Edwin van der Sar

[Achtung]

http://www.sportinglife.com/pictures/general/allsportvandersarforunited.jpg

With all the talk about strikers and this and that, I thought I'd take a minute to consider the guy at the other end. You know, the massive Dutchman who has been an absolute rock for us. How good did it feel to have a keeper who was solid and reliable for an entire season? Seriously, how long has it been since we had that?

Here's a stat I wanted to point out, crediting both the defense and van der Sar. The last goal we conceded at Old Trafford was on February 4th. We conceded just 8 goals at home the entire Premiership season, better than Chelsea and tied with Liverpool for best home defensive record.

Music-related nicknames for Edwin van der Sar:
Eddie Vedder Sar
Eddie van Halen

Feel free to come up with your own cringe-inducing nicknames. Discuss amongst yourselves. :cool:

[johno]

wow... 8 goals at home aint too shabby... really nice... shows the kind of impact a solid Keeper is capable of making.

[DutchFootballRulez]

Edwin Longpunts.

[celtic76]

Have to aggree that is an impressive number.

[Sapphire]

Edwin van der SAVE!!!

He's actually my favorite addition to the squad in the past 2 years. I spent the second half of 2004-05, holding my breath whenever the opposition would put the ball in our half of the pitch -- I think it's easy to forget how awful the Carroll season was. Remember the FA Cup final -- when it came to shootouts, they could've stopped the competition right then, you KNEW Roy wasn't gonna stop one penalty.

I think the absence of our discussion of VdS is testament to how good he is. He hasn't made that many "spectacular" saves; but perhaps that's because he constantly gets himself into good position. But my confidence in him is TOTAL -- sure, he makes an occasional blunder, but I agree with Achtung, he is an absolute rock between the posts.

[Rakim_22]

He's Dutch, he's cool, he saves goals, he chokes bitches. End of story.

[Newtown]

Without a doubt one of the most important additions to the side in quite some time. One of his attributes that not everyone notices is how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet. He handles the ball better than any keeper in the premiership.

[The Guv'nor]

Some dissapointing mistakes but its good to have someone who instills confidence in the defence again.

Remember the FA Cup final -- when it came to shootouts, they could've stopped the competition right then, you KNEW Roy wasn't gonna stop one penalty.

So frustrating, something I still think about. Howard was warming up on the touchline, it looked like Fergie was going to bring him on. I was reassured by this if it went to penalties. However extra time went, and he wasn't brought on! Argghh:mad:

[Sapphire]

Bumpity.


Van der Sar has announced he'll retire from international football after the Euros. Given his age and recent flirtation with injury, I think that would be most beneficial for us.

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=483651

Oh, and happy birthday you big lug. (He's 37 today.) Scorpios are hot.

[Harry Boulton]

VDS has been a rock for us and is as safe as they come in the EPL.

I'm glad we got him but gutted we didn't him after Schmeichel retired...

[BusbyBabes]

Oh, and happy birthday you big lug. (He's 37 today.) Scorpios are hot.
[/QUOTE]

Happy birthday Edwin you will have well-earned your pension by your retirement. I think probaly that this could be his last season before Foster takes over.

BTW I am Scorpio...

[sdotsom]

He has been as influential as anyone else in our recent success. I think Rio probably appreciates it the most - he is able to focus wholly on defense (most of the time anyway) instead of wondering what the clown behind him is up to. Just wished we had signed him earlier, as Fergie revealed he had tried to do.

With Foster's injury, I'd think we'll give VDS a 1 year extension.

[Sapphire]

BTW I am Scorpio...I'm a Cancer. Turns out we're super-compatible. :eek:


I hope Edwin has at least another season in him. I'd like to see Foster as a genuine #2 throughout a season to break him into the Prem properly (and I don't consider Koozy an adequate choice for a a number 1 at this point).

[SirManchester]

I'm a Cancer. Turns out we're super-compatible. :eek:

I'm a Taurus. What the hell does that mean?


I hope Edwin has at least another season in him. I'd like to see Foster as a genuine #2 throughout a season to break him into the Prem properly (and I don't consider Koozy an adequate choice for a a number 1 at this point).

I hate to derail this thread and I love Edwin, but at this point, one would have to seriously consider Kuszczak as a potential number one. He's finally gotten a good number of games and he did brilliantly for us. I sincerely hope he gets more time after Edwin and we don't just dispose of him.

[JAKE SPEED]

To be honest, I don't have much faith in Foster. If Sunderland goes down, I very much think that Gordon will be available and that SAF should make a move for him. I rate Gordon as high, if not higher than Van der Sar, with the added bonus that he very well could play another 10 years.

If anything has been made clear in the last 5 years, its how important a truly stable keeper is, and how difficult they are to come by. No chance at Cech, Buffon, or Casillas, but I think we need a keeper of stature to match our ambitions.

[Sapphire]

I'm a Taurus. What the hell does that mean? New horoscope thread: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=616021 :)


I hate to derail this thread and I love Edwin, but at this point, one would have to seriously consider Kuszczak as a potential number one. He's finally gotten a good number of games and he did brilliantly for us. I sincerely hope he gets more time after Edwin and we don't just dispose of him.I need more convincing. I still feel stung from the Howard/Carroll era, and I want a super solid keeper between the posts, youth development be damned (I know that may not be reasonable). Kuszczak has looked strides better during Van der Sar's recent injury spell than he ever did before for us. If he can make more progress, then I would be all for him staying around and figuring prominently; but if Edwin will retire at the end of this season or next (totally unknown, of course), I don't see Kuszczak as ready to step in as number one. Hope you're right though, as I really like the kid.

[Cevno]

At this moment Gordon looks the most obvious replacement for vds .

[Bronaldo]

Akinfeev would be a good target, but i don't think SAF would start a keeper that young.

[Vermont Red]

At this moment Gordon looks the most obvious replacement for vds .

Obvious? You do know that he plays for Sunderland, right?

[Rakim_22]

I'm a Taurus. What the hell does that mean?



You must be my father. :eek: