mostly Alves-or a sudden counter).
Anyway, I think Casillas was sometimes way worse and hit deeper rock bottoms (2-6 and 5-0 vs Barça, 5-0 vs Holland, etc.)
You could replace him with a statue and Barcelona would still have won the CL.
Shame for him because he was actually pretty decent when he's on form.
Shame for him because he was actually pretty decent when he's on form.
Name a more iconic GK playing as the 11th field player-great with the feet.
My way of looking at it is this. Would he have started on any of these teams then or now. I’m talking prime Valdes
Man united
Man city
Chelsea
Bayern
Madrid
Juve
Inter
Dortmund
Liverpool now
Atlético Madrid
Benfica- oblak/ ederson
Hell even Rui Patrício I would rate higher then Valdes in a 1 v 1 with forwards ( Rui is a great shot blocker)
And this is just off of the top of my head. If I take more time I can probably name more teams.
I can’t see how he is a good or top keeper but he would be the No.2 at any of those clubs I just named.
Thats great but a keepers job is to make saves and he was average at making saves.
Seriously, some folks need to rewatch his UCL highlights in 2006-2009.
Single-handedly saved every chance Henry had in the UCL 2006 final.
I would take a 38 year old Casillas who just had a heart attack over Valdes in any pick up game I ever play at a park.
Once again everyone is entitled to there opinion but that’s mine.
Hyperboles are fun but rarely accurate.
Many players have a game where they play out there minds. In the whole of his career he was average. You can put a statue in goal and it would make almost as many saves as Valdes would in a game.
Look at Every team I named above and tell me if he would start in any of them.
Name a more iconic team at keeping the ball on the ground and building up from the back.
It kind of helps when you have press resistant midfielders like Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets dropping deep to take the ball from the defenders/Valdes.
When you have that plus Pique and Dani Alves, you don’t have to be the world’s greatest keeper with the ball at his feet to make it work, Casillas did it well for Spain too.
He was one of the best one on one savers in his generation. Plus very good with his feet. His other goal keeping skills though were average.
Decent keeper, awful character.
I doubt Barça would have won the 06, 09, 11 finals with Jorquera or Pinto as the 1st GK.
They would’ve won it with Ederson, Neuer or Lloris.