Best SUFC Players since 1980 - Goalkeeper

[Sothall_Blade]

1980 because that's when I started going regularly and you've got to draw the line somewhere.
I've not included loan players or those that only played a handful of games...
Who do you reckon?

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Alan Kelly for me, just pipping Tracey. Tracey made a lot of amazing saves and had a run of form between 90 and 92 which got him on the verge of the England squad. But I always felt more secure with Kelly, solid, great command of his area and excellent at collecting crosses (best I've seen in a United goalie).

Tracey was always a great shot-stopper but was prone to 'lapses in concentration' (aka "Brains of a rocking horse" - David Bassett 1992).

Mention for Mel Rees who in his brief career with us, had some spectacular games. Liverpool at home in 1992 was his debut and one of the best games I've ever seen a goalie have at the Lane! RIP Mel.

 

[sheffielder]

Tracey for me, everything a footballer should be, gambling drinker.

 

[Guesty]

Same as Wilf and for the same reasons. Tracey had those rushes of blood to the head which kept Kelly ahead of him.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Kelly, then Tracey. Had a soft-spot for Budgie the mad old bugger!

 

[Selly]

Kelly (for the performance at Wembley if nothing else)
Kenny
Tracey

By god we've had some good 'uns over the last 25 years...

 

[JJ Sefton]

Tracey for me, just pipping both Kelly and Kenny (we've really been strong in this position over the years). Not much between those three in footballing terms, it was mostly based on sentimentality.

 

[Ollessendro]

Kelly, hands down. Reit keeper.

The game that sticks out for me for was when Ireland played Holland in a world cup qualifier play off in 98. Holland with Koeman, Davids, Kluivert, Overmars etc were red hot and tore Ireland apart. The game finished 2-0 to Holland, but it should have been double figures. Holland battered them and had chance after chance. Kelly was simply awesome. He just pulled off save after save. I remember being very proud he was playing for us.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Kelly for me - Tracey too if I had two votes.

Kelly also seems like a top bloke - I read the interview that he did with a Blade with a Blog (can't remember his name otherwise I'd link to it) and he comes across really well. Tracey's love of a pint and a punt are well documented - but he was a top guy too and put in some quality service. I used to love the young Tracey just coming through a group of players to grab a corner. He was an unbelievable shot-stopper too.

 

[judge]

was tempted to go for mel rees as the ten or less games he played in he was amazeballs but wether he could have sustained that over a long period of time like tracey or kelly is another thing so kelly for me as others have said tracey was prone to moments of absolute stupidity

 

[metalblade]

Kelly

 

[upton blade]

Kelly! Quality

 

[upton blade]

Loved tracey his kicking let him down towards the end

 

[blade too long]

Loved Tracey ,Kelly was technically better , but Tracey was more one of the lads , ,

 

[Guesty]

My brother broke his leg playing up at John Gannon's thing at High Storrs. To cheer him up John Gannon brought Simon Tracey round to our house to see him. Top lad, is Simon Tracey.