David de Gea | 2011-14 Performances

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SteveJ said:
Well, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, this attitude in the media that DDG must go; we don't know SAF's thoughts after all. It would be a helluva shame though...I wouldn't swap him for any other 'keeper (though I'm almost certainly in the minority).
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Yep, this is what worries me. A young keeper getting knocked every other week is bound to leave some kind of impact, no matter how talented. Lets just hope it spurs him on rather than wears him out.

It's getting insanely trivial now. He's becoming the goalkeeping Andy Cole. No matter how great he plays or how many goals he scores/saves, that one feck up is all that fits the set media narrative.
 
Despite my moans about 'anti-foreigner' stuff in the sports media, I believe it's more about lazy thinking & a voracious desire for content - any content. Any talking point will do for them.
 
Once you get "set" in one specific narrative tracht, that's it as far as sensationalist journalism goes. If you make a big popular impact from the get go, you can be shit for a good few years and the narrative will still be "great player stuggling for form"

You get a public knocking early on, or take a while to find your feet, you can become a truly great player and still spend years being "average player in flukey good form"
 
Chabon said:
I've yet to hear a convincing technical explanation as to how De Gea actually made a mistake. He supposedly should have punched the ball further away...but how? Should he have stronger wrists?
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Did you ever hear of the Falcon punch?
 
I, for one will miss kie if it's a permanent ban, there are a few instant classics from him in the last few pages.

United didn't win --> de Gea's fault.

Evra wasn't marking his man --> de Gea's fault.

I wonder if he holds him responsible for the holocaust aswell sometimes.
 
Vato1979 said:
I, for one will miss kie if it's a permanent ban, there are a few instant classics from him in the last few pages.

United didn't win --> de Gea's fault.

Evra wasn't marking his man --> de Gea's fault.

I wonder if he holds him responsible for the holocaust aswell sometimes.
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De Gea didn't punch the ball far enough ---> caused holocaust

Or if you like

De Gea wasn't born, didn't punch anything ---> caused holocaust
 
DDG is the reason we didn't lose the match. Spurs could of easily had three or four goals. He is a good keeper and will only get better.
 
Pscholes18 said:
DDG is the reason we didn't lose the match. Spurs could of easily had three or four goals. He is a good keeper and will only get better.
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PS18 nails it.

De Gea made some incredible saves and some saves most decent keepers (ie, Hart and Cech) would make. One punch, which the Telegraph hilariously (but in typical robotics fashion) called an "error", has come under intense scrutiny, but in truth he had an outstanding game, certainly putting himself in contention for MOTM.


Nevertheless, we have to deal with this shit, which Google reports just went online 15 minutes ago:

United lose faith in De Gea


Manchester United are actively searching for an experienced and imposing goalkeeper to replace David de Gea at the end of the season because of a growing acceptance at Old Trafford that the Spaniard is unsuitable for the demands of English football.

Alex Ferguson has become exasperated by De Gea's inability to iron out the flaws in his game and senior players at the club are understood to have lost faith in the 22-year-old even before his costly injury-time mistake against Tottenham on Sunday, which led to the home side claiming a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.

United had hoped that De Gea would emulate Chelsea's Petr Cech by adjusting to the rigours of the Premier League at a young age, but there is now a sense he lacks the qualities required to succeed in England.

While Ferguson and United's goalkeeping coach, Eric Steele, remain convinced of De Gea's potential to become one of the world's best, there is a belief that his lack of progress during his 18 months at the club, in dealing with crosses in particular, has left the Spanish U-21 international more likely to thrive in a less physical environment than the Premier League.

Concerns over the reliability of Anders Lindegaard, brought to a head by an alarming performance during a 4-3 victory at Reading last month, have presented Ferguson with a problem in terms of his goalkeeping options for the remainder of the season. With United still pursuing three trophies, De Gea is likely to be selected ahead of Danish international Lindegaard for the club's key fixtures on the grounds of his greater shot-stopping abilities. But with Tottenham on Sunday the latest team to profit from a series of high balls into United's penalty are, the Premier League leaders fear that opponents will continue to target De Gea in similar fashion and add to the pressure on the defenders.

Having scoured the globe for a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar two years ago, United already possess a comprehensive dossier on the strengths, weaknesses and availability of the leading goalkeepers in the game. But while the club have recently scouted Stoke's Asmir Begovic and Galatasaray's Uruguay international Fernando Muslera, it is understood that there is no outstanding candidate to replace De Gea.

Uncertain

The decision by Victor Valdes to reject a new contract at Barcelona will ensure that United consider the 31-year-old, while the uncertain future of Real Madrid's Iker Casillas could present an opportunity to recruit a goalkeeper regarded by many as the best in the world.

Both Barcelona and Real are monitoring De Gea's situation because of persistent rumours of his unhappiness in Manchester.

With De Gea's popstar girlfriend, Edurne Garcia Almagro, continuing to live in Madrid, a return to Spain would appeal to the former Atletico Madrid youngster, whose reputation remains high in his home country, despite his failure to acclimatise to English football.

United have attempted to fast-track De Gea's development by imposing a strength-building programme on the wiry goalkeeper, while Steele, who is staunchly protective of him, has taken Spanish lessons to aid communication on the training ground.

But De Gea's recurring frailties remain an issue, with Ferguson highlighting some of his mistakes in recent weeks.

While dealing with crosses has been an Achilles heel for De Gea since his arrival at United – his failed punch against Spurs was merely the latest example – his tendency to push balls back into play after making a save has led to United conceding a number of goals this season, with Daniel Sturridge's strike for Liverpool at Old Trafford last week the most recent.

De Gea's footwork is regarded as one of his assets, with his clean kicking and distribution a central reason for United recruiting him. However, he has also shown a worrying inclination to deal with balls in the six-yard box with his legs, rather than smothering the ball, and this unusual characteristic, combined with his poor communication, has added to his defenders' lack of confidence in him.

The lack of trust has led one source to claim that, while Van der Sar would do little and then produce one crucial save to win a game, De Gea is more inclined to make one costly mistake each time he plays.

Ferguson's track record for disposing with failing goalkeepers, as highlighted by the likes of Jim Leighton , Massimo Taibi and Mark Bosnich, underlines the pressure on De Gea to eradicate his flaws. But with United's search for a replacement already under way, De Gea's yearning for Madrid might ultimately hand both parties an escape route this summer. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

- Mark Ogden

Irish Independent

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/united-lose-faith-in-de-gea-3361534.html
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his tendency to push balls back into play after making a save has led to United conceding a number of goals this season, with Daniel Sturridge's strike for Liverpool at Old Trafford last week the most recent.
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I like how they paint it as though he's doing it every week.

I can think of two. Simpson's and Sturridge. What others are there?
 
Shane88 said:
I like how they paint it as though he's doing it every week.

I can think of two. Simpson's and Sturridge. What others are there?
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Simpsons is one I don't blame him at all for. Sturridge he maybe could have done better. So that's what maybe a couple of tiny errors recently? Then a weakish punch that he should never have had to deal with. We should clearly just terminate the guys contract.
 
I'm not sure how to run the gif file here, but a link is here.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/gif-clint-dempsey-equaliser-v-spurs/

It seems to me De Gea had the following options:

Option #1. Stay on his line and let Vidic handle the situation

Reply: Too risky. Vidic looked beaten and in any event the ball was inside the six yard box. De Gea had to deal with the situation. Option #1 was not viable.

Option #2. Catch the ball.

Reply: Yes, that would have been ideal, but that was a very difficult ball to catch cleanly. The ball was whipped in high and into traffic. The risk of a spilled ball of the catch was too great. Option #2 was not viable.

Option #3. Punch the ball over the by-line for a corner kick.

Reply: In retrospect, this would have been the ideal play under the circumstances, but it would have required instant thinking and incredible skill. A keeper's training and instinct is to clear the ball out wide, not out for a corner kick. Option #3 was viable, but I've never seen a keeper punch a ball over the bye-line in that situation.

Option #4. Punch the ball past Lennon.

Reply: Well, yes. But that's a lot easier than it sounds. In the Chelsea/Arsenal match, Cech had a similarly "weak" punch which landed not far from an Arsenal man, but without consequence. Thus, we haven't heard a peep about it, but Cech's punch sent the ball back into the middle of penalty box. De Gea's punch was exactly what you want, or at least can expect, from the keeper in that situation, wide of the goal and not back in the middle of the penalty area, but it was Lennon's good fortune to be in the right place at the right time. Dempsey, right place at the right time.

De Gea had to go for the punch. He punched the ball out wide, per his training, but Lennon got lucky. Lennon still had lots of work to do, but did it
 
http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_ferguson-must-act-as-de-gea-fails-again_1790941

Ferguson must act as De Gea fails again

Published: Monday, Jan 21, 2013, 10:53 IST
Agency: Daily Telegraph


Manchester United's hopes of regaining the Premier League title will always be in jeopardy if David de Gea keeps making mistakes like the one against Spurs and he must surely be on his last chance now.

Without a doubt he cost them three points and this is a crucial stage of the season where Sir Alex Ferguson needs to decide whether to stick with him or take him out the firing line.

The result at White Hart Lane could prove a season defining moment and United cannot afford to be drawing games when they should be winning them.

I'm sure they would have taken a point before kick-off but the fact they have tossed away two points in the game through a goalkeeping mistake could be massive.

United would have been seven points clear of Manchester City if they had managed to keep a clean sheet, but the goalkeeper has flapped at the end and it has punished them after a very good away performance. A win at Spurs could have sent out a real message.

Sir Alex will be loath to drop him but he has got to make a decision now because this is crunch time and they are playing for big prizes. When your team is in the last 16 of the Champions League and competing for the title, the last position you want to be in is chopping and changing the goalkeeper.

It's not like a centre-forward where you can take them out and rest them for a few games to keep them fresh, a goalkeeper is a position where you've got to have that continuity.

De Gea is only 22 and there is no doubt that he made two or three great saves against Spurs. He is an excellent shot-stopper but he has that weakness coming for the ball and it is always going to end up costing them.

It cannot be allowed to continue because other teams are going to play on it. They will set up their approach to games to target the goalkeeper because De Gea undoubtedly has a frailty and a weakness when the ball is in the air and it has been proven time and time again.

If Sir Alex was playing against a goalkeeper who he knew was susceptible in the air, he would be telling his players to show no mercy. Other teams will be doing exactly the same against United when De Gea is in the team.

I was actually surprised Spurs didn't target him more through the game. There were not that many aerial balls into the area to test him. They had players like Defoe, Bale, Lennon, Dembele, Parker and then Huddlestone, when he came on, all trying to beat the goalkeeper from 30 yards, when the best way to test him is to get the ball out wide and chip it into the area.

The first time they did that was in injury time and look what happened - the goalkeeper has come out, completely made a mess of it and Spurs have equalised. Quite simply, when the ball is in the air in the penalty area and he has to come for it, he struggles. It is a big weakness.

I think he will get one more game to come back from this and prove himself. But if he makes one more mistake that costs them like that, Sir Alex has got no alternative but to take him out and bring back Anders Lindegaard.

Not only did De Gea's mistake cost his team two points, it also detracted from what I thought was a defensive masterclass from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Michael Carrick and Phil Jones were also excellent but the two centre-halves were absolutely magnificent.

It was only the second time this season the central defenders have played back to back games and they proved there is no substitute for experience. By not having them together last year it ultimately cost them the title and you can just see the difference they have made to the team over the last two games.

Any aspiring centre-half should get a DVD of the Spurs game and watch the way those two played. You would not fail to learn the basics of defending, getting into the right positions and reading the game. They have such an intuitive understanding and when Vidic steps left, Rio will step right. United's goal was excellent but the Spurs back four were simply pulled apart for it. In an identical situation for Spurs, they just could not find a way past Rio and Vidic.

It will be difficult to keep them playing together all season but the more Sir Alex can do it, the better United's chances of winning the title will be. They deserved three points - but the reason they did not is because of the goalkeeper, and its something United have to deal with or it could end up costing them.
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Has anything ever actually came from the club to suggest that they are not happy with David, or is this whole thing about how we're sick of him and going to offload him pure media balls?

I think I'll give up if we were to get rid, and I'm sure it's all crap speculation cos they have to write about something.
 
I don't even know where to start with this articles, so much bollocks and they get paid for it :lol: Some unbelievable shite they are spouting. Senior players losing patience, yeah right :wenger:
 
That article is brilliant. We're gonna sell DDG, because his weakness is dealing with crosses, and we're gonna replace him with Casilas, who's weakness is....dealing with crosses. Genius.

I wish a was a journalist. It's all so easy.
 
The media seem to be bouncing off he other. One comes out with total crap so the others must do the same. I hope someone from the media grows a pair and writes a proper article on de Gea rather than writing what they think the public want to read.
 
I cringed reading that article. I mean, really, who hires these people? Do they even believe what they say and write in the public?
 
The Gary Neville verdict on him was pretty brutal last night. He showed the United players moaning at De Gea after the goal went in. Vidic looked like he wanted to knock him out to be fair he stared him out for about 8 seconds.

Neville ''he Isn't staring at him because he fancies him Ed'' :lol:
 
Castia said:
The Gary Neville verdict on him was pretty brutal last night. He showed the United players moaning at De Gea after the goal went in. Vidic looked like he wanted to knock him out to be fair he stared him out for about 8 seconds.

Neville ''he Isn't staring at him because he fancies him Ed'' :lol:
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Yet he was banging on about Evra staring him down after leaving his man unmarked.
 
Gary's acting like a right can't recently with the de gea lark. I really don't understand his constant de gea slagging. If anybody knows young players need time it should be him.

All he is doing is piling pressure on him and feeding the press, he is pissing me off tbh.
 
I'm sicked and tired of the tirade of criticism against DDG, the latest I heard from the thick-as-pig-shit Ronnie Irani on Talksport this morning.
As for Gary Neville, perhaps he might like to highlight why Assou Ekotto was allowed to pump in so many crosses from deep after he had come on as substitute???
We clearly have an inherent defensive problem wherein we allow the opposition too much freedom to play (i.e. not press enough). While I would not use this to defend DDG if he has made a genuine mistake, I would not at all attribute Spurs' equaliser to DDG.
It's sad when a young player gets picked on so consistently when he does not deserve it.
 
manusteve said:
I'm sicked and tired of the tirade of criticism against DDG, the latest I heard from the thick-as-pig-shit Ronnie Irani on Talksport this morning.
As for Gary Neville, perhaps he might like to highlight why Assou Ekotto was allowed to pump in so many crosses from deep after he had come on as substitute???
We clearly have an inherent defensive problem wherein we allow the opposition too much freedom to play (i.e. not press enough). While I would not use this to defend DDG if he has made a genuine mistake, I would not at all attribute Spurs' equaliser to DDG.
It's sad when a young player gets picked on so consistently when he does not deserve it.
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I didn't see the Sky coverage last night, but in fairness to Neville, after the game on Sunday he prefaced his criticism of DDG by pointing out that his overall performance was excellent. I'm guessing he did the same last night but it would not fit the media agenda to present a balanced picture.
 
What I think is interesting is that if he gets the aerial side of his game sorted I think he's going to be the best keeper in the league, because even at this age none of the other areas of his game look weak. If he doesn't then unfortunately I think we'll play it safe and move him on. I'd be gutted if that happened, tbh. But I also think that Fergie is pretty unforgiving when it comes to keepers, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he'll be let go if it suited us.
 
As I said, though Neville's punditry is overall excellent and a breath of fresh air, his analysis of goalkeepers' performances is pretty dreadful in my opinion. I think he admitted himself that he's very harsh actually. Doesn't surprise me that he lacks a bit of perspective with De Gea (not only talking about his post match or MNF analysis, I'm talking overall), it's not his forte.
 
The trouble is that DDG is so scrutinized in the media, and always criticized so it leads to an over protection on here and amongst some fans.

Yes its ridiculous the amount of flak he cops.

Yes hes an excellent shot stopper

However hes not perfect, he does have an issue, and I think the fact that both sides are becoming so polarized is causing a blindness to whats actually the case. He either seems to be a 'failure and no good in England' according to the media, , or the best GK in the world and never at fault for any of the goals according to a lot here.

Neither are true.

The guy is only 22, why don't people get off his back from either calling him useless or one of the best in the world, because both cause an immense amount of pressure, and give him a chance to actually sort himself out.
 
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