Big Nev

[Ferguson1878]

Did southall never make it up with his daughter?

Don’t know mate last thing I remember was him suing her

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

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.

He basically made it impossible for me to judge goalkeepers for a long time because I couldn’t get my head around them spilling stuff because it never happened with Nev. Martyn was a great goalkeeper too as is Pickford. But Nev was next level. Genuine iconic all time great.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

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.

He’s like an amateur footballer or folk hero in some ways. He was still a world class player but forced to play with tripe in the latter part of his career. But that makes him the ultimate Everton icon in my book.

 

[Cels]

Big Nev was basically the Welsh Tim Howard, he was that good.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Was his pomp long enough to be classed the best?

Bed

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Southall was the one player as a youngster that I could always say to my Red mates would get in a combined Merseyside team without question. That’s enough for me. However, and it’s important to say this, I like the fact the OP has asked the question. It’s great we’ve discussed it and, possibly, educated him . By the way, anyone who criticises Pickford smells of school dinner mash (our second best ever keeper).

Agree re Pickford. He has literally been the difference between us going down and staying up in the last few years. It’s absolutely madness that England think they could have anyone better. His distribution is the best but as a shot stopper I don’t think there is anyone better in world football.

 

[EssexToffe]

Best English keeper by light years.

 

[Bkk Andy]

Is he RS in disguise?

Be nice.

 

[Bkk Andy]

The best goalkeeper I've seen in my life at his peak. Schmeichel Sr. was a very close 2nd.

 

[The binman chronicles]

A good read this:

Big Nev and his unforgettable impact on Torquay United

When a goalkeeping great graced Plainmoor

www.torbayweekly.co.uk

 

[salmon fingers]

I have seen some great players for Everton but in his position Nev was the greatest, maybe the only truly world class player to play for Everton in my lifetime.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

The best goalkeeper I've seen in my life at his peak. Schmeichel Sr. was a very close 2nd.

Agreed there. Schmeichel won Denmark the 1992 Euros and had the single most impressive game for a goalkeeper I've ever seen against the Netherlands in the semi's of that tournament. I didn’t see Southall as much but the times I did see him he was like superman in goal and I'd play football with my mates trying to make the saves he made when it was the dreaded turn in goal for me. Safe to say I didn't quite have his ability to make those saves

 

[Loadsofchemistry]

Don’t know mate last thing I remember was him suing her

Yeah, remember reading that years ago,something about her selling his medals,had hoped they’d patched it up. Always sad when families fall out.

 

[wandyr79]

Hence (not sure if thats spelt correct) asking the question.

8 years is a long time to not be at his previous level

I am only a little bit earlier than you, was watching football late 80's but only really connected with it in 90. Southall at his worst, was still better than 90% of keepers, going up to 95.

I saw him playing for Doncaster against Barrow. He was still good then, made a mistake in being slightly out of position and getting lobbed but apart from that was still class. I remember watching one of those celebrity charity matches and he was still making class saves then, as well.

It is fine to ask the question, but there really is no debate to be had. Every response telling you, with passion and with very strong evidence, that you can stop wondering should have been a sign to stop asking the question.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Best English keeper by light years.

An even more impressive achievement given he’s Welsh