Simon Mignolet

[Norbs]

Kept the most Premier League clean sheets in 2015

I'm sure I read he's had the most clean sheets of any prem' keeper in 2015. Seems a bit unlikely but fair play to him if true.

You did, it was 4 posts earlier

[Cormack74]

You did, it was 4 posts earlier

Oops

[Mattshark]

He's a good keeper. Good hands with excellent shot stopping ability. Needs to be more assertive in his decision making at times. Every goalkeeper flaps now and again and he's kept his flapping to a low level since that nightmare period last year. I wasn't sure of him in his first year but he has improved.

I think this is vital for a top level keeper. Lots of average keepers are great shot stoppers. But to be at the top level you need more than that, you need command and sadly for Mig, you need distribution, which he really is poor at.

That is a lot for him to add to his game.

[danperkins]

I think this is vital for a top level keeper. Lots of average keepers are great shot stoppers. But to be at the top level you need more than that, you need command and sadly for Mig, you need distribution, which he really is poor at.

That is a lot for him to add to his game.

[frank the tank]

I think it is easy to remember how young he is for a goalie though..... for me, i think he could be a success if we persevere with him.

[dww]

I think this is vital for a top level keeper. Lots of average keepers are great shot stoppers. But to be at the top level you need more than that, you need command and sadly for Mig, you need distribution, which he really is poor at.

That is a lot for him to add to his game.

For me he lacks all of the 'extra' qualities that distinguish elite goalkeepers.

FWIW I think Begovic suffers from the same issues and it shows when he plays for Chelsea.

[Alex]

I think it is easy to remember how young he is for a goalie though..... for me, i think he could be a success if we persevere with him.

That used to apply. But since the days of Seaman, which top clubs have had a older goalkeeper?

[dww]

That used to apply. But since the days of Seaman, which top clubs have had a older goalkeeper?

That's a good point actually, best I can think of are:

Cech at Arsenal/Chelsea
Casillas at Real Madrid

Neither of which are/were really old.

[RedReet]

That used to apply. But since the days of Seaman, which top clubs have had a older goalkeeper?

United bought VDS and Arsenal Cech. Given was also old when City signed him, but obviously Hart came though and claimed his place.

[RichC]

Van Der Sar at the Mancs.

I'm not sure he's ever going to be one of the "elite" keepers, he's got some good attributes but he's also got some real deficiencies. His distribution is below average and the communication at the back is also pretty poor (this is also down to the players in front of him as well.)

Not sure a replacement is a necessity at present but I'm not sure he's good enough for the long term

[RedReet]

Ahh, i've sort of misunderstood, but add Buffon to the list then.

[RedReet]

I think we just went through a poor generation of keepers which is why United, Arsenal and even us have struggled over long periods to find a decent one.

[Alex]

That's a good point actually, best I can think of are:

Cech at Arsenal/Chelsea
Casillas at Real Madrid

Neither of which are/were really old.

Yep. Cech is 33 and Casillas is 34. Both of which were dropped at around age 31/32 and then moved on.

I dont think either are at their peaks now either. Maybe Cech will get back to that with Arsenal, but his consistency from 5-10 years ago with Chelsea isn't there anymore.

[Norbs]

Kahn surely and not to forget Tim 'Bucket o spunk' Howard

[Chris]

Wont be our number 1 for long anyway. Manuel Neuer is begging for the move :

Manuel Neuer

Startrekord in der Bundesliga und wieder zu 0. Jetzt aber geht's nach London. Auch wenn in Deutschland, was englischen Fußball betrifft, derzeit alles über Liverpool FC spricht, zählt für uns die volle Konzentration auf Arsenal und Per Mertesacker und Mesut Özil