[Pickle85]

Yes I'm delusional, that's why DDG was immediately snapped up by another top club and has been proving us wrong ever since...

Oh no...wait...he's still without a club in December, because nobody, literally nobody in World football, is interested.

The amount this gets said is so tiresome. It's a really, really dumb thing to say - do you think that Wrexham would take him? How about Woking? Or grasshopper Zurich?

As has been said over and over again, the likelihood is that either clubs are unwilling to match his wage demands, or no club that he's interested in is interested in him. Your exaggeration is dumb.

 

[Pickle85]

Is it really a downgrade? They are both fairly crap really.

Is this even a question at this point? Yes, he absolutely is a downgrade and I'm not even sure how it's a debate.

 

[Gordon S]

Is it really a downgrade? They are both fairly crap really.

De Gea made mistakes as well for sure, but they were still quite few in comparison to Onana. I get nervous whenever we concede a shot this season, no matter the distance or situation. Feels like anything could happen. Never quite got that feeling with De Gea.

 

[Name Changed]

The amount this gets said is so tiresome. It's a really, really dumb thing to say - do you think that Wrexham would take him? How about Woking? Or grasshopper Zurich?

As has been said over and over again, the likelihood is that either clubs are unwilling to match his wage demands, or no club that he's interested in is interested in him. Your exaggeration is dumb.

It's not dumb. Who is talking about Woking and Grasshoppers? No top club at all has gone near him. And if it's about wages, then he should have some professional pride, drop his wage demands, and go play football somewhere. It doesn't have to be Wrexham or Woking. He is a millionaire many times over as it is.

 

[GMoore23]

Drop Onana, start Heaton. He atleast does the basics right.

I've been calling for this for months. I'd bet Heaton is better than both ten hags keepers.

 

[Name Changed]

De Gea made mistakes as well for sure, but they were still quite few in comparison to Onana. I get nervous whenever we concede a shot this season, no matter the distance or situation. Feels like anything could happen. Never quite got that feeling with De Gea.

I was sick of De Gea. He cost us so many important goals and limited the way we have to play. I think he needed to go. I do not think Onana is the answer.

 

[Gordon Godot]

I was sick of De Gea. He cost us so many important goals and limited the way we have to play. I think he needed to go. I do not think Onana is the answer.

Yes we should not conflate the need to replace DDG (we did) with Onana being the answer (he isnt). Onana was available on a free last summer lets not forget that. Terrible recruitment all round

 

[Oranges038]

It's not dumb. Who is talking about Woking and Grasshoppers? No top club at all has gone near him. And if it's about wages, then he should have some professional pride, drop his wage demands, and go play football somewhere. It doesn't have to be Wrexham or Woking. He is a millionaire many times over as it is.

Real went for Kepa over him. He hasn't been near a Spain squad for years. That tells it's own story.

The reality is that nobody that can afford him wants him and nobody that might want him can afford him.

 

[Pickle85]

It's not dumb. Who is talking about Woking and Grasshoppers? No top club at all has gone near him. And if it's about wages, then he should have some professional pride, drop his wage demands, and go play football somewhere. It doesn't have to be Wrexham or Woking. He is a millionaire many times over as it is.

Well it is dumb and this poster said it, literally a few posts above:

Yes I'm delusional, that's why DDG was immediately snapped up by another top club and has been proving us wrong ever since...

Oh no...wait...he's still without a club in December, because nobody, literally nobody in World football, is interested.

If people are going to exaggerate to try to inflate the point they're trying to make then they should expect to be called out on it.

Edit: also, I don't understand the 'he should drop his wage demands' point. Why should he? If I were him, at the stage he's at in his career, I'd either hold out for a great club, a big payday, or retire. Not compromise by playing for a club that doesn't excite me.

 

[Name Changed]

Real went for Kepa over him. He hasn't been near a Spain squad for years. That tells it's own story.

The reality is that nobody that can afford him wants him and nobody that might want him can afford him.

Well then he has to drop his wage demands.

 

[JagUTD]

To give Onana a bit of credit, him being terrible has forced Maguire to start performing due to the fact theres nobody to cover his arse anymore.

 

[Name Changed]

Well it is dumb and this poster said it, literally a few posts above:

If people are going to exaggerate to try to inflate the point they're trying to make then they should expect to be called out on it.

It isn't dumb. Just because it doesn't suit your agenda. The fact is that nobody has touched him (so far). The reason for that isn't just because of his wages. Do you think that if the likes of Allison or Ederson became free agents then teams wouldn't pay them whatever they wanted?

 

[Lentwood]

The amount this gets said is so tiresome. It's a really, really dumb thing to say - do you think that Wrexham would take him? How about Woking? Or grasshopper Zurich?

As has been said over and over again, the likelihood is that either clubs are unwilling to match his wage demands, or no club that he's interested in is interested in him. Your exaggeration is dumb.

Can you name me one other big name player (even bog standard top flight player) who at 32 years old decided to sit as a free agent for nearly 6 months out of choice?

As a reminder, because points tend to be lost across pages of back and forth...

The argument is not whether Onana is a good goalkeeper or not. The argument is that the decision to get rid of a badly underperforming player and bring in a replacement is/was the right one - regardless of who that replacement is...because that's then a separate 'decision' entirely. Basically, the first decision is still correct, independent of the second decision.

The fact people can't comprehend that is scary really.

 

[Pickle85]

It isn't dumb. Just because it doesn't suit your agenda. The fact is that nobody has touched him (so far). The reason for that isn't just because of his wages. Do you think that if the likes of Allison or Ederson became free agents then teams wouldn't pay them whatever they wanted?

The point that nobody in world football will touch him, which was the point made, is dumb. That's not based on an agenda, that's based on that being a dumb point.

 

[Buster15]

Drop Onana, start Heaton. He atleast does the basics right.

I am no goalkeeping coach. But to my eyes, there is something very strange about his style.
It is very much a flapping action as he tries to push the ball away.
And his play out from the back is incredibly slow.

 

[Rossa]

Did anyone fear that when Onana caught a very weak shot late in the second half, he bounced it on the pitch, and I thought that he might actually throw it into his own net...

What happens to a team when you no longer trust your goalie?

 

[Pickle85]

Can you name me one other big name player (even bog standard top flight player) who at 32 years old decided to sit as a free agent for nearly 6 months out of choice?

As a reminder, because points tend to be lost across pages of back and forth...

The argument is not whether Onana is a good goalkeeper or not. The argument is that the decision to get rid of a badly underperforming player and bring in a replacement is/was the right one - regardless of who that replacement is...because that's then a separate 'decision' entirely. Basically, the first decision is still correct, independent of the second decision.

The fact people can't comprehend that is scary really.

Yes, it was right to get rid of ddg but there's no need to exaggerate by saying that nobody in world football wants him, which is what I'm taking issue with. What @Oranges038 said is right:

Real went for Kepa over him. He hasn't been near a Spain squad for years. That tells it's own story.

The reality is that nobody that can afford him wants him and nobody that might want him can afford him.

 

[JagUTD]

The amount this gets said is so tiresome. It's a really, really dumb thing to say - do you think that Wrexham would take him? How about Woking? Or grasshopper Zurich?

As has been said over and over again, the likelihood is that either clubs are unwilling to match his wage demands, or no club that he's interested in is interested in him. Your exaggeration is dumb.

Or he's having some time off. He's been playing at the top level for 14 years, as a number 1 for almost all of that time in a position where most don't cement the number 1 spot until their mid 20s.

Just married and a young child as well.

 

[MadDogg]

De Gea made mistakes as well for sure, but they were still quite few in comparison to Onana. I get nervous whenever we concede a shot this season, no matter the distance or situation. Feels like anything could happen. Never quite got that feeling with De Gea.

Very debatable. De Gea's worst run of form was quite a bit worse than what Onana has done so far (De Gea was at fault for 8 goals in 13 games at the end of 18/19, as opposed to Onana being at fault for 7 goals in 21 games), and also had other periods during his last five years where he dropped quite a few clangers in short succession. However in between those bad patches he'd also have periods where he wouldn't make many mistakes. The key is whether Onana will do the same, or whether these mistakes are going to be the normal for him. It's simply too early for any of us to know for sure, but obviously we've got to hope it's the former. If it's the latter than he'll go on to be even worse for us than De Gea.

Only time will tell.

 

[Pickle85]

Or he's having some time off. He's been playing at the top level for 14 years, as a number 1 for almost all of that time in a position where most don't cement the number 1 spot until their mid 20s.

Just married and a young child as well.

Exactly! If I was able to have a career break in my early thirties to enjoy the wealth I'd already accumulated I 100% would.

 

[Name Changed]

The point that nobody in world football will touch him, which was the point made, is dumb. That's not based on an agenda, that's based on that being a dumb point.

That's just being pedantic though. It's clear what the point is.

Sure I'd take him for the local club I train. He'd be a standout in our league.

 

[Name Changed]

Exactly! If I was able to have a career break in my early thirties to enjoy the wealth I'd already accumulated I 100% would.

As if that's what footballers do.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

The most alarming situation yesterday was his reaction for Icardi's goal, which was scraped off. He goes down too early, and he basically makes the decision for the attacker much easier. There are the among the ones that will trouble us much more throughout the season, and they need some serious work at Carrington to be coached out of him. One may argue that he needs more time, but given his position and the state of the first-team, don't know if it's time he can be afforded. I would be more optimistic, if i had witnessed others improving on the weaknesses, but since the Mourinho era this has hardly been the case.

 

[Rista]

It's not dumb. Who is talking about Woking and Grasshoppers? No top club at all has gone near him. And if it's about wages, then he should have some professional pride, drop his wage demands, and go play football somewhere. It doesn't have to be Wrexham or Woking. He is a millionaire many times over as it is.

It is absolutely dumb. It implies even shit teams wouldn't touch him which is obviously bullshit. He was at very high wages with us and isn't willing to play for lesser teams. That "no top teams want him as a GK" isn't that much of a surprise. Top teams wouldn't want 99.99% of keepers. He isn't good enough for a top team looking to win trophies but it doesn't mean replacing him with Mr Calamity was the right thing to do. We could have easily had him in goal for another year while searching for a proper replacement.

It's pretty funny that people are literally saying that downgrading from DDG was "impossible" when we did exactly that. While spending 50m in the process too.

 

[red_de_pologne]

I am no goalkeeping coach. But to my eyes, there is something very strange about his style.
It is very much a flapping action as he tries to push the ball away.
And his play out from the back is incredibly slow.

Yes his goalkeeping style is for me comparable to Wan Bissaka's dribbling, just awkward and doesn't look natural, but that's most likely just his style and he's obviously proved himself as a GK. Agree that he's kind of pushing the ball away in unusual directions when he's stopping a shot.
Butslow playing out of the back is usually when we're leading and there's no need to do it quick, otherwise he starts fast.

I need to see a whole season of him to make my mind up, so far he's mixed very solid with embarrassing goalkeeping, would like to see a larger sample to know what can be expected for longer periods of time The clangers are worrying, because from history, keepers who tend to make them, tend to repeat them.

 

[Gordon Godot]

Yes his goalkeeping style is for me comparable to Wan Bissaka's dribbling, just awkward and doesn't look natural, but that's most likely just his style and he's obviously proved himself as a GK. Agree that he's kind of pushing the ball away in unusual directions when he's stopping a shot.
Butslow playing out of the back is usually when we're leading and there's no need to do it quick, otherwise he starts fast.

I need to see a whole season of him to make my mind up, so far he's mixed very solid with embarrassing goalkeeping, would like to see a larger sample to know what can be expected for longer periods of time The clangers are worrying, because from history, keepers who tend to make them, tend to repeat them.

I think his technique is too flawed to be good enough at this level, he can have a blinder one match but then basic will always let him down.

 

[McGrathsipan]

that second goal was almost dodgy looking. He flicked a half arsed fist at it and was so so casual.

 

[Pickle85]

That's just being pedantic though. It's clear what the point is.

Sure I'd take him for the local club I train. He'd be a standout in our league.

It's not being pedantic FFS. If someone is going to exaggerate to make their point seem more serious than it is, then I'll call them on it.

It is absolutely dumb. It implies even shit teams wouldn't touch him which is obviously bullshit. He was at very high wages with us and isn't willing to play for lesser teams. That "no top teams want him as a GK" isn't that much of a surprise. Top teams wouldn't want 99.99% of keepers. He isn't good enough for a top team looking to win trophies but it doesn't mean replacing him with Mr Calamity was the right thing to do. We could have easily had him in goal for another year while searching for a proper replacement.

It's pretty funny that people are literally saying that downgrading from DDG was "impossible" when we did exactly that. While spending 50m in the process too.

This is exactly right.

 

[JagUTD]

As if that's what footballers do.

We are talking about a player with close to 700 appearances.

 

[Name Changed]

We are talking about a player with close to 700 appearances.

The majority of other players will do everything they can to play coming towards the twilight of their careers. Do you actually believe that he is just taking a break? That's ridiculous in my opinion.

 

[TheGame]

 

[fergiewherearethou]

Has to be benched, at least for a couple of games and see how the starter performs, if it's worse, then put him back.
Can't keep up with this honestly, he is comical.

 

[Name Changed]

Has to be benched, at least of a couple of games and see how the starter performs if it's worse, then put him back.
Can't keep up with this honestly, he is comical.

Agreed with this.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It is absolutely dumb. It implies even shit teams wouldn't touch him which is obviously bullshit. He was at very high wages with us and isn't willing to play for lesser teams. That "no top teams want him as a GK" isn't that much of a surprise. Top teams wouldn't want 99.99% of keepers. He isn't good enough for a top team looking to win trophies but it doesn't mean replacing him with Mr Calamity was the right thing to do. We could have easily had him in goal for another year while searching for a proper replacement.

It's pretty funny that people are literally saying that downgrading from DDG was "impossible" when we did exactly that. While spending 50m in the process too.

We couldn’t have had him in goal another year without offering another very lucrative contract. Which would have been stupid when he so obviously needed replacing. Plenty of very good goalkeepers changed teams this season. If we signed a bad one that’s on us for not signing a better one. But that’s completely irrelevant to whether we should have held on to De Gea. Who’s to say we wouldn’t have signed an equally bad keeper after paying De Gea a huge wage for another season of being not good enough in the same way he’s been not good enough for the last few seasons? Now that really would be dumb.

 

[JagUTD]

The majority of other players will do everything they can to play coming towards the twilight of their careers. Do you actually believe that he is just taking a break? That's ridiculous in my opinion.

Who knows but rather than look at his age, look at his career and by all metrics, De Gea is a veteran. I wouldn't be surprised if he's considered retirement but is giving himself time to decide.

He's not involved with Spain so there's no pressure trying to get game time before the next Euros. He doesn't have anything to prove to anyone and he doesn't need one last payday.

It's not really that outlandish.

For the record, I don't think he will retire just yet but I do think he's quite relaxed about things and in no rush to make a decision. More than anything he's probably just enjoying life without pressure for a while.

 

[frostbite]

We couldn’t have had him in goal another year without offering another very lucrative contract. Which would have been stupid when he so obviously needed replacing. Plenty of very good goalkeepers changed teams this season. If we signed a bad one that’s on us for not signing a better one. But that’s completely irrelevant to whether we should have held on to De Gea. Who’s to say we wouldn’t have signed an equally bad keeper after paying De Gea a huge wage for another season of being not good enough in the same way he’s been not good enough for the last few seasons? Now that really would be dumb.

We had already offered the contract and De Gea had signed it. But ETH vetoed that, and we paid 50 million for Onana, and we also pay his contract (which is not much cheaper than what De Gea's new contract would be) and we are not going to be moving him easily. How is that better? We'll be paying Onana for 5 years! How do you feel about watching Onana for 5 years?

 

[RedUnited86]

Hands down the worst goalkeeper that's been at the club in the last 25 years.

Everyone takes the piss out of Taibi, Carroll etc but at least they had somewhat sound fundamentals.

I've never known a keeper to put himself in such odd positions when trying to save a shot. An absolute clown of the highest order. He talks a good game, everyone was creaming themselves in the summer of a video of him not fearing Haaland etc, the truth is he is utterly abysmal and is several levels below even the De Gea we had last season.

Onana, Antony, Mount, Amrabat - someone take the fecking decisions away from the manager.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

What's his future? Do many keepers turn it around at this point? Have any keepers had this much of a drop off from previous heights and re-found form?

 

[Kostov]

Is it really a downgrade? They are both fairly crap really.

DDG has never cost us in such a disastrous manner like Onana has dones in 3 out of 5 CL games. Despite DDG not being as good as he was, we would have qualified out of this group with him on goal.

 

[Slevs]

Can you name me one other big name player (even bog standard top flight player) who at 32 years old decided to sit as a free agent for nearly 6 months out of choice?

Jesse Lingard, who was coincidentally another player we had on the books for years