Victor Valdes: The Underrated Hero

The Under-rated Hero ~ Victor VALDES ~
`Personal information

- Full name: Víctor Valdés i Arribas
- Date of birth: 14 January 1982 (age 29)
- Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Playing position: Goalkeeper
- Contract: until 30 June 2014

`Club information
- Current club: Barcelona
- Number: 1

` Youth career
1992 Barcelona
1992–1995 Tenerife
1995–2000 Barcelona

`Senior career*
2000–2003: Barcelona B 77matches
2002– : Barcelona 423m

`National team
2000–2001: Spain U18 -11 matches
2001: Spain U19 - 3m
2001: Spain U20 - 1m
2002–2003: Spain U21 - 11m
2010– : Spain - 6m
2004– : Catalonia - 11m
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`Valdes STATS (Updated: 1 Nov, 2011)

~ Total Stats at FCBarcelona (1st team):
423 matches
325 Goals conceded (avergae: 0.768 goal/game)
198 clean sheets (47%)

~ League Stats:
305 matches
243 Goals conceded (avergae: 0.796 goal/game)
143 clean sheets (47%)


~ European matches Stats(CL, UC, USC):
91 matches
65 Goals conceded (avergae: 0.714 goal/game)
43 clean sheets (47%)


~ Copa del Rey matches Stats:
12 matches
9 Goals conceded (avergae: 0.75 goal/game)
5 clean sheets (42%)


~ SSC & CWC matches Stats:
15 matches
8 Goals conceded (avergae: 0.533 goal/game)
7 clean sheets (47%)

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`Stats by Season (All Competitions):

2002-2003
20 matches, 18 goals, 9 clean sheets

2003-2004
44 matches, 38 goals, 17 clean sheets

2004-2005
43 matches, 36 goals, 20 clean sheets

2005-2006
49 matches, 35 goals, 24 clean sheets

2006-2007
50 matches, 43 goals, 21 clean sheets

2007-2008
52 matches, 45 goals, 26 clean sheets

2008-2009
49 matches, 42 goals, 20 clean sheets

2009-2010
55 matches, 37 goals, 28 clean sheets

2010-2011
45 matches, 25 goals, 21 clean sheets [Ratio: 0.55]
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`Stats by Season (League matches):

2002–03 : 14matches | 15 goals conceded |5 clean sheets | Ratio: 1.07 goal conceded per game
2003–04 : 33 | 31 | 13 | Ratio: 0.93
2004–05 : 35 | 25 | 19 | Ratio: 0.714
2005–06 : 35 | 29 | 16 | Ratio: 0.828
2006–07 : 38 | 33 | 15 | Ratio: 0.868
2007–08 : 35 | 35 | 15 | Ratio: 1
2008–09 : 35 | 31 | 15 | Ratio: 0.885
2009–10 : 38 | 24 | 20 | Ratio: 0.631
2010–11 : 32 | 16 | 17 | Ratio: 0.5 / Barca Record / Spain Record: Liaño (Deportivo) in la Liga 1993/94, with an average of 0.47 goals (18 goals in 38 games).

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`Biography
Víctor Valdés joined Barca as a youngster on 1st July 1992, from Peña Cinco Copas.

In September of the same year he moved with his family to Tenerife and didn't rejoin the club until three years later.

After quickly proving his worth with the youth teams and Barca B, the club coaches decided that the 2002-2003 season was to be Valdés time to form part of the first team squad. At first, he alternated appearances with Roberto Bonano but finished the season as regular first choice under Radomir Antic.

He consolidated his place as in the starting line-up in the 2003-04 season. He played most of Barca's matches that season and put in some excellent performances, helping the team to finish as runners-up.

In the 2005-06 season Valdés was one of the key players in Barça's double of the League and the Champions League. Especially memorable are the crucial saves he made in the final in Paris as Barça won its second ever Champions League.

In the 2006-07 season Valdés remained a fixture in the Barça goal and played in all 38 League games. In the 2007-08 campaign he only stood down in the last three games to give José Manuel Pinto a chance to make his first team debut. All this time Valdés has been improving and is now one of the players who has played most games between the sticks for the club.

In the 2008/09 season, his regularity won him his second Zamora trophy. He played every league game bar the last three when the title was already decided. He performed brilliantly in the Rome final and became the first Barça keeper to be crowned champion of Europe twice. His excellent performances have earned him a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2014.

In the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons he won his third and fourth Zamora trophies. The fourth came with his best record ever and the second best in league history (0.50 goals conceded per game). The legendary Antoni Ramallets is the only Barça keeper to have won the trophy more times (5). Valdés is the only Barça goalkeeper to have played in three Champions League finals, and he won them all.

His consistently strong performances at club level earned him one of the three goalkeepers' jerseys in the Spanish squad for the 2010 World Cup, although he didn't play a single minute of Spain's victorious campaign.

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/v-valdes/biography

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~ Honours ~

` Barcelona

- La Liga: 5
2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11

- Spanish Cup: 1
2008–09

- UEFA Champions League: 3
2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11

- Spanish Supercup: 5
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011

- UEFA Super Cup: 2
2009, 2011

- FIFA Club World Cup: 1
2009

`Spain

- FIFA World Cup: 1
2010

~ Individual ~

- Zamora Trophy: 4
2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11

- ESM Team of the Year: 1
2010–11

- Prince of Asturias Awards: 1
2010

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~ Valdes Records & Targets ~

► Zamora Trophy: 4 (2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11)
Spain & Barcelona Record for Antoni Ramallets: 5 (1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60)

►Goalkeeper with most minutes without conceding a goal in official competition: Víctor Valdés has gone 877 minutes without conceding a goal in the season 2011/12, from the 23rd minute of week 5 in La Liga (Current record at 1st November, 2011).

►Goalkeeper with most minutes without conceding a goal in la Liga: Miguel Reina went 824 minutes without conceding a goal in la Liga in the season 1972-73 (from minute 53 of game 14 to minute 67 of game 23). National record: 1,275 min, Abel Resino (for Atlético Madrid 1990-91)
>>> Abel Resino has the unbeaten record in Spain with 925 minutes. Valdes with 877, is only 48 minutes to match it [md]
` Valdes record at 896 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. [2011/2012]
` European Record: Van der Sar (1311 min).
►Goalkeeper with best average goals conceded in la Liga: Víctor Valdés in La Liga 2010/11 with an average of 0.50 goals (16 goals in 32 games). National record: Liaño (Deportivo) in la Liga 1993/94, with an average of 0.47 goals (18 goals in 38 games).


► Valdes vs RealMadrid: Played 22matches (11W, 5D, 6L) conceded 28goals [ 7 Cleansheets]
VS
Note: Casillas vs FCBarcelona: Played 27matches (7W, 8D, 12L) conceded 49goals [ 5 cleansheets]

► Victor Valdes has the all-time (and ongoing) record of consecutive clasicos without a loss: 11.



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MUST WATCH VIDEO ( by allas): Victor Valdes - Barca's Unsung Hero


Valdes Best Saves 2007-2011


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`Other Videos:

Valdes vs Villareal (2011 - Double Save)


Victor Valdes vs Real Madrid (Totalbarca.com MOTM)



Valdes (4 Big Games)



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~ How Victor Valdes continued to pass the ball out (Real Madrid 1 – Barcelona 3)

“Valdes after his mistake continued playing the same way, making passes when many others would have started hoofing the ball down the field. This shows his strength and our strength especially against a team who press like Madrid.” – Pep Guardiola.

Considering he was responsible for giving away the fastest ever El Clasico goal after just 23 seconds, Victor Valdes showed balls of steel to pass the ball out for the rest of Barcelona’s win in the Bernabeu on Saturday night.

Incredibly, he nearly came a cropper again but as well as his technical ability with the ball at his feet, the Barca keeper made a fine save from a Ronaldo free-kick in the second half and got away with his opening minute clanger.

Video: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/how-victor-valdes-continued-to-pass-the-ball-out-v-real-madrid/

SO UNDERRATED

Victor Valdes

Always been an admirer. I actually loved how resistant he was to booting the ball out of the back during the Clasico. Even after he messed up and with all the Madrid pressure, he stayed calm, cool, and collected.

Barca mentality.

As they say, You learn from mistake or You have good days and some bad days! He is really unconsistent with his form. He performs well in some games and doesn't in other games

He is still 5/10

2011 save % rankings:
Valdes 79% - Neuer 78% - Hart 76% - Casillas 75% - Reina 72% [via optasports]

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`Valdes Stats [La Liga 2011-2012]
- Clean Sheets: 11 (from 18 matches)
- Shots On Target: 46
-Goals conceded: 11
- Ratio (Goal/match): 0.61
- Saves: 35
- % Saves: 76%

Khaledbarca wrote:2011 save % rankings:
Valdes 79% - Neuer 78% - Hart 76% - Casillas 75% - Reina 72% [via optasports]

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`Valdes Stats [La Liga 2011-2012]
- Clean Sheets: 11 (from 18 matches)
- Shots On Target: 46
-Goals conceded: 11
- Ratio (Goal/match): 0.61
- Saves: 35
- % Saves: 76%

And thats the one reason people don't rate Valdes' records......

Most other keepers have twice as many if not more

Great player one of the best sweeper keepers around and perfect for Barcelona's system, just had to be said to put it into perspective.

Crimson wrote:

Khaledbarca wrote:2011 save % rankings:
Valdes 79% - Neuer 78% - Hart 76% - Casillas 75% - Reina 72% [via optasports]

============

`Valdes Stats [La Liga 2011-2012]
- Clean Sheets: 11 (from 18 matches)
- Shots On Target: 46
-Goals conceded: 11
- Ratio (Goal/match): 0.61
- Saves: 35
- % Saves: 76%

And thats the one reason people don't rate Valdes' records......

Most other keepers have twice as many if not more

Great player one of the best sweeper keepers around and perfect for Barcelona's system, just had to be said to put it into perspective.

youre back

Crimson wrote:

Khaledbarca wrote:2011 save % rankings:
Valdes 79% - Neuer 78% - Hart 76% - Casillas 75% - Reina 72% [via optasports]

============

`Valdes Stats [La Liga 2011-2012]
- Clean Sheets: 11 (from 18 matches)
- Shots On Target: 46
-Goals conceded: 11
- Ratio (Goal/match): 0.61
- Saves: 35
- % Saves: 76%

And thats the one reason people don't rate Valdes' records......

Most other keepers have twice as many if not more

Great player one of the best sweeper keepers around and perfect for Barcelona's system, just had to be said to put it into perspective.

Casillas has 49/66 this season . (double?)

Having less shots on goal? [actually its harder, cuz u need to be more focused].

Valdes has to deal with 1 on 1 sitiuations, more than any other Gks.

He made 3 very crucial saves against betis yesterday, 3 against Espanyol also [ inlcuing 2 very hard ones].

I meant in 2011 he ends up facing almost half the shots on target than other keepers.

As for this season (it helps if you actually understand statistics and on top of that have an Opta account):

2011/2012

Iker Casillas
La Liga: 51 (saves)/68 (total shots on target) = 75%
UCL: 15/15 = 100%
Total: 66/83 = 79.51%
Total goals conceded: 17

Valdes
La Liga: 29/40 = 72.5%
UCL: 3/7 = 42.85%
Total: 32/47 = 68.08%
Total goals conceded: 15

Neuer
Bundesliga: 28/38 = 73.68%
UCL: 10/14 = 71.42%
Total: 38/52 = 73.07%
Total goals conceded: 14


As you can see it's not quite half but its pretty close and yet the goals conceded is not that different.

In direct correlation of course the more shots the opposition gets the more goals you will concede and alternatively the less shots the less you should concede.

This is the luxury Valdes has. Also to a point Neuer as well. They in my honest opinion have much better defences that that of Real Madrid. Especially Barcelona who's play style allows them so much of the ball and virtually chokes out the opposition from getting any decent chances, allows for much less shots on goal per game compared to Real Madrid.


This though takes nothing away from Valdes who I honestly believe is a great goalkeeper and as I said before the best for Barcelona's playstyle

Crimson wrote:I meant in 2011 he ends up facing almost half the shots on target than other keepers.

As for this season (it helps if you actually understand statistics and on top of that have an Opta account):

2011/2012

Iker Casillas
La Liga: 51 (saves)/68 (total shots on target) = 75%
UCL: 15/15 = 100%
Total: 66/83 = 79.51%
Total goals conceded: 17

Valdes
La Liga: 29/40 = 72.5%
UCL: 3/7 = 42.85%
Total: 32/47 = 68.08%
Total goals conceded: 15

Neuer
Bundesliga: 28/38 = 73.68%
UCL: 10/14 = 71.42%
Total: 38/52 = 73.07%
Total goals conceded: 14


As you can see it's not quite half but its pretty close and yet the goals conceded is not that different.

In direct correlation of course the more shots the opposition gets the more goals you will concede and alternatively the less shots the less you should concede.

This is the luxury Valdes has. Also to a point Neuer as well. They in my honest opinion have much better defences that that of Real Madrid. Especially Barcelona who's play style allows them so much of the ball and virtually chokes out the opposition from getting any decent chances, allows for much less shots on goal per game compared to Real Madrid.


This though takes nothing away from Valdes who I honestly believe is a great goalkeeper and as I said before the best for Barcelona's playstyle

U have to add that Valdes conceded 4 goals vs ACMilan, played with Busquets (CB) at Camp Nou, & 2 goals especially the first is not his fought.. while vs which teams did RealMadrid play in the Champions league this season?

Another point, this season Barca are playing 3-4-3, which is more difficult for GK, to face 1 on 1 sitiuation (pato goal is very gd example)..

STATS: Casillas vs Valdes (2010-2011)

http://soccerlens.com/whyvictor-valdes-is-better-than-iker-casillas/68668/

Try not using weak arguments and articles quickly found on google from over 9 months ago ffs

Instead try constructing a solid argument yourself like I have shown above

Seriously trying to debate with children on forums is getting very tiresome

With 3-4-3 tell me how many shots on target you have conceded per game? My estimate is that it wouldn't be much different than normal.

Busquests at CB? Oh dear that must be so bad....

Try playing a 18 year old unproven teenager as a starter in the UCL or having Albiol in defence ffs.

As for your article it's good if you bother to check the dates on it, from what I saw it was 8-9 months old.

All you have done is posted your own (very bad opinions) with nothing to back it up followed by an article that is way outdated and very poor.

Wonder why I bothered coming back.....

Crimson,

What Khaled is trying to say is distinction in the nature of the kind of shots. In a 3-4-3, there is more space at the back than a conventional 4-3-3 or any variant of that. So, maybe, Valdes had relatively difficult saves than Casillas.

kiranr wrote:
Crimson,

What Khaled is trying to say is distinction in the nature of the kind of shots. In a 3-4-3, there is more space at the back than a conventional 4-3-3 or any variant of that. So, maybe, Valdes had relatively difficult saves than Casillas.

36 less saves yet conceded only 2 goals less

surely the saves couldn't be that hard......

Especially when you consider we have Albiolol and Marcelo who often is a WB far too forward to get back in time which often leaves us with 3 at back in majority of games that we play.

Valdes is an amazing keeper and lets leave it at that.

I just wanted to sort out Khaleds laughable statistics

Valdes is the perfect big team keeper, doesn't get tested often, but when he does he has the mental concentration required to be up for the challenge. I'd take him over Casillas for Barca any day of the week.

Crimson wrote:


36 less saves yet conceded only 2 goals less

surely the saves couldn't be that hard......

Especially when you consider we have Albiolol and Marcelo who often is a WB far too forward to get back in time which often leaves us with 3 at back in majority of games that we play.

Valdes is an amazing keeper and lets leave it at that.

I just wanted to sort out Khaleds laughable statistics

I agree with your assessment Crimson. Just though, i would clarify what Khaled is trying put across...

Nobody said Valdes was better than Casillas, Khaled was just posting his superior save percentage.

Lionel Messi wrote:Nobody said Valdes was better than Casillas, Khaled was just posting his superior save percentage.

Crimson wrote:I meant in 2011 he ends up facing almost half the shots on target than other keepers.

As for this season (it helps if you actually understand statistics and on top of that have an Opta account):

2011/2012

Iker Casillas
La Liga: 51 (saves)/68 (total shots on target) = 75%
UCL: 15/15 = 100%
Total: 66/83 = 79.51%
Total goals conceded: 17

Valdes
La Liga: 29/40 = 72.5%
UCL: 3/7 = 42.85%
Total: 32/47 = 68.08%
Total goals conceded: 15

Neuer
Bundesliga: 28/38 = 73.68%
UCL: 10/14 = 71.42%
Total: 38/52 = 73.07%
Total goals conceded: 14


As you can see it's not quite half but its pretty close and yet the goals conceded is not that different.

In direct correlation of course the more shots the opposition gets the more goals you will concede and alternatively the less shots the less you should concede.

This is the luxury Valdes has. Also to a point Neuer as well. They in my honest opinion have much better defences that that of Real Madrid. Especially Barcelona who's play style allows them so much of the ball and virtually chokes out the opposition from getting any decent chances, allows for much less shots on goal per game compared to Real Madrid.


This though takes nothing away from Valdes who I honestly believe is a great goalkeeper and as I said before the best for Barcelona's playstyle

lol

Khaledbarca wrote:STATS: Casillas vs Valdes (2010-2011)

http://soccerlens.com/whyvictor-valdes-is-better-than-iker-casillas/68668/

A blatantly biased blog post from 9 months ago vs Opta statistics, nice.

Crimson wrote:
As for this season (it helps if you actually understand statistics and on top of that have an Opta account):

Great Footballer, rich & handsome? no wonder why you're a madrid & Cristiano fan.
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1- I was putting some Valdes stats, its the barca section, your the one who started the comparison, "Most other keepers have twice as many if not more".

2- The link i posted, was a comparision between Valdes & Casillas [ 2010/2011] i know its old lol

3- This is a better source;

Valdes 2010/2011 (La Liga & CL): [Ratio: 0.55 goal conceded per game]

- Matches: 45
- Clean sheets: 21
- Goals conceded: 25
- Saves: 92
- Saves %: 78.6 %

http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_10-11/estadistiques/jugadors/Valdes/fitxa.html

4- For me, Valdes is perfect for Barca & no one can replace him, he's doing his job, & i'm happy with this..

Lionel Messi wrote:Nobody said Valdes was better than Casillas, Khaled was just posting his superior save percentage.

I do.

Curent Valdes gives a spanking to Casillas everyday.

I do too. Valdes has been on better form for 3 years now. Casilas has history of good form, but Valdes is slowly getting there.

I just mentioned nobody yet has said he was better... until now of course

@1victorvaldes Stats at #fcbarcelona 2011-2012 [#laliga]: 21 matches, conceded 13 goals [Clean-Sheets: 12] #fcblive

@1victorvaldes Stats at #fcbarcelona 2011-2012 [all competitions]: 31 matches, conceded 21 goals [Clean-Sheets: 18] #fcblive

via @barcastatistics

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Some Valdes Saves from 2011-2012

Valdes 2 saves Vs Real Sociedad |Camp Nou

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Valdes 3 fantastic saves Vs Malaga

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Valdes amazing Save Vs Villareal [Camp Nou]:

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Valdes Save Vs Levante:

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Valdes Vs Bilbao | Sweeper Keeper

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Valdes Vs Real Madrid [ 1-3 win | Bernabeu]

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Valdes Save Vs Espanyol

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Valdes Funny Save Vs Real Sociedad [2-2]

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Valdes Vs Real Madrid 2-2 Super Cup 2011


via @allas4