Well I got that one completely wrong. There was I telling my mum this morning that speculation linking Edwin Van der Sar to Man Utd was just usual Sunday newspaper speculation and that the greatest goalkeeper in Europe would stay with us for another season given his age and alleged liking for London life, let alone the need to have first team football. I get in a few hours later he’s gone to Man Utd for two years and a bit of cash for us. When will I stop thinking football at the highest level resembles is little more than a business?
His arrival in August 2001 was one of those ‘wha?’ moments we had under Tigana. He was one of the kind of players who you’d feel privileged seeing live once in your life. Next thing we knew, there he was down the Cottage and 153 games later and he’s gone. He was worth 6-10 points a season for us and we’ll miss him. Plus I was part of a group that paid for his kit this year!
If he has a few bad games up there he might be dropped – if he’s first choice to start with – and then his place in the Dutch national team will be in doubt for the World Cup. But I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen to him as he’s great to watch.