Edwin Van der Sar Manchester United’s number 1 has announced his retirement at the end of the season, Gary Neville Manchester United’s number 2 has just retired with immediate effect. Both of these stories upset me but for different reasons.
Van der Sar
Van der Sar is the best keeper we have had since the Great Dane, Peter Schmeichel, a legend who I personally thought we would never sufficiently replace, Barthez was quality for a while and then sort of just fell apart. Andy Goram was erm…… Andy goram, Massimo Taibi was allergic to grass and let in 6 at Southampton, we tried out Mark Bosnich for a bit, the list of stop gap keepers is long but in my life time there are only 2 names that I think of as Manchester United’s number 1 Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van der Sar, we bow to you sir.
6 seasons, 246 games (so far) and the peace of mind knowing that even if your defenders get beat then they still have to slip it past the dutch giant before they can chalk one up. PRICELESS. Wouldn’t it be great if we could add a treble to the long list of trophies he has won with Manchester United?
Gary Neville
As for Gary Neville, what can you say about him? LEGEND in every respect of the word, a model professional, one of the best right backs that has ever existed (my opinion) and the most anti-Liverpool player I have ever known (this is a good thing to United fans). When we needed a light-hearted distraction he would chip in with a comment about Liverpool or any of our other title rivals for that matter.
I will not miss him so much on the playing side as this season he has been a shadow of his former self, in the 2 or 3 matches he has played, he has been shocking, on merit he should have been sent off on New Year’s Day. His presence around Old Trafford will be hugely missed, his loyalty and professionalism must have helped the youngsters around the place no end. I also have a sneaking suspicion he had something to do with Rafael’s development over the past 2 seasons.
10 seasons, 602 matches and countless trophies.
Heres hoping we find him a role at the club until he is a good enough manager to take the big seat. No doubt he will at some point.
