our best goalkeeper eva

[Grecian2000]

You can't have seen Mel Rees at Everton, Sitters. The finest goalkeeping performance I have ever seen. Still can't believe he only played 9 games for us!!

It was certainly a great game he played that day. One save, a header from their young blonde forward who's name escapes me, was almost a replica of Banks v Pele in 1970.
I see Rev (who I wouldn't dream of arguing stats with) has that game as 0-2 but I've always thought it was 0-1 with Cork scoring. Who scored the other that I can't remember?

 

[Bayingblade]

It was certainly a great game he played that day. One save, a header from their young blonde forward who's name escapes me, was almost a replica of Banks v Pele in 1970.
I see Rev (who I wouldn't dream of arguing stats with) has that game as 0-2 but I've always thought it was 0-1 with Cork scoring. Who scored the other that I can't remember?

Brian Marwood if memory serves, Grecian.

 

[Grecian2000]

Now I thought Marwood scored a last minute winner in a 2-1 (possibly when Hodges scored the other).

PS - from along punt up field by Tracey. Been to Goodison that many times, and seen us win a few, that they've all merged into one.

 

[Blade for Sale]

8 games, and it's always worth recalling them:

United 2 Liverpool 0
Villa 1 United 1
United 2 Oldham 0
Everton 0 United 2
United 2 Spurs 0
United 1 Arsenal 1
Notts County 1 United 3
United 2 Leeds 3

That, there, is the strongest United side of my Blades supporting life.

I'd also point out that the only reason for the 1 defeat in that list was that he played most of the match effectively on 1 leg! Bravery personified, RIP Mel.

 

[Bayingblade]

Now I thought Marwood scored a last minute winner in a 2-1 (possibly when Hodges scored the other).

PS - from along punt up field by Tracey. Been to Goodison that many times, and seen us win a few, that they've all merged into one.

You could be right Grecian, I was at that game too. Maybe the Rees game scorer was Bryson?

 

[Revolution]

Now I thought Marwood scored a last minute winner in a 2-1 (possibly when Hodges scored the other).

PS - from along punt up field by Tracey. Been to Goodison that many times, and seen us win a few, that they've all merged into one.

Marwood got the winner in the 2-1 win in 1991 in the way you remember. I can't remember who got the goals in the 2-0 win off the top of my head.

 

[Grecian2000]

Marwood got the winner in the 2-1 win in 1991 in the way you remember. I can't remember who got the goals in the 2-0 win off the top of my head.

Not good enough Rev, where's Silent or Dazzlers when required.
Cork definitely scored one (up at our end) slipping the ball through the keepers legs in a one on one, I simply cannot recall the other goal with any certainty (I have a vague recollection of Gayle maybe scoring with a header down at Gwladys Street end).

 

[I should coco]

Who's this keeper 'Eva' and is he a foreigner?

I don't remember us ever having a keeper from outside the British Isles.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Who's this keeper 'Eva' and is he a foreigner?

I don't remember us ever having a keeper from outside the British Isles.

Segers, Aksalu, Haber, to name but 3. All internationals as well. Segers now remembered for the wrong reasons, the other 2 barely remembered.

 

[Revolution]

Segers, Aksalu, Haber, to name but 3. All internationals as well. Segers now remembered for the wrong reasons, the other 2 barely remembered.

Also Wilko De Vogt and Frank Talia.

 

[I should coco]

Segers, Aksalu, Haber, to name but 3. All internationals as well. Segers now remembered for the wrong reasons, the other 2 barely remembered

Segers - the bastard! That boll was barely rolling when he managed to dive over it. See below from about 11.20 in....

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Also Wilko De Vogt and Frank Talia.

I had completely forgotten those 2. Both made a handful of appearances, and de Vogt's include the mad match against West Brom, and the 4-3 cup tie against Ipswich. I remember both matches, but still don't remember him. And can't remember anything about Talia. It was much easier when the same 11 players played at least 35 of the 42 games a season, and there were no subs!

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Segers - the bastard! That boll was barely rolling when he managed to dive over it. See below from about 11.20 in....

So many ex, future Blades involved in that match. Graham Stuart scoring and clearing off the line, cock up from David Unsworth, own goal from Gary Ablett, Vinny Jones playing for a 3-2 defeat at the end, 'Dodgy' Segers, even John Ebbrell gets a mention!

 

[finlaytheblade]

It has to be Alan Hodgkinson not just for his fantastic keeper abilities,but for his longevity, played around 6 hundred games for us.
Great keeper and gentleman.
My boyhood hero!!!!!!

 

[Geordie Blade]

Also Wilko De Vogt and Frank Talia.

Sal Bibbo too? I don't think he played a competitive first team game though.

 

[Silent Blade]

Marwood got the winner in the 2-1 win in 1991 in the way you remember. I can't remember who got the goals in the 2-0 win off the top of my head.

Not good enough Rev, where's Silent or Dazzlers when required.
Cork definitely scored one (up at our end) slipping the ball through the keepers legs in a one on one, I simply cannot recall the other goal with any certainty (I have a vague recollection of Gayle maybe scoring with a header down at Gwladys Street end).

Bryson scored the first goal in the 2-0 win. A looping header. Cork scored the 2nd after breaking through the defence and slotting the ball past Southall. Everton's blonde striker was Stuart Barlow

 

[Silent Blade]

Another vote for:

1. Kelly
2. Tracey
3. Kenny

Rees' performance v Liverpool is the second best performance I have seen from a United keeper. The best is Kelly's display in the 1-1 draw at Stoke in 1994-5, when after we took the lead he basically played them on his own.

Best keeper display was Tracey at Liverpool in the 2-1 defeat in New Years Day 1992. Never forgot that save from a Ray Houghton volley

 

[Geordie Blade]

My vote is Simon Tracey. An absolute quality keeper - the defenders always talked about how well he organised them too. I'm always surprised at people perception that Alan Kelly was the more reliable of the too. Much as I loved Kelly, he was prone to silly errors and misjudgments once in a while (the 4-2 home game at the end of the season against Chelsea being an example). Tracey was very good at coming out of his area, but part of that strategy is that you get caught out once in a while, and I think that people remember those. I can't remember Tracey actually making a handling error at all. Also, his rush of blood away at Spurs was well worth it just for the comedy of seeing him tackle a ballboy.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Sal Bibbo too? I don't think he played a competitive first team game though.

Good try, but according to wiki, born in Basingstoke!

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

Too young for Hodgy so for me it has to be Kelly. single handedly kept the Pig game respectable.

On a side note. 1st keeper I remember without Google is Graham Benstead

 

[GaryHamsonsLeftBootLace]

Can't really remember Hodgy as I was too small, so Kelly every step of the way...

 

[Chief_Froley]

 

[Kelso]

Hodgy for me as well, only small for a goalkeeper, but could leap like no one I have ever seen

 

[Bladesince59]

Worst keeper eva ??

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Worst keeper eva ??

Tracey once he`d left his goal area. Fine whilst still in it.

 

[blade too long]

phil Jagjielka

 

[Kentblade]

You can't have seen Mel Rees at Everton, Sitters. The finest goalkeeping performance I have ever seen. Still can't believe he only played 9 games for us!!

The display by Mel Rees at Everton was just unbelievable on that game
Superb display.
Hodgkinson for me by a mile but impressed with Kelly as well.
A keeper who was also excellent was Ted Burgin who eventually was displaced by a very young Alan Hodgkinson.

We have been fortunate to have had some very good keepers over the years but have struggled somewhat over the recent years gone since Kenny finished.

UTB