The former Swansea City goalkeeper kept an incredible 22 clean sheets in 46 games in the promotion campaign of 1999-2000 – a season remembered for 1-0 wins in the main.
And whilst many thought that record would never be beaten – De Vries 8th clean sheet in 14 has already got people reaching for the record books with the Dutchman ahead of Freestone at a comparable stage.
And that record is one that De Vries would love to take as he told the Western Mail “I was reminded about Roger’s record last week and you’ve always got personal and team targets
“Roger was a legend at this club, a great goalkeeper for many years at Swansea.
“The supporters still talk about him, but those were different times and over the last couple of years at Swansea we’ve liked to play attractive football.
“So at times you’re a little bit exposed. But it will be a great team effort if we can beat that record.
“It might be the goalkeeper’s name (on the record) but it’s not really like that.
“It’s down to the whole team and you can see that when Craig Beattie pulled off a great clearance on the line.
“That’s a major difference because otherwise you’re 1-0 down.”
Many predicted at the start of the season that zonal marking would prove to be the Swans downfall but eight games and no goals conceded from set pieces tends to suggest that the system is working “In Holland when I was playing in the Eredivisie, three or four teams were doing it and they were pretty good at it,” said de Vries.
“It’s all about being aggressive in those zonal positions – taking responsibility for your two or three metres of zone – and you can see our players growing in those positions.
“With the aggression has come the confidence to defend your zone and it has worked for us.
“Marking zonally has been the main thing – the gaffer has stood tall to bring it in – but there are lots of differences to the way we defended under Roberto.
“Paulo has got a real eye for small details and he is building on from what Roberto left here.”
