Big Nev, best in the world

[AndyC]

Gordon West was a brilliant, brilliant goalie and unfortunate to have been around while Gordon Banks was England's number one.
I loved Westy, but Big Nev bettered him and the likes of Clemence, Shilton and Woods must have thought all their birthdays, Christmasses etc came at once that Nev was Welsh.
Without any question, THE best goalie in the world during the mid/late 1980s and on into the 90s.

As for the 95 cup final, I love a clip from the second half where he applauds and encourages the defence to get stuck into Mark Hughes, hilarious and EXACTLY the kind of geeing up top notch goalies give their defenders.

Straight-talking, passionate, as blue as they come and most of all... A winner.

 

[Scouse]

Growing up, he was all I knew between the Everton 'sticks'. I remember being petrified when he was coming to the end of his time with us. I knew that whoever replaced him was never gonna be able to come near to him. I genuinely love the man like a father...he gave me a feeling of security as a kid and he'll always have a place in my heart...I love you Neville!

 

[MACCA75]

My favourite ever player. Hard for a video to do him justice tbh, as a lot of games back then just weren't televised.

 

[Gardocki]

Remember his debut (Ipswich I believe) and just knew he was going to be a regular. He was brave and strong. Never thought he would be as good as he became and no doubt he was the best in the world. I don't think I will ever see a better keeper. Think he had a good 4 years of being the best in the world. In the 95 cup final (when he wasn't the best) will never forget in the last minutes when Man Utd were chucking everything at us the way he came 15 yds off his line amongst loads of players and caught the ball one handed.

One of the best things about football/sport is seeing a young player make his debut, and knowing he's going to be a great. It's a different sport, but I remember thinking the same of a gangly Paul O'Connell when he made his debut for Munster. I only saw the recent Norwich game on TV, but I definitely got the feeling Davies has that about him too. Messi's debut was an obvious example too.

 

[Caolam]

I can't understand the obsession with comparisons and trying to say one player is the best in the world. The truth is players like Southall are at the very top end of the scale and the differences between someone like him and Pat Jennings is paper thin.
If I was manager of Everton and had to choose between a 25 year old Southall or Jennings I would struggle but I would be a very happy man.

 

[Darth Toffeeman]

Probably the finest player I have seen.
Highlights of trophy wins always show the goals and focus on the strikers as they are the headline makers. But the goalkeeper is what wins you the big prizes.

I would break the bank for a top class keeper. Most important position on the pitch!

 

[WalterBecker]

Straight talking as always, does not want Moyes back. The best keeper I have ever seen, can you ever imagine him as disrespectful to his beloved Everton as our want away legend in his own lunch box Centre forward. The greatest of the great North Wales Blues proud to say, Ratcliffe, Speed,Vernon,Horne,Thomas.

 

[degsy]

For a time He WAS The Best in the World and was probably as good a keeper as Dean was a Centre Forward.
Ball, Young and Labone were different types of players as good in their positions as Dean and Southall.
Definitely needs a stand naming in his honour.

 

[Joey66]

Gordon West was inspirational when I was a boy. Fearless, and one of the greats. Not to knock big Nev who is absolutely up there...

Gordon West had everything - bar in the days goal keepers got no protection suffered a bit coming out for the occasional cross, Labby always Joked with him that he and Hursty protected him, on that issue- but he was a class keeper he could throw the ball out with such accrucy he was agile for a big man - Gordon Banks kept him out of the international set up he refused to go to Mexico
Big Nev was utter world class never seen a better keeper for the blues, shame he never was able to produce it on the world stage, as IMO he would have proved to be in his prime the worlds no 1!
I would have liked to have seen Big Nev as a goal keeper coach for us IMO!

 

[peteblue]

Simply the best.
A winner, a straight talker who displays his feelings for the club with no agenda, doesn't pay lip service.
The club is ingrained in him and he's ingrained in all blues who had the pride and pleasure to see him play.
Read his book and you'll see how down to earth and normal the man is. Hard to believe given his talent and the way some players are today.

I think this neatly sums him up.......

 

[Minimeister]

Growing up, he was all I knew between the Everton 'sticks'. I remember being petrified when he was coming to the end of his time with us. I knew that whoever replaced him was never gonna be able to come near to him. I genuinely love the man like a father...he gave me a feeling of security as a kid and he'll always have a place in my heart...I love you Neville!

Sums up my thoughts. Makes me laugh these Sky fans talking about how great the likes of Joe Hart is. He makes more mistakes in a game than Southall made in his career.

 

[maccavennie]

Best keeper in the world at one stage.

Doesn't get any credit from anyone outside of Everton it's disgusting. Woods, Shilton, seaman all mentioned as the best British keepers. Not one of them fit enough to.lace his boots

Big nev, the man

spot on this and it proper winds me up. Whenever someone starts a conversation about best keepers and the usual tripe get mentioned and I mention Southall they go "oh yeah, forgot about him he was good". Good? GOOD? ffs he was the best. My favourite Everton player by some distance, wanted to be him so it was a kick in the balls when I barely grew any more past my 6th birthday and put paid to my goalkeeper dreams.

 

[nsno-chris]

spot on this and it proper winds me up. Whenever someone starts a conversation about best keepers and the usual tripe get mentioned and I mention Southall they go "oh yeah, forgot about him he was good". Good? GOOD? ffs he was the best. My favourite Everton player by some distance, wanted to be him so it was a kick in the balls when I barely grew any more past my 6th birthday and put paid to my goalkeeper dreams.

These younguns will never know what it was like to see a keeper that good. Nothing better than seeing big nev wipe out an entire penalty area to emerge standing with the ball

 

[BigBlueConk]

Goes without saying for me.
A given. (Not a Shay Given)

When people discuss best keepers, they might as well go find the second best.

 

[BigBlueConk]

There was the incident a couple of years back when the club left Nev and his family fuming.
The RS showed him more respect that day.

We have some right handles at our club these days.