Peter Schmeichel

Zed 101 · Dec 1, 2021

L1nk said:
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

I appreciate what you are saying and it is always difficult to compare players from different generations, there are so many factors which are just too much at odds, what I would say in criticism of DeGea is that his weak presence in the box, especially aerially is part of the problem, Schmeichel was like having a 5th defender (and a beast of one at that) in addition to him being an amazing keeper.

If you are trying to compare generations one thing I would say is that I remember defences being far more open than they are now, the pressing style was not even on the horizon, nor was the intensely boring tiki-taka possession style, IMO put DeGea in goal back in the early 90s and he wouldn't last, modern keepers get far more protection

I would like to know (and not a criticism) whether you watched Schmeichel and/or VDS, I think it is an important part of posting here to appreciate, which teams you have actually experienced, i.e. I am told that Best was well the Best, repeatedly ad nauseum, but for me it is Giggs, I can never appreciate Best no matter how many clips I watch.

golden_blunder · Dec 1, 2021

Big Pete was by far the best at United in my lifetime

Spoony · Dec 1, 2021

golden_blunder said:
Big Pete was by far the best at United in my lifetime

Indeed, Geebs.

KingCavani · Dec 1, 2021

VDS was better than both DDG (by far) and Schmeichel IMO. A complete keeper and such an assured presence. Great with his feet too.

De Gea is overrated even at his best simply because of how conservative he is., so often we concede great chances that would never happen with a more aggressive keeper. Salah getting that back pass from Rashford vs Liverpool one of many examples.

Zevvythered · Dec 1, 2021

KingCavani said:
VDS was better than both DDG (by far) and Schmeichel.

De Gea is overrated even at his best simply because of how conservative he is., so often we concede great chances that would never happen with a more aggressive keeper. Salah getting that back pass from Rashford vs Liverpool one of many examples.

No No And Bloody No.... Big Pete is the best GK I have seen At Old Trafford in over 35 years of supporting United...

L1nk · Dec 1, 2021

Zed 101 said:
I appreciate what you are saying and it is always difficult to compare players from different generations, there are so many factors which are just too much at odds, what I would say in criticism of DeGea is that his weak presence in the box, especially aerially is part of the problem, Schmeichel was like having a 5th defender (and a beast of one at that) in addition to him being an amazing keeper.

If you are trying to compare generations one thing I would say is that I remember defences being far more open than they are now, the pressing style was not even on the horizon, nor was the intensely boring tiki-taka possession style, IMO put DeGea in goal back in the early 90s and he wouldn't last, modern keepers get far more protection

I would like to know (and not a criticism) whether you watched Schmeichel and/or VDS, I think it is an important part of posting here to appreciate, which teams you have actually experienced, i.e. I am told that Best was well the Best, repeatedly ad nauseum, but for me it is Giggs, I can never appreciate Best no matter how many clips I watch.

I remember more of VDS and DeGea because i'm 32, so alot of Schmeichel's work i would have seen but i wouldn't honestly remember a lot of it from my own perspective as I was so young. I agree fully about De Gea's weakness, which for me was Schmeichel's strength. I guess it just feels a little... harsh? on De Gea considering how he held us on his shoulders for multiple seasons before he fell off.

I love me some VDS without a doubt, but I often felt like he missed some really easy saves that De Gea would make, though of course all keepers miss easy saves from time to time... but if you switch VDS with De Gea into their respective teams, i feel like the team VDS was in would still accomplish the same, if not more, where as i'm not sure VDS being in this team as it's been for multiple seasons, would probably fair worse. This is no disrespect to any of the 3 GK's mind, they are/were all fantastic and some of the best to ever do it for sure

Moriarty · Dec 1, 2021

Twisted Nerve said:
I remember when we signed him, thinking, hey this guy looks like Gary Bailey!

Her was no slouch either and neither was Alex Stepney. Two great keepers from the past. When I first started watching United, Harry Gregg was between the sticks and he put the wind up approaching forwards.

KingCavani · Dec 1, 2021

Zevvythered said:
No No And Bloody No.... Big Pete is the best GK I have seen At Old Trafford in over 35 years of supporting United...

Schmeichel was great. It's more to do with how highly I rate VDS than anything. That said I do agree with what someone said above that his persona sort of elevated him beyond what he was and gave him a mythical status. He would make a few mistakes here and there too.

Foxbatt · Dec 1, 2021

MadDogg said:
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.

Buffon?

tomaldinho1 · Dec 1, 2021

Skills said:
De Gea at his best was easily better than VDS.

No way. DDG is probably the best shot stopper I’ve seen but in all other departments he’s inferior to the other two. VDS was just all round 8/10 at everything, it would take a true keeping legend (which Schmeiks is) to pip him to being our best keeper.

MadDogg · Dec 1, 2021

Foxbatt said:
Buffon?

Personally I never thought Buffon's peak was at quite the same level as the likes of Neuer and Schmeichel. He just had ridiculous longevity where he was still obviously very very good.

To be fair though, I didn't watch much Serie A in the early 2000's which is when he was probably at his best. If I'd seen him more in that period I might have a different opinion.

Denis79 · Dec 1, 2021

golden_blunder said:
Big Pete was by far the best at United in my lifetime

Easily! What a player! VDS was amazing but Schmeichel was something else!

lsd · Dec 1, 2021

Anyone thinks De Gea was ever anywhere near as good as Schmeichel clearly never watched Peter playing.

I'm a huge De Gea fan but even at his best he was way behind Schmeichel who was the best keeper I have ever seen

Lay · Dec 1, 2021

KingCavani said:
Schmeichel was great. It's more to do with how highly I rate VDS than anything. That said I do agree with what someone said above that his persona sort of elevated him beyond what he was and gave him a mythical status. He would make a few mistakes here and there too.

VDS made a mistake in every UCL final he played for us. The Lampard goal, beaten at his near post by Eto’o and the Pedro goal and maybe the Messi goal too. He should have done better for all 4 of those. Did save Anelka’s penalty though

Bebestation · Dec 1, 2021

I'm not saying he is better but Petr Cech was one of my favourite rival players.

choccy77 · Dec 1, 2021

For me I would say

1) Schmeichel
2) Vds
3) De Gea
4) Bailey
5) Les Sealey

The rest were all average in their time at United. (circa 77 to present)

poleglass red · Dec 2, 2021

Barthez
turner
Carroll
Schmecial
VDS
De Gea

Golden Nugget · Dec 2, 2021

I was watching. United podcast and one of the guys that brought his book said he wasn’t reading it, and saying something about City fans can enjoy it or something. I thought this bump had something to do with it. Did something happen recently?

Smores · Dec 2, 2021

I feel like De Gea is judged harsly as it's easier to remember his poorer periods right now. VDS definitely had them as well. Both top servants for us.

Neither as good as Schmeichel though.

goodman organelles · Dec 2, 2021

Peter is the biggest club legend of the three and rightly so.
Personally I preferred VDS but that’s because I prefer his style of goalkeeping.
He wasn’t particularly flash because he didn’t need to be. Read the game incredibly well, positional sense second to none. He controlled his area with a calm demeanour. He was like the Rio Ferdinand of goalkeepers.

But I do feel Peter is the bigger club legend. There’s something about him, his presence on the pitch, the way he seemed unbeatable came across like a manifestation of old Trafford itself. He was part of the reason the titles came rolling back in after some baron years.

He was more prone to mistakes than many remember but he played a higher risk style of goalkeeping especially compared to De Gea.
De Gea’s shot stopping at his peak was something to behold but has too many flaws to be considered alongside those two. All keepers make mistakes and the more proactive they are the greater risk they run of making a mistake. De Gea’s run of poor form wasn’t just because of the number of mistakes but also because he plays a style hat should diminish the number of mistakes he would make compared to other proactive keepers.

jeff_goldblum · Dec 2, 2021

If you took Peter Schmeichel and removed most of his strengths; his throwing, his ability to hold onto the ball, his aerial dominance, his ability in 1 vs. 1s, his speed off his line and his general presence, you'd be left with a slightly less agile but still more well-rounded version of David De Gea. There's a lot more to being a goalkeeper than reaction saves and Schmeichel had the wider package in a way De Gea doesn't and will never. Every other game De Gea concedes goals in situations where the striker wouldn't have got a shot away, or even the ball, if Schmeichel was in net.

Van Der Sar was less capable of the truly spectacular than either but more than made up for it with positioning, decision-making, control of his box, general consistency and an ability to raise the level of the defenders in front of him. If they were all magically available and at their peaks now now he'd be one I'd want in the team. In terms of who was the best goalkeeper for the time they played for us, I'd put Schmeichel ahead of Van Der Sar with De Gea a fair way back in 3rd place.

The Brown Bull · Dec 2, 2021

jeff_goldblum said:
If you took Peter Schmeichel and removed most of his strengths; his throwing, his ability to hold onto the ball, his aerial dominance, his ability in 1 vs. 1s, his speed off his line and his general presence, you'd be left with a slightly less agile but still more well-rounded version of David De Gea. There's a lot more to being a goalkeeper than reaction saves and Schmeichel had the wider package in a way De Gea doesn't and will never. Every other game De Gea concedes goals in situations where the striker wouldn't have got a shot away, or even the ball, if Schmeichel was in net.

Van Der Sar was less capable of the truly spectacular than either but more than made up for it with positioning, decision-making, control of his box, general consistency and an ability to raise the level of the defenders in front of him. If they were all magically available and at their peaks now now he'd be one I'd want in the team. In terms of who was the best goalkeeper for the time they played for us, I'd put Schmeichel ahead of Van Der Sar with De Gea a fair way back in 3rd place.

Agree

iammemphis · Dec 2, 2021

Jeppers7 said:
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.

End thread.

The guy was/is my favourite player ever. Bought his signed edition of his new book and also have a framed signed top of his hanging up. They say never meet your heroes but i would love to shake his hand one day.

SER19 · Dec 2, 2021

Who can see him crying in his 6 yard box from a corner because he stubbed his toe? Don't embarrass yourselves comparing

2cents · Dec 2, 2021

Yeah can’t deny my thoughts went straight to Schmeichel there. He’d probably have thrown Fred to one side and got on with it.

lsd · Dec 2, 2021

2cents said:
Yeah can’t deny my thoughts went straight to Schmeichel there. He’d probably have thrown Fred to one side and got on with it.

He would have used Fred like a golf club to clear the ball then booted him into the crowd

Dansk · Dec 3, 2021

I've met Peter Schmeichel. He's fecking enormous. I miss that in a keeper. They don't build them like they used to, and it has become so much easier to bully the keeper these days.

It's not just about the physical dimensions, it's also about presence. If there's a goddamn giant charging at you, it does something to you.

Compare this:

To this:

Even setting aside all their athleticism and technical goalkeeping skills, having a huge cnut in goal has some clear advantages. It throws opposing players off. It intimidates them on a subconscious level. It affects a striker's confidence and composure, and it genuinely makes a difference.

norm87cro · Dec 4, 2021

As a GK myself and a Schmeichel fan I way so happy he was the captain for us during the 99 CL final. IMO the best GK the club ever had

T00lsh3d · Dec 4, 2021

Dansk said:
I've met Peter Schmeichel. He's fecking enormous. I miss that in a keeper. They don't build them like they used to, and it has become so much easier to bully the keeper these days.

It's not just about the physical dimensions, it's also about presence. If there's a goddamn giant charging at you, it does something to you.

Compare this:

To this:

Even setting aside all their athleticism and technical goalkeeping skills, having a huge cnut in goal has some clear advantages. It throws opposing players off. It intimidates them on a subconscious level. It affects a striker's confidence and composure, and it genuinely makes a difference.

Yeah there’s a lot of truth in this. I also think there’s an era thing, Schmeichel was just so much bigger and so different to other keepers at that time that he presented a different mental challenge to strikers. In the current era we’re used to 6ft5” keepers, it’s nothing particularly out of the ordinary

Hoof the ball · Dec 22, 2021

Schmeichel's composure and distribution here at 1:09. :lol:

Red the Bear · Dec 22, 2021

Hoof The Ball said:
Schmeichel's composure and distribution here at 1:09.

Jeez that entire performance is horrendous we really did have a tendency to make mess out of these early European outings

We made it out of the group and somehow lost to BVB while battering the to the heavens at old Trafford

Bizzare at times

Hoof the ball · Dec 22, 2021

Red the Bear said:
Jeez that entire performance is horrendous we really did have a tendency to make mess out of these early European outings

We made it out of the group and somehow lost to BVB while battering the to the heavens at old Trafford

Bizzare at times

Naivety at that point. We took our 4-4-2 blazing into Europe. Look at this vs. Juve. We could have scored 3-4 goals. Cantona really should have put that chance away; but conversely they had about 3-4 one on ones and missed them all.

Red the Bear · Dec 22, 2021

Hoof The Ball said:
Naivety at that point. We took our 4-4-2 blazing into Europe. Look at this vs. Juve. We could have scored 3-4 goals. Cantona really should have put that chance away; but conversely they had about 3-4 one on ones and missed them all.

Those were great games juve really was the *Team*to play back then they were the kings

Heysel really did damage England's European prospects as most continental team by the time perhaps epitomized by ac millan had developed a fare more considerate and defensive style and European refs were alot less lenient then the first division ones so a lot of the physicality that we brought was neutered

Bossman really did feck us over as well we never were able of getting our best team (and what a team that was ) on the field during those early days and the team that replaced it was a lot more young and inexperienced

I guess it's telling that we started by getting beaten by juve to the getting the upper hand and finally beating them very convincingly and emphatically during the 2002/3 season

Foxbatt · Dec 22, 2021

Didn't he score a goal for us too?

Siezard · Dec 22, 2021

T00lsh3d said:
Yeah there’s a lot of truth in this. I also think there’s an era thing, Schmeichel was just so much bigger and so different to other keepers at that time that he presented a different mental challenge to strikers. In the current era we’re used to 6ft5” keepers, it’s nothing particularly out of the ordinary

Most keepers are tall and big these days. De Gea is taller than Schmeichel by 1cm according to wiki. He also bulked up over the years!

Jeppers7 · Dec 22, 2021

Foxbatt said:
Didn't he score a goal for us too?

Yes….he also scored a scissor kick that got disallowed for some reason, it was an unbelievable goal :lol:

Ladron de redcafe · Dec 22, 2021

Siezard said:
Most keepers are tall and big these days. De Gea is taller than Schmeichel by 1cm according to wiki. He also bulked up over the years!

De Gea is almost emaciated, by comparison. Van Der Sar was a giant but even he didn't have the presence of a Schmeichel because he didn't have the matter's physique.

Red the Bear · Dec 22, 2021

Foxbatt said:
Didn't he score a goal for us too?

Yeah against European opposition too

Rotor vologard uefa cup a last minute header i believe

Premier league site also lists a goal but can't remember that one

Siezard said:
Most keepers are tall and big these days. De Gea is taller than Schmeichel by 1cm according to wiki. He also bulked up over the years!

Height listings are pretty wank just look to luke shaw's

David is more like 188 while pete was i guess 191-4 and very heavily built more so then any keeper around

He also used to hug rush attackers which i assume scared them from impact

Attackers have gotten taller a bit but keepers and defenders have really remained the same to be honest neuer who now is considered a big keeper is the same Height

Red the Bear · Dec 22, 2021

Jeppers7 said:
Yes….he also scored a scissor kick that got disallowed for some reason, it was an unbelievable goal

He really did love going forward hell sheringhams 99 goal was influenced by him coming to the box disrupting the Germans (he headed the ball before it found its way to teddy i believe)

GueRed · Dec 22, 2021

Schmeichel was a force of nature at the back. A big voice and organiser.

The defence could play higher up the pitch knowing behind them they had someone who could dominate beyond his line.

De Gea is a mouse in comparison.

Peter Schmeichel

Full Member

Site admin. Manchester United fan

The People's President

New Member

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

The Oracle

Correctly predicted Italy to win Euro 2020

Im a doctor btw, my IQ destroys yours

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

It's Coming Home.

iwillnotaskforanamechangeagain

Full Member

Historiographer, and obtainer of rare antiquities

The Oracle

Full Member

New Member

T00ly O' Sh3d

Full Member

Something less generic

Full Member

Something less generic

New Member

New Member

Pogfamily Mafia

Full Member

Something less generic

Something less generic

Full Member