[Officer M168]

After beating the British Record today against West Ham he only has to keep about 60 odd minutes against Fulham (I'm guessing he won't play against Derby in the F.A. Cup) to beat Abel Resino's world record figure of 1275 minutes.

So who believes he can do it !

[whysoserious]

yes

[Hillskill]

With Ferdinand and Vidic playing infront of him, absolutely ! They are the best defensive partnership in the world right now. Van der Sar has got the headlines but this is highlights the class of the 2 central defenders for me. There are maybe 4 or 5 goalkeepers in the world that could break that record if they played in Uniteds goal.

[RMCF]

If we are relying on Fulham to score inside 60mins, then I'll put the mortgage on YES.

[mossym]

Originally Posted by Hillskill

With Ferdinand and Vidic playing infront of him, absolutely ! They are the best defensive partnership in the world right now. Van der Sar has got the headlines but this is highlights the class of the 2 central defenders for me. There are maybe 4 or 5 goalkeepers in the world that could break that record if they played in Uniteds goal.

and don't forget ferdinand missed a few games in there as well, so evans gets some kudos too..

[johnscarlet]

Originally Posted by Hillskill

With Ferdinand and Vidic playing infront of him, absolutely ! They are the best defensive partnership in the world right now. Van der Sar has got the headlines but this is highlights the class of the 2 central defenders for me. There are maybe 4 or 5 goalkeepers in the world that could break that record if they played in Uniteds goal.

Its not just Rio and Vida though , Raphael, Neville, Jonny Evans, Evra and O'Shea have all played multiple games during that 13 game run

[IAN P]

I'm no manc fan but i hope he beats the record.Well deserved if he snatches it.

[mabo]

I'd be interested to know how many shots he's actually had to save in that time.

[Hillskill]

Originally Posted by johnscarlet

Its not just Rio and Vida though , Raphael, Neville, Jonny Evans, Evra and O'Shea have all played multiple games during that 13 game run

Evra and Rafael have been great, excellent infact. But IMHO the two centre halves are the real reason this record is in reach. If Cech, Buffon, or Cassilas played behind those two they would also have a chance at breaking the record.

[Officer M168]

Well Chris Woods has had put his two cents in and said Van Der Sar still has more the 4 games to go as no one is counting the last goal he let in in the FIFA World Club Cup.
He's saying its a FIFA sanction game so should be included.
If thats the case he has another 4 games before beating Chris's record !

Don't know what to say about that one !

[mabo]

He's got a point, i'd never thought about that.

[johnscarlet]

Its league games only . and Vidic is the only defender to have been ever present . Rio has played 7 and Evans 6

Number of starts in United's 13-game run:
Van der Sar - 13
Vidic - 13
O'Shea - 10
Ferdinand - 7
Rafael - 6
Evans - 6
Neville - 5
Evra - 5

[mabo]

Originally Posted by johnscarlet

Its league games only .

Really? Woods' British record encompassed league and cup games IIRC.

[johnscarlet]

Other that the World Club Cup , don't think he's played in League or FA Cup , Spurs and Derby scored in those games

[mabo]

Originally Posted by johnscarlet

Other that the World Club Cup , don't think he's played in League or FA Cup , Spurs and Derby scored in those games

It's the last World Club Cup that Woods thinks counts as it's a Fifa competition.

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by mabo

I'd be interested to know how many shots he's actually had to save in that time.

I think Given could be ahead on that score.

It's a great run but it shouldn't be Van Der Sar who gets all the credit. What about the backline that does all the protecting.

[Marc]

Van der Sar has made less than 25 saves, possibly less than 20 during the run. He had made 17 saves after the game against West Brom i believe. If holding out for 60 mins against Fulham is what he needs then i'm sure the back four will sit in to ensure he gets it. I did notice them noticeably trying to protect the record against West Ham who gave us a few scares but it'll be sods law that they give away a penalty in the 59th minute or something, at which point i expect they'll be begging fulham to miss it in exchange for a walk in 2 mins later .

[Dony]

Originally Posted by johnscarlet

Other that the World Club Cup , don't think he's played in League or FA Cup , Spurs and Derby scored in those games

I think he did play in the Spurs game. Vaguely remember the commentators saying that it didn't count towards the run he was on because it wasn't a league game.

[Officer M168]

Taken from wikipedia so take it for what its worth

On 27 January 2009, Van der Sar helped Manchester United set a new club and Premier League record for consecutive clean sheets – the club's 5–0 win over West Bromwich Albion meant that they had gone 11 games (1,032 minutes) without conceding a goal, beating the previous record of 10 matches (1,025 minutes) set by Petr Čech in the 2004–05 season. On 31 January 2009, following a 1-0 win over Everton, Van der Sar overtook Reading's Steve Death, who set the previous English club record of 1,103 minutes in 1979.[10] On 8 February 2009, Van der Sar extended the record to 1,212 minutes, after the 1-0 defeat of West Ham. To break the world record set by Abel Resino of 1,275 minutes, he needs to keep a clean sheet for a further 64 minutes.

But is this against Derby (cup) Or Fulham (league)

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Dony

I think he did play in the Spurs game. Vaguely remember the commentators saying that it didn't count towards the run he was on because it wasn't a league game.

he didn't play against Spurs, it was Ben Foster standing flat footed as Pavluchenko scored early on..

[mabo]

Is the Resino record in all competitions?

Either way, it's still a decent achievement even if Given or Schwarzer save the same amount in 4/5 games.

Though there always seems to be some kind of stats record falling these days. Every week some commentator says something about a team not winning against another in 50 years or such like, omitting the fact they've only played each other half a dozen times in that period etc.

[Sicknote10]

Dany Verlinden holds the record (1,390 minutes), not Resino

[Hillskill]

hmm......Schmeichel behind Vidic and Ferdinand.....Now that would be water tight. I make no secret of it, I personally don't rate Van Der Sar as one of the "greats". I will totally give the guy credit for some amazing big match performances etc but there have also been some EPIC blunders and a distinct lack of grit on ocassion.
I hope he breaks the record but only as it will highlight the class of the backline (fairplay Evans has done his bit)

[Officer M168]

Originally Posted by Sicknote10

Dany Verlinden holds the record (1,390 minutes), not Resino

If thats the case that record must be all comps, as Resino is the guy most are talking about beating.
Throw in the fact the last League goal scored against Edwin was Nasri Against Arsenal i'm guessing this is just a league only record.

[Dony]

Originally Posted by Marc

he didn't play against Spurs, it was Ben Foster standing flat footed as Pavluchenko scored early on..

My apologies (to JS as well). Commentators must have been talking about Utd's run in general of not conceeding a goal.

[johnscarlet]

Originally Posted by Dony

My apologies (to JS as well). Commentators must have been talking about Utd's run in general of not conceeding a goal.

No need , you had me wondering myself

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Hillskill

hmm......Schmeichel behind Vidic and Ferdinand.....Now that would be water tight. I make no secret of it, I personally don't rate Van Der Sar as one of the "greats". I will totally give the guy credit for some amazing big match performances etc but there have also been some EPIC blunders and a distinct lack of grit on ocassion.
I hope he breaks the record but only as it will highlight the class of the backline (fairplay Evans has done his bit)

i agree actually, he's a dependable keeper but not an exceptional one. I would put him in the same bracket as David Seaman - you can't really look back on his career and remember many 'wow, what a save' moments but there aren't too many howlers either. Schmeichel actually had his share of howlers but the spectacular saves and dashes out of the area are what you remember and he more or less redefined what a keeper should be.

VdS is exactly what man utd have needed though after the goal kick antics of bosnich, the back pass antics of taibi and the flapping antics of barthez, he's not perfect but he gives the defence the confidence it had been lacking for years before he arrived

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Dony

My apologies (to JS as well). Commentators must have been talking about Utd's run in general of not conceeding a goal.

he conceded 3 against Gamba Osaka in the world club tournament but hasn't conceded any in 'official' tournaments since November

[Dony]

Interesting fact (nicked from another site)

20 managers have lost their jobs in the English leagues since Utd last conceded a league goal

[Wild Weasel]

It's about time Gary Neville scored an own goal.