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Just imagine Southall with today's methods of coaching and sports science.

He'll be even better.

People forget to compare that when they compare eras.

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 7:36 am Agile, acrobatic, fast feet, sticky gloves, great positioning, unbelievable reflexes and incredible record on 1v1s. Peerless.

It’s insulting to say “How old are the people choosing Nev I wonder?”

Yes I’m old enough to have seen him live and Pickford. I’m still only in my 40s so I’m not senile and I understand how the game has changed year by year in between.

Imagine saying in 20 years time that Messi or Ronaldo are the best you’ve ever seen and someone accusing you of romanticising. It’s just ignorant.

Yes the game changes, but class, as they say, is permanent.

Sticky gloves is a great description, we pretty much never see a keeper hold on to the ball during a save anymore. 70% of shots keepers parry these days big Nev would have kept hold of.

But of a lost art in general but Southall was incredible at saving shots and retaining the ball whilst doing so.

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 7:36 am Agile, acrobatic, fast feet, sticky gloves, great positioning, unbelievable reflexes and incredible record on 1v1s. Peerless.

It’s insulting to say “How old are the people choosing Nev I wonder?”

Yes I’m old enough to have seen him live and Pickford. I’m still only in my 40s so I’m not senile and I understand how the game has changed year by year in between.

Imagine saying in 20 years time that Messi or Ronaldo are the best you’ve ever seen and someone accusing you of romanticising. It’s just ignorant.

Yes the game changes, but class, as they say, is permanent.

I think the point is more like saying you cant say Messi and Ronaldo are the best because Pele and Maradona existed so it must be a stupid question.

and to reiterate, i definitely do not think Pickford is better than Southall. My two main points here are:
- Southall would not have done more for us over the last 5 years that Pickford has. (I'm saying that as a "the best keeper we have had could only have done the same as Pickford has").
- It's absolutely criminal that Pickford ISNT considered one of the best in the world and i just can't for the life of me understand the criticism he gets outside of Everton.

superpull wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 8:15 am I think the point is more like saying you cant say Messi and Ronaldo are the best because Pele and Maradona existed so it must be a stupid question.

and to reiterate, i definitely do not think Pickford is better than Southall. My two main points here are:
- Southall would not have done more for us over the last 5 years that Pickford has. (I'm saying that as a "the best keeper we have had could only have done the same as Pickford has").
- It's absolutely criminal that Pickford ISNT considered one of the best in the world and i just can't for the life of me understand the criticism he gets outside of Everton.

I disagree.
One of Southall’s biggest qualities was his consistency. People have talked about Pickford’s consistency, the fact he has sometimes had a howler in him and a few seasons ago he had a very inconsistent season that had people talking about getting Dubrovnik or Pope to replace him.

If Southall had been here he would have been more consistent, therefore done more.


Not to besmirch Pickford who I think is our most important signing in decades and I love the bones of him.

39 according to this https://www.englandfootballonline.com/T ... nShts.html

Says 38 but also says his last match was Andorra, so to be updated with th Serbia match.

How many clean sheets did Southall get for England? Checkmate.

Best English keeper of all time?

TheRam wrote: ↑Wed Sep 10, 2025 9:46 am Best English keeper of all time?

No, he didn't claim that cross 4 years ago, so he's a bit shit

Cozzie wrote: ↑Wed Sep 10, 2025 9:40 am

When Joe Hart is 2nd in the list, the list is meaningless

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 9:22 am I disagree.
One of Southall’s biggest qualities was his consistency. People have talked about Pickford’s consistency, the fact he has sometimes had a howler in him and a few seasons ago he had a very inconsistent season that had people talking about getting Dubrovnik or Pope to replace him.

If Southall had been here he would have been more consistent, therefore done more.


Not to besmirch Pickford who I think is our most important signing in decades and I love the bones of him.

Lol, Dubrovnik.

I was there 2 weeks ago.

Deano Blue Boy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 09, 2025 7:37 am Just imagine Southall with today's methods of coaching and sports science.

He'll be even better.

People forget to compare that when they compare eras.

Great point well made!

To be fair the argument needs to go both ways, Southall wouldn’t be catching shots today like he did in his day because the actual ball has changed so much.

It’s way lighter and moves in the air more, that’s why no keepers catch it not just Pickford

Shogun wrote: ↑Wed Sep 10, 2025 9:43 am How many clean sheets did Southall get for England? Checkmate.

Well done. He’s 66