Neville Southall, the Welshman who won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Everton, was the last goalkeeper to have won the Football Writers Award (FWA). That was in 1985, the same year the Merseyside outfit lifted the continental trophy.
That was 28 years ago, the last time the journalists- some of whom cover around 60 football games a season- deemed a goalkeeper worthy of being crowned the most outstanding player of the year. It is quite an astounding data that clearly indicates the subdued treatment the position of the goalkeeper has enjoyed in the hands of the writers. Pity.
It is a situation that is extended to the defenders, with the last winner of the FWA being former Liverpool star, Steve Nicole who took the honour in 1989. So it is obvious the beautiful game is defined by beautiful goals yet some of the brilliant moments in the sport have involved great contributions from the back men, with high catching saves from goalkeepers and superb interventions from defenders.
Decisive
Chelsea needed Demba Ba’s classy finish to advance to the semi-final of this year’s FA Cup on Monday at Stamford Bridge against United but they would remember even more the brilliant heroics of their legendary goalkeeper, Petr Cech. Cech, who was wearing the skipper’s armband in the absence of John Terry and Frank Lampard, made two world class saves to deny Javier Hernandez.
Hernandez’s first strike had a wicked swerve that displaced the Blues number one, only for the Czech international to make an acrobatically instinctive save to clear the ball with his right foot. But the second was a competent contender for the “moment of the game”- a strong left palm to divert the Utd’s striker brilliant header over the top of the bar.
That second save was an epitome of Cech’s remarkable contribution to Chelsea’s successful era in the last decade under Roman Abramovich. His two saves underlined his significance in those exploits than a passing recognition.
Chelsea’s expansive style have seen them score 59 goals in the Premier League this season and conceded 32, yet Cech has had to account for 99 saves from 28 games to salvage the team (Manchester City’s Joe Hart has only 48 saves from 30 matches). The legendary goalkeeper has made 180 saves in all competitions for the Blues this term, continuing from where he stopped last season.
Last November, he recorded 10 saves in a group game against Juventus, despite the Blues’ 3-0 loss in Turin, a landmark performance for a single Champions League game but no one reckoned with his heroics, not least as the defeat led to the sack of manager Roberto Di Matteo.
Cech’s 58 saves were instrumental to his club’s UEFA Champions League success yet Didier Drogba’s contribution still appear to enjoy better fond memories. Without underestimating Drogba’s exploits in the run, Cech deserved even more plaudits for his performances against Barcelona as well as in the final victory over Bayern Munich.
Drogba scored two goals in the three games; two-legged semis and the final. But Cech made nine saves in both games against Barcelona and saved three penalties in the final, including the one conceded by the Ivorian striker in extra time.
FOR ME HE IS THE BEST GK IN THE WORLD. THE KIND OF SAVES HE MAKES AS WE SAW WITH CHICHARITO HEADER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED BY ANY GK IN THE WORLD.
CFC LEGEND.
KTBFFH!!!
Dats a world class save 2 deny hernandez bt d save 4rm andy carrol in d F.A CUP final in d Roberto Di matteo era is my standout moment 4 big peter cech