Big Nev

[Neiler]

You could tell he was frustrated for a lot of the early 90's, the team/club regression, chopping and changing, boom and bust of new dawns and frankly a lack of quality in the team - Joe coming in reignited him he was brilliant in that stint and a massive leader - Joe knew how to get the best out of him..

Without fail he always commanded his box and marshaled the back line, could also catch airplanes and gave 0 respect to any player or any team - 80s or 90s.

Was also brilliant for Wales in that time.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

At his peak he was the best around but in the 90s he had weight problems which affecting his agility

I don’t think I have seen a goalkeeper with better fundamentals i.e. his positioning was always perfect in terms of angles etc which is why he made all of those save in the couple final. He also was a great catcher. He barely ever spilled anything. He was obviously less agile into his thirties due to his weight. For what it’s worth, provided you do it for 4/5 seasons at the top longevity doesn’t matter for me. Hazard and Bale are clearly far superior players to Giggs but didn’t have his longevity,

 

[Dixieslaces]

The last couple of weeks i've been watching season reviews of the early 90s teams (91/92, 92/93, 93/94, 94/95)

All 3 seasons there are at least 5 or 6 times were Big Nev gets completely done and you would expect even a standard level goalkeeper to save.

It got me thinking, i was pretty much a fan from 94 and my memory's of Southall were obviously the Cup Final, but after that nothing hugely memorable.

And judging by my small snippets I've got from the season reviews, he's either not great, not bothered or at least on the decline in the early 90s

So without obviously seeing the mid 80s Southall (84-88) was he only good for a small amount of his Everton career and possibly below par the rest?

I have my shield and hat ready for the insults and fear i may get accused of going a bit Talksport, but its a genuine question

I, just don't know where to start....

 

[Bluebonic]

We will never see his like agin, he deffo stands alongside Dean and Ball as Everton legends. I think the difference between Nev and the other great keepers you mentioned is that when European football was denied him, he stayed. The others would have jumped ship most likely. When the team in front of him went into terminal decline, he stayed loyal to us. The others mentioned almost certainly would have moved on to better performing clubs.

 

[COYB75]

Nuff said close the thread.

 

[Lanolin]

I think the answer at it's most basic level is if you bothered to watch season reviews of any of the other keepers named from when they were in their mid 30s you'd probably find exactly the same thing from them too.

 

[Gilbert..]

I think there was a Holland game in 95 or 96 which Holland won 7 or 8 nil and I remember there were quotes even then from Holland players saying it should have been about 15 goals if it wasn't for Southall who produced a string of saves to keep the scores down.

Dont remember that one mate but i remember watching the 88 game on sportsnight and the dutch side had gullit, Van basten, Frank rijkaard. The koeman brothers. Real class dutch side. They won 1-0 with a late goal from gullit. I just remember watching and it was save after save from the Everton keeper.
Southall had the likes of clayton blackmore keeping the dutch at bay that night lol.

 

[Preki]

I remember an away game at West ham in 1993-4 and we won 1-0. Right at the end of the season when we were in danger of going down. He was immense that day and pretty much single handedly kept them out.
A defense of Snodin/watson/Jackson and I think Ablett in front of him.

 

[wainy]

The last couple of weeks i've been watching season reviews of the early 90s teams (91/92, 92/93, 93/94, 94/95)

All 3 seasons there are at least 5 or 6 times were Big Nev gets completely done and you would expect even a standard level goalkeeper to save.

It got me thinking, i was pretty much a fan from 94 and my memory's of Southall were obviously the Cup Final, but after that nothing hugely memorable.

And judging by my small snippets I've got from the season reviews, he's either not great, not bothered or at least on the decline in the early 90s

So without obviously seeing the mid 80s Southall (84-88) was he only good for a small amount of his Everton career and possibly below par the rest?

I have my shield and hat ready for the insults and fear i may get accused of going a bit Talksport, but its a genuine question

Lad ill smack you everywhere

 

[ically]

The last couple of weeks i've been watching season reviews of the early 90s teams (91/92, 92/93, 93/94, 94/95)

All 3 seasons there are at least 5 or 6 times were Big Nev gets completely done and you would expect even a standard level goalkeeper to save.

It got me thinking, i was pretty much a fan from 94 and my memory's of Southall were obviously the Cup Final, but after that nothing hugely memorable.

And judging by my small snippets I've got from the season reviews, he's either not great, not bothered or at least on the decline in the early 90s

So without obviously seeing the mid 80s Southall (84-88) was he only good for a small amount of his Everton career and possibly below par the rest?

I have my shield and hat ready for the insults and fear i may get accused of going a bit Talksport, but its a genuine question

Those years were dreadful as is your post,
He’s up there with the best players we’ve ever had.
He didn’t win us games he won us trophies.

 

[wearethefamousefc]

Around 2000 I went to watch him in goal for rhyl. Still great even then.

Remember him not bothering to dive and try to save goals at times. I used to tell people it's because he was that good he knew he'd never make it.

Also, when the because back pass rule came in I'm sure he took a while to adjust, accidentally picking the ball up on multiple occasions and conceding free kicks

 

[Neiler]

Always found it really sad seeing him play for different teams after he left in 98.

Just felt weird and if it shouldn't be happening.

 

[Harryflashman]

Sometimes the hype is bigger than the reality but just spend a few minutes watching. A lot of his big saves are very Pickford but better.

It’s funny you say that because Nev is ridiculous OTT in his criticisms of Pickford , I love the big man but he definitely goes too far with that .

 

[Tipp blue]

The last couple of weeks i've been watching season reviews of the early 90s teams (91/92, 92/93, 93/94, 94/95)

All 3 seasons there are at least 5 or 6 times were Big Nev gets completely done and you would expect even a standard level goalkeeper to save.

It got me thinking, i was pretty much a fan from 94 and my memory's of Southall were obviously the Cup Final, but after that nothing hugely memorable.

And judging by my small snippets I've got from the season reviews, he's either not great, not bothered or at least on the decline in the early 90s

So without obviously seeing the mid 80s Southall (84-88) was he only good for a small amount of his Everton career and possibly below par the rest?

I have my shield and hat ready for the insults and fear i may get accused of going a bit Talksport, but its a genuine question

I've made a chart for you so you don't need to ask again.

And also another chart for you to print out and reference in the future.

 

[Gilbert..]

I don’t think I have seen a goalkeeper with better fundamentals i.e. his positioning was always perfect in terms of angles etc which is why he made all of those save in the couple final. He also was a great catcher. He barely ever spilled anything. He was obviously less agile into his thirties due to his weight. For what it’s worth, provided you do it for 4/5 seasons at the top longevity doesn’t matter for me. Hazard and Bale are clearly far superior players to Giggs but didn’t have his longevity,

Hardly spilled anything is something Southall doesnt get enough credit for. I cant remember him ever coming for a cross and dropping it. I mean he must have but i dont recall ever being at a game where he dropped anything. Hands like Velcro.