[NZT-One]

But the point is the players should feel confident enough to be able to pass back to him when they have no other choice, I don't think they're passing to him on purpose knowing that it will help us lose the ball. They should be able to pass it back when they want safe in the knowledge our keeper isn't going to pass it to the other team nine times out of ten, what else can they do with a keeper like that behind them? I agree maybe they don't always have to pass it back but at times there really is no other option and then that's that, we can't play with a keeper of this level of distribution against a team like Manchester City, we just can't.

I agree. And yes, City made sure, that passing to DDG was often the only real out - because they knew what will happen. But lets not act that this happened the first time today, we could have at least tried to come up with a plan to counter that a bit. City is a fantastically set up site, you have to expect them to be prepared to exploit your weaknesses.

His distribution is certainly an issue but at this point, it has to be factored in into your gameplan, don't you think? Btw: I am on your side, we have to bring in a replacement for him, I just don't think, that todays game showed anything new or more problematic than ever. And I feel a few people aren't really conclude that we as a team lost to a superior team today, not just because our keeper has been shit.

I mean, they scored a screamer and a bit of a lucky goal. But come on, our penalty was close to calamity and apart from the one shot from Garnacho that came out of nothing, we didn't produce anything of note.

My point in a nutshell. Our outfielders are uncomfortable with the ball and would rather go back to him and see him lump it forward.

Yeah. I joined the critical group not too long ago and he certainly deserves to be critized to a level of replacement. But to use him as a failure for this game is too shortsighted. He was passed to today because often he was the only easy pass that was on. And with players like Shaw, AWB and Lindelof, it will be easy passes more often than not. City was also prepared to his kicking with their backline being very good aerially - add to this that we have no single player who could be considered good in the air or with his back to oppo goal. This has been going on for weeks and month and you could argue it deserves some questions towards the general game plan as well. I mean, it wasn't the first time, we have seen again turn out like today...

 

[TheGame]

I'm going to enjoy the day when he's finally binned, and he can take his fanboys with him. Call me petty, I don't really care, he's the worst keeper in the league and has been for years.

Deary me.

 

[Based Adnan]

Play like what? He had nothing to do because Rashford and other attackers were shit today.

It's 2023. A goalkeeper is involved in more than just saving shots from the opposition. His ball playing was several tiers above only misplacing 4 passes all game.

 

[Eric_the_Red99]

Would better players also allow DDG to come off his line more often? Maybe play on the 18 yard box so the team can push higher up. Is DDG capable of that?

There was a moment late on that I noticed where the ball was dribbling into the box, and DDG could easily have sprinted out to claim it, but instead he stayed rooted on his line and allowed our defender to attempt to play it out from the back. That happens all the time with Dave. When he doesn’t have to make a save he just switches off it seems.

 

[Teja]

We need to get rid. Someone's head needs to roll if we sign DDG up to a new contract.

 

[sullydnl]

We need to get rid. Someone's head needs to roll if we sign DDG up to a new contract.

That's not the way xG works, but whatever.

 

[SilentWitness]

He’s very average nowadays. Just isn’t good enough for a top club anymore. He was phenomenal for c. 3ish years and very good for c. 10 years but now he’s reached the end.

 

[Dorris]

It’s clear the De Gea defenders just have a lack of understanding of modern football, it’s not even worth debating.

 

[Oranges038]

Schemiechel must have an agenda too.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

What would this "Peter Shmicycle" or whatever his name is know about goalkeeping?! Bet he's a fecking Bertie.

Thinks he's a goalkeeping expert just because his son played professionally

 

[Shiva87]

Not arguing against most of your point, but I think, the players that passed to him shouldn't be absolved from criticism. I mean a) they know his kicking is a known weakness and b) they were just as uncomfortable on the ball in 9 out of 10 situations. Goalkeeper is an issue for us for sure. Using this game against him, making him the scapegoat feels a bit shortsighted to me.


Yeah my thoughts completely. There is just one or two levels between City and us. They are so comfortable on the ball, we mostly aren't even attempting playing the game. Thats not completely on the keeper even though he certainly is a "we have to do something"-level of issue.

actually we showed today that this is not the case. Outside of De Gea and Lindelof - all our players showed immense composure on the ball and tactical prowess. We nullified City and created more xG. This was unthinkable for me before the game

 

[IWat]

We need to get rid. Someone's head needs to roll if we sign DDG up to a new contract.

I think that says equally as much about how flawed xG is in fairness. But yes, agree.

 

[Lay]

There was a moment late on that I noticed where the ball was dribbling into the box, and DDG could easily have sprinted out to claim it, but instead he stayed rooted on his line and allowed our defender to attempt to play it out from the back. That happens all the time with Dave. When he doesn’t have to make a save he just switches off it seems.

I think that was with Varane who had to hurry a pass which went back to City. We don’t keep the ball well enough with DDG. He’s not the main problem but he’s a problem

 

[Ayush_reddevil]

There are actual people who watch every United game and argue that he is good. Let that sink in for a second

 

[Lentwood]

I will say one thing...despite my sincere belief that he is an abomination of a goalkeeper and an absolute liability on every level....

I don't think he was in any way at fault for the first goal. Great hit and was caught flat-footed due to having to backpedal, fairly normal, just unfortunate.

The second was a pitiful effort but hey, all things considered 20 misplaced passes and only being at fault for one goal is basically a decent performance given his current level

 

[Big Ben Foster]

I'm surprised he didn't dive for Gundogan's first goal, even if he didn't get near it, at least do the maximum.

Kicking was usual garbage, giving away possession time after time.

A couple of decent saves.

Gundogan's 2nd went through Varane and another United player so De Gea won't have seen it until very late.

De Gea is out of contract in the summer. I don't even understand why United would want to offer him a new deal. He is such a poor match for the rest of the team.

Yeah his vision was obscured for the second goal, but really that was only an issue due to poor positioning.

 

[quadrant]

He really seems to struggle in the biggest games, especially when things go against him early on, even if the first goal wasn't on him. Ironic as he was such a big character in the past, but nowadays he just seems to struggle with the pressure of the club.

 

[Idxomer]

His save for Haaland's shot was also awful.

He's like Maguire in going into panic mode very easily and starts hiding on his line.

 

[V.O.]

I think that says equally as much about how flawed xG is in fairness. But yes, agree.

"I don't understand it, therefore it's shit"

 

[Shiva87]

This pissed me off so much. If we renew him, this club doesn't know what it's doing.

I was livid - at least go out fighting like the rest of the team was!!

 

[MadDogg]

Both, he is not as big of a problem as many paint it to be. If we strengthen in other positions this summer, we are more than good to go even with him starting.

I do agree that some people are starting to go overboard about it (and this is coming from someone who has heavily criticised De Gea for years), but he absolutely is one of our biggest problems. Keeper is one of the main positions we need strengthening and the easiest to do so bar striker. In either position we can literally sign well over half the keepers/strikers in the PL alone and they are an instant improvement.

 

[edgecutter]

City's second keeper is better. Let that sink in. And yet we are going to give this clown 200k reward for being shite.

 

[IWat]

"I don't understand it, therefore it's shit"

It was to anyone with multiple brain cells not 0.05 across the 2 shots considering the players in the way etc, regardless of how poor De Gea was. They are both combined not being saved 19/20 times by other keepers.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

I don't think he was in any way at fault for the first goal. Great hit and was caught flat-footed due to having to backpedal, fairly normal, just unfortunate.

Agreed - the optics of him standing there ball-watching aren't great, but I don't think there's anything he could've done about it.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Been terrible since 2018. Spanish national team was smart enough to not play him.

The amount of fans he still has is mind boggling.

Yes he was once great. But we were a 5th place team conceding lots of shots. Anytime we were decent and trying to win things or be dominant he crumbled.

Time to go. He hasn't earned his wage for 5 years.

 

[golden_blunder]

That’s the first match that the penny truly has dropped for me. The okaying out from the back is atrocious and the long kicking just as bad

 

[V.O.]

It was to anyone with multiple brain cells not 0.05 across the 2 shots, regardless of how poor De Gea was.

It isn't calculated based on the actual shot. Two shots can be the same xG value if one flies in the top corner and the other ends up in the car park.

It's saying that they were very low percentage chances. Which they objectively are.

 

[NZT-One]

actually we showed today that this is not the case. Outside of De Gea and Lindelof - all our players showed immense composure on the ball and tactical prowess. We nullified City and created more xG. This was unthinkable for me before the game

each to their own I guess but that statement to me feels like we watched two different games. Haven't seen anything that resembled "immense composure" or some "nullification". Worst thing we could do is padding our shoulders with that conclusion.

 

[Andy_Cole]

What a stupid post.

Without criticising the poster. Your post is a fecking cnut. Your post can get fecked. What a cnutish post. feck off.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

I'll always have a soft spot for De Gea because of how good he was in the past.

Sadly we know the goalkeeper position is a completely different kettle of fish now, and he can't do the things we need him to do to become the progressive team we apparently want to be.

If it's the clubs decision to renew his deal and not look to sign another keeper it's batshit crazy, if it's a Ten Hag decision it worries me even more. I hold hope that he will be replaced, and wouldn't expect the manager to publicly announce his intentions at this stage.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

City's second keeper is better. Let that sink in. And yet we are going to give this clown 200k reward for being shite.

Most second choice PL-level keepers are reliable at doing the basics right, you just wouldn't expect them to save the day, nor would you want them to consistently start for long stretches of the campaign.

So I really can't understand why we're allegedly giving DDG (who has become a liability more than anything else) a massive contract to be our backup when decent but unspectacular keepers are a dime a dozen.

 

[sullydnl]

It was to anyone with multiple brain cells not 0.05 across the 2 shots considering the players in the way etc, regardless of how poor De Gea was. They are both not being saved 19/20 times by other keepers.

To be clear, the xG doesn't suggest that those shots would be saved 19/20 times. It suggests the average shot taken in that position/circumstance would be saved 19/20 times.

But De Gea didn't face the average shot. He faced those shots in particular. Which is why you don't use xG in that way to criticise the goalkeeper for not stopping them. Even if they had been unsavable screamers the xG would have been exactly the same.

It might be that the post-shot xG would also look bad for De Gea. But the use of xG above is dumb.

 

[Rolaholic]

His contributions through the years are appreciated and he's a club legend in my eyes but I think it's passed time to move on...

Cost us far too many times in big matches and moments over the last few years.

 

[TheGame]

Without criticising the poster. Your post is a fecking cnut. Your post can get fecked. What a cnutish post. feck off.

Thanks, reported.

 

[Withnail]

I think that says equally as much about how flawed xG is in fairness. But yes, agree.

I don't know about that. 99 times out of 100 neither shot goes in.

 

[F-Red]

Worst player we’ve had in the last 10 years

 

[Nou_Camp99]

I think he's leaving. Very strange to end a season without signing the deal. Can't remember that ever happening before. He's effectively out of contract now in real terms as there's no more training or games to come.

Been a great servant but his time has come.

 

[Shiva87]

each to their own I guess but that statement to me feels like we watched two different games. Haven't seen anything that resembled "immense composure" or some "nullification". Worst thing we could do is padding our shoulders with that conclusion.

okay honestly i overextended our performance given the negativity on here - but I really think we were very good today after we conceded in15 secs.

previous united teams could have lost that 4 or 5 nil. I think we exceeded expectations given the squad that we have - and our goalkeeper playing the way he did.

another big game, another howler

 

[IWat]

To be clear, the xG doesn't suggest that those shots would be saved 19/20 times. It suggests the average shot taken in that position/circumstance would be saved 19/20 times.

But De Gea didn't face the average shot. He faced those shots in particular. Which is why you don't use xG in that way to criticise the goalkeeper for not stopping them. Even if they had been unsavable screamers the xG would have been exactly the same.

It might be that the post-shot xG would also look bad for De Gea. But the use of xG above is dumb.

Makes sense, I have mis-understood it all this time. Whoops!

 

[MoskvaRed]

If we do get a new, competent keeper in the summer, it will become obvious just how much De Gea has been holding us back. City’s reserve keeper looked much better.