It’s a lonely existence between the sticks at Old Trafford

With Edwin van der Sar on the verge of retirement and Ben Foster happily playing himself out of the team, it looks like Fergie will soon be on the market for a new keeper. Spoiler correspondent Chris McKenzie rounds up five goalkeeping gaffes Sir Alex might want to keep in mind while deciding who he’ll hand gloves to next…

1. Massimo Taibi vs. Southampton (1999)
On the most part, Manchester Utd fans are thankful that Taibi only ‘enjoyed’ a short spell with them during the 1999/2000 season. Despite only playing a handful of games he will always be remembered for somehow managing to let a feeble Matt Le Tissier shot slip through his legs. In the space of seconds Taibi challenged the idea that Italian keepers were the safest pair of hands between the sticks.

2. Fabian Barthez vs. Arsenal (2001)
In this clash of the titans, Barthez’s attempt at a simple goal kick ended up as a comical back-pass to an Arsenal player. Fair enough if it had been Martin Keown bearing down on goal, but it was Thierry Henry - the one player you don’t give freebies to.

3. Fabian Barthez vs. Arsenal (2001)
In the very same game, the calamitous Frenchman let a comfortable ball slip through his hands for Henry to take advantage. Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler said: “It’s Henry and Barthez again, and again Barthez is the loser.”

4. Ben Foster vs. Manchester City (2009)
Foster had been waiting for more than a year to get a chance at regular playing league football with United. When finally presented with the opportunity prove himself in a big game he floundered, deciding to dribble his way out of trouble instead of hoofing the ball into row Z. The decision allowed ex-Manchester Utd favourite Carlos Tevez to snatch the ball and set up an equaliser. Learn your basics son: if in doubt, kick it out.

5. Roy Carroll vs. Spurs (2005)
The infamous ‘goal that never was’: Carroll hilariously fumbling Pedro Mendes’ shot from the half-way line into his own net. It started another long debate over whether goal-line technology should be introduced, but four years later and we’re no closer to video replays - and no closer to a referee’s decision going Spurs’ way at Old Trafford.