Van der Sar turns 50

Maciej

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Well, I have to admit I'm surprised that there hasn't been a thread about this yet.

So, the great goalie turns 50. That's weird considering the fact that he's our pre-de Gea goalkeeper and you'd think it wasn't long time ago when Edwin played for us.

Happy birthday, Edwin, from all the RedCafe users.

I started this thread, because Ajax uploaded a documentary about Edwin van der Sar. I have only watched 15 minutes so far, but I think you'll all love this.

Here you go.

 

Yagami

Good post resistant
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Happy birthday!

I wonder if we'd have been even more successful under Sir Alex had we signed him to replace Schmeichel in 99. In between Edwin and Schmeichel the goalkeepers we had were a big weakness of ours.
 

McGrathsipan

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Happy birthday!

I wonder if we'd have been even more successful under Sir Alex had we signed him to replace Schmeichel in 99. In between Edwin and Schmeichel the goalkeepers we had were a big weakness of ours.
No doubts about it
VDS was class
 

VorZakone

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Well, I have to admit I'm surprised that there hasn't been a thread about this yet.

So, the great goalie turns 50. That's weird considering the fact that he's our pre-de Gea goalkeeper and you'd think it wasn't long time ago when Edwin played for us.

Happy birthday, Edwin, from all the RedCafe users.

I started this thread, because Ajax uploaded a documentary about Edwin van der Sar. I have only watched 15 minutes so far, but I think you'll all love this.

Here you go.

Fecking hell, that's indeed such a weird thought.
 

kidbob

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An absolute legend especially after the issues we had replacing Big Pete. Super keeper all around. I'll echo the opinions of wanting him at the club in some capacity again, preferably a important role.
 

Yagami

Good post resistant
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No doubts about it
VDS was class
If only, eh? Anyway, at least he played for us eventually!

There are so many great quotes in that vid you posted, @Maciek . Edwin's father is great, too! "It was a fantastic club, Manchester. I'd recommend it to everyone coming from the Netherlands. Well, better than going to Italy." :lol:
 

lsd

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The best Director of Football that is not a Director of Football and my favourite United Goalkeeper.
 

littleman

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Could be our next DOF, but if it doesn't happen soon, he's going to get up there in age

I'd rather he spend his best years here than Ajax
 

Mindhunter

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It is really weird. Feels like only yesterday he was saving penalties in Moscow.
 

James_42

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He was so good, probably my favourite United keeper.

If only Fergie signed him sooner.
 

reelworld

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I think he came at us at the right time for him. IMO his experience with Juventus made him a better keeper. And his Fulham years got him acclimatize to the English game. Our defense at the time needed a cool and experienced head, and that's exactly what Van der Sar provide us
 

Eyepopper

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Cant believe he won the Champions League with us as a 46 year old....


That was 4 years ago, right?
 

Big Ben Foster

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Phenomenal keeper. Loved the calmness he exuded and always thought his ability to organize the defense in front of him was probably his strongest (and most under-appreciated) trait.
 

kidbob

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because we are all guilty of losing touch, here's his best saves. Happy birthday legend.
 

van der star

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I always thought he was an absolute star, so much so that I couldn't look beyond forcing that into my name on here.
 

Jericho

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So, the great goalie turns 50. That's weird considering the fact that he's our pre-de Gea goalkeeper and you'd think it wasn't long time ago when Edwin played for us.
Yeah that does seem weird. The likes of Barthez and Bosnich aren't even 50 yet and it feels like they were here a lifetime ago.

He was so good, probably my favourite United keeper.

If only Fergie signed him sooner.
I think it worked out pretty well.
 

MissKatie

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He had a coolness about him that made him amazing.
I fell in love with him on the United yearly DVD where the players were told not to say yes or no to questions asked.
Wazza failed in a minute, Edwin went on for about a minute before the screen faded to black and said "thirty minutes later" and he's still talking.

Legend
 

prateik

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Genuinely loved the guy.. incredible keeper.

so calming to have him in goal.. and he didnt drop off a cliff at the end either.. he was over 40. madness.
 

prateik

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because we are all guilty of losing touch, here's his best saves. Happy birthday legend.
at 3:01.. that is a shot from Manso .. in the CWC.. remember him being great in that game..
 

MadDogg

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I wonder how much longer he could have kept going if he'd wanted to? The strange thing is that his very last season at 40 years old was probably his best, and also probably the only season that he was the best goalkeeper in the world. Incredible really.
 

Raredaredevil

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He's aged like fine wine, isn't he? :drool: He is my favourite goalkeeper, since I was still too young to see Schmeichel. Van Der Sar just so calm and has so much awareness. Bring so much calmness and big physical presence to the defense. I don't feel that with De Gea. It's strange. When he signed for us at 3, I never thought he would turn out to become our all-time great goalkeeper, I thought he was just a stop-gap signing since Barthez was so error-prone. Without a doubt, the greatest bargain buy in Man Utd's transfer history. I always wonder why did he spend his prime years at Fulham, no top club has gone for him.
 

Oranges038

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What a keeper, had everything you would want from a top class keeper, his positioning, anticipation and organization were his best attributes in my opinion. Never looked flustered, always calm although he would bollock the defense it wasn't as often as Big Pete. He was brave too, would dive at the players feet when needed.

Some of his saves were amazing. Some of my favorites were, Vassell's penalty (denying them a home goal, from recollection City hadn't scored at home in months) the one from Crouch, Rio's almost OG, Muamba at nearly 40, double save against Fulham, triple save against Chelsea, Cahill against Everton and saving a couple of Tevez's free kicks heading for the top corner.

To put his age into context Quinton Fortune is still only 43 but it seems like a life time ago that he played.
 

PeteManic

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Everyone talks about the 4-4-2 and selling Stam but not signing VDS in 99 was the reason United didn't win another CL during the Treble era.
 

monosierra

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His career transition from world class player to marketing professional and now chief executive is very impressive.