| Goalkeeper Nominations
Brad Friedel
65 votes [40.88%]
Tim Flowers
45 votes [28.3%]
Terry Gennoe
24 votes [15.09%]
Roger Jones
16 votes [10.06%]
Fred Else
5 votes [3.14%]
Harry Leyland
3 votes [1.89%]
Jim Arnold
1 vote [0.63%]
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 Brad Friedel with brfcs.co.uk Jordan on German pre-season tour Despite the fact that the vast majority of Rovers fans saw Friedel as a superfluous signing when he joined, Brad has managed to become a Rovers legend winning over both the crowd and pundits. This is no mean feat considering the shadow cast by former championship winning keeper Tim Flowers, and more recently the former player of the year John Filan.
With two quality keepers, including Filan, at the club many were wondering what Brad could bring to the team. The first things Brad gave Rovers were consistency and dependability. At the beginning of the promotion season rovers were having no problem scoring but were letting in goals with alarming regularity. Brad slotted in immediately and proved to be the final piece of the defensive jigsaw. Whilst Matty and Dunn and the like got most of the credit, Rovers tight defence including Brad played no small part in grinding out the wins and our promotion success.
Friedel carried this consistency into the premiership, rarely if ever making a mistake and never looking out of his depth. Even Flowers would struggle to match Brad in terms of continual reliability. No howlers, few fumbles, and within his first full season Brad had firmly established a well earned reputation amongst the fans for always being on top of his game. It was during this season that Brad showed that he could impersonate superman, pulling off some fantastic saves, especially during the Worthington Cup Final. Brad was deservedly man of the match as Rovers lifted the cup. Granted it was a team effort which won it for Rovers, but Brad did that little bit more than everyone else; from an early one on one with Ferdinand to the near point blank header late on Friedel was supurb. Cole's goal might have been the decider but it was Friedel's saves that won Blackburn the cup.
The following season was probably the highlight of Brad's Rovers career. Just like it seemed impossible that Shearer in his hayday bearing down on goal would miss, it seemed impossible that Brad would not save. Time after time Brad demonstrated astounding reflexes which must have added 20 points onto Rovers tally for the season. Once again Friedel proved the difference in Rovers securing European football for the second season running. Recognition came from outside the club being named in the players premiership team of the year, and Arsene Wenger's desire for Brad to replace the departing Arsenal legend Seaman.
Like other Rovers greats Brad also performed well on an international level during his time at Rovers. To play at three world cups shows Brad's international credentials, Arguably his best World Cup came during his time with Rovers again showing his class with some fine performances and several penalty saves.
Since then Friedel has not reproduced this near legendary form, but then he has had the challenge of Rovers defence to contend with. And despite this Brad has still remained one of the most consistent performers at the club. His desire and determination for the club to succeed are epitomised by his goal against Charlton, a truely classic Rovers moment. And those who think he's lost it remember performances like the Manure home game this season.
Like Duff and Shearer before in Brad we have witnessed the best player in the premiership in that position whilst wearing a Rovers shirt, and saw a display of talent which few players possess. Rovers may have lost a team which they can identify with but Superman still exists.
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Brownie - When have Rovers ever had a keeper in the PFA Team of the Year ?
Has to be Friedel, as good as the likes of Gennoe,Arnold,Jones,Flowers and Bradshaw were.
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Manchester Blue - I've been going 20 years and I've not seen better than Friedel. Flowers was great but not brilliant apart from the odd game. Mimms was ok and Gennoe was average.
Freidel for me every time.
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Scotty - Friedel for me as well. Gennoe was superb for years in the 80's at a lower level, Flowers was superb during the 90's, but Friedel is the only one who's been world class.
His form two seasons ago wasn't just the best I've ever seen from a Rovers keeper, it was the best I've ever seen from any keeper.
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Tango - I'm going to give my vote to Friedel. In his time at Rovers he's been awesome, pulling off some of the best saves the Premiership has ever seen. Those saves in the Worthington Cup Final will live long in the memory.
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Scotty - Flowers only had one game like Friedel did today (the famous VE game). Friedel does it two or three times a season at least.
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Blue blood - It has to be Brad. Never have I seen a more reliable consistent keeper for Rovers. For me Flowers was a bit too error prone on occassions - the worst being his juggling effort against Crystal Palace. Also Tim was dropped during the relegation season to Filan, which to me further indicates that he was not quite top notch.
Brad's reflexes are amazing, and some of the saves he has pulled off are truely amongst the best in the game. He has been an integral part of our success ever since he joined the club, and has always contributed well. Even in our first season in the Prem I thought he more than any other player was responsible for our success. Last season he was one of the few who performed well, and it was only his world class form the season before that made him look average. The guy's saved quite a few penalties, was man of the match in the cup final and even scored for us. Friedel's well on the way to becoming a Rover's legend.
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Friedel (Greatest Ever)
