I'd ask the question the other way around. Which player have we kept that they wanted? There really hasn't been enough of them to form much of a judgement, since we have such imperfect information. But when you look at players we've both been in for, or what's happened elsewhere in the PL, you can see the pattern. Barca and Madrid are the destinations of choice for most players, especially non-English ones.
1
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 43
- Clean sheets
- 13
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 0
I'd ask the question the other way around. Which player have we kept that they wanted? There really hasn't been enough of them to form much of a judgement, since we have such imperfect information. But when you look at players we've both been in for, or what's happened elsewhere in the PL, you can see the pattern. Barca and Madrid are the destinations of choice for most players, especially non-English ones.
Strangely, I don't see him knocking about until his 40's either, it's because his strengths like reflexes etc will wane with age, but command of box etc should be growing, and that isn't one of his stronger areas...
http://news.playup.com/articles/3755241-contract-victory-for-valdes
A little bit on Valdes, but if you're only interested in the de Gea part:
A little bit on Valdes, but if you're only interested in the de Gea part:
This is Andy Mitten by the way.
Taking over from Casillas at Madrid right now is a bit of a poisoned chalice really. Casillas has a lot of friends in the media, he's club captain and he's been a dominant and popular figure in the successes of the Spanish and Madrid teams. He's seen as being on the decline but anyone stepping in will have to prove they're not just better than the current Casillas, he'll even be up against the remembered peak years Casillas.
Then there's the circus aspect. The soap opera around Barcelona and Real Madrid is horrendous (at times strangely, popcorn munchingly compelling though). We may think UK tabloids are bad, but Spain has more football pages to fill, more TV and radio football gossip shows to keep fed. Not every player would want that. Not every 24 year old keeper would want to go through a level of scrutiny far more extreme than DdG has been exposed to, even in his worst moments at United.
Flipside, forget the temperatures, that's not the problem with Manchester. It's the dark, winter's so dark, early nights, grey days. That can get to you. Most other things (even tapas and doughnuts) you can buy. If he wants to live with his girlfriend and she insists on Madrid then that could be a deal breaker/maker.
On the other hand he's 24. If he believes he's got a chance of winning top trophies here, he can get top wages, and stay here and have a calmer life, without the microphones and cameras then that might be what he wants for his career. It's not as if it has to be the final move of his career. 28 is still young for a keeper and by then maybe he will need things like his own home/wife/kids even if that means he also wants to return to Spain.
Then there's the circus aspect. The soap opera around Barcelona and Real Madrid is horrendous (at times strangely, popcorn munchingly compelling though). We may think UK tabloids are bad, but Spain has more football pages to fill, more TV and radio football gossip shows to keep fed. Not every player would want that. Not every 24 year old keeper would want to go through a level of scrutiny far more extreme than DdG has been exposed to, even in his worst moments at United.
Flipside, forget the temperatures, that's not the problem with Manchester. It's the dark, winter's so dark, early nights, grey days. That can get to you. Most other things (even tapas and doughnuts) you can buy. If he wants to live with his girlfriend and she insists on Madrid then that could be a deal breaker/maker.
On the other hand he's 24. If he believes he's got a chance of winning top trophies here, he can get top wages, and stay here and have a calmer life, without the microphones and cameras then that might be what he wants for his career. It's not as if it has to be the final move of his career. 28 is still young for a keeper and by then maybe he will need things like his own home/wife/kids even if that means he also wants to return to Spain.
Don't let that ruin the party.
Good thing is after the Valdes rumours yesterday, today's theme seems to be that we've offered Dave a new contract.
Indeed, I thought the media would jump on the bandwagon and print loads today about Real coming for De Gea.
Er Barcelona tried everything they could to get him to sign, even pleading with him to change his mind but Valdes was adamant he wanted to leave.
If he were to be the subject of a Real bid, we really should do better than we did when they nicked Ronaldo off us. Of course I do not want to sell him, but if the club bulks and decides to do so, they've got a few players there they probably do not want to let go of (who might not want to join us, so maybe moot point) that we should barter for (Bale, Ronnie and Varane come to mind).
But of course we should tie him up asap to a proper contract that reflects his importance to the team - he is no less important than Rooney (I'd sooner sell Rooney).
But of course we should tie him up asap to a proper contract that reflects his importance to the team - he is no less important than Rooney (I'd sooner sell Rooney).
RE Mitten's comments, of course no keeper is going to sign for a new club cheerfully accepting he will be number 2. It would be surprising if he did. Id be interested to see if anyone can dig up any comments from any keeper anywhere who has signed for a club acknowledging that this is what he would be. You might get, "of course keeper already there is one of the best in the world" but that is sure to be followed by "but I believe I can fight for my place and establish myself as number 1."
Professional athletes dont get to play at the top level and earn millions by accepting other people are better than them. This is why you get relatively mediocre players leaving comfprtable situations to sign for top clubs when nobody thinks they will ever make it there. They believe they will make it even if nobody else does.
So Valdes will fight to be number 1, of course he will. But De Gea should have equal confidence that he can keep his position.
Professional athletes dont get to play at the top level and earn millions by accepting other people are better than them. This is why you get relatively mediocre players leaving comfprtable situations to sign for top clubs when nobody thinks they will ever make it there. They believe they will make it even if nobody else does.
So Valdes will fight to be number 1, of course he will. But De Gea should have equal confidence that he can keep his position.
We have to wrap up the contract issue, even if we have to sell him.
We bought him for a lot of money for a young keeper, we have helped him grow and become what he has become. Even if we sell him it has to be for over 35million. I would rather keep him though.
We bought him for a lot of money for a young keeper, we have helped him grow and become what he has become. Even if we sell him it has to be for over 35million. I would rather keep him though.
without doubt De gea would be our best signing this window
It's weird though because if Valdes feels he can beat De Gea to the no 1 spot and Van Gaal agrees with that (otherwise he wouldn't have signed him, if Valdes target is becoming a permanent fixture in our first team he must have spoken with the manager about the possibilities) then it doesn't even make sense for De Gea to stay here. Competition is good but bringing a potential number one who has been nothing but main goalkeeper of a top side for the past 10 years to compete with you sends a wrong message IMO. I'm not happy with this transfer at all, sorry.
Which is yet another reason why I doubt Valdes has moved here to be number two. It's very worrying to me.
They based that on the world cup, only. That is so obvious.
These are the same guys that called Chicharito the best striker in the world.
If I remember correctly, having listened to the Robert Enke audiobook, it was Van Gaal that promoted the unknown youngster Valdes into the Barca team not long after Enke was signed. Van Gaal basically ignored Enke and Valdes never looked back.
If VG thinks on that logic, valdes could replace which I think DDG is one of the 2 best keepers in the world, he needs to had a good look in the mirror. I never saw the appeal with valdes, a good keeper, but I don't see him has a United keeper, a good backup but no way is he a number 1
I think we'l see that shit GKs being rotated nonsense again. Valdes's distribution being the main reason.
Will be absolutely gutted if he leaves. I Think lindegaard will be off though so valdes will get plenty of game time while being número dos
Petr Cech didn't play at World Cup.
They nonetheless based it on the World Cup, Navas, Ochoa or Romero (who was Subasic substitute), even Enyeama he was good in the first half of the season but Lille struggled in the second half.
This top 10 is heavily influenced by the World cup.
Jamie Carragher trolling us big time. Fair play.
Jamie Carragher trolling us big time. Fair play.
Somebody should remind him that they still have two shit goalkeepers.
Jamie Carragher trolling us big time. Fair play.
What a twat.
It was easy to predict over the last couple of years that Madrid would be sniffing around De Gea eventually. Unfortunately I can see him going, as no player seems to be able to resist the lure of Madrid. There aren't many GK talents out there like him.
And that they lost their match winner in the summer to Barca after they'd spent years defending him for being an utter moron.
Jamie Carragher trolling us big time. Fair play.
Ricky Lambert was a good signing for Liverpool.
Was interesting to see how much Suarez cost Barca, though.
Don't forget about Mario. He was the 'signing of the summer' wasn't he?
Also someone else they fancied has joined Inter.
Yeah, the majority of replies were abuse/pisstakes as you'd expect.Last one is overly harsh, although the first two are pretty funny comebacks.
Jamie Carragher trolling us big time. Fair play.
To be fair, Liverpool do have two keepers contesting the number 1 spot now Mignolet has deteriorated so much.
Seems allot of these people giving carragher stick forget when they were sniffing around Ronaldo, and that was when we were a much better team than madrid
So they should not be shocked if madrid do sign DDG
Telegraph article by Ogden claiming that Mendes is holding off with De Gea contract talks untill Falcao 's situation is sorted out. plausible?
Sorry if this is already posted and discussed, been working all day.
Edit: wrong De Gea thread I guess.
Sorry if this is already posted and discussed, been working all day.
Edit: wrong De Gea thread I guess.
Well Louis van Gaal apparently stated Valdes is a back up for 18 months with an option to extend for a year, Valdez in his first interview for United said 'De Gea is the best goalkeeper in the world', and then asked why he is here he said "I'm here for help everybody, i'm not a problem, i'm just a part of the team, if i play a game then i'm thinking just i play well and to help the other team mates to win the match'.
The way I see it Valdez goes into semi-retirement in the sense he now has the life of a back up keeper, he rates Louis van Gaal and probably thinks United will win a lot moving forward, he gets the bonus of trophies in addition to excellent wages warming the bench and the bonus of helping a fellow Spaniard improve.
The man has won it all, he won't have the hunger to get that number 1 spot, he's ready for the easy life. Louis van Gaal has probably signed him as a coach / player hybrid in the sense he will be able to tutor De Gea and pass on his own personal experience, I think it's a good signing personally.
Yea it makes sense, the club prioritise a striker who has been nothing special this season. It would be a huge mistake signing falcao on a big contract
He's big, he's brave, he's Spanish Dave, He makes great saves, he never shaves, He's flying through the air, come and have a shot if you dare!
Stolen from comments from daily mail, found it funny, thought I`d share
Stolen from comments from daily mail, found it funny, thought I`d share