Rank United's Goalkeepers over the years

Skills

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De Gea > VDS for me and it isn't particularly close. De Gea's a classic case of United players either leaving as hero's on their own terms or their legacies being shat on by the fanbase if they overstay. Had he left earlier, you'd have half the fanbase crywanking over him and the other half spitting poison at Woodward at failing to keep our best players.

Wouldn't be fair to comment on Schmeichel as his prime is before my time.
 

OleBoiii

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Schmeichel and DDG are maybe better on paper, but VDS played a very important part in arguably the best defense in English football history. His communication with the defense and general understanding of the game was gold.
 

MyOnlySolskjaer

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De Gea > VDS for me and it isn't particularly close. De Gea's a classic case of United players either leaving as hero's on their own terms or their legacies being shat on by the fanbase if they overstay. Had he left earlier, you'd have half the fanbase crywanking over him and the other half spitting poison at Woodward at failing to keep our best players.

Wouldn't be fair to comment on Schmeichel as his prime is before my time.
Fair enough, in my ranking I don't mean that to disrespect De Gea, I love having him and I respect what he's done but he just doesn't get above the other 2 for me.
 

Rossa

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Schmeichel - DDG - VDS

Schmeichel was just as good a shot stopper as DDG, but he was a true leader at the back and was the most commanding goalie I have ever seen in the box. As Giggs said, he knew that Schmeichel would try to grab the ball, often did, and then Giggs would sprint forwards. He literally put fear into opposition strikers. On a more negative note, he was more error prone than VDS, but that is related to him taking more risks.

DDG is more of a match winner than VDS was. However, VDS was a leader at the back and appeared far better at organising his defenders. It is very close, but I think DDG is a little underrated at the moment. Completely disagree with @Skills saying it's not particularly close - yes, DDG was a superior shot stopper, but VDS was better at positioning himself, so often he would stand where the shot came, making it look like a piece of cake. He also organised his defense much better, resulting in fewer chances creatd for the opposition.
 

Rossa

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Schmeichel and DDG are maybe better on paper, but VDS played a very important part in arguably the best defense in English football history. His communication with the defense and general understanding of the game was gold.
If there was one thing Schmeichel was great at, it was organising his defense, but they did it in very different ways.
 

elmo

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De Gea > VDS for me and it isn't particularly close. De Gea's a classic case of United players either leaving as hero's on their own terms or their legacies being shat on by the fanbase if they overstay. Had he left earlier, you'd have half the fanbase crywanking over him and the other half spitting poison at Woodward at failing to keep our best players.

Wouldn't be fair to comment on Schmeichel as his prime is before my time.
De Gea would be better if you think a keeper's job is just to save shots. In fact, he might be better than Pete if it's just that.

VDS organised the defense and that's what makes him better in my opinion, he's just more well-rounded and contributed more to the team.
 

SilentWitness

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Schmeichel was clearly the best. He genuinely did scare strikers and I don't remember many, if any other keeper in the PL doing that.

De Gea = VDS. Both had stand out attributes that were better than the other one but also obvious weakness to their games. Balance each other out.
 

OleBoiii

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Also, for some reason I feel that VDS made fewer mistakes than Pete and DDG?
 

11101

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Schmeichel
VDS
De Gea

Big Pete is obvious, but i put VDS next because whilst De Gea is a better shotstopper, VDS didn't have any significant weaknesses to his game the way De Gea does. He had no problems coming off his line and he was also an excellent organiser that contributed to our world class defensive unit. Preventing a shot coming in the first place is just as important as saving it.
 

freeurmind

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Genuinely feel VDS was the most consistent. Schmeichel was the most talented but his dips in form were catastrophic.
 

OleBoiii

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I think I've cracked it:

If your defense is great/world class(9 out of 10 or higher): go with VDS.
If your defense is decent/good(rated 7/8 out of 10): go with Pete.
If your defense is mediocre or even bad: go with DDG.
 

sullydnl

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Schmeichel > DDG > VDS.

DDG versus Van Der Sar is interesting because of how timing impacts how we view them. Had DDG just been here for his peak seasons and avoided the last two then his status here would be much greater. Similarly, had VDS had his nightmare 00/01 season (which occurred when he was older than DDG currently is) in United colours then the idea of him being super consistent may also have been impacted.

VDS also wasn't beyond making the occasional error during his time here (as any goalkeeper would) but they tend to get forgotten as the overall defence and team was functioning to such a high level (with VDS contributing to that of course). Had he made those exact same mistakes in a struggling side then those errors may have lingered longer in the memory. On the other hand, playing in a struggling side gave DDG the opportunity to essentially be our key player, which VDS never really had.
 

Red00012

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Another thread which will turn into pages of abuse for DDG

anyway schmeichel -DDG - VDS

bottom list would be Taibi-Foster - Barthez

I excluded Valdes as he didn’t really play
 

harms

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I'd say that De Gea was probably better than van der Sar, even though it hurts to say it. I wouldn't swap them around though, as van der Sar was a better choice for our late 00's defense (while van der Sar wouldn't have been able to bail us out so regularly in our worse years as De Gea did, even though he would've improved our defensive organization). Schmeichel is the best though.
 

SecondFig

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From my lifetime;

1. Schmeichel
2. DDG
3. VDS

Honourable mentions to van der Gouw and Romero for being pretty faultless as back-up keepers. Thank God I don't have to relive the days of Bosnich, Barthez, Taibi, Howard, Carroll, Foster et al - many of whom were great keepers during their careers, but not in a Utd shirt.
 

jackal&hyde

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Schmeichel and DDG are maybe better on paper, but VDS played a very important part in arguably the best defense in English football history. His communication with the defense and general understanding of the game was gold.
I agree and here is something difficult to judge. VDS had one of the best back 4 we ever had while DDG had one of the worst. Difficult to say how they would have compared had the situation been in reverse.

For me DDG had a couple of season that were by far the best i have ever seen from a GK. He was super human and made all the dross we had playing in front of him look like half decent defenders judging by goals conceded.
 

fps

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Schmeichel - DDG - VDS

Schmeichel was just as good a shot stopper as DDG, but he was a true leader at the back and was the most commanding goalie I have ever seen in the box. As Giggs said, he knew that Schmeichel would try to grab the ball, often did, and then Giggs would sprint forwards. He literally put fear into opposition strikers. On a more negative note, he was more error prone than VDS, but that is related to him taking more risks.

DDG is more of a match winner than VDS was. However, VDS was a leader at the back and appeared far better at organising his defenders. It is very close, but I think DDG is a little underrated at the moment. Completely disagree with @Skills saying it's not particularly close - yes, DDG was a superior shot stopper, but VDS was better at positioning himself, so often he would stand where the shot came, making it look like a piece of cake. He also organised his defense much better, resulting in fewer chances creatd for the opposition.
I would place Van Der Sar above De Gea. I feel Van Der Sar was a grown-up, an organiser, a facilitator of good overall defence work in a way that David isn't. I know I may be biased by his form recently not matching up to some truly astounding seasons. I also recognise my bias as Van Der Sar played in a better team, with better players. However, I feel a top keeper also organises their defence, and elevates it, in such a way as to prevent a lot of the issues United have had. Someone like Chris Smalling, for instance, needs constant guidance from behind him, despite having all the physical attributes. In short, I feel Van Der Sar made others better, as well as having fantastic positioning, decision making and calmness.
 

SilentStrike

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It will be a very unpopular opinion, but I would rate

1) Vds
2) Pete
3) Ddg

I just feel Vds was slightly more reliable than Pete as much as I love him too.
 

sullydnl

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I would place Van Der Sar above De Gea. I feel Van Der Sar was a grown-up, an organiser, a facilitator of good overall defence work in a way that David isn't. I know I may be biased by his form recently not matching up to some truly astounding seasons. I also recognise my bias as Van Der Sar played in a better team, with better players. However, I feel a top keeper also organises their defence, and elevates it, in such a way as to prevent a lot of the issues United have had. Someone like Chris Smalling, for instance, needs constant guidance from behind him, despite having all the physical attributes. In short, I feel Van Der Sar made others better, as well as having fantastic positioning, decision making and calmness.
You could just as easily argue the reverse though. That VDS was protected and made better by having two of the best centre backs in Europe in front of him, both of whom were leaders in their own right and capable of organising themselves. Whereas DDG was left dealing with Chris Smalling (who very much isn't one of the best defenders in Europe) and someone else who wasn't even as good as Chris Smalling.

Our defence was certainly sufficiently organised when DDG won the league under SAF with those better players in front of him. It was their decline/departure rather than Van Der Sar's that saw our defensive organisation malfunction and decline.
 

paulscholes18

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Title winning goalkeepers (starter)
1. Schmicheal
2. VDS
3. DDG
4. Barthez
5. Bosnich
 

Web of Bissaka

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Okay guys, top 3 is just like usual..

Who would be your 4th and 5th?

Only from my lifetime:
4. Van der Gouw​
5. Romero​
*Valdez didn't do bad at all though, the very few game he managed to play, I also feel confident with him as our keeper (which is a rare feeling over the years considering the profile of our our keepers post-schmeichel) but his no. of appearances is too low so not worth ranking.*​
 

Spaghetti

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1- DDG
2- Schmeichel
3- Van Der Sar
4- Romero
5- Howard
6- Van der Gouw
7- Barthez
8- Carroll
9- Grant
10- Bosnich

From who I can remember off the top of my head.

Oh Lindegaard probably just above Grant.
 

Web of Bissaka

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It will be a very unpopular opinion, but I would rate

1) Vds
2) Pete
3) Ddg

I just feel Vds was slightly more reliable than Pete as much as I love him too.
Same.
VDS would be my first choice.

His performances are a lot more stable and consistent, less mistakes-prone (still make mistakes mind) than the other two and he offers a lot more than DDG thus a lot more reliable. Best with the ball on his feet. The way he deals with penalty shootout is also just.. :drool:there are also signs football intelligence and dark football arts when he play -- decisions making and how he communicates with defenders in set-piece but moreso in open play. It was fun to see GKs doing more than just stopping shots which is also fun but I prefer seeing more. His stable performances started before the rise of Vidic and Evra, impressive first season onwards. Not much different before and after Rio-Vidic-Evra.

Nothing against the Pete and DDG, they were also awesome to watch with their unique skill sets, but Schmeichels's rushing out playstyle (superb when it hits) and yelling around, then DDG's dealings with crosses (getting better now) and penalties plus his recent years more-mistakes-than-usual are all just not good for my nerves. Not comfortable at all.
 

Fingeredmouse

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I think I've cracked it:

If your defense is great/world class(9 out of 10 or higher): go with VDS.
If your defense is decent/good(rated 7/8 out of 10): go with Pete.
If your defense is mediocre or even bad: go with DDG.
I think this is exactly correct.
 

Fingeredmouse

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De Gea > VDS for me and it isn't particularly close. De Gea's a classic case of United players either leaving as hero's on their own terms or their legacies being shat on by the fanbase if they overstay. Had he left earlier, you'd have half the fanbase crywanking over him and the other half spitting poison at Woodward at failing to keep our best players.

Wouldn't be fair to comment on Schmeichel as his prime is before my time.
I can't think of anything De Gea is better than VDS at other than shot stopping, where he is as good as I've ever seen. Hence @OleBoiii 's ranking makes sense to me. If you're team isn't great and you're getting peppered with shots incessantly, DDG is preferable but VDS is a better all rounder.
 

SambaBoy

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Schmeichel
De Gea
VDS

I feel De Gea's last 2 seasons have altered his reputation. At one point, he was keeping us in games by himself, some of them performances were terrific and he won our player of the season 4 years on the bounce. During that period, he was making very few mistakes, and his kicking was also good often starting counter-attacks or been pin point. Wasn't as hesitant of his line as he is now.

VDS was always a consistent goalkeeper but he never really made any saves where he had no right to get too like DDG or Schmeichel. For the most part, he just saved what he had too whilst being an authoritative figure at the back and excellent at distributing the ball.
 

Nikelesh Reddy

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I never saw Schmeichel play,so I guess I only compare VDS and De Gea.De Gea narrowly pips it for me...VDS had a legendary back four in front oh him,whereas De Gea has had to be a Lone Ranger for many seasons.De Geas the best in my view...
 

FujiVice

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Goalkeeping isnt just about spectacular saves. Van Der Sar was like a coach from behind the back four. A carming influence, talking the defenders through their positioning and helping their concentration. When it comes to shot stopping, De Gea is ahead of VDS. When it comes to just about every other aspect of goalkeeping, I dont think De Gea is anywhere close to Edwin.