As we approach the last game of the season, I would like to pay tribute to one man, our captain Tom. Tom surely must be our best ever goal keeper, I don't think there can be any doubt about that. He's our most important member of the team, the guy simply is a colossus between the posts. Without Tom we would not be be staying in the Premier League, he rightly is our player of the season.

It's a team game but once the opposition have got through 10 of them, Tom has stood tall and definitely been instrumental in saving some points this season.

PutTheWheelieBinsOut wrote:Tom surely must be our best ever goal keeper, I don't think there can be any doubt about that.

There can be considerable doubt about that. I was brought up watching Adam Blacklaw, an outstanding goalkeeper, and those who were watching Burnley before that will almost certainly tell you that Colin McDonald, by a mile, was our best ever goalkeeper.

Not Bryan Jensen mr t

I didn't read all of it to be fair and although he is outstanding and the best in a generation or two, we have had some belters down the years. To add, Alan Stevenson and Harry Thomson weren't too shabby.

tim_noone wrote:Not Bryan Jensen mr t

ClaretTony wrote:There can be considerable doubt about that. I was brought up watching Adam Blacklaw, an outstanding goalkeeper, and those who were watching Burnley before that will almost certainly tell you that Colin McDonald, by a mile, was our best ever goalkeeper.

I accept I could be wrong, but Tom is still outstanding and far away the best I have seen.

Obviously there's arguments for many goalkeepers, you give me McDonald and Blacklaw, I could give you Jerry Dawson.

You all have short memories, it's a toss up for me between Joe Neenan and Roger Hansbury.

Peter Mellor for me.

PutTheWheelieBinsOut wrote:I accept I could be wrong, but Tom is still outstanding and far away the best I have seen.

Obviously there's arguments for many goalkeepers, you give me McDonald and Blacklaw, I could give you Jerry Dawson.

I won't be giving you Jerry Dawson, that I can promise you.

PutTheWheelieBinsOut wrote:I accept I could be wrong, but Tom is still outstanding and far away the best I have seen.

Obviously there's arguments for many goalkeepers, you give me McDonald and Blacklaw, I could give you Jerry Dawson.

Tom heaton is outstanding... could our goalies from the sixties early seventies have competed at the fitness levels of today...with the speed of the lightweight ball also got to be a massive factor compared to the lump of a thing they used to play with? They were the greats of a different era really.

tim_noone wrote:Tom heaton is outstanding... could our goalies from the sixties early seventies have competed at the fitness levels of today...with the speed of the lightweight ball also got to be a massive factor compared to the lump of a thing they used to play with? They were the greats of a different era really.

Great point. Not mentioned a lot but even over the last 30 years the ball has been meddled with considerably. You can't compare how the ball moves in the air these days to past eras

Winstonswhite wrote:Great point. Not mentioned a lot but even over the last 30 years the ball has been meddled with considerably. You can't compare how the ball moves in the air these days to past eras

And you can't see Harry Kane charging Heaton into the net with the ball, when he's gone to try and catch it.

I'll certainly not argue with anyone who says that Heaton is our best ever goalkeeper.

What about pyjama pants he could save them with his feet like a monkey.
gabal sumat or other ive forgot his name.

holycustard wrote:What about pyjama pants he could save them with his feet like a monkey.
gabal sumat or other ive forgot his name.

Gabor kiraly was playing for Hungary in the euros last year...still

I think he is possibly best keeper in the country, certainly Burnleys best ever.
Staggering array of saves,stops,blocks and lightning quick reflexes and great positioning.
The number of times opponents have got through, or shots taken from close range which were goalbound, Heaton has saved them.
It's the calibre of opponents too. Costa, Aguero, Kane, Lukaku and the rest.
Brilliant keeper, no doubt about it.

I know that the passage of time sometimes clouds our perception of things but I saw Colin McDonald play for Burnley and I have no doubt he was the best we have ever had.

He's a good goalie but i get nervous when he goes over the half way line to take free kicks.
As a rule I don't like keepers as on the field captains I don't think they can influence the game as much as an outfield player.

brexit wrote:He's a good goalie but i get nervous when he goes over the half way line to take free kicks.
As a rule I don't like keepers as on the field captains I don't think they can influence the game as much as an outfield player.

He's very vocal in his instruction when the opposition are pushing up in our half,we can all hear him.i like the free kick taking it's a bit of a novelty,so far so good with it really though.

Whenever I see clips of football from the 60's/70's it's striking how less athletic and mobile the goalkeepers are compared to today's. I'm sure Blacklaw etc. we're great keepers for their day, and without ever seeing them play I can't say for any certainty, but I'd be amazed if they were anywhere near the level of Tom Heaton.

Rileybobs wrote:Whenever I see clips of football from the 60's/70's it's striking how less athletic and mobile the goalkeepers are compared to today's. I'm sure Blacklaw etc. we're great keepers for their day, and without ever seeing them play I can't say for any certainty, but I'd be amazed if they were anywhere near the level of Tom Heaton.

The only one I remember from yesterday being athletic and mobile was the young lad in kes.though a little on the short side.im sure some as a clip!!

Rileybobs wrote:Whenever I see clips of football from the 60's/70's it's striking how less athletic and mobile the goalkeepers are compared to today's. I'm sure Blacklaw etc. we're great keepers for their day, and without ever seeing them play I can't say for any certainty, but I'd be amazed if they were anywhere near the level of Tom Heaton.

spot on , they were lucky to be classed as footballers, but they drank, smoked generally, had little idea about health and fitness.
The present era, whilst it is bad in numerous ways, at least allows atheletes to ply their trade. Heaton is about a hundred times better than the aforementioned names.

ClaretTony wrote:I won't be giving you Jerry Dawson, that I can promise you.

You don't rate him then?

Great keeper that Heaton is, I'd pick Adam Blacklaw as the greatest I've seen in my lifetime for us. I'd also give a mention to Alan Stevenson. If it wasn't for Shilton and Clemence, i'm pretty certain AS would have at least a handful of England caps.

brexit wrote: As a rule I don't like keepers as on the field captains I don't think they can influence the game as much as an outfield player.

I'm totally with you on this but gone are the days of a captain being an on field manager. Everything comes from the touchline and most top sides have 3 or 4 leaders out there anyway. We have Ben Mee and when fit Dean Marney. I feel this was what Joey was brought in for, both times. Next season we could do with a couple more.

Surely it was just as hard - as everyone had the same athleticism (not as good as today) - and as mentioned the tackling was different and the power you could get behind the ball - with it being heavier must of made shot stopping a lot harder (yes the ball flew truer - but difficult to make finger tip saves) - plus the best players were spread out because of maximum wage - so as a keeper you'd have been facing quality players every week not just when the big 6 game calling.

Everything is relative to a period of time, to have a go at players of yesteryear and question their fitness levels is like saying Roger Bannister was a crap runner.

PutTheWheelieBinsOut wrote:I accept I could be wrong, but Tom is still outstanding and far away the best I have seen.

Obviously there's arguments for many goalkeepers, you give me McDonald and Blacklaw, I could give you Jerry Dawson.

If you think he is the best then stick with it, I know CT is only giving his opinion but that is all it is and in my opinion he is wrong and you are correct.

Tom is the finest goalkeeper we have ever had.

Tom is a very very good keeper and a fine man. I want my 'best of all time' to be a bit more commanding on crosses though. We've all got something to work on.

UTC!

Wile E Coyote wrote:spot on , they were lucky to be classed as footballers, but they drank, smoked generally, had little idea about health and fitness.
The present era, whilst it is bad in numerous ways, at least allows atheletes to ply their trade. Heaton is about a hundred times better than the aforementioned names.

Those were the days!

I can still see Adam Blacklaw diving mid air at Chelsea. Saved it. Early 60's.

Several keepers being remembered here and rightly so, we seem to have carried on producing over the years, but I have to agree that without tom we'd be in big trouble, he's been stand out this season, although it must be said imo Peter Mellor, and Adam Blacklaw are up there with him. Not forgetting of course Alan Stevenson.

On many occasion this season Tom has been Peter Schmeichelesque .

Especially against Utd!

You can only really comment on the keepers you've seen play so Heaton is the best we've had by some way. Beresford was decent, Nicky Walker was good as well bit other than that I'm struggling!