Peter Schmeichel

[Scarecrow]

Schmeichel's the best. The only thing DDG has over him is pure shot-stopping, and I would argue there's not much between them. In terms of 1 on 1s, control of his box, distribution and everything else, especially leadership, Schmeichel's better. Of course, we're talking about Schmeichel in his prime here. DDG has a few years yet to improve. Hopefully, it will be here.

All that may be true but all those things don't have the same weight. Shot-stopping is arguably a GK's main job and the most important skill to have. Counting the number of things a player is better at than another doesn't really mean much without proper context.

Anyway, I say we stop with the comparisons here and just celebrate the legend that Pete is. His thread should not have the bitterness that often comes with such arguments. I've seen a comment containing the words "fan boys" which is already one too many.

 

[Emrethis]

All that may be true but all those things don't have the same weight. Shot-stopping is arguably a GK's main job and the most important skill to have. Counting the number of things a player is better at than another doesn't really mean much without proper context.

Anyway, I say we stop with the comparisons here and just celebrate the legend that Pete is. His thread should not have the bitterness that often comes with such arguments. I've seen a comment containing the words "fan boys" which is already one too many.

Fair enough, this is probably the wrong place to compare the two. But comparing players and past legends is part of what keeps their stories alive. When people go overboard, its because of the passion and attachment to the players. Bitter arguments are better than nothing at all.

But as we know, when the fun stops, stop.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Don't know him, was he a baker or something?

Aye, son of Pitta Schmeichel the inventor of the Pitta bread.

 

[Schmiznurf]

Aye, son of Pitta Schmeichel the inventor of the Pitta bread.

I knew his name sounded familiar.

 

[Dobbs]

Will never understand him going to City but a full blown legend of the game.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Really? I count 3. Outside of DDG VDS and Pete, I think we really struggled to find a good enough keeper to be the constant choice. Howard wasn't bad, but had crises of confidence. Barthez was too small and too unpredictable. Bosnich... Bosnich still gives me nightmares about how godawful his kicking was. I got to the point where I'd prefer our defenders to kick it out for a corner rather than attempt a passback to him.
Carroll and VDH were both very able backup keepers, but never good enough to be first choice.

You forgot a couple of all time greats from that list. Ben Foster, Thomas Kusczak, Gary Walsh.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

I'm also not sure that's true. Schmeichel made quite a few mistakes.

Yeah De Gea made a few punching errors but not many costly errors. He was only a young kid then anyway.

 

[broccoli]

Him and Cantona made me a fan of United. I remember his spectacular saves happened rather often. He was a true lion in goal.

 

[van Nistelrooy]

Imagine David de Gea doing something like this today...

 

[Home&Away]

I still prefer Schmeichel and VDS to De Gea. Maybe because they played a key part in winning is trophies.

That's how I feel too. De gea is a better goalkeeper in terms of ability - but that doesn't yet make him a better footballer than some of the greats.

One of the things I miss is the commanding of the box. Corners come in and De gea's on the line making wonderful save after wonderful save yet the whole team is left in complete shambles. That kind of thing hardly happened with pete or vds.

It's something De gea has to add to his game for him to win trophies in a team in my opinion.

 

[Striker10]

Lev Yashin says hello, the only keeper to win Ballon'or

The ballon'or is bs

 

[Cassady]

Great keeper .

Fowler could make him look ordinary though.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

The ballon'or is bs

So Messi and Ronaldo winning the last 9 is bullshit? Or maybe because they are the best players.

Anyhow back when Yashin won it and before Messi and Ronaldo started winning them every year, players of all positions would win it if they were outstanding in their position. Being the only keeper to win it has to count for something.

 

[Striker10]

So Messi and Ronaldo winning the last 9 is bullshit? Or maybe because they are the best players.

Anyhow back when Yashin won it and before Messi and Ronaldo started winning them every year, players of all positions would win it if they were outstanding in their position. Being the only keeper to win it has to count for something.

Yeah and when we won the treble we got nothing.

 

[Striker10]

Growing up Peter was one of those players that if he was playing you knew he would make a difference. We've been lucky to have had quite a few top quality goalkeepers and it's a testament to the quality that in recent history, you could make a good case for Peter, Edwin or David. We've been fortunate to have seen many top players - especially people who didn't create dramas or have the baggage that we often see with players today

 

[The Oracle]

He's launching his new autobiography at the Trafford Centre this Friday, 3rd December

https://traffordcentre.co.uk/whatson/waterstones-booksignings


Utd's greatest ever keeper in my opinion.

 

[Twisted Nerve]

That isn't the point he's trying to make,Schmeichel joined us as after winning the Euro's with Denmark as a 28 year old.We took a big gamble with De Gea and for a couple of seasons had to put up with an above average keeper.He's 2 years away from being the age when Peter joined us and is now the best keeper in the world.

Most people might sway towards Schmeichel because we finally won the league with him as the goalkeeper, De Gea on the other hand has been world class in an average United side over the last couple of seasons.

If De Gea had the presence that Schmeichel had there wouldn't be a need for a discussion.Schmeichel controlled his penalty area in a way that I've never seen before or probably ever will.His own defenders were scared of him.

In fact he was at United for almost a year already before the Euros in 92. My favourite United keeper. I remember when we signed him, thinking, hey this guy looks like Gary Bailey!

 

[SecondFig]

He's launching his new autobiography at the Trafford Centre this Friday, 3rd December

https://traffordcentre.co.uk/whatson/waterstones-booksignings


Utd's greatest ever keeper in my opinion.

I've been supporting Utd since the 80s and Schmeichel is easily the best keeper we've had in that time. VdS was great, and DDG was world class at his peak, but neither come close to Schmeichel at his best. His command of the area, his one on one starfish saves, his reflexes, and his distribution (long throws) were all absolutely excellent

 

[cyril C]

I feel like he's a bit underrated now. You see threads/posts on here questioning the likes of Keane, the class of 92, Schmeichel and I can't help but find it crazy.

Anyway, he was an all time great for sure. One of my favourites to see play for us.

Because web based rating is dominating by English speaking fans. If you ask who are the top 5 keeper in the world, ever, good chance they will pick 1 or 2 English keeper. Big Pete can hardly squeeze into Top 5. IMO he is our Best Ever, and probably best in EPL ever. But...

 

[SportingCP96]

Top top guy. Very happy he played for Sporting and was a key player in a league title win . His love for the club is infectious.

Just Another player linked to Sporting and United !

 

[Daengophile]

I'm sure it's difficult to quantify but having the Danish behemoth screaming in the ears of the defenders kept them on their toes

 

[GueRed]

I'm sure it's difficult to quantify but having the Danish behemoth screaming in the ears of the defenders kept them on their toes

Yep kept himself and his teammates on their toes.

Their shouting matches were legendary.

 

[GueRed]

I've been supporting Utd since the 80s and Schmeichel is easily the best keeper we've had in that time. VdS was great, and DDG was world class at his peak, but neither come close to Schmeichel at his best. His command of the area, his one on one starfish saves, his reflexes, and his distribution (long throws) were all absolutely excellent

100% best keeper in my time of watching fooball.

 

[Red the Bear]

With all due respect to David having him in this team would improve our defense tenfold

Legend

 

[Jeppers7]

Schmeichel is the greatest keeper I’ve ever seen, certainly by far uniteds greatest keeper and the best in Prem. I’d make a claim for him being the best there’s ever been.

 

[Ixion]

Best keeper Ive ever seen, at United or elsewhere.

 

[SirSean]

People comparing him to DDG are missing the point. It's not about his saving stats or his ability to gather the ball from a cross.
It's his presence, authority and ability to demand everything from his back line that made him sublime. He was a true leader and someone you truly feared as a defender, making them Contrentrated and up for all of the 90 minutes. Having both Keane and Schmeichel commanding each department meant all of the team was contributing with 100% throughout the entire match.

Exactly! Personality, leadership, and grit are everything I feel like this post-Fergie United team is missing - sorely. I don't think it was a coincidence that we had our best spell when Zlatan was in the club. These types of players make an enormous contribution outside of the player in question's immediate ESPN stats. Just like in every workplace out there. Peter had that commanding presence and Fergie was bang on signing him.

 

[Oranges038]

Deadly, loved watching him play.

Scrolliing back through the comments, not surprising to see some people think De Gea is better than him at certain things. As he had been coming off the back of an excellent season. But, I have to say Schmeichel was so superior to De Gea in every aspect of being a goalkeeper. For such a big man his agility and ability to get down low was unbelievable at times.


His save from Diouf in here at 38, his ability to get down and up so quickly is just awesome.

 

[BuzzKillington]

A truly commanding presence in the box. Watching him pile through a gaggle of oppo players to claim a ball was great. It didn’t seem to matter who was in his way. And those throws to the half way line and beyond that started so many counter attacks for us .

DDG is a great goalkeeper, but I’d swap him in a heartbeat for Schmeichel. Not sure Schmeichel was the best ever, but he was definitely the best I’ve seen playing for us, just edging VdS.

 

[Foxbatt]

Why are we even questioning about DeGea and Big Pete? Big Pete was the best we had followed by VDS and then DeGea. What these clips showed us was that we always needed great keepers to win. And how horrible our defence was for a very long time. He also scored for us a goal in open play as a corner and not a penalty.

 

[11101]

Never mind United's best, I've yet to see a better keeper anywhere.

His mere presence made attackers think twice about challenging for a cross through fear of catching a fist in their face.

 

[Skills]

Why are we even questioning about DeGea and Big Pete? Big Pete was the best we had followed by VDS and then DeGea. What these clips showed us was that we always needed great keepers to win. And how horrible our defence was for a very long time. He also scored for us a goal in open play as a corner and not a penalty.

De Gea at his best was easily better than VDS.

 

[Red the Bear]

Deadly, loved watching him play.

Scrolliing back through the comments, not surprising to see some people think De Gea is better than him at certain things. As he had been coming off the back of an excellent season. But, I have to say Schmeichel was so superior to De Gea in every aspect of being a goalkeeper. For such a big man his agility and ability to get down low was unbelievable at times.


His save from Diouf in here at 38, his ability to get down and up so quickly is just awesome.

Great highlights reel

his exists are what I feel Dave is lacking no way he would exist his line in many of those instances instead sticking to his line and giving the opposition ample time to take the shot Or him not coming out to collect his corners

Though I must say physicality may have something to do with it as pete was big and strong while Dave is a lot more frail and agile

 

[Zed 101]

Maybe I just remember it fondly and that distorts things but for me Schmeichel is hands down the best keeper I have seen at Utd,

I remember people watching Utd (none utd fans) just to see Schmeichel and Giggs, they were that outstanding,

If you were not there to appreciate it at the time I doubt anyone could ever convey it to you, but I will put it this way, there is no way that our defence (now) would be anywhere near as bad if we had Schmeichel in goal, he would have Maguire and co on a tight leash and would be tearing strips off them for the slightest step out of line, not only that but Schmeichel intimidated opposition attackers like no other keeper I have seen his presence saved as many goals as his hands did

 

[Foxbatt]

De Gea at his best was easily better than VDS.

VDS cut off the threats before he had to make saves. DeGea stays on his line and hence had to make those saves. He does not organize his defence like VDS did.

 

[Rocksy]

VDS cut off the threats before he had to make saves. DeGea stays on his line and hence had to make those saves. He does not organize his defence like VDS did.

Agreed. For me, VDS and Schmeichel are probably the two best ever Premier League keepers.

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

Agreed. For me, VDS and Schmeichel are probably the two best ever Premier League keepers.

I have it as Schmeichel, Cech, VDS, Seaman, DDG

 

[L1nk]

I think the legend of Schmeichel is bigger than the player himself, and his character helped with that. He was a fantastic legend of a keeper and one of the best to ever do it, certainly for United I think, but I don't think he's the best ever.

The annoying thing about DDG is that it's hard to put him behind Schmeichel and VDS because he's spent most of his time with us with awful managers and awful teams, he spent multiple seasons basically keeping us afloat and winning multiple player of the season awards, he's a fantastic keeper on his day, and whilst I think he peaked early, it's a shame it had to go down the way it has

 

[Vault Dweller]

The save Schmeichel made from Hutchinson v Liverpool is one of the best you will ever see. Outstanding.

I love DDG, but Pete is the best I've ever seen. VdS was brilliant as well, really should have got him as soon as Pete left.

 

[MadDogg]

Agreed. For me, VDS and Schmeichel are probably the two best ever Premier League keepers.

I'd say Cech (pre-injury) was the clear #2 in my eyes, and if he'd stayed at that level for longer he may have even pushed big Pete. He just was never the same after that head injury.

After that there are a few keepers of a similar level where I find it difficult to put in any order, with VDS and DDG both being in that group.

In terms of performances throughout the world, Neuer is probably the best of all time IMO. I'm leaning towards Schmeichel being the second best I've seen in my time watching football, but have a feeling that I'm forgetting somebody obvious that I would actually have ahead of him.