Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes names his 'spectacular' all-time Premier League idol

When discussing the greatest goalkeepers in English football history, Peter Schmeichel's name is never far from the top.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes has told the club’s official website that Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel is his all-time Premier League idol.

The Great Dane won five domestic titles during a legendary eight year spell at Old Trafford, while his stunning reflex save to deny Newcastle United’s Les Ferdinand in 1997 was voted the greatest save in the competitions first decade in the illustrious Premier League 10 Seasons awards (below).

Consequently, he appeared irreplaceable after departing for Sporting Lisbon in 1999 season, with Mark Bosnich, Fabien Barthez and Tim Howard all failing to fill the huge, Schmeichel-shaped void in United’s goal before Edwin Van Der Sar arrived to begin his own legacy.

And Valdes, who endured a comparatively miserable stint at Old Trafford under Louis Van Gaal, has named the 1992 European Champion as his all-time favourite.

“I was always watching Peter Schmeichel,” the former Barcelona shot-stopper told the club’s official website. “Because he was always making very spectacular and amazing saves.”

Valdes also insisted that the three main attributes needed to become a successful goalkeeper are character, power and calmness.

While Schmeichel possessed the first two by the bucketload, his deafened defenders may have something to say about the latter.

More games: friv

Kasey Keller comments on Tim Howard's potential Columbus Crew switch

The Everton goalkeeper is being linked with a MLS switch this summer.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has had a tough season. The American international was in poor form throughout the campaign and that has seen him lose his place in the Everton first-team to Spaniard Joel Robles.

Howard is therefore being linked with a move back to America. MLS side Columbus Crew have been heavily linked with a move for the player next season - with Howard being a major coup for a side Stateside.

Now a former Premier League and USA international goalie has been having his say on this potential move.

Kasey Keller, who played for Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City in his professional career,told the Denver Post this week:

"He'll be the best goalkeeper in MLS. No question.

"He'll be very effective.

"So much of goalkeeping as you get older is kind of how you read the game, how you organize in front of you, and Tim's extremely fit and really hasn't had any major injuries."



He went on to discuss the likeliness of a move, suggesting what Howard had told him about the potential move:

"The last conversations I had with Tim, he was just looking for what felt right at the time.

"If it's right to move back to MLS and the money's right and the situation's right, then cool. If it's not, he's got two years left on his contract. So he's in the driving seat a little bit."

It is looking likely that Everton will move for a new goalkeeper in the summer and Howard's future does appear to be in doubt considering his advancing years and poor form.

It may very well be that his best option is to head back to America and Keller is clearly certain that he would be a hit in MLS.

Would Howard be right to make the move this summer?