The below screenshots of the Best Football Manager 2017 Goalkeepers are taken with attribute masking switched off. Any discussion of hidden attributes such as ‘consistency’ and ‘injury proneness’ are verified by using third-party data editors/readers. Transfer costs are based on day 1 estimates of starting a new save in Football Manager 2017 (do note that this will vary as the game progresses). Do note that the list below does not contain any wonderkids, as that will be covered in a separate upcoming post.
Manuel Neuer
Estimated Transfer Cost: £130+ million
Strengths:
Probably the best goalkeeper at the start of the game (evident from the bank-breaking price tag). Multiple key traits are close to a perfect 20, combined with the fact that he has a 17 and 19 rating respectively for the hidden traits Consistency and Important Matches, will see him put in many Player of the Match performances over the course of a season. He is also naturally fit, with a rating of only 4 for Injury Proneness.
Aside from amazing shot stopping abilities, Neuer also has insane distribution stats – rated 19 and 20 respectively for Kicking and Throwing. He is more than capable of launching swift counter attacks via long throws or kicks upfield.
Weaknesses:
It is incredibly challenging to sign Neuer at the start of the game – you only stand a chance if you are able to fork out an astronomical sum for him. On top of that, he is pretty much happy at Bayern, it might take an amazing contract offer to tempt him away. That being said, do consider that he is already 30 years old, and is already at the prime of his professional career. It is unlikely you will be able to sell him for a profit somewhere down the road assuming you broke the bank to sign him.
Jan Oblak
Estimated Transfer Cost: £49+ million
Strengths:
Jan Oblak is one of the most consistent goalkeeper in Football Manager 2017 (rated ’15’ and ’15’ respectively for ‘Consistency’ and ‘Important Matches’. His close to perfect ‘Reflexes’, as well as ‘Handling’ is the underlying reason for consistent performandce overtime.
He has an individual trait that allows him to start counter attacks using long throws, making him the best keeper for teams that are looking to sit deep and strike swiftly on the counter. Aside from his ability to land long throws, he has a pretty decent ‘Kicking’ attribute at 17, another important criteria if you are looking to release the ball quickly for a swift counter.
Jan Obalk is merely 23 years old and his best years are still way ahead of him. He should prove to be a real consistent performer in the span of over 10 years or more, definitely a purchase for the long run – worth the hefty price tag he commands. He is also willing to move away from Atletico Madrid at the start of the game (assuming the club you manage is reputable of course).
Weaknesses:
If there is anything to nitpick on, it would be Jan Oblak’s disapponting ‘Natural Fitness’ rating. Though he has a low hidden ‘Injury Proneness’ rating of a mere 5, his Natural Fitness of just 9 implies he might take a longer than expected time to return to full fitness after sustaining an injury. Make sure you have a decent backup keeper in your roster for those unfortunate spells with an injured Jan Oblak on the sidelines.
Thibaut Courtois
Best Football Manager 2017 Goalkeepers – Thibaut Courtois
Estimated Transfer Cost: £78+ million
Strengths:
Courtois starts of the game as the established #1 keeper at Chelsea, and rightfully so. His 6’6″ built, combined with his 19 Jumping Reach and 18 Aerial Reach makes him extremely reliable when it comes to dealing with aerial threats and headers.
Courtois comes with above average stats on almost all the key stats for a goalkeeper, and is rated 14 and 18 respectively for the hidden attributes “Consistency” and “Important Matches” – you can always rely on him to deliver when it comes to the big matches.
Weaknesses:
Chelsea is extremely unwilling to sell their number one man between the sticks though. It will take an astronomical figure for you to pry their prized possession away from Stamford Bridge – but at the tender age of only 24, he will be a worthwhile investment for the years to come.
David De Gea
Estimated Transfer Cost: £100+ million
Strengths:
There really isn’t any need for introductions here. David De Gea’s stats and name speak for themselves, and he will most definitely go on to be branded as a ‘Legendary goalkeeper” as the game progresses further. He is rated 18 and 15 respectively in terms of the hidden attributes Consistency and Important matches. Coupled with his amazing Reflexes, David De Gea is one of those keepers who are capable of pulling off highlight-reel worthy saves game after game.
David De Gea is also rated 5 for ‘Injury Proneness’ – on certain saves of mine, I have been able to play him for every single game without him succumbing to injuries.
Weaknesses:
It is almost impossible to pry David De Gea away from Manchester United (not surprising given the above). It takes a bid north of £100 million for Manchester United to even consider letting him go. He also has very demanding wage expectations (as he is on a £200k per week contract at Old Trafford), so make sure you have the finances needed to support a transfer like that.
Wojciech Szczesny
Estimated Transfer Cost: £29 million
Strengths:
Not the first name that comes to mind when one ask who are the best goalkeepers in Football Manager 2017, but we reckon Wojciech Szczesny is worth a mention when making such a list as he he represents ‘value for money’. Roma is actually open to selling him at the start of the game for a bid of ~£29 million and Szczesny has pretty reasonable wage demands as he is currently being paid £87k per week. He has above average goalkeeping stats where it matters and is fairly consistent between the sticks – rated 13 and 14 respectively for the hidden traits of Consistency and Important Matches.
Weaknesses:
Szczesny is rated 8 for Injury Proneness, which is a fair bit higher than most keepers on this list, so make sure you have a decent #2 that you call upon for when Szczesny is on the physio table. His biggest downfall is his rating of 16 for Eccentricity, so lapses in judgement and mistakes are something that you can expect every once in a while.
Rui Patrício
Estimated Transfer Cost: £25+ million
Strengths:
Rui Patrício is one of those goalkeepers who tends to fly under the radar. Unlike some of the other names on this list, he might not be as well-known, but similar to Wojciech Szczesny, he represents real value for money.
Sporting is willing to sell him at the start of the game for between £25 – 29 million. This coupled with his meagre wage demands (he is only paid £29k per week at the start of the game), makes it ideal for mid-level clubs on a tight budget who have the ambitions to challenge for European spots.
Reflexes of 18, coupled with his One on Ones rating of 18 allows you to get away with playing a high defensive line. Patrício is rated 14 and 15 respectively for Consistency and Important Matches.
Weaknesses:
Similar to Szczesny, Patrício is rated 8 for Injury Proneness, so ensure you have reliable #2 goalkeeper to call upon when needed. Do note that he does not speak English and is rated only 8 in terms of Ambition – integration into English-speaking ambitious squads might take a fair period of time.
Fraser Forster
Estimated Transfer Cost: £35+ million
Strengths:
Your typical English Keeper with a 6’7″ frame. Strong in the air, Forster is rated 19 for Aerial Reach, 20 for his Jumping Reach, 17 for Strength and 16 for his Command of Area. Forster’s Reflexes of 18 also allows him to pull of harder than average saves.
Southampton is open to selling Forster at the start of the game for a sum of ~£35+ million. Though you could potentially get him for cheaper if you are able to unsettle him (especially if you are managing a more reputable club than Southampton who can offer Forster European football). Paid £55k per week, he screams value if you also consider that he is rated 15 and 16 respectively for Consistency and Important Matches.
In addition, Forster has a ‘Model Professional’ personality, which ensures he is that perfect tutor for that new Wonderkid goalkeeper that you are looking to nurture.
Weaknesses:
Fraser Forster does not have any obvious weaknesses, though one might argue he can never compete on the same level as Manuel Neuer or David De Gea for personal accolades. Overall, a solid option that does not require you to break the bank to sign.
Petr Cech
Best Football Manager 2017 Goalkeepers – Petr Cech
Estimated Transfer Cost: £38+ million
Strengths:
No best goalkeeper list will be complete without including Petr Cech, though some might argue his best days are over in real life. Cech has the right attributes to command his media description of a ‘World Class Goalkeeper”, but his real strength really lies in his consistency – he is rated 18 and 17 respectively for Consistency and Important Matches. His wealth of experience at the age and his ‘Model Professional’ personality allows him to be the ideal candidates to tutor young promising goalkeepers in your squad.
Weaknesses:
Arsenal is unwilling to sell Cech at the start of the game, unless you put in a good bid. However, note that Cech is 34 years old at the start of the game, and is unlikely to represent ‘value for money’ or a long term solution if you are looking for a goalkeeper that you can use for the long run.
Gianluigi Buffon
Best Football Manager 2017 Goalkeepers – Gianluigi Buffon
Estimated Transfer Cost: £35+ million
Strengths:
Buffon’s name speaks for itself. A real leader for the Juventus squad at the start of the game, he has amazing attributes for a goalkeeper that is 38 years old. Buffon has 19 and 17 respectively for Consistency and Important Matches. Buffon is proably the best in the game when it comes to organizing the defence, given his perfect rating of Command of Area and Communication. Don’t let his age full you, he is still very nimble, with 19 for Reflexes.
Weaknesses:
Whilst Buffon ranks as the top keepers at the start of the game, he is likely to decline over the medium term given his advanced age. On top of that, he is fairly susceptible to injuries at the age of 38 (with an Injury Proneness rating of 12, the highest amongst all the goalkeepers in this list). Taken these into consideration, you might want to think twice before breaking the bank to sign him from Juventus (which is unwilling to sell at the start of the game).
