Petr Cech (with some Shay Given)

[badpiggy]

The penalty save by Given today, has us paddies claiming Given as one of the best in the world. And Johnny Giles was pointing out Cech's fall from goodness/acclaim again. I think he's kinda right really not because of any major blunders from Cech recently - which there haven't been - but because he's definitley not the keeper he was (before hunt ****ed him up says gilesey).

Anyone agree on either point?

[Chris]

Given is good but he's nowhere near the best in the world in my opinion. Watching Reina for so long you notice the flaws in other keepers, he doesnt command his area at all and off crosses often doesnt even come off his line and his distribution is awful. He's good but nothing out of the ordinary for me.

Cech has declined quite a lot, sad really given it was because of injury. He's nowhere near as commanding as before.

[tiktu]

Given is good shot stopper and shines on the games where they are bombed all the time. As said he is not good at crosses nor organizing the game. It would be good to see him behind tight defence as I don't think he has top class keeper's concentration which is the reason why any of the top teams have not bought him before.

We Finns can claim that Jussi Jääskeläinen is and Antti Niemi was one of the best in the world but might be that something was missing.

[BobTheCharmer]

We Finns can claim that Jussi Jääskeläinen is and Antti Niemi was one of the best in the world but might be that something was missing.

those two are both in the top 10 of the best premier league keepers for me.

Due to the balls these days, I don't think there is one standout keeper in world football. Reina has many qualities but he still concedes plenty. He isn't as imposing as Red Nose was at Utd or Southall for Everton.

Friedel can be unbeatable on days. Given is consistently a good shot stopper. Van der Saar has been good for years although is prone to the odd major **** up. Cech is only 50% of the keeper he used to be. Time to be brave, ditch the head gear. Kirkland has his moments. James can be awesome.

If Reina keeps pulling off saves like last weeks at everton he could go on to be the best. Lets not forget he's not even Spains number one.

[Shaggy]

Given is good but he's nowhere near the best in the world in my opinion. Watching Reina for so long you notice the flaws in other keepers, he doesnt command his area at all and off crosses often doesnt even come off his line and his distribution is awful. He's good but nothing out of the ordinary for me.

Cech has declined quite a lot, sad really given it was because of injury. He's nowhere near as commanding as before.

Given's very good, particularly shot-stopping, but he's not in Reina's league.

[red g]

those two are both in the top 10 of the best premier league keepers for me.

Due to the balls these days, I don't think there is one standout keeper in world football. Reina has many qualities but he still concedes plenty. He isn't as imposing as Red Nose was at Utd or Southall for Everton.
Friedel can be unbeatable on days. Given is consistently a good shot stopper. Van der Saar has been good for years although is prone to the odd major **** up. Cech is only 50% of the keeper he used to be. Time to be brave, ditch the head gear. Kirkland has his moments. James can be awesome.

If Reina keeps pulling off saves like last weeks at everton he could go on to be the best. Lets not forget he's not even Spains number one.

i think he is
also i think he is quicker of his line than schmeicel and also is more of his line as well.

did Clemence not being englands number 1 stop him being the best either at times?

as for given, fantastic keeper along with niemi, juusi, vds, friedel all great just short of world class which is what reina is

[Exiled_red]

Cech isn't at the level he was at before his injury how many times now to you hear commentators say something like "and you don't expect Petr Cech to make mistakes like that", you will generally hear something like that a few times a season now.

Given looks a good keeper I've thought so for a while but I think it's easier to look good when you are having to make alot of saves, like he was at Newcastle, I think if City push on he'll have less to do and that will be give a good indication of how good he really is IMO

[DannyMan2006]

Reina does not get the credit he deserves because he is not a regular international starter and has not played for a team that has won the premier league.

[dww]

The penalty save by Given today, has us paddies claiming Given as one of the best in the world. And Johnny Giles was pointing out Cech's fall from goodness/acclaim again. I think he's kinda right really not because of any major blunders from Cech recently - which there haven't been - but because he's definitley not the keeper he was (before hunt ****ed him up says gilesey).

Anyone agree on either point?

I totally agree that Cech has fallen quite far from his best. At his best however he was almost certainly the best keeper in the world. Now he is probably just behind the group containing Reina and Casillas (I'd add Buffon but I haven't seen him play for a while).

Given I think is an excellent shot stopper but a poor organiser and can be targetted on crosses. He's not as good a Cech in my opinion but it is a close call nowadays.

[G]

Given is good,not the best though.

Reina for me is excellent but also not the best,one of the best,but not out in front on his own,yet.

I've felt for a while that he dosen't pull off enough amazing saves that you just don't know how he did it,like Rudolph at United did so often.Hasn't saved many of the Peno's he faced in a while ether which used to be his thing

He did it v Everton though so hopefully it'll come into his game more

[fah-q]

I always thought Reina was better at saving penalties under a shootout pressure situation than in the course of normal match.

[Chris]

I never expect a goalie to save a pen in normal time, it is afterall the opposing clubs first choice taker that will be taking one, shoot outs are a bit different as you get people taking one who dont really want to.

Still, hes not done bad, he saved that one at Portsmouth and Standard Liege. We dont exactly get a lot given against us either.

[Joe King]

Cech was never the world's best keeper, he was in that clutch of five, six top keepers.

Given is one of the best in the Premiership but certainly not in the world. His lack of height is fairly evident when claiming for crosses, which leaves an awful lot of responsibility on his centre halves.

Pepe Reina is the best in the Premiership, possibly followed by Friedel.