I've seen people on the inter forum even say that Buffon is better than Handanovic.
I don't know what that proves, either way? Even so, it's a very, very small minority.
Could you make an argument that Handanovic as been better than Buffon this season? Yes. However, it's one half of one season.
I said that I thought, that he's been better for years now.
Also, saving shots isn't the only mark of how great a goalkeeper is. Collecting crosses is also important, being able to distribute the ball out from the back is also important. Something Handanovic is known for doing very poorly at times and putting his defenders under pressure.
Sure, and I've already touched upon those things. Distributing isn't really that important for a goalkeeper, unless you play in a team where backpasses happen often, or your name is Manuel Neuer - it's a good trait to have, sure, like Delaps throw-ins, but a goalkeeper's lack thereof can easily be played around or avoided is what I'm trying to say (as in, the exact opposite of what we did versus Fiorentina, but that was Mancini's fault - it's like playing high crosses to a midget, and then complaining he isn't getting on the end of them)
It's true, his main weakness has always been collecting cross, but it hasn't really stood out this season.
@Post Ironic
That's not the narrative I've heard uttered or written by the Juventus' fans I've encoutered over the years, but fair enough.
Also, I don't really think the current European results tells us much. Unless you'd like me to believe that Bate are better than Roma and Fiorentina are the worst team in a group consisting of Basle, Belenenses and Poznan - or that you are currently better than City. I think we should wait for the season to finish, to really judge the Italians in Europe and whether it has any bearing of the comparative, overall quality.
Yep, he was great on that Morata goal.