27 Sep 2017 20:09:04
Since we are on the topic of goalkeepers, I never understood why people liked to compare Buffon and Casillas.
Casillas was no way in the same league as buffon.
Buffon was probably the best keeper ever.
27 Sep 2017 21:06:15
It's hard to argue with you on Buffon being the best, he also stuck with Juve in their times in Serie B.
Seems like a nice guy too.
Rinat Dasayev (think that's how you spell it) of the USSR was my favourite as a kid.
He wasn't so good with the ball at his feet though.
The back-pass rule in the early 90's exposed him a few times as it did a few other great keepers.
27 Sep 2017 21:13:21
OIrish, you went old school there, my friend on the Dessaev tip. GKs at the time did not need to be good with their feet as they could pick up the ball with their hands on a back pass.
Rinat Dessaev was known as the best GK in the world (the second coming of the legendary Lev Yashin) before the Euros in 1988 until Marco Van Basten took him to the cleaners with that forever legendary volley the Euro final in 1988. Great era littered w/ great players from top to bottom.
27 Sep 2017 21:38:43
I'd leave him away with the Van Basten goal, that was simply an incredible strike from one of the greatest himself.
Dasayev was badly injured against the Republic of Ireland in a game not long before that final too so he was doubtful for that final if memory serves.
He made some incredible saves against us in that match as well, one especially incredible save from Ray Houghton from about 3 yards out in fact.
Houghton played like Maradonna in that game at times.
I was only about 9, but remember it pretty well.
You'd have to put Peter Schmeichel in that argument too (best keeper of all time), what a keeper and he also played at Euro 88.
27 Sep 2017 21:44:31
By the way, that Dutch team - they were like a machine at times, absolutely unbelievable.
Yes it was a great era, and as you say, it was littered with great players before the Murdock cash came along.
Simpler times and it was a better time to be a football fan in my opinion.
27 Sep 2017 22:33:12
Oh, I missed the fact that Dessaev was injured befor the final. No wonder on the the first goal by Guillit (a canon of a header), I always thought he would/ should have saved it but there you go. Like you, I remember that Russian team as well with legends like Belanov, Dessaev, Raz and the magician Alexander Zavarov. I have chills just mentioning those names.
27 Sep 2017 23:08:26
Zavarov, yes I just about remember him. He played in that Ireland game too.
We should have beaten them, would have been in the semi finals then against Italy/ Germany.
Great memories, especially as I had a relative in that Irish squad.
Our very own version of Dasayev.
27 Sep 2017 23:02:28
Yeah Raz was a good player as was Demyanenko, Mikaelchecko, Protasov and a few others.
Yeah Tony Glavin of Spurs and Dasayev had two coming togethers in 50/ 50s right in front of goal within a few seconds of each other.
Ireland really should have gotten a penalty for one of them.
After the second one, the ball came back to Galvin who fed Aldridge on the six yard box with a fantastic curling cross and somehow he missed with the keeper out of it.
He had so much time but took it first time in the volley. Blazed it over. Dasayev was subbed immediately.
Ireland were incredible in that match, could have won by 3 or 4 goals.
Ronnie Whelan scored an incredible goal in that game as well.
Great times for Ireland, dominated by great Liverpool players.
International football is just not what it used to be.