Emi Martinez

[pauliewalnuts]

He’s got the same goalkeeper chromosomal thing that Burridge and Sealey had.

[PeterWithesShin]

One year ago

[VillaTim]

His winning mentality at the very highest level is a point of true respect and inspiration within the group. It's absolutely vital and we saw how big a personality he is in the Argentina squad. Quite Possibly our best signing of all time.

[DrGonzo]

Oh he’s a genius, I just die a little bit inside when he starts rolling around like an Italian winger

[Toronto Villa]

Oh he’s a genius, I just die a little bit inside when he starts rolling around like an Italian winger

He’d be a complete and utter wanker if he did it for someone else. But he doesn’t so fuck everyone else and their feelings.

[LeeB]

I love it personally, finally after years of being mugged off we have the absolute king shithouse who's also the absolute king at his actual job.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

One year ago

To be fair, France were there by invitation only. Home side; see England '66. It would have been an embarrassment to world football should they have won.

[Rory]

I love it personally, finally after years of being mugged off we have the absolute king shithouse who's also the absolute king at his actual job.

I'd like him even if he played for someone else, I think.

I've never liked violent players, like Keane or Vinnie Jones, but there's something I find so enjoyable about a player who just does not care about being called a dickhead by all and sundry. Emi really does not give a shit, and finds it funny winding people up.

Whisper it, but I actually quite liked Savage for the same reason - the difference being that Savage was a pretty bog-standard workhorse midfielder for a series of shit clubs and Emi is the best goalkeeper in the world playing for the greatest club in the world.

[Rory]

One year ago

Given the magnitude of the moment, one of the best saves I've ever seen.

[pauliewalnuts]

One year ago

Given the magnitude of the moment, one of the best saves I've ever seen.

That final was incredible.

Absolutely shite for 45 minutes (or whatever it was), and then the rest of it one of the most exciting finals ever. It had everything.

I fucking love that insane shit-housing bastard.

[Rory]

One year ago

Given the magnitude of the moment, one of the best saves I've ever seen.

That final was incredible.

Absolutely shite for 45 minutes (or whatever it was), and then the rest of it one of the most exciting finals ever. It had everything.

I fucking love that insane shit-housing bastard.

Same Paulie, the man is a legend.

[VillaTim]

His World Cup celebration when he did that in front of Crown Prince Sheikh whatever from Qatar was absolutely priceless . Legend and a massive fuck you to Qatar , FIFA and all the other ******

[Toronto Villa]

That save will forever be considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time. Not just the skill required, but the sheer magnitude of the moment, at the most crucial moment in the final of greatest competition of the sport itself. And he has never forgotten where he came from, who he plays his club football for and everything he is grateful for in getting to that moment. There are no words to articulate what and how much he means to us.

[Rory]

That save will forever be considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time. Not just the skill required, but the sheer magnitude of the moment, but at the most crucial moment in the final of greatest competition of the sport itself. And he has never forgotten where he came from, who he plays his club football for and everything he is grateful for in getting to that moment. There are no words to articulate what and how much he means to us.

Honestly, TV, I think it's underrated. I won't claim a conspiracy, but if he'd been playing for Man Utd or Liverpool, I don't think we would've heard the end of it.

Not to be too pretentious, but the first thing my postgrad tutor said to us was "you've proved yourself okay at explaining why certain things happened. I'm sure you're bored of that. Now let's consider why what didn't happen, didn't happen".

Emi crosses that line as a goalkeeper. He doesn't just know what an attacker is trying to do and why; he either anticipates their next move or, when he's at his best, he manipulates them into doing what they don't want to do.

That save in the WC final was a prime example. There was no angle, the guy was straight through. But it being the occasion it was, Emi knew he was looking for the easy option, so presented him with a low shot to his left. But he had it covered.

He has that knack for us. He doesn't just respond to where it's heading. He doesn't wait until the ball is kicked. He has a say on where it's heading, and more often than not, he knows full fucking well exactly where it's going, before it is.

Best goalkeeper in the world.

[Bad English]

I'm in total awe of that save. Otherwise we would have our third star and Emi would probably not be the keeper he is today. Not to worry though, we'll be getting it next time.