Our Favourite XI – Goalkeeper

Everyone has an opinion, especially when it comes to football and more so for the team you follow.

You can argue all day long about a ‘Best XI’, but what about a ‘Favourite XI? Those players who, for whatever reason, have a fond place in your heart? There is no opinion, just pure love and admoration. Unrequited, irrational, but love all the same. They might be the biggest hacker, but the nicest guy. Cannot pass? Yeah, but they sure do try hard.

Here at TEB we asked a handful of our writers to pick their ‘Favourite XI’ and we will feature one position at a time over the course of the the coming months.

First up, the men between the sticks take centre stage.

PETER REDMAN

PERRY SUCKLING – We all forgot after the 9-0 defeat and the arrival of Big Nige just what a solid goalkeeper Suckling was. His time at Palace wasn’t a long stint, sandwiched in between George Wood and Nigel Martyn but he was an integral part of our play off winning side in 1988/89. In my mind, he was here longer and played more, but actually made less than sixty appearances over four seasons, most of them in that promotion year. As a young fan at the time, it is worth mentioning he was a bloody nice chap and always had time for the fans, regularly popping into the bars and lounges prior to matches whether he was playing or not.

SAM SMITH

JULIAN SPERONI – Having only watched Palace for a mere decade, there was only one choice for me. The Argentinian spent my first two years watching the Eagles on the substitutes bench but was thrust between the sticks by Peter Taylor following the departure of everyone’s favourite pyjama wearer, Gabor Kiraly. Speroni then flourished under the management of Neil Warnock and became ever present over the next eight years as Palace went from the brink of oblivion to promotion to the top-flight. Soon-to-be the record appearance holder of any Palace goalkeeper and the many great saves that have often kept Palace in games make this an easy pick.

JAMES HOWLAND

JULIAN SPERONI – He defines the word legend. He has single handedly (literally) won us points on so many occasions by making world class save after world class save. However, he is more than that. Far more. Yes, Jules is a legend for making saves that leave the Selhurst faithful as stunned as the thwarted opposing centre forward, but he also has a comeback story, a dodgy haircut, a humble nature, a subtly determined spirit and a loyalty beyond question in his locker. A true gentleman, a truly great player and a truly great man.

‘Manos de Dios’ or ‘Hands of God’ has been used to describe our hero but I think the phrase could be expanded to ‘Manos de dios, hombre de honor, eEspíritu de guerrero’ (hands of god, man of honour, spirit of a warrior).

LUCY WHITE

GABOR KIRALY – Normally when people are asked to do their ultimate Palace squad, the likes of Martyn, Speroni or John Jackson would be picked, and if it was my ultimate, I would 100% go with one of those. However, being favourite, I have to choose Mr Gabor Kiraly. The Hungarian jogging bottom wearer, who stood between the sticks for us for three years, with 104 appearances, is somewhat of a legend and not just among Palace fans. All across Hungary and Germany he is a hero. Although the only thing that he is likely to be remembered for is the fact he wore grey joggers all through the season. I pick him, purely because, yes, he was a bit rough round the edges and not statistically the greatest goalkeeper we have ever had, but if someone has the philosophy in life “The end result is more important than your look” they deserve to go straight to the top.

JAMIE LAWRENCE

JULIAN SPERONI – Well, it was not going to be anyone else, was it? Speroni is the epitome of everything that is good about Crystal Palace Football Club. Passion, dedication and pride are three words which describe his feelings for the club, and our feelings towards him. No player in my fifteen or so years of association with the club, stands higher or deserves more praise than this man. He has singlehandedly kept us in games, his point blank save from Eden Hazard in 2014 is one that consistently springs to mind, and in the play offs he pulled off a couple of worldies against Brighton and that tap away from Deeney in the final? Just incredible. Words cannot describe my admiration for this man, my only hope being that he continues to stay with us in some degree or another long into the future. Manos De Dios!

JAY CRAME

MATT CLARKE – The obvious choice for me would have been Nigel Martyn but as he is the best keeper we have ever seen at Selhurst, I am opting for a goalkeeper a little from left field and more on sentimentality than anything else. Matt Clarke began his career at Rotherham United but it was his time at Bradford City that encouraged Palace to sign him back in 2001 for a fee of £1.35million. Ability wise he was exceptional and one of the most naturally gifted goalkeeper I had seen in action. He had everything you could want in a goalkeeper but his very promising career was cut short by a persistent knee injury in 2004. He made a little over 200 professional appearances, 38 of those for the Eagles. It was a travesty that we did not get to see more of this fine goalkeeper who was touted to go on and represent England.

You do not have to wait long for the next instalment of ‘Our Favourite XI’ as tomorrow we will reveal our choice for the right back position which hopefully will be more varied than this one!