Should we renew De Gea's contract?

[bosnian_red]

Yeah that's fair. How on earth did they get odegaard for 35m?! Of those players, though, I would say that zinchenko and gabriel are pretty meh.

Odegaard was flopping at Madrid (was young of course, but he wasn't getting the chances there), but it was there for anyone to try. Zinchenko is a very good player especially on the ball he is excellent, Gabriel is decent.

 

[Bastian]

@Adnan

You honestly think he's playing a diplomatic game and that he's been offered a salary that's commensurate with a squad player, with view to getting in a #1? Even if that's the case - which is quite hopeful - I still can't see the logic in retaining him as he doesn't fit the style, whether he's a backup or #1. It's like Maguire, even on the bench he's not what we need or should rely upon.

I'd have preferred some blanket statement on all contract questions like "we'll talk of it at the end of the season".

 

[McTerminator]

I really hope he's gone diplomatic with this answer and its not the real answer he wanted to give.

Might be true, renew him on £50k per week and he can be a back up.

 

[McTerminator]

It's the answer that's going to get him sacked next season if it isn't

This is fair. He’s at least earned another window to find out.

 

[Pickle85]

Odegaard was flopping at Madrid (was young of course, but he wasn't getting the chances there), but it was there for anyone to try. Zinchenko is a very good player especially on the ball he is excellent, Gabriel is decent.

Disagree with the latter two. Zinchenko is very average defensively and reasonably comfy on the ball for a fullback. His attacking attributes don't make up for his lack of defensive ones. I personally think Gabriel is bang average.

Odegaard was hyped as the next big thing before he joined Madrid and from memory had a decent loan or two from them, so given his age I think it's pretty surprising they picked him up so cheap.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Must have been materially agreed before Calamity Dave had all the recent gaffes. He’d be mad not to sign it now, first choice guarantees or not. He wouldn’t get the sort of wages he'll get here anywhere else.

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[jesperjaap]

I was for renewing his contract. Having not seen the one big name of Costa people mention, didnt really think there was anybody could be super confident of coming in and handlign the burden of being our number one, certainly not in the premiership at the moment and overall he has had a decent season.

However and this isnt an instant reaction to yesterday, I have changed my mind.

Everbody knows DeGea isnt a modern keeper and we can have a gk adds more to our game with better feet, never been debatable. And I still stick by the fact he is a very good shot stopper and keeper overall in comparison to what the stat lovers throw out there with the percentile this and percentil that.

Henderson is off and tbh he was never more than a good young keeper to me anyway and offered little more than DeGea, isnt good with his feet or commanding, he is actually pretty similar in that he is a shot stopper really (better at penalties ....who isnt).

But the thing for me with DeGea is it is now "was". DeGea WAS one of the best keepers int he world, DeGea WAS our best player for several seasons, DeGea was one of our best players.

Generally not intersted in the money side of things but we really cant forget he is currently earning £375k a week, that is pure madness for a goalkeeper and a keeper that WAS. Even if he did take a pay cut....we have to be talking £200-250k a week.

Though he has had a decent season overall and is hardly the only one to dip in form the last 4-6weeks. For every save hardly and keeper do make, is a mistake hardly any modern keeper makes, there are signs of him regressing to the DeGea of a few seasons back that was full of them and he will never be the DeGea of several seasons ago.

Getting his wages of our books pretty much pays the fee for a quality young keeper liek Vicario or add the money saved over a year on his current contract to the sale of Henderson....pays the majprity of a probably fee for Costa.

Say is slghtly saddened as I think DeGea hasnt been fully appreciated here for some of the msitakes and the fax machine saga. Only VDS and Schmeichel have been better over the last forty years plus though, but its time for change

 

[MadDogg]

Say is slghtly saddened as I think DeGea hasnt been fully appreciated here for some of the msitakes and the fax machine saga. Only VDS and Schmeichel have been better over the last forty years plus though, but its time for change

Once he leaves he'll be remembered much more fondly for the good times. Much like Rooney, who was very poor for most of his last few seasons and was causing a lot of frustration and anger, people wanting him to 'feck off' and so on. Once he did leave that poor conclusion to his time is largely forgotten and people remember him fondly. I expect De Gea will be the same, although it's him staying here for so long while underperforming that might threaten that.

 

[Adnan]

@Adnan

You honestly think he's playing a diplomatic game and that he's been offered a salary that's commensurate with a squad player, with view to getting in a #1? Even if that's the case - which is quite hopeful - I still can't see the logic in retaining him as he doesn't fit the style, whether he's a backup or #1. It's like Maguire, even on the bench he's not what we need or should rely upon.

I'd have preferred some blanket statement on all contract questions like "we'll talk of it at the end of the season".

That is what has been reported previously by Mike McGrath from the telegraph, who said the contract being offered is one where he's going to be on a significantly reduced contract with bonuses only coming into play if he starts games. That's a back up keeper contract imo, and the suggestion being that keeping him around will help with dressing room morale due to DDG always being someone that has helped managers when it comes to fighting discontent within the dressing room.

But my opinion has been that there's a possibility he will get released when his contract expires next month. Under Woodward and Judge they'd likely have extended his contract by now, like they did with Bailly and Jones etc. And if you remember when Rangnick made the statement about open heart surgery, he didn't see a problem with DDG and Scott Mctominay, who he said was a future Man Utd captain. And it's easy to see why he would say that due to his teams not placing a heavy emphasis on playing from the back and wanting his outfield players to win ground and aerial duels so they can then attempt to win second balls with the counter press as a failsafe in defensive transition.

For years I've been critical of DDG on here. I've been called all sorts and was even told my analysis was wrong about him. The problem in our team has been pretty clear for years and I don't believe DDG will be our #1 keeper next season because ten Hag understands what he wants and what he says in public is sensible because we still have games remaining in the current season and it's important to lift morale at a time like this.

The Argentine, Jose Mayorga now runs the recruitment since the sacking of Bout and Lawlor. So it'll be interesting to see what he will provide as far as options are concerned in conjunction with Dominic Jordan who is the club's first ever data scientist on the football side of the club. And the new team will have completed their first full season working in their current roles and it'll be interesting to see what they come up with. Mayorga is the same South American scouting who identified the likes of Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

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[fallengt]

Must have been materially agreed before Calamity Dave had all the recent gaffes. He’d be mad not to sign it now, first choice guarantees or not. He wouldn’t get the sort of wages he'll get here anywhere else.

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Absolute madness if he earns more than 150k/w now.

 

[Hughie77]

EtH hopefully that the useless Glazers sort out what there going to do, gets Money in Summer, DDG can go , Hendeson can be sold as well, and he can get his own keeper in.

 

[lex talionis]

What it really comes down to is whether Ineos or the Qatari group will own United this summer. If the former, we can expect a substandard budget for operations and infrastructure improvement and we might as well keep De Gea, given that we won't have that much to spend on players that we need. But if the Qatari group buy the club then, assuming that financial experts here are right that FFP considerations are not a problem, we can go wild with a massive spend on a 9, a backup 9, an 8, a backup 6 and a GK.

 

[ArmaDino]

People who think ETH wants DDG to stay haven't followed ETH when he was at Ajax.

During his Ajax tenure, ETH benched a more experienced Stekelenburg in favor of ball playing Onana. Once Onana received the doping ban, instead of reinstating Stekelenburg between the sticks, he went out and bought a 39 year old Remko Pasveer, who was a very poor shot stopper, but very good at distribution.

I'm 100% this whole DDG extension is on the club hierarchy, who is trying to force him down ETH's throat(just like they did at the start of the season).

But now once the negotiations are almost complete, they are left with an egg on their face since DDG's disaster class vs Sevilla and Hammers.

This gave Erik a vey strong bargaining card, and today's reports of him not guaranteeing DDG's starting role next season proves that.

Since we are almost done negotiating Dave's contract, what I expect to happen is he will stay for another season. We will also sign a cheap GK in the Raya mould, and DDG is going to get the Maguire treatment with a testemonial at the end of next season. After which we will part ways...

 

[Bastian]

That is what has been reported previously by Mike McGrath from the telegraph, who said the contract being offered is one where he's going to be on a significantly reduced contract with bonuses only coming into play if he starts games. That's a back up keeper contract imo, and the suggestion being that keeping him around will help with dressing room morale due to DDG always being someone that has helped managers when it comes to fighting discontent within the dressing room.

But my opinion has been that there's a possibility he will get released when his contract expires next month. Under Woodward and Judge they'd likely have extended his contract by now, like they did with Bailly and Jones etc. And if you remember when Rangnick made the statement about open heart surgery, he didn't see a problem with DDG and Scott Mctominay, who he said was a future Man Utd captain. And it's easy to see why he would say that due to his teams not placing a heavy emphasis on playing from the back and wanting his outfield players to win ground and aerial duels so they can then attempt to win second balls with the counter press as a failsafe in defensive transition.

For years I've been critical of DDG on here. I've been called all sorts and was even told my analysis was wrong about him. The problem in our team has been pretty clear for years and I don't believe DDG will be our #1 keeper next season because ten Hag understands what he wants and what he says in public is sensible because we still have games remaining in the current season and it's important to lift morale at a time like this.

The Argentine, Jose Mayorga now runs the recruitment since the sacking of Bout and Lawlor. So it'll be interesting to see what he will provide as far as options are concerned in conjunction with Dominic Jordan who is the club's first ever data scientist on the football side of the club. And the new team will have completed their first full season working in their current roles and it'll be interesting to see what they come up with. Mayorga is the same South American scouting who identified the likes of Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

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Thanks for the informative reply mate. It's supported by what seems to have been briefed "senior figures are having doubts..." which is very encouraging to read. I wonder how much help tot he dressing room it would be to retain him if he's demoted. And, again, if he's called upon we'd have to change our tactical style, just like when we're forced to play Maguire.

We're obviously playing without a suitable striker, without energy in midfield, and without the required standard at right back (which does definitely put more focus on Antony's limitations). But de Gea is such an obvious issue when we're playing out from the back or using a high line.

Again, I hope you're right.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Those tweets just look like clickbait to me.

I'm sure they'd have said something completely different, had he kept a clean sheet on Sunday.

 

[Lentwood]

Its obvious from my post history what I think of De Gea but I want to stress that this is about more than just an individual player.

Since SAF, the club have handed out ridiculously oversized contracts to underperforming players. That's problem number one, and it applies here.

The second problem is that players have started to dictate to US how long they stay at the club. In SAFs time, he was famously outstanding at identifying when the time was right to move a player on. Lest we forget, he teed up the sale of Rooney for Moyes, but Moyes made a huge blunder and handed him a new long term contract. De Gea would have been gone 3/4 seasons ago under peak SAF, I have no doubt about that.

Third, we need to get away from this habit of collecting footballers who are not good enough and giving them multiple opportunities to fail. How long do we think the likes of DvdB, Fred and Martial would have lasted under SAF? Famous flops like Djemba Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Obertan, Bebe etc...barely made it to 20 starts. The likes of Fred have been allowed to fail over and over again, prolonging their career with one good game in five convincing the club that they can serve as "depth"....its rubbish. If they are not good enough, get them out. Even if that leaves you a bit short. It needs to be done.

When SAF decided that time was up for Kanchelskis, Hughes and Ince he got rid. He didnt think "well, actually, Kanchelskis could be a useful option off the bench with his pace...". He saw his head had been turned, he saw his performances had suffered...bang...you're out.

For me, what we do with DDG will come to define whether we/ETH have the appetite for real change or simply a facelift. DDG needs to leave. I dont care if he offers to stay and play for free. Sorry, you have to earn the right to play for United in every single minute that you wear the shirt....and he has lost that right with his performances over the last few seasons.

 

[buchansleftleg]

DDG should be in the prime of his career as a Goalie, He should still have the athleticism as well as the experience required to be top notch. Unfortunately our changed playing style has exposed his weaknesses and shattered his confidence. His foot placement is now all wrong and his "shot stopping" has suffered because he is often placed incorrectly in goal and he's still trying to use his reactions rather than anticipation of where the ball is going. If kept on he will be a massively expensive back-up that will struggle to pick up the pace of games when he comes on.

He's shown a tendency to choke in big games so it's not even that he would be a calm head in the squad either. It's time to move on.

 

[TMDaines]

Listened to Talk of the Devils and was surprised by how much shite was spoken by Mitten and Whitwell about the difficulty in replacing De Gea whilst targetting a centre forward. We, and ETH, are genuinely fecked if that is the case.

 

[laughtersassassin]

No he is a complete dead weight when you weigh up all his pros and cons.

Likely a major factor in probably costing us top 4. Major factor in bottling Europa League.

And over the seasons he has quite often been the singular reason we have failed our expectations in the final run in of the season be it it in the league or the cups

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I take your point and I don't disagree with the principle, but there is a reason that the top four clubs tend to spend big on starters: because they should be proven quality. Clubs like Brighton are more able to take a punt on less proven players as starters because they're not expected to get top four year on year. We tried thud with DvB and look how that turned out.

It's very easy to say 'we should be picking up quality starters for less than 50 million' but then say 'I'm not a scout, I don't know who they are'. In reality, Chelsea, City and even the goons tend to spend big on starters for key positions because they tend to be less of a risk. Obviously we'd all love it if we could pick up a sure thing cf/CM for 30 million but it's tricky to come up with names.

Just to add to the Arsenal example, City have proven themselves miles more competent than us when it comes to picking up quality players for < 50 million

Akanji £15m
Gundogan £24m
Jesus £28m (sold for £45m)
B SIlva £45m
Zinchenko £1.8m (sold for £32m)
Ake £40m
Fernandinho £36m
Ederson £36m

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Listened to Talk of the Devils and was surprised by how much shite was spoken by Mitten and Whitwell about the difficulty in replacing De Gea whilst targetting a centre forward. We, and ETH, are genuinely fecked if that is the case.

I guess they're not wrong. Only at United, almost every first-team addition must cost 60 million or more.

 

[RedorDead21]

No we need a world class gk playing out from the back and a young gk with the same skill set.

 

[romufc]

No he is a complete dead weight when you weigh up all his pros and cons.

Likely a major factor in probably costing us top 4. Major factor in bottling Europa League.

And over the seasons he has quite often been the singular reason we have failed our expectations in the final run in of the season be it it in the league or the cups

Exactly this.

DDG has cost us the Europa league and is now costing us top 4. How people cannot see this is a joke.

His shot stopping is over rated because he has let in so many goals where even a sunday league keeper would have saved them and his kicking is worse than a Sunday league footballer too.

 

[HarryP]

@Adnan

You honestly think he's playing a diplomatic game and that he's been offered a salary that's commensurate with a squad player, with view to getting in a #1? Even if that's the case - which is quite hopeful - I still can't see the logic in retaining him as he doesn't fit the style, whether he's a backup or #1. It's like Maguire, even on the bench he's not what we need or should rely upon.

I'd have preferred some blanket statement on all contract questions like "we'll talk of it at the end of the season".

There isn't any logic in retaining him.

But if the club didn't enter into faux contract negotiations with him, then they would be de facto telling him and everyone else that he's not trusted to be the #1 GK next season.

Not really an ideal message to give when you're relying on said GK to perform in a crucial phase of the season, so I can understand the painful contortions and intellectual dishonesty at play.

I think the biggest mistake was not buying a stopgap #1 last year. We were linked with Sommer and should've been more ruthless in recognising that De Gea wasn't going to cut it.

Instead we are in a situation where it's clear as daylight to anyone who understands football that he can't be #1 next season, but we've to walk on egg shells in fear of him completely imploding at a crucial point in the season.

 

[Adisa]

Listened to Talk of the Devils and was surprised by how much shite was spoken by Mitten and Whitwell about the difficulty in replacing De Gea whilst targetting a centre forward. We, and ETH, are genuinely fecked if that is the case.

Which good keeper isn’t going to cost a bit of money?
I used to be of the opinion that his contract should be renewed but I am now in agreement that we have to be ruthless.
saying that, you cannot blame the club for hedging it’s bets.

 

[TMDaines]

I guess they're not wrong. Only at United, almost every first-team addition must cost 60 million or more.

Genuinely baffles me how people can watch De Gea for the last few years and neither see his current value or what a small upgrade might cost.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Genuinely baffles me how people can watch De Gea for the last few years and neither see his current value or what a small upgrade might cost.

As someone said in the other thread, he’s within a month or two of his contract ending. If he was in any way rated outside this club there would be a load of clubs looking to sign him on a free. He could already have signed a pre-contract by now. The fact there’s not a hint of any interest speaks volumes.

 

[JB7]

Which good keeper isn’t going to cost a bit of money?
I used to be of the opinion that his contract should be renewed but I am now in agreement that we have to be ruthless.
saying that, you cannot blame the club for hedging it’s bets.

Better goalkeepers than De Gea change hands for £10-15m every year. So it doesn't really have to be expensive to sign a goalkeeper better suited to our needs.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

As someone said in the other thread, he’s within a month or two of his contract ending. If he was in any way rated outside this club there would be a load of clubs looking to sign him on a free. He could already have signed a pre-contract by now. The fact there’s not a hint of any interest speaks volumes.

Yeah, this is true. It does make you wonder whether the uncertainty has had an impact on his form over the last few weeks - he has definitely looked shakier than usual to me. He is a human being at the end of the day - if he's facing a humiliating demotion here at United, or even potentially being let go - coupled with the fact that there doesn't seem much interest from elsewhere - then that's a lot of additional pressure to be under.

On the other hand, maybe the contract is (or was) so close to being in the bag that that is why there isn't much noise from elsewhere? Nobody else would be willing to get close to even a reduced salary at United I wouldn't have thought and I'm sure his agent would be drumming up some interest (from Italy maybe?) if it was unsatisfactory or at risk in any way? Of course recent form may be changing all of this as we speak.

 

[Kaos]

Better goalkeepers than De Gea change hands for £10-15m every year. So it doesn't really have to be expensive to sign a goalkeeper better suited to our needs.

I was thinking we don't really need to splash the big bucks on a Costa type signing. If our scouts and analytics team do their job, I'm sure they'll be able to pinpoint a more affordable keeper with the desired skillset that would be an upgrade over DDG. I mean for starters almost every keeper in the PL would be an upgrade over him, so its not like we need a generational type signing.

Save the big bucks for the CF signing.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yeah, this is true. It does make you wonder whether the uncertainty has had an impact on his form over the last few weeks - he has definitely looked shakier than usual to me. He is a human being at the end of the day - if he's facing a humiliating demotion here at United, or even potentially being let go - coupled with the fact that there doesn't seem much interest from elsewhere - then that's a lot of additional pressure to be under.

On the other hand, maybe the contract is (or was) so close to being in the bag that that is why there isn't much noise from elsewhere? Nobody else would be willing to get close to even a reduced salary at United I wouldn't have thought and I'm sure his agent would be drumming up some interest (from Italy maybe?) if it was unsatisfactory or at risk in any way? Of course recent form may be changing all of this as we speak.

He’s looked nervous and uncertain for years though! Someone linked it to his horrendous performances in the 2018 World Cup. That he’s been broken ever since. Which fits in terms of timelines.

 

[Raoul]

Would be lunacy to resign him even under reduced terms, I would imagine if they are severely reduced, he may opt to try his luck elsewhere. Keeper should be priority, right after striker on the shopping list.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

He’s looked nervous and uncertain for years though! Someone linked it to his horrendous performances in the 2018 World Cup. That he’s been broken ever since. Which fits in terms of timelines.

Yeah, absolutely he's had a gaff in him for years now, but I meant in comparison to his form earlier in the season which was very good. He had even started to look (slightly) more confident with his playing out from the back. Now he looks scared stiff every time the ball comes to him, and as I wrote earlier in the thread half the time when he jumps for the ball in a crowded box he doesn't even look like he wants to catch it and is waiting for a nudge so that he can go down. I know these things have never been his strong suit, but currently they are worse than ever.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yeah, absolutely he's had a gaff in him for years now, but I meant in comparison to his form earlier in the season which was very good. He had even started to look (slightly) more confident with his playing out from the back. Now he looks scared stiff every time the ball comes to him, and as I wrote earlier in the thread half the time when he jumps for the ball in a crowded box he doesn't even look like he wants to catch it and is waiting for a nudge so that he can go down. I know these things have never been his strong suit, but currently they are worse than ever.

I think you’re probably right. It’s like he has PTSD. He can keep himself on an even keel for a few months until something triggers him and he’s right back there in Vietnam. A nervous wreck for the rest of the season.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

I think you’re probably right. It’s like he has PTSD. He can keep himself on an even keel for a few months until something triggers him and he’s right back there in Vietnam. A nervous wreck for the rest of the season.

Yeah, it's too late into his career for this to be sorted out by any kind of psychology I reckon. This notion that you are no longer suited for genuinely top class football must be a tough thought to shake off - and it is hammered home every time Spain choose a squad.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

It's like double jeopardy - cos firstly there is the fact that he isn't good with his feet or dominant in the air, coupled with the fact that the nervousness that comes from his knowledge of that which makes things even worse.

 

[Shinjch]

There is no benefit in giving him a new deal. Unless he is happy to accept about 30k a week it is just a waste of time and money at this stage. Served the club well enough, but time has come to move on. Long overdue really.

 

[Ayush_reddevil]

I genuinely wonder what scouts employed by United actually do. Like you can count on one hand in the last decade players that we have signed who were not already big names & had no link to our managers. Surely it can’t be that tough finding a goalkeeper across the world who can replace De Gea for a decent transfer fee

 

[MegadrivePerson]

Generally not intersted in the money side of things but we really cant forget he is currently earning £375k a week, that is pure madness for a goalkeeper and a keeper that WAS. Even if he did take a pay cut....we have to be talking £200-250k a week.

Really good post, sums up how I feel.

Too many people remember the player that he was, not the player that he is now.

We need to be ruthless and move both him and Maguire on in the summer whatever it takes.

 

[Bestietom]

NO. We should go for Yehman Diouf of Reims.