Where were Schmeichel and VDS when they were 21?
David de Gea | 2011-14 Performances
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Schmeichel was none league and Edwin was just breaking into the Ajax side.
I wonder if SAF has asked for the opinions of the defenders which GK they prefer to play in front of. I doubt it but it would be interesting to know.
He needs to come away from this first season with lessons learnt and hope he gets Vidic in front of him throughout the next one. Maybe even Rio too if we're still putting any faith in him ever being able to play again on a regular basis.
Either way, it's been a rotten time for such a young goalkeeper to begin his Premier League career. We were looking for fairytales, we got harsh reality.
Either way, it's been a rotten time for such a young goalkeeper to begin his Premier League career. We were looking for fairytales, we got harsh reality.
Agree with a lot of that, especially the bit about Foster being our future plans.
De Gea was definitely seen as a great prospect and was good enough to command a massive fee but he looks 2 or 3 years away from being really genuinely ready to be a United Nr 1. I've no problem with a 21 year old making mistakes, I just wish he had the chance to get those 2-3 years development done away from the spotlight of supposedly being our Nr 1. It doesn't help him or us...
VDS first full year of GK at Ajax was when he was 24 when he won GK of the year.
Dutch Footballer of the Year - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
He played a few games in 90/91 though
. Still nowhere near the level of De Gea at that age.
Cech had played 136 games before he started for Chelsea when he was 22.
De Gea had played 92 games before he started for United when he was 20.
Cech had played one full season more than DDG and was 2 years older. Cech had also come from the French league which was more physical than the Spanish League.
De Gea had played 92 games before he started for United when he was 20.
Cech had played one full season more than DDG and was 2 years older. Cech had also come from the French league which was more physical than the Spanish League.
Cech also looked like he would be one of the best ever, until Stephen Hunt happened.
Don't understand the Schmeichel and VDS comparisons. If anything it confirms a young GK isn't ready for the job of Manchester United number one.
I dont think the physical side is as big an issue as people make out on here. I think he lacks aggression to knock someone out. The best GK werent as much brave as brutal you knew if they came for a cross slid out if they missed you were still going to be taken out.
Is all that effort really needed to defend DDG here? I though its obvious that he is extremely talented, one of the best young keepers ever. Its like always, some specific critisism gets stuck on him and ppl will bring that up every day. Just glad that Fergie knows better, otherwise he would have sold Ronaldo, Nani, Evans, Giggs etc etc a long time ago (Ronaldo at the age of 21 or so when labelled a one trick pony)
I think its to answer people writing him off, saying he'll never be good enough for Utd.
I agree.
I think people actually thought the VdS signing was slightly odd at the time as they thought Fergie had moved a few years too late for him. Actually, what it proved was that experience and calm are just as important for a United keeper than athletic ability. 100 odd caps for Holland and hundreds of appearances for Ajax and Juventus, plus good Premier League experience having played plenty of games for Fulham all helped him become the player he was for us. I wonder, actually, how things would have gone if Fergie had actually bought him directly from Juve and VdS had had a few wobbles adjusting to the Permiership at United without playing for Fulham first...
When Ferguson talked of having 'learnt his lesson' from replacing Schmeichel I kind of assumed he meant he'd learnt the value of experience for United goalkeepers. Given that he went on to sign two keepers with no PL experience I guess he meant something else...
there's little point debating it really is there.... you get one person saying, at 21, he'll never be good enough... you point to the fact that he's light years ahead of where Schmeichiel and VDS were at 21 and get told that because they were no where to be seen at 21 its proof that 21 is too young.I still don't see anything unexpected or especially concerning about De Gea
You buy a young keeper and expect a very steep learning curve. We knew that when we bought him.
You buy a young keeper and expect a very steep learning curve. We knew that when we bought him.
I know earlier on in this thread I criticised De Gea heavily but I would be lying if I didn't feel sorry for the lad. My earlier posts were just purely reactionary anger and I was extremely pissed off after yesterday as I'm sure everybody on here was.
To fill the role left by one of the greatest ever United goalies is no easy task and especially for a young 21 year old like De Gea who has had no experience in the EPL.
I still have always been of the opinion (I said this back in the pre-season) that Lindergaard should be our 1st choice GK with De Gea gradually picking up match experience and confidence in the process.
I also reckon that his confidence problems relate to two things. These are the language barrier and the lack of physical presence. These with our training and the guidance of Sir Alex will definitely improve De Gea over time.
To fill the role left by one of the greatest ever United goalies is no easy task and especially for a young 21 year old like De Gea who has had no experience in the EPL.
I still have always been of the opinion (I said this back in the pre-season) that Lindergaard should be our 1st choice GK with De Gea gradually picking up match experience and confidence in the process.
I also reckon that his confidence problems relate to two things. These are the language barrier and the lack of physical presence. These with our training and the guidance of Sir Alex will definitely improve De Gea over time.
De Gea has more experience than Lindegaard though.
De Gea has more experience playing at a higher level for a club he was at since age ten, in a league that is nothing like English football. Not too sure how helpful that might be in preparing him for Manchester United, both from a footballing and a mental point of view.
Lindegaard has 6 years over DDG. That has to count for something. I'd say both are pretty inexperienced though when you think of the job they're being asked to do. Hardest job in English football is being the Manchester United number one imo.
For me both Lindegaard and De Gea have pretty crucial weaknesses and could potentially cost us over a season at the moment, but of the two I feel slightly more comfortable with Lindegaard in goal. De Gea has potential though and could be a great keeper for us, he just understandably isn't there yet. He needs more of a presence about him, someone should link him to the protein powder thread in the General.
I think Keano got it right - DDG should nail somebody when challenging for an aerial ball. That would give him some bad reputation - imo needed if you're a gk
I wish people would stop saying he's a good shot stopper too.
The number of shots that just go straight through him is starting to wind me up now.
The number of shots that just go straight through him is starting to wind me up now.
He's a good shot stopper, sorry if you don't wanna hear it
I agree. Goalkeepers do not receive as much protection in England as they do in other countries, so why not "take out" the opposition?
I desperately want DDG to succeed in the light of the growing mass of "pundits" criticising him, e.g. yesterday Matt Holland on Final Score (mediocre feck) and Neil Warnock on Saturday night (fecking failure at top level).
I was glad to hear Gordon Strachan discussing the defending of the corner rather than isolating DDG. I was wondering who was marking Agger (regardless of whether DDG got to the ball or not)???
Apart from the ones he lets in through his legs, under his body, at his near post, yes, he's a great shot stopper.
He played a few games in 90/91 though
Still nowhere near the level of De Gea at that age.
Van Der Sar was taller at that age.
Anyway, Keano got it right. The opposition players are bullying De Gea because they know they can do it. De Gea should be more physical when challenging for an aerial ball or coming out for a corner.
So do the strikers never get credited with good finishing or is every goal we concede his fault?
This is a young goalkeeper with great potential. He is only 21, and it is his first season. He was phenomenal at Atlético Madrid. Please have patience.
There is unfair scrutiny on de Gea too. If Hart, Čech, Reina, or Szczęsny make an error, it is ignored and never mentioned by the media. If de Gea lets in one soft goal, even if not completely at fault like with Agger's goal, he is crucified and labeled a flop.
Also, Ferguson has mismanaged the goalkeepers this season. The constant rotation has been completely unnecessary. It has added even more instability to a back-line decimated by injuries.
There is unfair scrutiny on de Gea too. If Hart, Čech, Reina, or Szczęsny make an error, it is ignored and never mentioned by the media. If de Gea lets in one soft goal, even if not completely at fault like with Agger's goal, he is crucified and labeled a flop.
Also, Ferguson has mismanaged the goalkeepers this season. The constant rotation has been completely unnecessary. It has added even more instability to a back-line decimated by injuries.
People say stuff like this all the time but it's only relative to the position they've put themselves under. Hart, Cech, Reina and Szczesny are all established PL GK's for top sides and have proved their worth for their respective clubs and thus if they feck up, it's more likely to be simply that, a feck up, rather than a reflection of their ability as a GK. Take Almunia or Fabianski - their cock ups were talked about more because, simply, they're both shit and it was a reflection of their shitness. De Gea clearly isn't shit, however he is a young GK replacing a fantastic one at a top side and obviously everything he does will come under scrutiny because of the position he is filling & he is also unproven. If De Gea has 2 great seasons with us, his future cock-ups will be far less discussed because people will take his mistakes for being mistakes.
It's the same with strikers. If RVP misses a sitter in the next game Arsenal play, people won't talk about it that much as it isn't the norm for him, whereas if Torres/Carroll do the same, they'll be hung, drawn & quatered by everyone.
Nah, before De Gea had put on a shirt we had Jamie telling the world he was dodgy on long shots and its went from there.
Even yesterday I still think De Gea looked better than what we've seen of Lindegaard since the Newcastle game
Personally given we've been down this road before with young keepers if De Gea doesn't start next season as 1st choice then it's only a matter of time until he's loaned and then ultimately sold
Personally I'd love for us to start him against Stoke but we all know he only played yesterday because it was a cup tie and it's the cup ties most normal clubs rotate their keepers in
Personally given we've been down this road before with young keepers if De Gea doesn't start next season as 1st choice then it's only a matter of time until he's loaned and then ultimately sold
Personally I'd love for us to start him against Stoke but we all know he only played yesterday because it was a cup tie and it's the cup ties most normal clubs rotate their keepers in
Needs to hit the gym.
And boss his box a little bit more...
All keepers let in goals like the ones you described
People put on their own glasses and refuse to put them away. Some things will stick and fans just dont have any patience with young players despite being so proud of the youth policy of United
Yeah I've noticed that too. Mistakes come with the territory for all players but especially young ones like De Gea, Jones or Smalling, so it just doesn't seem a big deal to me. But in this case I don't even think he did make a major mistake. Like you say, I think a lot of people have made up their minds on De Gea and aren't for turning.
For me this entire season for De Gea is a learning curve. When he first made a mistake, Sir Alex made the point that the will learn from it. I say let him make the mistakes now, as he becomes more accustomed to the role and playing for Manchester United we should see an improvement in all aspects.
Lets not be overly critical, some of the goals could have been avoided (blocked/stopped) but others he could not save. For me these things happen, as a team we win together and loose together. To single out one particular area is wrong.
Lets not be overly critical, some of the goals could have been avoided (blocked/stopped) but others he could not save. For me these things happen, as a team we win together and loose together. To single out one particular area is wrong.
I agree, I feel though that not having a hugely experienced GK around him means these lessons get learned slower. I just worry that we will be forced to cut our losses with him before he comes good. A club like Manchester United cant maintain a keeper like this currently.
He's the typical Southern European type of goalkeeper. He's got great reflexes, he's a fantastic shot stopper but he struggles with crosses and the EPL physical game. Im not surprised about that. Different football, different rules.
However, we knew those things from day 1 (or I hope that our scouts knew that from day 1) and we got De Gea for mere potential. If we want to fullfil his potential and maximise our investment then we've got to be patient with him
However, we knew those things from day 1 (or I hope that our scouts knew that from day 1) and we got De Gea for mere potential. If we want to fullfil his potential and maximise our investment then we've got to be patient with him
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