How does Emi Martinez rate alongside other Villa keepers?

[dcdavecollett]

Yes.

Even funnier, we went to WHL early on that season with half the team out injured.

Ossie and Ricky got an ultra-hyped ticker-tape reception onto the pitch...then our reserves beat them 4-1!!!!

[tony scott]

Jimmy Rimmer for me Emi Martinez next followed by John Dunn Mark Bosnich and sentiment rules Nigel Sims.

[Beard82]

I think Emi is comfortably our best keeper in my time.  For context Nigel Spink is the first I remember.

But I think Emi is one of the few really world class players I have seen play for the Villa.  The bigger the situation, the better he becomes - and it will be a sad day when hes nolonger our number 1 (or 23).

[dcdavecollett]

John Dunn looks a bit of an outlier in that list; decent enough 'keeper but reluctant to come off his line.

[dave.woodhall]

Emi for me; the first time in decades that one of the Class of '81's been dropped from my all-time XI.

[Exeter 77]

Emi for me; the first time in decades that one of the Class of '81's been dropped from my all-time XI.

Yes. The only two who have previously come close were Platt and Benteke.

[oldhill_avfc]

1 Emi
2 Bosnich
3 Rimmer

[lovejoy]

We will only appreciate how good Martinez is once he leave and my goodness we will miss him. How long does he have left on his contract?

[Smirker]

Seen people arguing online that he's the greatest international keeper of all time.

He's played in 4 tournaments, won all of them and won all four Golden Gloves too. Plus two Yashin awards.

Can't really argue against it tbh.

He's clearly number 1 in our history.

If Argentina win the World Cup again next year (which they could well do) he's in the all time greats debate. He's the goalkeeping version of Maradona. We're Napoli and he's taking us to top.

[Chris Harte]

Emi.
Bosnich.
Spink, on the basis I'm too young (did I really just say those last two words) to appreciate Rimmer.
Honourable mention to Jed Steer, and the only one whose first and family names I've mentioned.

[London Villan]

The one thing Emi has to do is to win something at Villa - Bosnich, Rimmer and Spink all have medals.

[dave shelley]

Shaping up to be the best.  For me, it's always been Rimmer in my Villa watching time but I'm beginning to think differently.

From all the grandfather fans when I was a kid,  I was told Sam Hardy was a good 'un, a bit special I believe.  They used to say he had the happy knack of making difficult saves look easy.

[Nii Lamptey]

Emi.
Bosnich.
Spink, on the basis I'm too young (did I really just say those last two words) to appreciate Rimmer.
Honourable mention to Jed Steer, and the only one whose first and family names I've mentioned.

I'd agree with that. Spink is the first keeper I properly remember, but I think being a bit of a shithouse is a GK superpower - Something Emi (*and previously Bozzie) have in spades.

[LeeB]

Emi.
Bosnich.
Spink, on the basis I'm too young (did I really just say those last two words) to appreciate Rimmer.
Honourable mention to Jed Steer, and the only one whose first and family names I've mentioned.

I'd agree with that. Spink is the first keeper I properly remember, but I think being a bit of a shithouse is a GK superpower - Something Emi (*and previously Bozzie) have in spades.

Jed Steer absolutely made the most of his brief stint including his own shithousery on Mason Holgate which basically won that shoot out before a ball was kicked.

It was more effective as their was no hint previously as he must be the most mild mannered, unthreatening footballer I can think of.

[Drummond]

Jed Steer is a folknhero for that shootout. Whilst he may not have done a lot more, he doesn't have to. I'll never tire of watching that clip.

As for the greatest, well I don't have a lot of memory of Rimmer, but loved Spink and Bosnich the only one since to be considered in that way is Emi Martinez. And he is the World's Number One for a reason.

He's definitely the best I've seen at the Villa, his all round game is another level and I wouldn't swap him for any other keeper in the world.