It’s a job which no one really wants. One error and you’ll never forget it. However, one moment of brilliance and you go down in folkl...
It’s a job which no one really wants. One error and you’ll never forget it. However, one moment of brilliance and you go down in folklore history.
The role of a modern-day goalkeeper has become even more difficult for many with new feather-light footballs and a fast, blood-rushing tempo in the game.
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Here at Squawka HQ we’ve decided to rank the Top 20 No.1 Premier League goalkeepers at each club and whilst it proved a tough job, just remember football is a matter of opinions!
On that note, from the bottom all the way to the top, here are our top 20 shot-stoppers in the top-flight.
20. Artur Boruc (Bournemouth)
There was a time when Artur Boruc was being eyed up by many across Europe for his fine performances in Scotland with Celtic, but at 35-years-old unfortunately he is bottom of the pile in the Premier League.
The Polish star is still a fine shot-stopper, but he will need severe protection at Dean Court having already conceded five goals in three league games.
Artur Boruc has an average saves per game of 1.33.
19. Alex McCarthy (Crystal Palace)
Alex McCarthy has a habit of moving around a lot. Since making his senior debut in 2007 for Reading, he has played for an astonishing 11 clubs and his latest stint sees him occupying the No.1 spot at Selhurst Park.
Signing this summer from relegated Queens Park Rangers, McCarthy will be hoping he can finally prove himself on a consistent basis – something which could be happening after helping the Eagles to two wins from three games.
Alex McCarthy has conceded an average of 1.33 goals so far this season.
18. Heurelho Gomes (Watford)
Quique Flores made the shrewd move of bringing in 34-year-old veteran Heurelho Gomes this summer and it is a move which is reaping the dividends at the moment.
The Brazilian shot-stopper has helped his side to two clean sheets in three games, with all of them resulting in draws. However, unfortunately for Gomes he is rather low down in this ranking due to his previous calamities across Europe.
Heurelho Gomes has a 58% distribution success this season.
17. John Ruddy (Norwich City)
John Ruddy has been Norwich’s No.1 for some time and as a result the 28-year-old has been called up to the England squad on a number of occasions.
However, he also has the odd mistake in him and whilst he is currently helping an impressive Canaries side maintain their top-flight status, he comes in at 17 in our list.
John Ruddy kept 15 clean sheets for Norwich last season.
16. Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland)
Pantilimon has become a regular between the sticks for Sunderland since leaving Manchester City last year and the Romania international played a big part in helping the Black Cats stay up under Dick Advocaat.
However, the colossal shot-stopper has conceded eight goals in three games this season and whilst that could be due to Sunderland’s ever-missing defence, there are still some question marks all-round.
The Romanian has an average of 2.67 goals conceded this season.15. Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
30-year-old USA international Brad Guzan has had to put up with a lot during his time in the Midlands, most notably stiff competition in goal.
However, he has managed to make the no.1 spot his own in recent years and it is something which has not really pleased Villa fans. After Saturday’s loss to Crystal Palace, there are a number of supporters who are calling for the shot-stopper to be dropped.
Brad Guzan has kept one clean sheet this season – against United.
14. Jack Butland (Stoke City)
It still remains to be seen whether Jack Butland will ever fulfil the potential he showed as a young goalkeeper at Birmingham City, but there are signs that it could be happening.
The 22-year-old is now the Potters’ undisputed no.1 following Asmir Begovic’s move to Chelsea and whilst he is yet to keep a clean sheet this season – conceding four goals in three games – Butland is slowly improving and his potential is very interesting.
Jack Butland has an average of 3.67 saves per game.
13. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
I think it has become virtually a certainty that Kasper Schmeichel will not match the feats his great father did, but the Leicester City no.1 is certainly improving with every season.
A big part of Leicester’s heroics last season, Schmeichel is also getting involved with the club’s unbeaten start to the campaign.
The 28-year-old has a distribution success of only 31% this season.
12. Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion)
It’s been a tough 12 months or so for Ben Foster following a series of injuries, but the England international is one of the finest in the business on his day.
He is prone to the odd error here and there, but is an all-round good shot-stopper.
Ben Foster kept 11 clean sheets in the league last year.11. Adrian (West Ham United)
For a West Ham fan, Adrian could be possibly the most infuriating player to watch. Man of the match performances one week are followed up by reckless and unbearable errors in judgement like that of his red card recently.
The 28-year-old is currently serving a three-match ban – already missing one game – and the Hammers will be keen for him to return as soon as possible after conceding four in his absence on Saturday.
Adrian has an average of three saves in the league per game this season.10. Tim Howard (Everton)
Like Adrian, Tim Howard can be a fine goalkeeper on his day, but he can also make rather questionable errors as well.
Saturday was the perfect example as Howard constantly kept Everton in the game and Manchester City at bay. However, Aleksander Kolarov somehow beat the USA no.1 at the near post – a crime for any goalkeeper.
Howard has kept one clean sheet in three league games this campaign. 9. Tim Krul (Newcastle United)
Tim Krul delivered one of his usual star-studded displays against Manchester United on Saturday and whilst most of the work was done by the defenders ahead of him, the Dutch international is a key player for Steve McClaren.
Krul has a 100% claim success this season.8. Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City)
Arsenal were made to feel the pain of letting Lukasz Fabianski leave the club last summer, as he delivered a man of the match performance against them at the end of 2014/15.
As well as that, the Poland international made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League last term and is highly-rated by Swans supporters.
The Polish keeper had an average claim success of 96% in the league last year.7. Fraser Forster (Southampton)
One of Southampton’s finest signings was bringing in Fraser Forster from Celtic last summer, as the England international kept 13 clean sheets in 30 games.
His season was ended prematurely through injury and that has continued into this campaign, something Ronald Koeman will be hoping will end soon.
Forster remains out injured for Southampton.6. Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
Simon Mignolet has looked a different man since December 2014. It was that month that Brendan Rodgers dropped him for a clash against Manchester United and subsequently a few games thereafter.
However, since returning to the XI the Belgium international has been a vital part of the Reds’ good form at times. Mignolet has kept more clean sheets than any goalkeeper in the league in 2015, testament to the ex-Sunderland man’s revival.
Mignolet has three clean sheets in three league games this season.5. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)
The France international is regarded as one of the finest in the league and that is why he has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
Lloris could have possibly even take the no.1 spot in this list, were it not for the fine array of shot-stoppers elsewhere.
The Frenchman has conceded three goals this season after two league games.
4. Joe Hart (Manchester City)
To be England and Manchester City no.1 for a number of years is no easy feat and in recent months Joe Hart has proven just why he is so highly-rated.
The 28-year-old has kept three clean sheets in three league games this season and is already a vital part of Manchester City’s new-found confidence.
Hart has an average saves per goal of six in the league this term.
3. Petr Cech (Arsenal)
A few years ago Petr Cech would have probably been top of this list, but since then the 33-year-0ld has grown with age and also seen young stars rival him.
However, Arsenal’s summer signing is still full of quality and he proved his doubters wrong with a stunning display against Liverpool this week.
Cech made six saves against Liverpool on Monday night.
2. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)
It was possibly the toughest choice in this list, but the no.2 spot goes to Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgium international has proven to be a fantastic arrival to the Premier League, but unfortunately for him the Premier League champion is outwitted for the no.1 spot by a certain man at Old Trafford.
image: http://www.squawka.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/46469431.jpg
Courtois made three saves against West Brom – one keeping out a penalty.
1. David De Gea (Manchester United)
It is very difficult to say that a side got their hands on silverware or a certain position in the league due to the form of their goalkeeper, but over the last two seasons David De Gea has almost single-handedly propelled Manchester United to a healthier campaign.
The Spain international is of course being sought-after by Real Madrid and that would not be the case were he not England’s finest.
The Premier League’s best shot-stopper, and as it stands he’s not even making the bench…
David de Gea made 2.11 saves per game for Manchester United in the league last season.
Source: Squawka.com
