Top 10 best Premier League keepers..
By Martin Sanders • Dec 2nd, 2008 • Category: Keeper News…..at the moment. Today i take a look at the Top 10 best Premier League keepers.
At the weekend veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedal wrote his name in the Premier League history books. The Aston Villa stopper stole David James’s great record for the longest run of consecutive top-flight games when he racked up his 167 game with his clean sheet against London club Fulham.
As a recognition of Friedel’s achievement, the sun online this week picked their Top 10 keepers playing in the Premier League right now. So i have done the same and picked my top 10 goalkeepers of the Premier League right now. With so many top class Goalkeepers around it’s going to be a hard task.
The Sun online picked:
10: Joe Hart, 9: Mark Schwarzer, 8: Jussi Jaaskelainen, 7: Robert Green, 6: Brad Friedel, 5: Edwin Van Der Sar, 4: David James, 3, Shay Given, 2: Pepe Reina, 1: Petr Cech
My top 10:
No10: Robert Green: Wears Sells Adhesion Ultra Wrap Aqua
Green has been in fine form this term, his performances for West Ham have been so impressive since his move to the London Club 3 seasons ago. I find it hard to see why the England Manager Fabio Capello ignores him when naming most squads. Is it time Rob got his chance in the England set up on a regular basis?
No9: Edwin van der Sar: Wears Adidas Fingersave
The big dutch man was a great signing by Sir Alex Ferguson when he signed him from Fulham. Manchester United’s first pair of safe hands since Schmeichel. His save from Nicolas Anelka’s penalty also won United the Champions League last season. Edwin is now coming to the end of his days at United but i am more than sure big Ben Foster will follow in his footsteps. Maybe Edwin will go on to coach the keepers at United! If we were doing this list a season ago i would of had Van Der Sar in the top 4 but for now it is 9th.
No8: Mark Schwarzer: Wears: Uhlsport Cerberus Absloutgrip Moulded
Great goalkeeper, one i have always liked and one to watch. He is now in his 13th season in England, Mark Schwarzer made a surprise summer switch to Fulham after a decade between the sticks at Middlesbrough. The veteran Australian has taken over at Fulham for the newly retired Antti Niemi. So far he has only let in 11 goals in his opening 14 league games with the Cottagers.
No7: Brad Friedel: Wears Adidas Fingertip
For me now one of the finest Goalkeepers in the Premier league. At the tender age of 37 Friedel is loving life at Aston Villa. Liverpool decided to purchase his contract from the Crew for £1.7 million in 1997 after being impressed by his performances. Playing just over 30 games he went to Blackburn where he has made his name as one of the finest overseas goalkeepers to grace the Premier League.
No6: David James: Wears HO Mega Pro Series
Less than two years off his 40th birthday, HO soccer’s top endorsed David James continues to shine. The Pompy stopper has re-established himself as England’s No1 thanks to his Fratton Park form. As a Southampton fan i find it hard to talk about Portsmouth in anyway!!!!!! but James has been hell of a signing for them. Working with David Coles who i know from his days at Southampton as goalkeeping coach has been a great help and you can see that in James’s game, quick, agaile are just a few of James’s many qualities.
No5: Joe Hart: Wears Umbro Goalkeeper Gloves
Joe will go on and become the England number one, this is only my view, but the young keeper gets better and better, his main threat to the England number one jersey will be Ben Foster, if he fails to make the grade at Manchester United and fails to get any run of games between now and the 2010 World Cup he will miss out to Joe in boarding the plane to South Africa. There are many top talented young English keepers in the Premier League but it looks as though Joe could be the next big thing. The Manchester City keeper has profited from the failing of some of the other young stoppers and for me will be the next future England No1.
No4: Pepe Reina: Wears: Adidas Response Pro E7S
Few goakeeping freaks like myself had not heard of Reina when he signed from Villarreal for £6m in 2005. And what a signing the Spaniard has been! Ever since his move he has been faultless and this can very often be said for a goalkeeper playing his trade at the very highest level.
No3: Chris Kirkland: Wears Adidas Fingertip
At only 27 year’s of age it feel as though Kirkland has been around for years. The tall stopper has been in fine form this season and for me has to be in the top 3 keepers around right now. He made his debut in the League Cup against Tranmere Rovers while playing at Coventry. Chris went on to sign for Liverpool where he had a number of injury’s and found it hard to break in to the 1st team. Now at Wigan, Kirkland is now showing all the promise that was spoke about back in his early days as a young keeper. Every time i’ve seen the stopper this year i think and feel he has been one of the best around. Chris is still playing on through a problem with a disc in his back, he told England Goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence he is not available for England selection at the moment he says “During this pre-season I stood up in the dressing room and slipped a disc in my back” “Some days I can barely walk. I have injections to kill the pain and reduce inflammation. “Sometimes I don’t train all week, but play on Saturday. You can’t do that with England.” Kirkland will undergo a new training regime that will focus on strengthening his back, as opposed to the strenuous, repetitive shot-stopping exercises which some feel have caused many of his problems.
No2: Shay Given: Wears: Puma V Konstrukt
One of the best around for me. Not only a top bloke but also a top stopper. Newcastle’s number 1 has been regarded as one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers by Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni. Shay’s has never had a easy time of it at Newcastle, as the sun said “the majority of defenders in front of him have been so poor that they should have been relegated years ago” Shay after a bad run of 2 season’s is now back on fire at Newcastle, one of the main reasons they have began to pick up points and wins again has been down to the form of Shay. I’m sure once the window opens in January one of the top clubs will come calling.
No1: Petr Cech: Wears: Adidas Response Pro E7S
Has to be the best! The Chelsea stopper Cech is a giant. Since his move to Chelsea he has brought so much class with him, for any young keeper in the game Cech is the one to watch and learn. With fantasic handling, footwork and strength there is no better around in Europe. There is also so much to be said about the way he bounced back from his horrific head injury at Reading two years ago. If Cech now stays fit for the rest of Chelsea’s Champions League campain Chelsea could well go on and lift the Champions League in Rome next may.
Let me have your thought’s and your views! pick your 10 best keepers in the Premier League.
Martin Sanders is the Retail Manager at Great-Save.com. Martin mixes his day between helping customers on the telephone, designing eye-catching advertising campaigns and producing our product photography.
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