Maarten Stekelenburg

[chicoazul]

Tbf he been a number 2 at Southampton and at Monaco and Fulham before that, was he Fulham number 1 keeper?

Holland's number 1 recently for long enough mate.

 

[BigNev]

He was highly rated when he was at Ajax, seen as the first real Dutch successor to Van der Sar.

Moved to Roma and ok things didn't work out. Still made almost 50 appearances in two season. The vast majority of Roma fans think he's one of the worst keepers they've ever had. But van der sar was also a flop at Juve.

Went to Fulham and was actually 1st choice until Magath came in and made him 3rd choice. But its Felix Magath, the man's absolute idiot.

Loaned to Monaco but couldn't break into the team except for cup games. Subasic is a great international keeper and only conceded 25 goals in 37 games that season.

Then at Southampton, up against the actual best English goalkeeper in Foster, played half the matches last season and was decent when he got his chance.

I don't get some fans' idea that we've signed some third rate championship keeper and made him our number 1.
He's far superior to Joel. At 33 we need to be looking at future options but I'd be more than happy to have him as first choice for this season and wait till next summer to get someone in the mid 20's in.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Gotta say I have been surprised by Stek so far. Apart from the dubious WBA goal for which I think he was too easily outmuscled, he literally hasn't put a foot or hand wrong in any of the 4 games played. And he's probably made the two most outstanding of any keeper so far. You could argue he has already saved us 3 points this season.

If we do decide to go for a new keeper before the window shuts, it either needs to be one of really top quality who can come in straightaway as first choice, or somebody with the potential to become number 1 very soon, but the ability to challenge Stek now. Don't want to waste money on the likes of Begovic who's no better than what we have already.

 

[BLUES1]

He's been very good, but Gueye has been better.

I agree he has been great, but we had cover at his position. On Stecks we really had no back up, so that's where I give him the edge on best signing so far.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

Let's get Neuer. He's literally the only keeper better than Stekelenberg. 75m should get him.

 

[Zezti]

According to Sky Sport's 'Power Rankings', he's overtaken Barkley as our best player:

 

[ilikecheese]

First clanger of the season and he'll be slated as not good enough.

 

[Jacko93]

It's times like these I miss Carlo Nash.

 

[davek]

First clanger of the season and he'll be slated as not good enough.

We already had that: getting mugged on his own goal line by Berahino.

It's 3 games into the season. He's a #2 GK in PL terms. I sincerely hope a class GK is coming in today or we'll regret it.

 

[applecrumble]

We already had that: getting mugged on his own goal line by Berahino.

It's 3 games into the season. He's a #2 GK in PL terms. I sincerely hope a class GK is coming in today or we'll regret it.

First time I agree with you davek

 

[RFUS]

We already had that: getting mugged on his own goal line by Berahino.

It's 3 games into the season. He's a #2 GK in PL terms. I sincerely hope a class GK is coming in today or we'll regret it.

Regardless of whether you think he's good enough, surely you can't deny he's an improvement on Tim Howard?

Roberto persisted with Tim for 2 years of shocking form, but I don't recall the same level of scrutiny.

 

[davek]

First time I agree with you davek

It wont be the last.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

And he's probably made the two most outstanding of any keeper so far. You could argue he has already saved us 3 points this season

4, I'd say. 2points against spurs (Even if one of them goes in it's nil points) and 1 save vs Stoke for another two points. Add the GD, too.

 

[davek]

Regardless of whether you think he's good enough, surely you can't deny he's an improvement on Tim Howard?

Roberto persisted with Tim for 2 years of shocking form, but I don't recall the same level of scrutiny.

Robles was an improvement on Howard. Stekelenburg is on that level.

I honestly think there's a huge gamble about to be made if this GK is kept faith with. He's a decent keeper but not top class...which is why he hasn't been a starter for any other club for years.

 

[RFUS]

Robles was an improvement on Howard. Stekelenburg is on that level.

I honestly think there's a huge gamble about to be made if this GK is kept faith with. He's a decent keeper but not top class...which is why he hasn't been a starter for any other club for years.

Stek has looked a cut above Robles, as I'm sure 99% of people would agree. And this is coming from someone who has continually backed Joel (and still does). And whilst I would also love to see a top/world class keeper sign for us, I'm not sure who there is? The risk is that Stekelenberg doesn't maintain his form but the other hypothetical is that he could actually maintain it and reclaim his form from half a decade ago. Or something in between, who knows?

I'd be happy with someone like Begovic at this point. He's also better than Robles and certainly Howard, and between them I think you'd have the competition to ensure that we'd always have a good keeper in the nets without the issue of complacency (a serious problem for us when Howard was number 1).