Barthez

[mank!]

Fat bald shit cunt or one of the best goalkeepers in the world?

I used to rate him highly, despite his relatively diminuative statue and slightly insane eccentricity he was still a damn fine 'keeper. However, as of late, whenever I've seen him play he's been prone to errors and just doesn't seem all that good at all. In the match last night, he was to blame for the second without a doubt. That was absolutely piss poor positioning for a goalkeeper of his reputation, and for the first he didn't really cover his near post too well at all, but Rio was more to blame for that one I think.

I was listening to Radio5 on the way home from Swindon last night (2-0 to the Swindon Town ) and there were some good points raised on the phone in, one chap mentioned that Barthez looks like he's playing as a sweeper half the time, which rang true to me. He's just far too error prone, on his day he can pull off brilliant saves and almost certainly warrants his place in the squad but he plays some howlers.

Personally I think Fergie should find a new goalkeeper during the summer, as it seems likely to me that he's going to have a large makeover, with either Giggs or Beckham going for what will no doubt be a pretty large fee, and the goalkeeping situation is one that I feel needs to be addressed, and I'm talking as a semi-fan here.

And can we please have a sports forum? I'd post more stuff like this but I'm always concerned the majority of you lot will shoot it down in flames.. let me have my safe-haven!

 

[Embattle]

I've never rated him to be honest, he seemed to get the title of one of the greatest goal keepers just because he was the French National goal keeper.

 

[mank!]

His biggest problem is probably his inconsistency, you've got to admit that he is capable of playing damn well and if he played consistently that well then perhaps he'd be in contention for the title of best goalkeeper in the world, but he simply isn't. Any team's defence, be it in the Premiership or the Conference needs a 'keeper that they can depend on who is consistent.

 

[bodhi]

He wasn't to blame for Real's second goal tbh. Carlos just skinned the entire Man U defence silly.

 

[xane]

Barthez wants to be like the previous incumbant of his position, but lacks both the attitude, pace and the skill.

I always remember the classic moment he tried to pull an offside call on Di Canio, only to have the ball chipped neatly over him into the goal, if you are trying to out-psyche someone, the worst person to try it with is Di Canio.

 

[ECA]

Originally posted by xane
if you are trying to out-psyche someone, the worst person to try it with is Di Canio.

Surely a serial killer would be worse?

 

[Me²]

Originally posted by Embattle
I've never rated him to be honest, he seemed to get the title of one of the greatest goal keepers just because he was the French National goal keeper.

Couldn't agree more. Ricardo would probably have had the 1st and the 2nd.

 

[~YuckFou~]

How many laps do they do?
Do they have pit stops?!

 

[Tom]

I was lucky enough to be at that match, working for some German channel. I was right behind the Man U goal in the first half, and I can tell you, Barthez isn't fat!

Barthez is one of those players who you just have to let him do what comes naturally. He likes to keep the ball at his feet, when he boots it away thats when he makes mistakes. Thus, nobody tells him to boot it away any more. It's difficult for any goalkeeper at Man U cos they have to overcome the Schmichael factor.

Anyway, if you look carefully on one of the replays, you can see me sat right behind the far goalpost, grimacing as the first ball hits the back of the net.

Oh, and I really hope Giggs/Beckham don't get sold, that would be a big mistake. After all, who would he get to replace them?

 

[Kempo]

ronaldinho and denilson would be good replacements for them

 

[bigfoot]

Barthez is for me like Dudek (I'm a Liverpool fan), capable of good performances but not really big enough or solid enough as a keeper. I'm looking forward to the return of Kirkland next season.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

I think Barthez drops into that "eccentric keeper" slot quite nicely, keepers seem to either be cold and steady or mad with a liitle bit of genius. The problem with replacing him is who would you go for, and more importantly who is available.

As for Kirkland, I cant beleive Dudek gets the call over him, and blaming him for the slump they had mid season was ridiculous.


Disclaimer: not a Liverpool or Man U fan, just a Yido with an opinion

 

[xane]

/me likes Dingers avatar.

Sports Forum FFS !!!

 

[Ash!]

Originally posted by xane
Barthez wants to be like the previous incumbant of his position, but lacks both the attitude, pace and the skill.
.

I think that you will find the previous incumbent was Mark Bosnich. There is simply no comparison between the two. You will find that Barthez has better pace, skill, attitude and commitment than Bosnich. Just to keep the record straight of course

 

[xane]

Originally posted by Ash!
I think that you will find the previous incumbent was Mark Bosnich. There is simply no comparison between the two. You will find that Barthez has better pace, skill, attitude and commitment than Bosnich. Just to keep the record straight of course

Actually I think the comment still applies.

Bosnich did well for United, he was hit by injury early on but he actually played okay. Not the standard of Schmeichel certainly but no more a disaster than Barthez ever is.

Difference is Fergie didn't like Bosnich personally and he was free and disposable, with Taibi and Barthez they needed to justify the £12 million total outlay.

Bosnich after Manchester United is another matter ...

 

[Tom]

Bosnich had an attitiude problem. He was overweight, and seemed to think that he didn't need to train with the rest of the team. Basically, you don't argue with Fergie if you value your career, and the spittle-free zone that is normally your face.

 

[Clowneh!]

anyone rate cudicini?

 

[S-Gray]

heh i believe he is going to be applying for British Citizenship aint he? So who knows, pretty soon he could be wearing an England top (someone said )

 

[Tom]

Just being a citizen doesn't allow you to play for England.

 

[Lester]

Originally posted by Tom[SHOTTEH]
Just being a citizen doesn't allow you to play for England.

You have to be shit as well.

 

[mank!]

Originally posted by Clowneh!
anyone rate cudicini?

Yeah, him and Russell Hoult are both underrated.

He's legible to dual nationality now, as he's been playing in England for so many season (think it's 5?) and as such will be legible to play for England, as is Di Canio iirc. I very much doubt either would do so though, I think it's only a question of time before Cudicini gets a call up.

 

[Kempo]

fuck it tbh, united are the richest club in the world, they should flash the cash and nick buffon from juve, get rivaldo and ronaldinho from the clubs they currently arent happy at and get denilson just coz i think hes a god.. why the fuck should they have to sell anyone in the first place, one thing i think showed this season is theres not enough depth in the squad anymore, the youth system hasnt really produced any stars recently except o'shea and (questionable whether he is star really) brown.. need to get some quality so that we arent fucked when some one gets injured/suspended!

rar!

 

[mank!]

Not Rivaldo, he's a cunt.

O'Shea is brilliant, better than Wes Brown without a shadow of a doubt. And as for the youth system not producing good players, we had Jimmy Davis on loan at the start of the season and he was pretty damn good. Give him a few more years and I imagine he'll go on to great things. Plenty of other Nationwide clubs have had Man Utd youth loanee's and would probably agree. It's a pity Fergie doesn't like loaning players out all season to lower division clubs :/

 

[Ash!]

Originally posted by Clowneh!
anyone rate cudicini?

Very much so. Top class goalie. Considering he is not as big physically as Say Schmeicel or David James, he commands his area very well, Organises his defence, Good distribution and pretty good one on one

 

[mank!]

Cudicini was also signed for a very small fee from some third division Italian club, so gg there blud! safe.

£160,000 from Castel di Sangro, as I've just checked

 

[Ash!]

Originally posted by xane
Actually I think the comment still applies.

Bosnich did well for United, he was hit by injury early on but he actually played okay. Not the standard of Schmeichel certainly but no more a disaster than Barthez ever is.

Difference is Fergie didn't like Bosnich personally and he was free and disposable, with Taibi and Barthez they needed to justify the £12 million total outlay.

Bosnich after Manchester United is another matter ...

Sorry XANE I cant agree. Bosnich was signed on a free because of that Martin Edwards. The deal was done and dusted within the space of days. Whilst Fergie was on holiday. Fergie said as much he didnt know anything about the deal.

Bosnich was never suited to Playing for UTD. At the time we were all about fast counter attacking football. He was abysmal at kicking and throwing whilst under pressure. Which kinda negates the coutner atticking style of play UTD wanted to play.

The reason why Fergie didnt like Bosnich is because he was a lazy good for nothing. Whilst other players used to stay behind after training to work on areas of improvement, Bosnich was off to the casino and drinking up town. He was over weight, he didnt do anything about it. His kicking and overall distribution was for shit, he didnt do anything about it.

I have been a season ticket holder at OT for a number of years now. For all his faults, give me Barthez over Bosnich any time

 

[Sir Frizz]

FREE LEV YASHIN!"!"£

 

[Clowneh!]

safe safe blud...

so.. cudicini could play for england? or am i hearing things?

and yeh, johnny o'shea seems to be a breath of fresh air when he plays for manchester united

 

[raw]

He was shite i have to agree, Robinson is now the obvious replacement for Barthez at the end of the season and with Kewell on his way as a possible replacement for giggs (we'll miss him even though people knock him) and Defoe also a 99 percent chance hes going to be partnering ruud next season, tells me that next season could be a fun one if we get thsoe 3 players, plus with Fergie also going in for Geremi who knows what next season shall be like

Personally i don't think we will miss Becks, dont get me wrong hes a cracking player however he doesn't play uniteds kind of football anymore which is why i think he's better suited to Real, to many long balls leaves the ball coming back at us, no beckham no long ball, problem solved.

I'm not bitter about Wednesday's game either, i love Man Utd and i go to a lot of games but at the end of the day we went out to the best team in europe(world?) but at least left a note saying P.S 4-3, now its time to rebuild and reconquer.

 

[raw]

PS - Sports / Football Forum would be great!