Player of the season nominees - Roman Weidenfeller

With the season having ended, Sportskeeda decided to let its viewers rate the 30 best players of the season.

We will be shortlisting 30 of the best performers this term, and let you pick your winner.

What do you think? Have your say at the end of the article.

Goalkeepers are often a forgotten lot. They are the some of the worst paid and least respected professional footballers. It is difficult for a goalkeeper to get the recognition he deserves. There are men like Buffon, Casillas and Van Der Sar but they are part of a very small minority. A man who seems to be working up his way on the goalkeeping charts is Roman Weidenfeller.

This man, for me has been the best keeper in Europe this season. Be it in the Champions League or the Bundesliga, Weidenfeller has been absolutely magnificent. Being a goalkeeper myself, it is a wonder to see someone so technically sound when it comes to the basics of goalkeeping. And not only is he sound technically, he is also a brilliant reader of the game and makes more than his fair share of wonder saves.

Unlike De Gea or Valdes or even Neuer, Roman is a complete keeper. Some may argue that Neuer had a better season on the basis of his clean sheets, but the sheer number and quality of saves made by the Dortmund custodian is mind blowing. In 48 games he has played this season, he has made a mindblowing 124 saves, which averages to 2.5 saves per game. Also he averages 2.71 saves per goal, which is pretty good and shows that he carries a lot of responsibility for carrying his team. As a keeper he earns a tick in every department of the game. He is almost unbeatable in one-on-one situations. He has brilliant reflexes and is quick off his line. More importantly he recognizes situations that require him to come forward. His shot stopping qualities have been widely recognized and duly praised.

The most important thing though is mental toughness. The Borrusia vice-captain has plenty of that particular quality. He seems unfazed by whatever happens around him. He is vocal in his demeanor and is constantly organizing his team from the back. It is due to his organization that Borrusia are able to break so fluidly. Another impressive aspect of his game are his long throws. Not only does he manage large distances on them, they are more often than not accurate.

The thing that most impresses about this man is his consistency. It is just this season that his contributions are being noted, but as an avid Bundesliga watcher I can tell you that he has maintained a similar level of excellence throughout his career.

Match of the season

Without a shadow of a doubt it has to be the Champions League final. The man was an impregnable wall all through the 90 minutes. He made three excellent one-on-one stops to deny Robben, he saved two missile-like shots from Alaba and Schweinsteiger and tipped over Mandzukic’s goal bound header with surprising agility and speed. He could not be blamed for the either of the goals conceded by his team, but he was the man responsible for keeping the score down at 2-1.

Save of the season

The best players save their best for the biggest matches. The case with Roman was no different. In the final he made half-a-dozen world class saves, but one stood out. It was the one he made to deny Robben an easy goal. He was one-on-one against his opponent and showed his commitment and fearlessness in rushing out and denying Robben a clear angle at goal. Awake to the possibility of a chip, Weidenfeller stayed big and saved with his face.

Now whenever the world’s greatest keepers are discussed, Roman Weidenfeller will be counted amongst them and for a man who has never been capped for his country that is a huge achievement. He has matured as player and is a senior statesmen in a young team. He leads his troops from the backline and leads them very well. The very fact that he managed to shine in a team with the like of Reus, Gotze, Lewandowski, Gundogan and others is more than whatever I can say.

Click here to view the rest of the Player of the Season nominees