As I've pointed out many times before, we conceded 43 goals in the league that year, by far the worst of any of the top 4 (although still less than the 53 league goals he conceded in his last season at Atletico that somehow convinced us to sign him).
So, I would argue we won that title in spite of him, not because of him.
Back then we had a brilliant team, meaning we could get away with having a dodgy keeper, sadly that's not the case anymore, we're a mid-table side and it's now fine margains that determine whether or not we win week in week out.
You would expect the highest paid player in the league to be tilting those fine margains in your favour and winning you points, if they aren't then someone else should be give a chance and that money should be spent elsewhere.
By the way, I did say that the defenders had a shocker, but they aren't being helped by a keeper that's constantly glued to his line and offers no support to them.
If you think I'm just on a wind up, or have an agenda, then watch the second Tottenham goal again and tell me that a keeper who's alert and reading the game doesn't easily get to that ball first. Son even takes a heavy touch and still gets there ahead of him, it's just not good enough in my opinion, and it's happening every game.
That's conceding less than one goal per match across 38 PL matches at 0.88 goals against per match. That's pretty damn good.
And guess what, Joe Hart won the golden gloves with like 18 clean sheets...what does that say about Joe Hart or the team/structure in front of him...all that to say is it's not just all on the keeper or all on the defense, they all work together.
DDG was a top top GK for a good 4 to six years and now he's good to great at times, but his lower points can be lower. He's not longer elite and that's safe to say, regardless of how he does it. Mueller is an elite player but he does it in an unorthodox way and still so many people don't understand why or how, but it just is. DDG was a clear elite GK and he wasn't everybody's cup of tea, but at the same time he was undisputed top GK along with Neuer. We look back and say that Patrice Evra was a top top LB along with Ashley Cole at that time. Just give the player their respect and praise when it's deserved. But that was then and this is now, but it's not as if this was prevalent for across his entire United tenure. He does what he does and he's done it very well. Don't be blind by the fact that you have to score at least, very least 76 goals for per season to potentially win the league. That's an average of 2 goals per game. This isn't AC Milan or whatever 90s football.
United aren't a midtable side anymore...do you know what that is? United are a CL yo-yo club and at worst, a European qualification club in England. Midtable clubs are positions 8 to 13/14 and bottom table clubs are 14/15 to 20. Not hard to comprehend if you take the time to look. When was the last time United finished outside the top 7 to be considered a midtable club? United might have had midtable or relegation form at times, but fecking hell...they are a bang on midtable club now??
He's the highest paid player because at the time, the club was at a bad position and they decided to keep him...fine, but at those wages were insane and still are. Nobody to blame but Woodward since he oversees that and made that final decision.
DDG being glued to his line doesn't make up for the fact that in their first 3 PL matches of the season, their have been multiple individual defensive errors by the outfield defensive players that will put any GK in the world under pressure and cause problems. Whether or not the opposing team is clinical, that's another story. But the more chances you give up because of defensive individual errors, the more room you have to concede goals.
Every game as in 3 games in PL where arguably the 3rd game is a complete write off especially after the red card? I mean fecksakes, you swear like DDG has been the biggest contributor towards United's failing at every loss. United were dogshit against Spurs after the red card and individually before the red card and it cost them dearly.
I love DDG and appreciate him, but he's obviously overpaid, under appreciated, and gets the dogs abuse for everything he isn't or doesn't do. He isn't the future, and that's completely normal and fine. Henderson will be the number 1 soon and is the future. Whether it's later this year, tomorrow, or next year. It doesn't matter. But fecking hell, get off DDG's back.
My original reply was to someone who didn't know what they were talking about in regards to DDG actually winning the league with Rio, Vidic, and a defensive line that was on their last legs. That season, they conceded 5th fewest goals tied with Liverpool at 43. Not bad.
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