David de Gea | 2011-14 Performances

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Pogue Mahone said:
You're ignoring some of his best qualities by pigeon-holing him as a good shot-stopper and not much else.

Keeping nets is about more than stopping shots and coming for crosses. His decision-making and composure are what has impressed me most, along with how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet. If a keeper makes the right decisions all the time, he doesn't need to be an imposing physical specimen barging people out of the way every time the ball comes near the box. It also helps spread calm amongst the back four, as they trust their keeper not to do anything rash. Which has been apparent to me in every game he's played this season. A massive difference from Foster and PIG, who spread jitters to everyone around them.

Regarding high balls into the box, yes he has looked uncertain. As I said, though, this is more to do with the difference in the way the game is refereed than anything else. Benitez went off on one at one point because he couldn't believe that strikers were allowed to compete with keepers for balls landing inside the 6-yard box. Apparently there's a directive on the continent that any such challenge is automatically a free out. With this in mind, it's no great surprise that he's having to re-learn that part of his game.
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Im not sure if his decission making is good. If he knows he finding it hard to collect crosses, then dont go for the ones like Saturdays that led to the goal.

Not only did he not get the ball, he decided to come for it late.

Whatever Benitez says, the English game is not going to change. Its almost as if DDG is going to have to learn a whole new skill in a very short time.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
You're ignoring some of his best qualities by pigeon-holing him as a good shot-stopper and not much else.

Keeping nets is about more than stopping shots and coming for crosses. His decision-making and composure are what has impressed me most, along with how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet. If a keeper makes the right decisions all the time, he doesn't need to be an imposing physical specimen barging people out of the way every time the ball comes near the box. It also helps spread calm amongst the back four, as they trust their keeper not to do anything rash. Which has been apparent to me in every game he's played this season. A massive difference from Foster and PIG, who spread jitters to everyone around them.

Regarding high balls into the box, yes he has looked uncertain. As I said, though, this is more to do with the difference in the way the game is refereed than anything else. Benitez went off on one at one point because he couldn't believe that strikers were allowed to compete with keepers for balls landing inside the 6-yard box. Apparently there's a directive on the continent that any such challenge is automatically a free out. With this in mind, it's no great surprise that he's having to re-learn that part of his game.

I'm not sure about the lack of confidence thing either. As people keep saying the true test of any keeper is how he reacts to mistakes. De Gea has made mistakes but they've been followed up by some of his best performances. This is a really encouraging sign. It would be much more worrying if each "howler" was followed by a run of poor games.
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Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head there.

I don't think it's confidence issues. He seems to possess plenty of self-belief, it's just that he's adapting to an unfamiliar style of play, combined with an all-round lack of first team football so far in his career. The fact that he's bounced back whenever he's dropped a bollock suggests that he has the mental fortitude to cut it at this level.

Anyway, it was pretty much inevitable that he'd make these kinds of mistakes when we signed him: the fans knew it, the press knew it, the club knew it, but we made an informed decision to go for him regardless of that. It's just part and parcel of signing such a young 'keeper.

We'll reap the rewards of persisting with him sooner or later, the guy is a potential world beater.
 
Sunny Jim said:
I've read somewhere that he cost us 6 league goals already...can't be true. I only recall feck-up against Blackburn, WBA, City (Shield)....Basel at OT (CL)? so? what would be the rest of them?
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Mistakes IMO:

City CS
WBA PL
Arsenal PL(Walcott-goal)
Benfica CL
Basel CL
Blackburn PL
 
gaffs said:
Im not sure if his decission making is good. If he knows he finding it hard to collect crosses, then dont go for the ones like Saturdays that led to the goal.

Not only did he not get the ball, he decided to come for it late.

Whatever Benitez says, the English game is not going to change. Its almost as if DDG is going to have to learn a whole new skill in a very short time.
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His decision-making is excellent. What happened the other day doesn't change that.

He's not learning a whole new skill. Just having to curb instincts which makes him come for balls that he won't be able to take if a big, tall striker is allowed to get in his face. Won't take long at all. A couple of dozen games should do it.

Outfield players from the continent often take at least a season to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League. Would be madness to write them off because they're "going to have to learn a whole new skill"
 
Pogue Mahone said:
His decision-making is excellent. What happened the other day doesn't change that.

He's not learning a whole new skill. Just having to curb instincts which makes him come for balls that he won't be able to take if a big, tall striker is allowed to get in his face. Won't take long at all. A couple of dozen games should do it.

Outfield players from the continent often take at least a season to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League. Would be madness to write them off because they're "going to have to learn a whole new skill"
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For what it's worth, watching the goal back, Hanley puts an arm into his face.

Wouldn't be too many protests if a free-kick was awarded IMO.
 
marjen said:
For what it's worth, watching the goal back, Hanley puts an arm into his face.

Wouldn't be too many protests if a free-kick was awarded IMO.
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Hanley was given the space to jump into. DDG should have been jumping higher and earlier and instea of Hanley Arm in DDG face it should have been DDG knee or shoulder in Hanleys midddle or face.

Is DDG too nice?

The best thing that happened to me when I started GK was the first corner I came out pushed the ball away and got a forearm smash into my throat and go flying into the nets - I was livid it wasn't a foul.

Next corner I see there 2 lumbering centrebacks winding up again thinking they will do me over again. This time I was out quick jumped high and smashed him with my left arm as I punched the ball with my right. As I looked down at him, he just accepted it was fair payback and after the game we talked about it and he said if I hadn't drawn a line early on he would have continued to come and smash me.
 
Commadus said:
Hanley was given the space to jump into. DDG should have been jumping higher and earlier and instea of Hanley Arm in DDG face it should have been DDG knee or shoulder in Hanleys midddle or face.

Is DDG too nice?

The best thing that happened to me when I started GK was the first corner I came out pushed the ball away and got a forearm smash into my throat and go flying into the nets - I was livid it wasn't a foul.

Next corner I see there 2 lumbering centrebacks winding up again thinking they will do me over again. This time I was out quick jumped high and smashed him with my left arm as I punched the ball with my right. As I looked down at him, he just accepted it was fair payback and after the game we talked about it and he said if I hadn't drawn a line early on he would have continued to come and smash me.
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Yeah he was brushed off too easily.

But it's a freekick to lead with your arm into the GK's face, english football or not.
 
I remember champions league final 2002, when I think Casillas would have been 23, he was behind Cesar who was by no means a fantastic goalkeeper in the Real Madrid pecking order and had been for most the season. People forget that when Casillas was De Gea's age he was also hugely inconsistent.
 
charlenefan said:
I'd go along with that
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It's a couple of mistakes too many, but it was always going to happen and we knew.

He's saved us some vital points, notably at Anfield and on a cold night at Stoke, plus vs Chelsea at home.

His confidence seems very good, mentally I don't think he'll have any problems, and he's got all the talent in the world.

Needs to be a bit stronger and tougher physically, and needs a more aggressive style of play in the area - which he'll learn.
 
marjen said:
For what it's worth, watching the goal back, Hanley puts an arm into his face.

Wouldn't be too many protests if a free-kick was awarded IMO.
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Yeah it could have been given as freekick, I've seen them given plenty of times. But I do think GK's get the rub of the green in most cases like that.

I'd like DDG to be more commanding in situations like that. He needs to come out, and try better to get the ball. Sometimes he does flap about a bit. Hopefully it will come to him in time, and with more experience. If it means coming through a crowd of players like a bulldozer, then so be it (even if it means going through your own players to catch the ball).
 
We need a website called GK Mistake Watch to blow some of these myths about DDG out of the water.

Chesney made two errors against Fulham of which he was punished for one and both were related to crosses into the box from set pieces.

Reina made one awful error to let Aguerro shot squeeze underneath him.

Friedel slid out to collect the ball and missed it gifting Sinclair and easy tap in.

Hart made an error against Sunderland - you may think it is being harsh but there was no need for him to rush out considering the angle, the onrushing defender and the distance he needed to make up from his line.
 
Commadus said:
We need a website called GK Mistake Watch to blow some of these myths about DDG out of the water.

Chesney made two errors against Fulham of which he was punished for one and both were related to crosses into the box from set pieces.

Reina made one awful error to let Aguerro shot squeeze underneath him.
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Szczesny has been largely poor this season - his shots saved percentage was about 50 % the last time I checked, and he's made many mistakes in high profile matches(OT comes to mind.)

Reina and Cech the same.
 
As I pointed out after the first couple of games this season, it was a mistake to expect De Gea, at the age of 20 and not able to speak English at all (he barely speaks any even now), to step straight into VDS's shoes and to assume that everything would be hunky dory. There would have been no harm whatsoever for him to have been our no 2 whislt he got used to local conditions and learned the language with Lindegaard being our main keeper.

There is no doubt that De Gea has talent and will most likely become a great keeper in every respect in time. However, he has shown that not only is he prone to making the odd costly error but that he doesn't command his area. He doesn't exude the required confidence which would normally permeate through to the defence. The latter, which I think is the most important element here, is not surprising at all. Furthermore, continual changes to the back four and the absence more often than not of Rio and Vidic in particular has not helped one bit. However, even with their presence, DG would have struggled from time to time.

Fergie has virtually admitted his error by promoting Lindegaard quite frequently but not permanently so as not to destroy DG's confidence. This hasn't helped because swapping keepers regularly does not foster stability at the back.

Time is on DG's side and for Lindegaard to have an extended run as no 1 won't do DG any harm in the longer term.
 
marjen said:
But it's a freekick to lead with your arm into the GK's face, english football or not.
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The problem was DDG jumped into his arm because he got there late, the arm was never directed at De Gea.
 
Dion said:
The problem was DDG jumped into his arm because he got there late, the arm was never directed at De Gea.
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Im not entirely sure I agree, but it is true that De Gea made a mistake and was brushed off too easily.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
His decision-making is excellent. What happened the other day doesn't change that.

He's not learning a whole new skill. Just having to curb instincts which makes him come for balls that he won't be able to take if a big, tall striker is allowed to get in his face. Won't take long at all. A couple of dozen games should do it.

Outfield players from the continent often take at least a season to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League. Would be madness to write them off because they're "going to have to learn a whole new skill"
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Spot-on Pogue.

The other thing is, we analyse every little thing far too much in this day & age. Cech and Reina have also had stinkers on more than one occassion this season yet the media don't want to know about that.

Our press have been on De Gea's back ever since the Comm Shield when he should have done better with Dzeko's shot.

He's young and still learning the game, give the lad a break and time.
 
Hart is fecking ace, best keeper in the league by country miles. Arguably one of the world's best as well.
 
Made a similar mistake to De Gea's though yesterday. Went under the ball, only difference was that there was noone from Liverpool there to punish the mistake. Every keeper makes mistakes, look at Reina and Cech, so it's only normal that a 20-year old makes mistakes as well.

The only thing I find annoying is that the media is so quick to jump on his mistakes (more so than with other goalkeepers I think) but said nothing when he was doing a very good job between september and december. His had superb saves in the games against Arsenal, Liverpool, Stoke, etc.
 
Jacob said:
Hart is fecking ace, best keeper in the league by country miles. Arguably one of the world's best as well.
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He's good but still has some big flaws. Regularly pushes the ball out into the danger zone and can get a bit flappy.

I agree he's very good though and has come on leaps and bounds.
 
Not sure it's stamina problem. Rather that City have often gone two goals up and they only attack with 2-4 players after that.
 
Why are people keep bringing up Hart? Hart is like 24, already settled in England and way ahead in his progress as a goalkeeper. Why compare them?
 
Don't judge him too early, I say. Young players are exciting, especially the ones further up the field. They do well because of their youth, because they are fearless.

This, however, can be a danger to a young goalkeeper. They're like good wine - the older, the better and de Gea will flourish and develop, gain experience. Look at the Big Dane - wasn't too convincing when he started, was he?! Another one would be Casillas. People started calling him a flop in Spain and look where he's now.
 
Fiskey said:
I remember champions league final 2002, when I think Casillas would have been 23, he was behind Cesar who was by no means a fantastic goalkeeper in the Real Madrid pecking order and had been for most the season. People forget that when Casillas was De Gea's age he was also hugely inconsistent.
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I remember Sid Lowe discussing this before, supposedly most of, if not the whole of the dressing room despised Casillas at the time, to the extent that the senior players wanted him dropped.
 
Decotron said:
Look at Hart if people need an example of a young keeper improving and learning at the top level.
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And if you want to see how the art of goalkeeping is changing. It's all about punching and parrying now, most of them don't want to try catch the ball at all. But that said, Hart is now among the best of them.
 
Commadus said:
We need a website called GK Mistake Watch to blow some of these myths about DDG out of the water.

Chesney made two errors against Fulham of which he was punished for one and both were related to crosses into the box from set pieces.

Reina made one awful error to let Aguerro shot squeeze underneath him.

Friedel slid out to collect the ball and missed it gifting Sinclair and easy tap in.

Hart made an error against Sunderland - you may think it is being harsh but there was no need for him to rush out considering the angle, the onrushing defender and the distance he needed to make up from his line.
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Perfectly said
 
Dropped tonight, hope he responds to this in good spirit.
 
I'm sure SAF will have sat down with him and discussed what De Gea has to do to get back in the team. He will be our #1 for the long-term but at the moment Lindegaard deserves his chance.

Just hope Fergie doesn't keep rotating them every game as that doesn't help either one.
 
Just hope this isnt another Tim Howard moment where he was fantastic until Rio got suspended and then had inconsistent defence and was swapped around with Carroll.

Hope he has strength to not let himself be affected by this.
 
Sylar said:
Just hope this isnt another Tim Howard moment where he was fantastic until Rio got suspended and then had inconsistent defence and was swapped around with Carroll.

Hope he has strength to not let himself be affected by this.
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Mental strength seems to be one of his pluses, I'm sure fergie has had a word of encouragement to ease any fears anyways
 
According to the BBC, SAF says De Gea dropped for his mistakes against Blackburn. I think it was the right choice. For me Anders has looked more calm and assured. Especially on corners and crosses
 
SAF has a much better idea of De Gea's mental make up then we do, I trust he has made the right decision today. Although I hope this isn't more of the rotation, if Lindegaard plays well today we must stick with him.
 
MST3K said:
Mental strength seems to be one of his pluses, I'm sure fergie has had a word of encouragement to ease any fears anyways
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Plus he's only 20, has another 20 years as goalkeeper in front of him (hopefully)
 
SAF, "There have been things [unusual results] that have happened over the past few days - you couldn't write it. It says a lot about the Premier League. I think it elevates its status. Goalkeeper David de Gea made a couple of mistakes against Blackburn so I'm playing Anders Lindegaard, who has more experience of coming to places like Newcastle."
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Couldn't agree more! Pity he didn't think of the high balls in that Blackburn were going to be playing too!
 
Had another look at the third Blackburn goal. My god, that was an awful goal to concede.

Don't worry, De Gea will bounce back.
 
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