David de Gea | 2011-14 Performances

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On the third goal it was positioning that was at fault. There was no reason why de Gea shouldn't have been in front of the striker.
 
Amir said:
A few days ago Lindegaard said that since his arrival, our goalkeeping coach took his game apart and taught him the work from scratch. Maybe we're doing that with de Gea. Difference is Lindegaard spent most of his early months on the bench, while de Gea is playing.

We knew it would be a project with de Gea, and it is. I actually thought he was looking better dealing with crosses after his early wobbles. Today it was terrible again. Maybe the two weeks he's spent on the bench knocked him out of sharpness, I don't know. It's obviosly an easy excuse for me because I don't like our keeper rotation.
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The thing that most disappoints/worries me are his facial expressions - he just looks so lost the whole time and looks so defeated after mistakes and losses.

He doesn't have the physique to be a PL keeper at the moment, nor the mentality to be a United keeper.

You can't play that position for United and show the opposition that you're that lost and upset - DDG does this and that's why Lindegaard looks so good in comparison at the moment because it's his strongest area.

Combine Lindegaard's mental attitude with DDG's agility and reaction saves and you'd have the perfect United keeper...
 
BaldwinLegend said:
The thing that most disappoints/worries me are his facial expressions - he just looks so lost the whole time and looks so defeated after mistakes and losses.
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I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that. I don't care what his face look like, I care about what he does. And after his errors early this season, he bounced back brilliantly. Hardly the reaction of someone who is lost. His face may 'betray' something which simply isn't there. Teams thought he was easy to beat on long range efforts so blasted them at him, and got nothing.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
The thing that most disappoints/worries me are his facial expressions - he just looks so lost the whole time and looks so defeated after mistakes and losses.

He doesn't have the physique to be a PL keeper at the moment, nor the mentality to be a United keeper.

You can't play that position for United and show the opposition that you're that lost and upset - DDG does this and that's why Lindegaard looks so good in comparison at the moment because it's his strongest area.

Combine Lindegaard's mental attitude with DDG's agility and reaction saves and you'd have the perfect United keeper...
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I disagree with that, I think his mental strength is one his strongest attributes. If he didn't have the mental strength he would have failed after his mistakes in the CS & WBA games, instead he came through that period and was performing very well until today.

He is not an emotional guy and says very little whereas Lindegaard is very vocal so seems more in command than De Gea. He'll improve ionce he has learnt the language.
 
Amir said:
I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that. I don't care what his face look like, I care about what he does. And after his errors early this season, he bounced back brilliantly. Hardly the reaction of someone who is lost. His face may 'betray' something which simply isn't there. Teams thought he was easy to beat on long range efforts so blasted them at him, and got nothing.
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Doesn't matter if it's there or not - he gives away the fact he's struggling to a surprising degree for a professional.

Look at United's history - the best sides have always been built from the back, with either Schmeichel exuding confidence, or VdS exuding class and calm. I'm sure it will come to DDG but at the moment I've never seen anything quite like it - to be in the position he's in and to look so clearly like he's shitting himself half the time.

It really is important - this side would benefit massively from a calm and confident presence at the back.
 
I wish he'd get a regular run of games. He looks most confident after an extended stay in the side.
 
darko said:
He was suggesting that de Gea physique has something to do with his performance which is a complete load of nonsense. I'm never said de Gea is as good as the other three keepers (not a chance at this time) but it has absolutely nothing to do with his physique. I was merely pointing out the number of their GKs who have a 'shocking physique' by his standards. If you want to criticize de Gea don't be looking at his physical statue as the reason for his performances.
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True enough but undoubtedly his physique forces him to use qualities other than pure size when going up against generally players who are bigger than those he faced in La Liga. If he has great vision (when the ball comes off the foot almost immediately after the cross is struck) anticipation and vertical leaping ability he may well be able to compensate for his lack of physical presence.

For now he probably needs to agree on a general rule with his main men, and try to get everything else.
 
I wasn't his biggest fan before when the mistakes were present beginning of the season but bar this mistake he's been excellent in my eyes. I hope he can let this one slide and not let it hit his confidence.
 
When we signed him I was expecting errors and we've got them. Age and physique aside, keeping nets in England is refereed so differently to Spain it's no great surprise he gets bullied at times. Reina's a big strong unit and even he looked seriously dodgy under high-balls in his debut season.

The only question is how to handle this latest episode. So far Fergie's been willing to let him play his way back into form. This seems sensible but I can't help wondering if it would benefit our season if he spent a bit more of his learning curve in England playing reserve football. Even for just a half dozen games or so.
 
He's a very young kid in a foreign country. Lets give him a season or more before coming to any conclusion.
 
If we persevere with him now we'll see the benefits in the next few years. Almost no young players come in and are flawless when joining from a other league. Why should he be any different?
 
Brophs said:
If we persevere with him now we'll see the benefits in the next few years. Almost no young players come in and are flawless when joining from a other league. Why should he be any different?
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Because he is the Manchester United goalkeeper and some fickle fans expect instant perfection.
 
Brophs said:
If we persevere with him now we'll see the benefits in the next few years. Almost no young players come in and are flawless when joining from a other league. Why should he be any different?
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He needs to hit the gym for starters. He looks completely out of his depth at times.
 
Brophs said:
If we persevere with him now we'll see the benefits in the next few years. Almost no young players come in and are flawless when joining from a other league. Why should he be any different?
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He shouldn't. Problem is he's a goalkeeper and we've invested such a lot in him, while losing VdS and PiG at exactly the same time, and that's a set of consequences that could really damage the club's chances over a season.

It's different with keepers, especially if there's been real upheaval in that position leaving you with limited options aside from DDG. Any other 'young player from another league' could be brought along slowly and sensibly - United's chances this season are frighteningly reliant upon the rate that De Gea comes to terms with playing for United.
 
Eric Steele will know better than anyone how to improve De Gea's game.

I remember when internet forums were full of the same remarks about Ronaldo - his career turned out ok at Old Trafford...
 
Plan M said:
Eric Steele will know better than anyone how to improve De Gea's game.

I remember when internet forums were full of the same remarks about Ronaldo - his career turned out ok at Old Trafford...
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Problem is that Ronaldo was so often frustrating when he first came to Old Trafford. That was fine as he was surrounded by players who could compensate for him - very different when you're a goalkeeper.

Look at Ben Foster - not afforded anything like the time Ronaldo was given to sort his game out for us. It's a luxury you can't afford with keepers.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
Problem is that Ronaldo was so often frustrating when he first came to Old Trafford. That was fine as he was surrounded by players who could compensate for him - very different when you're a goalkeeper.

Look at Ben Foster - not afforded anything like the time Ronaldo was given to sort his game out for us. It's a luxury you can't afford with keepers.
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True, it's different being a goalkeeper than a outfield player. I remember Ronaldo was fannying around, making mistakes in his first 2 seasons. That's normal, because he was yong & lernin'. Unfortunately it seems young goalkeepers aren't allowed to make mistakes. Not at big clubs that it.

I have to admit, Blackburn's 3rd goal was awful to concede. A nightmare for De Gea.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
Problem is that Ronaldo was so often frustrating when he first came to Old Trafford. That was fine as he was surrounded by players who could compensate for him - very different when you're a goalkeeper.

Look at Ben Foster - not afforded anything like the time Ronaldo was given to sort his game out for us. It's a luxury you can't afford with keepers.
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From the interviews Foster gave after he left, his not making it here was more down to his mentality about the game. If I remember correctly he didn't like how every game was a must win for United.
 
Unam333 said:
True, it's different being a goalkeeper than a outfield player. I remember Ronaldo was fannying around, making mistakes in his first 2 seasons. That's normal, because he was yong & lernin'. Unfortunately it seems young goalkeepers aren't allowed to make mistakes. Not at big clubs that it.

I have to admit, Blackburn's 3rd goal was awful to concede. A nightmare for De Gea.
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I think unfortunately that bold bit is true - especially since the days of Mourinho's Chelsea which mean that any side aiming for the PL title can barely ever afford to drop points. You certainly can't afford to set aside a season to bring a very, very green keeper through.

It's a brave move by Ferguson - would have been so much easier to go for another VdS style move. Someone who'd been there and seen it all already but still had a few years left and wouldn't be phased playing at United.
 
olesmyhero said:
From the interviews Foster gave after he left, his not making it here was more down to his mentality about the game. If I remember correctly he didn't like how every game was a must win for United.
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You've not remembered correctly. I mean, as if he thought 'feck it, can't we just lose the odd game?'

I remember the interview, I just think United fans seemed to revel in taking it all out of context for some reason.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
Problem is that Ronaldo was so often frustrating when he first came to Old Trafford. That was fine as he was surrounded by players who could compensate for him - very different when you're a goalkeeper.

Look at Ben Foster - not afforded anything like the time Ronaldo was given to sort his game out for us. It's a luxury you can't afford with keepers.
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That's because it was obvious Ronaldo oozed class from the outset. The coaches knew with experience, and maturity all would come together. Foster lacked mental strength and technique to kick the ball at that level.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
He shouldn't. Problem is he's a goalkeeper and we've invested such a lot in him, while losing VdS and PiG at exactly the same time, and that's a set of consequences that could really damage the club's chances over a season.

It's different with keepers, especially if there's been real upheaval in that position leaving you with limited options aside from DDG. Any other 'young player from another league' could be brought along slowly and sensibly - United's chances this season are frighteningly reliant upon the rate that De Gea comes to terms with playing for United.
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The problem with that approach is that it requires you to make VDS-esque signings every few years. And what we undoubtedly realised is that there is a real scarcity of those sorts of keepers around: you simply couldn't buy a keeper as good as VDS. DDG had shown more in the couple of years than the vast majority of other experienced keepers you could buy. If we don't win the league he won't be the only reason. Far from it.
 
I think De Gea will come good but it won't be this season.

He will be a player that we'll look back at and say "Remember that first season he had? I knew he'd become a great".

I was critical of him when I first saw him in a United shirt but he's already done enough to put my mind at ease when it comes to becoming a future great. All of these players i.e. Smalling, De Gea, Jones, Cleverley, Pogba etc are all going to grow together and get better.

Experience, and time - is key.
 
Id rather see us play actual CBs in the CB position even if they are from reserves rather than a CM as CB, a LW and RB as CMs and then whatever else we did.

Basically this will not help him. De Gea looked most confident when he consistently had Smalling, Jones, Evan and Evra in front of him. All this changing is not helping. And having people play out of position inviting pressure is not helping either. I bet he doesnt make the mistake at 0-0. But having conceded two already when he really couldnt do much was not ideal for that position. Dont get me wrong, he should have taken it, caught it or actually put his hands above his head but still, we arent doing him any favours.
 
Sultan said:
That's because it was obvious Ronaldo oozed class from the outset. The coaches knew with experience, and maturity all would come together. Foster lacked mental strength and technique to kick the ball at that level.
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Foster's just the most recent example - you won't see United give a keeper over a season to settle down and nor should you.

It's all a moot point anyway as I suspect DDG will put things right quickly. My posts have been more in response to Brophs saying why should we expect any young player from another league to settle immediately. We shouldn't, I guess, but like I say, post-Mourinho's Chelsea there's so little room for error at the top of the PL table that it's hard to see a club like United being able to indulge someone's learning curve for too long.
 
Brophs said:
The problem with that approach is that it requires you to make VDS-esque signings every few years. And what we undoubtedly realised is that there is a real scarcity of those sorts of keepers around: you simply couldn't buy a keeper as good as VDS. DDG had shown more in the couple of years than the vast majority of other experienced keepers you could buy. If we don't win the league he won't be the only reason. Far from it.
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I don't think I said it would be.

I certainly think there's keepers out there who'd do a better job for United right now than what we've got and it's a shame Ferguson doesn't have someone more reliable to call on as he attempts to stop Man City from winning the title.

Isn't it too important a season for us to be bedding someone in? I'm not trashing De Gea, I just think we should have bought him a year earlier, or brought another keeper with a lot of experience instead of buying Lindegaard to allow De Gea to develop properly, not in the cauldron that playing for United can be.

Buying two keepers with zero PL experience at the same time, and at the same time as losing your other keepers, has always seemed too high risk a strategy to me.
 
Sylar said:
Id rather see us play actual CBs in the CB position even if they are from reserves rather than a CM as CB, a LW and RB as CMs and then whatever else we did.

Basically this will not help him. De Gea looked most confident when he consistently had Smalling, Jones, Evan and Evra in front of him. All this changing is not helping. And having people play out of position inviting pressure is not helping either. I bet he doesnt make the mistake at 0-0. But having conceded two already when he really couldnt do much was not ideal for that position. Dont get me wrong, he should have taken it, caught it or actually put his hands above his head but still, we arent doing him any favours.
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Yes, it's all Fergie's fault. We should be starting the ridiculously inexperienced Zeki Fryers at centre-back ahead of a 30 year old who has played in three Champions League finals and has very good defensive instincts.

That's really going to help De Gea.

(I know I'm like a broken record on this team selection topic but it really does need pointing out)
 
Neo_Mufc said:
I genuinely forgotten what happened against Basel please refresh my memory.
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I think that was the game where he attempted to kick the ball out to Fabio and it got intercepted before being crossed and put in. This made it 2-2 after we'd come from behind to go in front minutes earlier.
 
Starting to have doubts about him to be honest. I hope he can prove me wrong!
 
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