Join Me - Stop Edwin Retiring

Has there ever been a weekend when the value of a great goalkeeper has been more starkly illustrated? On paper, United’s 4-0 win at Wigan looks like an absolute breeze. But if it wasn’t for the enduring brilliance of Edwin van der Sar, the scoreline could have been so very different.

VDS To Retire

Making saves when you’re leading 3-0 or 4-0 is one thing, but to make them when the game is still very much in the balance marks a goalkeeper out as truly influential. In the first half at the DW Stadium, Edwin made two superb stops when United were under the cosh. First, Victor Moses was bearing down on goal. In textbook fashion, the Dutchman made himself big, didn’t go to ground and the resulting shot cannoned off his shoulder.

Minutes later, there was an even better stop. Charles N’Zogbia’s lovely flick released James McCarthy in the area. In a flash, van der Sar was off his line and produced a stunning close-range block. He also kept out Maynor Figueroa’s swerving effort from distance early in the second half when the score was only 1-0.

So, there’s only one thing for it – we must stop Edwin from retiring! Paddy Crerand actually suggested to me whilst we were commentating on the match for MUTV that the big Dutchman should stay for at least another year. So let’s start the, “Edwin must stay” campaign right here. Absolutely no disrespect to Thomas Kuszczak or Anders Lindegaard but the guy is something special. I fear it’s a lost cause, though – Edwin rightly wants to go out at the top. And there is absolutely no doubting that’s where he still is.

How Arsenal must wish they had a our no.1 and the experience that he brings to our team. Wojciechy Szczesny’s howler at Wembley (although Laurent Koscielny has to take some of the blame for the confusion) means the Gunners’ ever-increasing wait for a trophy goes on. Speaking of keepers, congratulations to Ben Foster on another Man of the Match performance at Wembley. I always thought Foster would go on to become United’s number one. But I think the incredible scrutiny and pressure that goes with being United’s first-choice goalkeeper proved just a bit too much for him. But he’s a superb keeper and I’m delighted that things have gone so well for him at St Andrews.

So it was a dream weekend in many ways for United: a thumping away win for us, Arsenal’s lofty hopes of a quadruple (wasn’t that always overambitious?) took their first hit, City made an awful mess of things against Fulham and Liverpool warmed up for their big game of the season by failing to turn up at West Ham.

And now to Chelsea. It’s about time United won at Stamford Bridge. Nine long years have gone by since the Reds last won there. It really is remarkable that United are 15 points clear of the current champions. In mid-November, Chelsea led United by 4 points – it’s an incredible turnaround. Of course, they remain very dangerous opponents and I have this nagging fear that Fernando Torres will score his first goal for his new club against United. It sounds as though they’ve been doing extra shooting practice at Chelsea’s training ground. Most importantly, victory for the Reds would go a long way to securing another title – our 19th.