Super Stopper

Edwin van der Sar kept his 12th clean sheet of the season against Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Dutchman, now 40, looked as nimble as ever, and the Stretford End chanted his name numerous times throughout the match. He even played a key role in Dimitar Berbatov's third goal, clearing acrobatically and accurately to Rooney before the Bulgarian finishe dthe move.

Van der Sar's performance almost made a mockery of recent rumours suggesting he's set to hang up his gloves at the end of the season. Like Ryan Giggs, he looks like he could play on for at least another year.

But whether or not Edwin does hang up his gloves at the end of this season or next, one thing’s certain: when he does he’ll be sorely missed. United may be synonymous with free-flowing, attacking football, but the Reds' success in recent years has been built as much on a bedrock of defensive solidity. And that’s where Edwin comes in.

A look at the last three seasons confirms United concede fewer goals and keep more clean sheets when the Dutchman plays.This season the difference is even more pronounced. When Edwin’s played in 2010/11 United have conceded, on average, 0.75 goals per game. When he hasn’t that figure rises to 1.22 goals per game. Break that down even further, to his last 13 appearances, and Edwin’s conceded at a rate of just 0.38 goals per game and kept eight clean sheets.

It should be noted that Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Amos and Ben Foster (who between them have kept goal for the Reds 53 times since the start of 2008/09) have performed admirably between the posts. In fact, their statistics (see graphs below) are perfectly respectable.

But when held up alongside van der Sar’s, you realise what a huge blow Edwin’s departure will be. No wonder so many United fans are hoping he puts pen to paper and sticks around for at least another season.

Edwin v the rest
2010/11

Edwin
Goals against: 18 in 24 apps (0.74 avg)
Clean sheets: 12 in 24 apps (50%)

Any other GK
Goals against: 11 in 9 apps (1.22 avg)
Clean sheets: 4 in 9 apps (44%)

Since 2008/09

Edwin
Goals against: 75 in 102 apps (0.73 avg)
Clean sheets: 59 in 101 apps (58%)

Any other GK
Goals against: 48 in 53 apps (0.90 avg)
Clean sheets: 22 in 53 apps (41%)