Maarten Stekelenburg

[IL_DUCE]

Van Der Sar has taught us that a keeper need to be much more than just a good shot stopper. We need a personality, a leader, and a last stand that we can trust in all contexts. Loyalty, continuity and quality stands out as success criterias. Goalkeepers with qualities and personality that meet these criteria are inherently place-bound, and thus not easy to get hold in. Finding the right player also requires far more than superficial knowledge of the player's. It is thus difficult for us to make any adequate assessment of the different options.

However, I have full confidence that SAF, Steele, and VDS will succeed in defining the best options for us. We can only hope that one of these players are available. If not, we are forced to rely on Lindegaard until further notice.

Reina, De Gea and Adler is at the top of my personal wish- list, but Stekelenburg stands out as a good alternative if these players aren´t available, or simply don´t fancy a transfer to Manchester United.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

What we need is a calm, solid keeper similar in style to Van der sar. He doesn't necessarily have to be as good as Edwin talent wise. That is why I wouldn't mind Stelekenburg.

 

[SAred]

What I have seen of this guy in the world cup he looked pity decent. Dont see anything wrong with this guy coming in. Neuer would be my first choice but that won't happen and others are either undecided are has good has this chap but would cost a dam sight more.

 

[Ekeke]

He is 29 and 6'5" but I don't think he is good enough to play for United.

If Stekelenburg is good enough, Diego Lopez is more than good enough

 

[SharkyMcShark]

I've never been particularly enamoured with him as a keeper, but then I've not watched many Ajax matches outside of the European competitions.

 

[Devilton]

Dear God...please let this be a smokescreen.

He's painfully average.

The dutch Ben Foster like.

 

[Nate Dogg]

I would prefer De Gea to be our next keeper even ahead of Neuer..

 

[Brwned]

Is there a subset of United fans who follow Ajax or something?

Some people are so certain about him.

 

[::sonny::]

Is there a subset of United fans who follow Ajax or something?

Some people are so certain about him.

He is a regular stater at Ajax since 2004.

 

[KM]

Is there a subset of United fans who follow Ajax or something?

Some people are so certain about him.

Unfortunately some people here judge a player by their transfer fees rather than their actual ability.

 

[datura]

Is there a subset of United fans who follow Ajax or something?

Some people are so certain about him.

There seem to be a subset of fans who seem to reside almost exclusively in this forum and have very strong opinions about virtually every player we are linked with, irregardless of what league they play in.

Some of the comments in here are ridiculous.

 

[KM]

There seem to be a subset of fans who seem to reside almost exclusively in this forum and have very strong opinions about virtually every player we are linked with, irregardless of what league they play in.

Some of the comments in here are ridiculous.

"The Dutch Ben Foster" FFS

 

[Bryan_Munich]

Manchester United transfer news Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg of Ajax has emerged as favourite to succeed Edwin van der Sar next season

 

[Care_de_Bobo]

I bet none of the posters who say they don't rate him or that he's not good enough watch him anywhere near enough to make a fair judgement. You can't judge a keeper on a one off game or even one international tournament, consistency and leadership are 2 of the most important aspects of a keepers game and I don't think anyone on this board is in a position to make a solid judgement on the lads potential or current ability.

It's strange that in terms of transfer dealings based on position goalkeepers are probably Fergie's biggest weakness yet he has still managed to sign 2 of the best to ever play between the sticks.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

.......The dutch Ben Foster like.

You clearly know very little about him.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

It's strange that in terms of transfer dealings based on position goalkeepers are probably Fergie's biggest weakness yet he has still managed to sign 2 of the best to ever play between the sticks.

One thing about Fergie is that he learns from his mistakes.

I think he'll rely heavily on the opinions of Eric Steele and VDS this time.

 

[KanieKaned]

you can see why he's being considered. He seems to tick all the boxes of what we are looking for.

hes not too young
tons of league experience with Ajax
oodles of CL experience
International Experience
He's a very good shot stopper
Commands his area well
Very Calm
Brave in 1v1 situations
He's also a fecking big lad and is quite good on crosses/handling etc.
His kicking is'nt as good as VDS but I think we will be hard pushed to see another keeper with this comfort on the ball.
he's also been VDS understudy. I dont know why but ive a sneaky feeling this is who we are after.

add to that the only part of his game i think is a bit weak is his ability to smother shots that come in. You see VDS down and smothering a ball in a heart beat and he pretty much always holds on.

 

[Mickey]

Time for a youtube clip:

 

[Orton]

If we sign him, opinions on here will soon change.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

He said he wanted to play for Arsenal a while back.

 

[Redrage]

He's not half bad as he's made out to be in this place. He's a very good solid keeper and behind our defense he will excel.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

He said he wanted to play for Arsenal a while back.

I'll grab the pitchfork, you get the flaming torches.

 

[Ubik]

If we sign him, opinions on here will soon change.

Probably, I have faith in our scouting team to sign the right replacement and I'm sure most others do as well.

 

[Jonno]

Probably, I have faith in our scouting team to sign the right replacement and I'm sure most others do as well.

After last time? There can be no guarantees that they will get it right... but hopefully they learned from their mistakes

 

[Ubik]

After last time? There can be no guarantees that they will get it right... but hopefully they learned from their mistakes

Especially after last time.

 

[SATA]

I reckon we could and should take a punt on him for around 7 million, rather than more than triple of that on De Gea

 

[Jonno]

I don't think De Gea would actually command a fee as much as the paper keep saying. It happens quite a lot with the media, they inflate prices to more than they usually end up being.

 

[lysglimt]

So in brief, a world class goalkeeper?. The solid and the unspectacular are the ones who are lauded. There are some who are flamboyant in their shot stopping, Kuzczack comes to mind, yet is prone to fla a bit or prone to commit mistakes. I believe the level above Kuzczack would a World class goalkeeper. Make no mistake, PIG would be a match winner for any team below the top 4-5. He is a very reliable goalie. Yet we aspire for a better one.

In short, without rambling on much. I quite politely disagree with your assessment in saying we don't need a world class goalkeeper, you've just described a world class goalkeeper's abilities there. Further there needs to be one area where he's good, Command of Area. With Foster in Goal we saw our defense not being as organised. VDS is a world class goalie and we need a similar type of goalkeeper to replace our departing man.

No- in my opinion - a world-class goalkeeper is someone who is a match-winner. Someone who makes few mistakes but also pulls of tremendous saves (a Neuer kind of keeper)

Van der Sar is a world-class goalkeeper - and I am sure that whoever we end up with - will be a step down from him. But imo - it's much more important to find a solid goalkeeper in the air who makes few mistakes - than a goalkeeper who is world-class on the line.

To give an example - Jose Reina imo is the latter. He is superb on the line - but I wouldn't trust him leaving his line.

 

[Rado_N]

I reckon we could and should take a punt on him for around 7 million, rather than more than triple of that on De Gea

Why if De Gea is better?

 

[Mainoldo]

I reckon we could and should take a punt on him for around 7 million, rather than more than triple of that on De Gea

I wouldn't worry about the money. Just as long as we get the best keeper we can possible get. Stekelenburg seems like a stop gap. We don't need that.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Why if De Gea is better?

We have no money. Duh.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

Why if De Gea is better?

Is he?

 

[Rado_N]

Is he?

I've not seen enough to draw an accurate conclusion tbh, but it seemed to be implied in his post that spending less was the most important thing.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Is he?

Talent wise, without a doubt.

 

[MrMarcello]

I've only seen him a couple times but didn't really watch him. So I can't really comment. However, I did read that he was dropped for bad performances and injuries in 2008/09 but regained his spot the following season. He was the club's player of the year in 2007/08. Has the size I prefer for a keeper.

 

[SATA]

I don't know who is better, though i've seen this Dutch keeper in the world cup and he looked decent to me. 7m (i'm just estimating) for the Holland number 1 seems a piece of business to me. And De Gea i feel is too inexperienced yet to be a Manchester United first team goalkeeper

 

[Bryan_Munich]

I've not seen enough to draw an accurate conclusion tbh, but it seemed to be implied in his post that spending less was the most important thing.

I'm with you, judging by Fergie's comments on past goalkeeping mistakes I don't think cost will be an issue.

 

[Sonny1972]

Not unimportant , does De Gea speaks English ??

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Maarten Stekelenburg has emerged as the favourite to succeed Edwin van der Sar as Manchester United No.1 next season.

Ajax and Holland keeper Stekelenburg is understood to be the preferred choice of Sir Alex Ferguson and United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele to replace Van der Sar, who retires at the end of this season.

Stekelenburg has spent his entire career at Ajax, but is keen on a new challenge and a move to the Premier League.

United would have to pay in the region of £15million to land the 28-year-old.

It`s from the Daily Mirror but why 15million (Buy-out clause )?

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Not unimportant , does De Gea speaks English ??

Yep, he speaks very good english.