First and foremost, I would like to apologise for the lack of posts recently. Moving house with the internet proved a more troublesome task than I originally anticipated.
Moving on, one piece of news has caught my eye of the past couple of weeks, that of Van der Sar's retirement at the end of the season despite the announcement earlier on in the season.
After a mixed display in the 3-1 defeat against Liverpool, the Manchester United number 1 was pivotal in the FA Cup 2-0 win over old enemies Arsenal. Chants of 'Fergie sign him up' echoed around Old Trafford whilst a standing ovation for the 40 year old Dutchman clearly left Van der Sar emotionally moved. Praise from both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger rightfully followed with Wayne Rooney admitting to trying to talk Van der Sar out of retirement in the post-match shower.
Yet, despite constant pleas to renounce his impending retirement, the Dutchman plans to stick by his decision to hang up his gloves at the end of the season. Top keepers have been mooted as to who will replace Van der Sar in the Manchester United goal, a gap that will prove massive to fill. The Beautiful Game Weekly will now compare the keepers that have been linked with United and have the chance to become their new number 1.
Anders Lindegaard
The young Dane joined United in January and has since made two FA Cup appearances between the sticks for his new club. However, former Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel criticised the move claiming Lindegaard wasn't ready for the huge task that lay ahead of him and that his former employers should look elsewhere for a new number 1. Nonetheless, Lindegaard arrived at Old Trafford having impressed the United backroom staff and, despite knee surgery ruling him out for the next five weeks, will look to become a permanent figure in the United starting XI next season.
Manuel Neuer
The German number 1 and Schalke 04 captain has been linked with a move to England since Van der Sar's retirement announcement earlier in the season. Aged 24, and with his contract running out next year, Neuer has seen his stock rise substantially in recent months with watchful eyes keeping tabs on the potential Van der Sar replacement. Bayern Munich have been credited with an interest in Neuer yet find themselves behind United in the pecking order for the German. Schalke chairman Clemens Tonnies recently told the Bild newspaper that agents had informed him of United's growing interest and indicated that an offer would be seriously considered should Ferguson make a move for Neuer.
David de Gea
De Gea is the next keeper on my list. The young Athletico stopper has been dubbed the new Iker Casillas and comes fresh off the impressive Spanish keeper production line. Team mates at Athletico have nicknamed the young Spaniard Van der Gea due to his physical likeliness and playing style of the current United number 1. Ferguson even missed his side’s 5-2 Carling Cup victory over Scunthorpe back in September in favour of watching de Gea in action against Valencia and, with a £15m move, reportedly, already on the cards; United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele has already begun taking Spanish lessons in preparation for de Gea's apparent impending arrival.
Pepe Reina
The second Spaniard on my list and a move that would prove as controversial as it were shrewd. Reina was linked with United back in the ill fated Roy Hodgson days at Liverpool and has failed to rule out a move away from Merseyside. Citing lack of ambition from the owners, Reina wants guarantees that the future of the club is secure. The short-term-soon-to-be-long-term appointment of 'King' Kenny Dalglish temporarily allayed initial fears that the Spaniard had become disillusioned with life at Anfield. The sale of international team mate Fernando Torres in January, coupled with sales of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso six and eighteen months ago respectively, would have done little to persuade the Spaniard that his future lay with Liverpool yet an upturn in fortunes at Anfield has seen Liverpool rise to 6th in the table and, if Dalglish receives the backing of the owners in the Summer, should be enough to convince Reina to remain at Liverpool.
Maarten Stekelenburg
In January, the Dutch number 1 was the apparent favourite to succeed Van der Sar in the United goal with Stekelenburg the preferred choice of Ferguson due to his age and big-game experience. He was the natural replacement at international level once Van der Sar retired from the international game and his assured performances between the sticks for both club and country has seen him, along with Neuer and de Gea, emerge as one of the three keepers Ferguson wants in the United goal next season. Ajax recently denied talks between the two parties for Stekelenburg's move had instigated but you can expect the familiar rumours to begin circulating again as the season draws to a close.
So there is the list for potential Van der Sar replacements. Naturally, I expect Ferguson would want the Dutchman to remain in the United goal for at least another season but, with Van der Sar ruling out any potential U-turn on his retirement plans, Ferguson must pick his replacement carefully. I doubt he would want another six years to go by (the period between Schmeichel and Van der Sar) before finding an apt number 1. Personally, I would go all out for Neuer. He will bring the stability to the back four, is more experienced than de Gea and is more consistent than Stekelenburg.
Either way, Manchester United's new shot stopper has to be of the same ilk of Edwin Van der Sar, a challenge that any keeper would relish but some would fail to achieve.
Right I got to go.
Laters,
Macca
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