It probably comes down to that.
Schmeichel's best was better than Van der Sar but Van der Sar's consistency was remarkable and he made so few mistakes over such a long career
Better keeper - Schmeichel or Van Der Sar
- Thread starter FujiVice
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Schmeichel's best was better than Van der Sar but Van der Sar's consistency was remarkable and he made so few mistakes over such a long career
Personally think... Schmikes was a better big game keeper, when he was needed for "that" moment.. that one on one.. that save... he could (and would) save our bacon when he had no right to...
But.. VDS was so consistent over the entireity of a season.. more so for me than big pete,
If I wanted a keeper for a one off game? I'd take Schmeichel, if I wanted a keeper over a 38 game season I'd take Edwin.
But.. VDS was so consistent over the entireity of a season.. more so for me than big pete,
If I wanted a keeper for a one off game? I'd take Schmeichel, if I wanted a keeper over a 38 game season I'd take Edwin.
Very different keepers, almost to the point of being diametrical opposites: The one was calm and cool as ice, hardly ever made a mistake, had no obvious flaws in his game, blended in perfectly with the defense as such (which was the best defense we ever had under Fergie). The other was flamboyant, loud, a hothead and more prone to the odd clanger. But the other is also considered in the Yashin bracket (as the only one, I guess - it's Yashin and him) - because of his technique, his match winning quality, his overall impact on the pitch.
I personally don't think there's any doubt - but as always there will be a generational difference here.
I personally don't think there's any doubt - but as always there will be a generational difference here.
Honestly couldn't choose. Schmeichel was a huge presence and incredible shot stopper who completely commanded the area like no other keep I've seen, but... he had the odd feck-up in him. VDS on the other hand, was the most reliable keeper I've seen at United, and that consistency gave such confidence to the defence.
Both incredible keepers who I'd put in the top 10 of all time.
Both incredible keepers who I'd put in the top 10 of all time.
I didn't see enough of Peter to make a good conclusion.
The only thing I know is that VDS is on my list of all time favorite United players.
The only thing I know is that VDS is on my list of all time favorite United players.
As good as Van Der Sar was, Schmeichel is the best ive ever seen. He was utterly brilliant. One on one with a keeper, you're expected to score. He's the only GK I've ever seen where the odds were in his favour.
I just wish he hadn't soured his reputation since.
I just wish he hadn't soured his reputation since.
Others might have a better memory but i think VDS had a reputation for being quite error prone before he came to United. I'm thinking particularly at Juventus but also possibly at Fulham where i think he may even have been dropped at one time.
I think that Schmeichel is one of the most talented keepers ever. I will include Yashin in this category (I've seen lots of his footage from Dinamo and USSR) and Neuer too (maybe a little bit controversial). Van der Sar isn't in the same bracket for me, though he was more consistent in the league - but in one knock-out game I would choose Schmeichel.
Van der saar did it across europe so to me, definitely better than schemichel. However regarding importance to this club, peter is far and high ahead.
This poll is a torture of somekind. How do you pick the better one out of two main keepers of Sir Alex's reign ?
They both were a massive win for the club but also they had different set of defenders to support them. The choice will be nothing but a question of subjective views and memories. Nothing to do with actual analysis.
Feck off with choosing between awesome and awesome.
They both were a massive win for the club but also they had different set of defenders to support them. The choice will be nothing but a question of subjective views and memories. Nothing to do with actual analysis.
Feck off with choosing between awesome and awesome.
His reputation took a dive at one point - which is why he ended up at Fulham in the first place, to put it brutally. So, yes - the idea that he was consistently brilliant throughout his long career is clearly not accurate. But he was extremely consistent for us - there's no doubt about that.
This is what I'm getting at too. You have keepers who are in the all-time bracket because they were - simply - extremely good and consistent over a long period of time, playing at the highest level. And then there's a very small number of keepers who go beyond this - who stood out somehow technically, in the way they...kept their goal.
Schmeichel is there for me - VDS is not. Hardly anyone is, though, so it's not exactly a huge slight on Ed.
Either way, SAF bought these two for a COMBINED 2.5 million pounds! fecking hell, two of the great man's biggest bargains
Reading this thread made me think about that glorious night in 2008. Does anyone have the video of the United supporter in the stands watching the shoot-out screaming "SAVE IT RAIMOND". I also can't seem to find a video of Ryan Giggs talking to Ronaldo after the game.
I saw both at their peak and I think Van Der Sar was better personally but I fully accept that's an unpopular opinion.
Both were world class goalkeepers to me.
Both were world class goalkeepers to me.
I did and I'd have to go with Schmeichel as the best. Stepney was a superb goalkeeper but played in an era when England was producing top class goalkeepers otherwise he'd have played as a regular for England. One name that rarely gets mentioned is Gary Bailey who is very underrated. Hell of a good keeper was Gary.
I don't like him very much these days but, Schmikes had a presence and figure that has not been matched before or since.
Plus, you take into account his height and weight and it makes it even more ridiculous that he made some of those saves.
VDS was great but, no one can touch big Pete....No one!
Plus, you take into account his height and weight and it makes it even more ridiculous that he made some of those saves.
VDS was great but, no one can touch big Pete....No one!
My auld lad says Bailey was one of the highlights of the mid 80's as a United fan.
Why not include ddg into the poll?
Your common garden keeper may help a side to 5 or 6 points in a season, VDS would win teams 9 or 10 points, Schmeichel would win you 11 or 12 points in a season. Between the two of them, I think the difference is could be that VDS was the more technical keeper, coached very well, and would take everything in he was taught, whilst you couldn't train Schmeichel. It's that that seperates them for me, Schmeichel was akin to a goalkeeping Ronaldo/Best figure, where as VDS worked his socks off to get to that level.
VdS was a Steady Eddy. He never made a mistake and his defence could always rely on him to be there when they needed him. Schmeichel was amazing at everything, but a little unpredictable at times. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. The latter is the best 'keeper I've ever seen, all things considered. It's no contest.
I remember Gabrielle Marcotti recounting on the radio what a scout from Italy had once told him about vdS. The gist was that van der Sar was the kind of 'keeper who'd make the saves you expected him to make, but never anything more than that. I think that's a fair enough assessment, although it does skip over the fact that the rest of his game was absolutely impeccable.
I wasn't actively around for the Schmeichel Era as I was too young to properly appreciate the football, so i can only go from what i know, and thats the fact that the united team built after 2005, with VDS, nev, rio, vidic,evra, scholes,carrick,ronaldo,rooney etc was the best team ive seen other than peps barca from 2009-2011. and one strong reason for that was VDS.
Schmikes hands down. He had everything, shot stopper, confidence, distribution, positioning, dexterity, kicking...but the one thing that really puts him ahead, was his leadership with his back four. The shouting, encouraging, poisitioning of his defence, his attitude of nothing is going to get past him. He was pissed off everytime he saw that ball in the back of his net.
Not saying VDS wasn't a brilliant keeper to, but we are comparing the two.
Not saying VDS wasn't a brilliant keeper to, but we are comparing the two.
Van der Sar was brilliant but Schmeichel was in my opinion the best goalkeeper the World has seen.
I have read interviews with several players who said that they felt he almost scared them when they were 1-on-1 with him - he was that intimidating.
He was just a superb goalkeeper
I have read interviews with several players who said that they felt he almost scared them when they were 1-on-1 with him - he was that intimidating.
He was just a superb goalkeeper
i love edwin but the only thing he edges schmikes would be his kicking ability and calmness. other than that its all schmeichel.
top GK both of them. hope one day DDG will be in the same bracket as this 2.
top GK both of them. hope one day DDG will be in the same bracket as this 2.
Different types of goalkeepers. Schmeichel was more flashy, more about reflexes and dominating his area, VDS was more about commanding his defense and had very high concentration.
Hard to compare them, I guess it depends which type you prefer. Among football fans I think Schmeichel was higher rated, but that is mostly because of his more flashy style.
Hard to compare them, I guess it depends which type you prefer. Among football fans I think Schmeichel was higher rated, but that is mostly because of his more flashy style.
Tough choice but while VDS was excellent (and I quite a few unhappy folks at the time we bought him hehe), Peter filled you with so much confidence. We had a great team and he was one of the key players but Edwin is great. A real pity we didn't get him sooner
Is this a joke?
25 and it's Schmikes for me. I have a feeling that De Gea might surpass him one day, especially if he gets a solid back four in front of him at some point.
I think you are right. People talk about the defence Van Der Sar had in front of him but I personally believe that he had a lot to do with the quality and consistency of that defense. It's certainly looked shit since he left us.
I would agree with this assessment.
DDG will never reach the levels of either imo. at least at united. Not because there is anything wrong with him or united, but I think keepers need a fresh start to terrify leagues.
I've always said VDS is the better keeper, but reading the thread I understand why people are saying schmikes now. The reason I say VDS is because he never ever made a mistake, (and did much more besides!) which is what I, personally, look for.
I remember Schmikes making a few mistakes, but then he did have a worse defense in front of him.
If VDS was in the 90s united team and Schmikes was in the 00s, would either ten have been better? I suspect not. 00s needed calm and could afford to play 4-5-1. 90s required... Schmeichel
Schmeichel is the greatest keeper I've ever seen, honestly don't believe I'll ever see anybody better in my lifetime. Schmeichel had pretty much everything as well as being a massive character and presence on the pitch. VDS was a brilliant keeper but he wasn't on the level of Schmeichel who graces the absolute best of the best.
For me in terms of wonder saves and athletic shot stopping he has already surpassed VDS and is catching up to Schmeichel. However, command of his box needs a lot of work to surpass either as a goalkeeper. VDS made mistakes too by the way. I was watching season review of the late 00's (as I tend to do when we are struggling) and I was surprised by some of the errors (or what we would classify as errors if DDG or Hart made them) that he made.
Schmeichel was better but with him joining City and celebrating the way he did when they beat us really fecked me off so VDS is my favourite.
I remember being sat in the east stand against Villa and he was getting a load of shit that afternoon from the home fans.
I remember being sat in the east stand against Villa and he was getting a load of shit that afternoon from the home fans.
I would love to say VDS as Schmeichel annoyed me by going to City, but I gotta hand it to Schmeichel. I have never seen a goalkeeper as good. He was rarely beaten in 1 on 1's as he was so intimidating. He was very vocal and kept his back line organised and fully focused. he turned defence to attack in seconds as he could throw the ball further than most keepers could kick it. He had a hand in designing his own goalie jerseys as he believed the mad multi-coloured designs distracted attacking players in 1 on 1's. Oh, and BTW some of his saves were amazing. who remembers that save v Rapid Vienna?
Where has this idea that VDS never made a mistake come from? There was the dropped cross against WBA and Messi's goal in the 2011 CL final off the top of my head.
Schmeichel is the best I've ever seen, he was just sensational at times.
Schmeichel is the best I've ever seen, he was just sensational at times.
Schmeichel all day long. Never seen a better keeper in my lifetime don't think I will again. Just phenomenal. I loved the style of his saves. How he got that huge body parallel with the floor is beyond me. Then his dominating star block.
I came around to watching football and United a bit late, 'round 96, so I probably don't have the best overview of Schmikes, but personally I prefer VdS. It was clear that he was important in organising our defence, he was excellent with his feet and distribution, and as such suited the modern game more.
Both have had incredible and important moments, such as Schmeichel saving our bacon against Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi-final replay, and VdS of course in the CL final against Chelsea, and any call will be fairly close. My choice also might be slightly coloured by the fact that Schmikes seems to want to claim to be a United fan, but his choices and his statements since leaving us haven't always reflected that well. VdS clearly still considers himself a United man.
Both have had incredible and important moments, such as Schmeichel saving our bacon against Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi-final replay, and VdS of course in the CL final against Chelsea, and any call will be fairly close. My choice also might be slightly coloured by the fact that Schmikes seems to want to claim to be a United fan, but his choices and his statements since leaving us haven't always reflected that well. VdS clearly still considers himself a United man.