A Dutch of Class- Vorm v Krul

How must Dorus De Vries feel? The 30 year old stopper left Swansea in the summer after playing in every game of their promotion winning campaign, before heading to Wolves seeking a new challenge.

And he has certainly got what he wanted, a challenge to get a game in the Premier League that is, whilst he watched his old side move into the top 10 with a sensational 3-2 win over Arsenal.

De Vries has played just four times for his new club since signing in June 2011 with all of his outings coming in cup competitions.

He broke the Swans club record when he kept 25 clean sheets last season on their way to becoming the first Welsh team in Premier League history, but those feats are now becoming a distant memory in South Wales.

Michel Vorm is being hailed as the best keeper in the top flight after an amazing start to his career in England which has seen him keep nine clean sheets in twenty games.

Manchester United paid around £19 million for a goalkeeper who’s most news worthy exploits so far has been nicking a krispy creme from tescos.

Brendan Rodgers doing his best impression of David Dickinson must have robbed Dutch club Utrecht blind, when he stumped up just £1.5 million to land the Holland number 2.

Vorm has since been linked with a move to the champions for a fee more in the region of the lanky Spaniards price tag.

But the 28 year old is not the only Dutch keeper who’s attracted much praise and plaudits this season.

Steve Harper the proverbial ‘substitute goalkeeper’ and Newcastle’s most loyal servant must have been royally peeved when Tim Krul emerged and wrestled the starting place from him during the 2010/11 season after Harper had finally been able to step out of Shay Given’s shadow. 

Krul helped the Magpies to equal a club record 11 games unbeaten at the start of this season, and is one clean sheet behind his countryman with eight so far this season.

He signed for the club at just 17 years old but he could soon be on his way with rumours of a big money move circling around the floppy haired shot stopper.

When the two went head to head at St James Park (or the sports direct arena) in December rather fittingly it was a 0-0 draw although Krul didn’t have a save to make all afternoon whilst Vorm was rather busier in the away goal.

Another look at the numbers tells you that they have both conceded exactly 25 goals each.

You probably wouldn’t have recognised his face on the bench at the 2010 World Cup final but you may be hard pushed to miss Vorm at the upcoming Euros with his performances making waves back in his homeland.

In fact you’d have to be a total recluse to miss the two best dutch keepers in the premiership (sorry Dorus) making their way onto the global stage over the coming months.

Manchester United and Holland need look no further then for an Edwin Van Der Sar replacement, with two of his countrymen showing they both have a Dutch of class.

Greg Styles @gstyles19

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