Keeper of the Year

Skysports.com wants to hear your views on the best players from the 2008/09 campaign

Last updated: 30th April 2009  

Keeper of the Year

Van der Sar: Does he get your vote?

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With the Professional Footballers' Association having dished out their annual awards, skysports.com wants to hear your views on who you feel have been the stand-out performers in the 2008/09 campaign.

In a series of features we will be looking to compile a team made up of players voted for by you - the fans.

Logic dictates that every good team needs a reliable goalkeeper so we will be starting our search for the Premier League's best XI between the sticks.

The PFA voted Manchester United's veteran Dutchman Edwin van der Sar as their top choice, but do you agree with that verdict?

We have selected eight candidates we feel are worthy of gracing any side and all you have to do is choose your favourite.

Edwin Van Der Sar - Manchester United

The Dutch keeper went 1,311 minutes this season without conceding a goal, setting a new Premier League record in the process. The veteran shot-stopper, who Sir Alex Ferguson describes as 'the best since Schmeichel,' continues to belie his advancing years with fantastic saves.

Pepe Reina - Liverpool

The Spaniard became the quickest in Liverpool history to reach 100 clean sheets during the 5-0 win against Aston Villa in March. The keeper has kept 17 clean sheets this season and has recently been getting a fair few assists with his kicking starting many counter-attack goals.

Mark Schwarzer - Fulham

14 clean sheets in his debut season have been coupled with fantastic performances nearly every week. The Aussie, signed on a free from Middlesbrough, has shut-out the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo and Torres this season and has been an ever-present in the Premier League.

Shay Given - Newcastle United/Manchester City

A change of clubs mid-season has not halted Given's form this season. As reliable as always, the Irish keeper impressed at Newcastle enough for City to splash out an initial £6million on the 33-year-old and has rewarded them with three clean sheets so far and many man-of-the-match performances, including his debut against Middlesbrough.

Brad Friedel - Aston Villa

Friedel has been an ever-present in his debut season for the Villans, making 33 league appearances resulting in 11 clean sheets. He shut out Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney with a fantastic performance against Manchester United at Villa Park and has justified his move with many great performances this season.

Tim Howard - Everton

His FA Cup penalty shoot-out heroics against Manchester United were just the tip of the iceberg for the American goalkeeper. Making 32 appearances this season, Howard has kept 14 clean sheets, putting him just one off Neville Southall's season record.

Robert Green - West Ham United

Last season's club Player of the Season picked up where he left off this season. Known for his ability to save penalties, Green has denied Jason Roberts of Blackburn this season; he has played in every match for West Ham, keeping nine clean sheets in the process and enhancing his England claims with fantastic performances.

Chris Kirkland - Wigan Athletic

Kirkland has put his injury woes behind him this season and made 30 league appearances to help the Latics' surprise push for Europe. Ten clean sheets have earned Wigan vital points and Steve Bruce has publicly claimed Kirkland should be back in the England set-up.

Comments (25)

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Neil Strong says...

behind schmeichel, shay given is the best keeper ever to have played in the premiership. im sure he made more saves in the one game against liverpool, when he was still at newcastle, than van der sar has made all season. however - id agree with most people on here - and say that overall - mark schwarzer has been by far the most outstanding at consistent stopper of the season. it amazes me that the pfa cannot recognise this

Posted 16:31 27th April 2009

James Norden (Fulham fan) says...

I know I'm biased as a Fulham fan but for me it has to be Schwarzer. He's been so consistent all season and to keep 14 clean sheets tells its own story. Most would agree that our four first-choice defenders are inferior in quality to those of man utd and liverpool, which surely has to increase his claim further. And to think we paid nothing for him last summer. Has to be contender for signing of the season too.

Posted 10:21 27th April 2009

Gary Lansley says...

Pepe Reina shouldn't even be in the shortlist i my opinion. He has been as bad if not worse than Petr Cech this season, with numerous howlers. However, to choose from the rest isnear on impossible. Van der Sar had tremendous help obviously from Vidic and Ferdinand but you cant say they solely made the record because the three of them have been impeccable all season long Schwarzer has had an unbelievable campaign with thanks to a reorganized defence thanks to Roy Hodgson's fantastic tactical ability and consistent team selection. Shay Given is a brilliant goal keeper but has always lacked a decent rear guard to help him out. Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Robert Green and Chris Kirkland have all had good seasons but nothing really to put them into the team of the year. So really its between Van der Sar and Schwarzer, personally i feel the keeper of the year has to be the one with the most clean sheets or the one who has conceded the least goals. Therefore, Van der Sar has to win. but the feeling will always be that without Vidic and Ferdinand he is nothing which is nothing more than harsh on a exceptional goalkeeper who has more than 100 caps for his country, won two European cups and countless other domestic titles with Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United.

Posted 09:48 27th April 2009

Imran Hussain says...

Schwarzer does not have a defence like vidic and rio. Schwarzer has been amazing. No disrespect to Fulham defenders because they have been amazing too.

Posted 09:40 27th April 2009

Greg Allen (Aston Villa fan) says...

As a Villa fan I would love to say Brad Friedel, however we have conceded too many goals this season to even entertain the thought... my vote goes to Mark Schwarzer, what a fantastic season he has had, being a very important key figure in the all new hard to beat Fulham, they don't seem like a team going anywhere but up now. Good on them!

Posted 09:38 27th April 2009

Danny Fenna (Manchester United fan) says...

I don't agree with the choice of Van der Sar. I also feel as though it should possibly have been Schwarzer. But a part of me is also thinking Given - those two have definitely been worth it a lot more

Posted 09:25 27th April 2009

David Cockeram says...

Think Reina has been awesome this year, Best goal keeper in the league. But Fulham's solid defense has been down to Schwarzer this season, so he would have to be the pick.

Posted 08:30 27th April 2009

Ian Hobbs (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Jussi Jaaskelainen should be in there, he has been very consistent now for many seasons and is one of the best all round keepers in the Premier league. He doesn't get enough praise or recognition in my opinion

Posted 08:22 27th April 2009

Wes Mcgeehan (Newcastle United fan) says...

Well if there is anyone who doesnt deserve it more then Shay Given ill admit to Newcastle getting relegated; and thats not going to happen. Given has been instrumental for both Newcastle and City this season, and he has now been given his chance to show his worth in the Uefa Cup, the one thing that gets me, 6mill for Given, bit cheap, especially seeing as tho Gordon went for around 9mill

Posted 07:26 27th April 2009

Ben Smith (Arsenal fan) says...

I think Manuel Almunia is the best keeper in the Premiership as he never makes no mistakes and makes amazing saves that no other keeper would ever get to. Cech, Van der sar and Reina are so overrated because they have a good defence and everyone gives them credit for easy little saves you would expect a keeper to be making other than that I don't see what¿s so amazing in what they are doing, Van der sar is some slow flapping reaction thing, Cech is no more after he head injury even Chelsea fans would agree and Reina is rubbish mistakes after mistakes. Now if you watch Almunia and compare them you will see People need to watch some Arsenal games and see the performance that Almunia gives, example he came back from an injury yesterday and gave us a clean sheet with top saves, go watch the highlights or something people.

Posted 06:37 27th April 2009

Jethro Williams says...

As an Everton fan, I'd like to say Tim Howard for this award. But I don't really think there's any doubt that Mark Schwarzer has been the best keeper in the league this year. Van Der Sar's in with a shout, but I could keep clean sheets playing behind Vidic & Ferdinand this year. And Tim Howard has only done well for Everton because of Jagielka & Lescott. Schwarzer has had a nothing above average defence in front of him all year. Yet he's consistently kept clean sheets. The best in the league this season.

Posted 05:18 27th April 2009

Andy Lowry (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Mark Schwarzer all the way, probably the utmost undervalued premier league goalkeeper this season, seriously not getting the credit he deserves, he's the real reason fulham are having such an incredible season. Hats Off!

Posted 05:04 27th April 2009

Aashman Sharma says...

I don't think Van Der Sar should be on there. He's only got 14 cleensheats because he's got an amazing defense ahead of him. Reina has been good this season, but he did let in 4 against arsenal and chelsea

Posted 03:21 27th April 2009

Paul Radcliffe (Manchester United fan) says...

As a Manchester United fan I can also understand why there is no Petr Cech as well. van Der Sar is clearly the most influential and consistent goalkeeper not merely in the Premiership but the football world. He has been a the very top of his profession for the past 10-12 years. A class act. Please dont allow your "dont like United' tinted glasses to cover up the fact that he is clearly the superior keeper in the league.

Posted 02:23 27th April 2009

Joe Caven (Liverpool fan) says...

Being a Liverpool fan I would go for Reina but to be realistic i would have to say Mark Schwarzer...14 clean sheets is unbelievable for a mid table club and has been outstanding this term!!!

Posted 02:17 27th April 2009

Jordan Gallagher (Manchester United fan) says...

For me, the best keeper in the league is Shay Given. Fantastic shot stopper, hardlies ever makes mistakes and has proved a great buy for Mark Hughes side. However, i don't think it was ever in doubt that Van Der Sar would be named Keeper of the year considering the clean sheets record!!!

Posted 01:51 27th April 2009

Sam Lewis (Arsenal fan) says...

i dont understand why no one rates almunia!? to be honest i think schwarzer has been the best alongside shay given, but i dont see why hes not in the selection, hes quality shot stopping, distribution, communicationand very rarely makes errors/howlers

Posted 01:49 27th April 2009

Gavin Mccabe (Middlesbrough fan) says...

Schwazer was a target for Manchester United while he was at Middlesbrough, and since he left, has proven himself to be one, if not the best of the premiership stoppers, he just gets better all the time, if Boro had kept him, they would be in a differant position to where they are now

Posted 01:46 27th April 2009

Omotayo Coker (Manchester United fan) says...

I will agree with Van der Sar has been impressive this season. It is very shocking though that Jussi Jaaskelainen is not on the list. To me he has been the most outstanding this season. He conceeded a bunch of goal due to the poor defence Bolton has. Juusi has been responsible for Bolton not conceeding more than they have this season; am talking of making 5-1 defeat to 2-1 defeat!

Posted 01:36 27th April 2009

Zac Bromhead (Liverpool fan) says...

I may be a Liverpool supporter however i have to say considering his age and his all round ability, the best goal keeper has to be Pepe Reina he is reliable, Good one on One a great shot stopper and can recycle the ball better than anyone else!!

Posted 01:17 27th April 2009
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