Manchester United’s 2010/11 season came to an end last weekend and now it is time to see how each player contributed to their success over the course of the year.
Despite losing their final game of the season, it was a very successful season as the Reds won the FA Community Shield; Quarterfinalists of the Carling Cup; Semifinalists of the FA Cup; Runners-up in the UEFA Champions League and Champions of the Barclays Premier League for the 19th time.
Collectively, the United goalkeepers conceded 54 goals in the 60 matches that the club had this season, but let’s see how each of our goalkeepers rated.
Ben Amos – 5
The 21-year old goalkeeper only made two starts this season before spending the second half of the year on loan at Oldham Athletic. Even though Amos conceded three goals, he could only manage to win one and draw the other. Sir Alex Ferguson showed huge trust in him by allowing him to start a crucial Champions League game against Valencia. However, in both of starts, the other a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton in the Carling Cup, Ben showed a little too much trepidation when commanding his area, which may see him only be another bit-part English shot stopper for the club.
Tomas Kuszczak – 4
In his fifth season at Old Trafford, Kuszczak made 10 starts serving as the club’s back-up goalkeeper giving up 11 goals in the process. Amazingly, the big Polish goalkeeper won eight of his starts and only lost one – the dismal 4-0 defeat to West Ham United in the Quarterfinals of the Carling Cup. In more than likely his last game in the United strip, Tomasz nearly forced his team to wait until the final day of the season to confirm their place as champions of the Premier League.
Anders Lindegaard – 5
Officially joined the club in January from Odense Boldklub, the 6’5″ Danish goalkeeper only featured twice for United – mainly due to him picking up a knee injury. Lindegaard secured 100% record in those games, however, they were against Southampton and Crawley Town in the FA Cup, which is hardly anything to say he will be the next great goalkeeper at the club. To be fair, Anders could do absolutely nothing about the lone goal that he conceded on his debut.
Edwin van der Sar – 8.5
In his sixth and final season with Manchester United, van der Sar was one of the best players during their title-clinching run. At the tender age of 40, the big Dutchman played 47 games in all competitions, which was tied for the most by anyone at the club this season. On the season, Edwin boasted a 0.85 goals-against-average and averaged 3.04 saves per game – but his best game of the season was against Arsenal in the FA Cup when he registered 11 of his 143 saves.
Altogether, each of these four goalkeepers played a part, some more than others, in Manchester United’s season and there is no question that Sir Alex Ferguson has huge task getting a new No. 1 for the club.
Submitted by The United Religion
