[Albion] Mat Ryan - taller than Pat Jennings

[Mo Gosfield]

If we're taking Ryan's height as 1.83 m, then he absolutely dwarfs the 1.81 m of some Spanish bloke called Iker Casillas, who I believe has had a decent career as a goalkeeper.

....and Banks and Shilton and Clemence and Zoff and Maier and Yashin, who are also rumoured to have had decent careers.

 

[Eeyore]

If we're taking Ryan's height as 1.83 m, then he absolutely dwarfs the 1.81 m of some Spanish bloke called Iker Casillas, who I believe has had a decent career as a goalkeeper.

Dino Zoff was 1.82m.

I think that should end the height question.

 

[severnside gull]

Yeah, but all humans were shorter in the olden days.

Thank you.
Knew there was a reason why I'm such a short arse

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes but outfield players were a lot smaller, Sammy Lee was average height for a pro player. Had Ryan been playing back then he’d have been considered a giant.

Lee was a shortarse even in a team of dwarfs.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Sammy Lee....average height!!....where did you get that from? Even in his day, he was considered small and chunky. Granted, we are all getting taller and heavier but surely that is not the prerequisite for a goalkeeper. Compared to Stockdale, Ryan is clearly physically smaller but what he loses in size, he more than makes up for in athleticism. His reactions are a fraction quicker and he copes with low angled shots better than Stocky.
Most goalkeepers now are 6' 3" + but that doesn't make them any more athletic. In fact, I have had a feeling for quite a time that many of the modern keepers lack real spring and agility. Give me a keeper around 6' 1" with plenty of spring and you won't go far wrong. Too many keepers at present are too big and too heavy.

Wooosh.

 

[grubbyhands]

Lee was a shortarse even in a team of dwarfs.

He's fat, he's round, he bounces on the ground, Sammy Lee, Sammy Lee.
He also looks like he's been boiled in a bag.