Neville Southall

[Gnomie]

One of the greatest keepers ever to grace the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uty27Ik-3gQ

Remember him playing in that charity game for the all stars against the tv boys at newcastle. They where all laughing saying he was fat and old, what a shock they got to see him flying through the air to save everything the hit him with. what a keeper :PDT11 :handclap:

[Ged]

An ex binman 9something the kopites never let him ever forget :))

Played for Winsford and then Bury and was a snip for Kendall.

However, it was Jim Arnold (one of the 7 Kendall signings that summer) who broke into the team and as reliable as he usually was, it was big Nev who would become my fave Everton star during his spell there.

Remember that sit down protest against the goalpost at half time when we played Leeds?


I've seen him make saves on such a regular basis of the ilk of Banks v Pele that they became every week occurences but the one v Mark Falco of Spurs sticks out.

[hmtmaj]

Until the arrival of Schmeichel, Southall was probably one of the top 2 / 3 in the league, a great servant for the blues.
Have you any of him making a save against Ian Rush ? :rolleyes:

Martin :ninja:

[Ged]

Rush was the greatest finisher i've seen at close quarters. Others older than me (and that's easy) say Greaves and Law - even Best. Perhaps Van Nistelrooy comes close more recently?

I think Rushy might have scored quite a few more but for Nev and he also might have score a few more because of Nev's absence when we had the hapless Bobby Mimms in goal for the cup final of 86 due to Nev's injury at Lansdown road when playing for Wales against Ireland.

I can't belittle any of Rush's goals other than to say 4 came in the Glen Keeley game and others against part reserve sides in the SPSC when we were banned out of Europe, however, you can only score against what is put in front of you and he did that alright.

I think Wales had a great team during the 80s with the likes of Nev, Ratcliffe, Van den hauwe, Jones, Saunders, Rush etc and can't figure out how they didn't quite make EC or WC finals with that side.

[hmtmaj]

I think Wales had a great team during the 80s with the likes of Nev, Ratcliffe, Van den hauwe, Jones, Saunders, Rush etc and can't figure out how they didn't quite make EC or WC finals with that side.


and even later when Giggs was on the scene, they still had great players and as you say, never really did anything.
The Irish are probably more successfull than the welsh, apologies for going off thread....

but you are right, Southall was and deserves to be remembered as one of the EFC legends. Mart:handclap:

[SteH]

Remember when he was sent off twice in three games or something like that for handling the ball outside the area. He came into our local pub the week after and I offered him a drink, he replied "just a half then I'll have to be off" :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Ged]

:)

[Mark R]

I remember the save where he tipped it around the post in an '85 League game against Sheffield Wednesday?? (I'm not sure exactly but what a save).
That Welsh team should have qualified for the '86 WC. Scotland (again) were fortunate to get the draw to get them to Mexico. Wales's 3:0 hammering of Spain in the qualifiers was one of Welsh teams greatest ever victories. The bicycle kick from Mark Hughes was one of the greatest goals ever. I agree Ged, I think Rush was one of the deadliest marksman of his era (alongside Marco Van Basten). I always thought Southall was miles better than the erratic Shilton.