Foster was brought at 22-23 yrs and despite having years of experience with other English clubs he had failed miserably. Howard fecked too, Barthez won the world cup while Taibi had been in the Serie A for donkey years but they still couldn't handle the pressure here. The point is that being a Manchester United's goalkeeper is probably the hardest role a player can aim for. We expect too much from a keeper who must not only save the ball but lead the defense, be top notch on crossing and have superb ball control and delivery of the ball. He must also prove himself solid when everything around him (Defense and midfield) start collapsing. The pressure is too hard for seasoned keepers let alone rookies.
David De Gea (SAF confirmed signing!)
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Foster was brought at 22-23 yrs and despite having years of experience with other English clubs he had failed miserably. Howard fecked too, Barthez won the world cup while Taibi had been in the Serie A for donkey years but they still couldn't handle the pressure here. The point is that being a Manchester United's goalkeeper is probably the hardest role a player can aim for. We expect too much from a keeper who must not only save the ball but lead the defense, be top notch on crossing and have superb ball control and delivery of the ball. He must also prove himself solid when everything around him (Defense and midfield) start collapsing. The pressure is too hard for seasoned keepers let alone rookies.
IF VDS remains that he will be the one playing. De Gea will be reduced to play in the league cup until VDS gets fecked and he is thrown head over heels in the lion's den. There is really no good way of introducing keepers. You throw them on the pitch and pray that they save the day.
Aye. It would definitely be a concern.
If we buy a rookie we would have to be patient as they would inevitibly make mistakes.
I'm not sure what experience 'keepers we could get though?
I think De Gea would get more games than the likes of Kuszcack got, because it was always known that he would never really be the #1, just a reliable #2. De Gea will inevitably be #1 when VDS goes so I reckon he'd play more and more as the season progressed.
All those things you've said at the end there, De Gea has shown all of those qualities in the past year. Yes he may be a rookie, but he's a bit special. Unlike Foster and Howard ect... I really dont see why you think it's a problem. Who do you suggest we replace VDS with?
He was interviewed on Radio Marca - the report´s at De Gea: "El nivel del Atltico es estar entre los tres mejores de Espaa" - MARCA.com
He's a good Atletico lad, delighted to have won the Europa and hoping to chase Barca and Madrid (but not expecting to catch them in La Liga this year) - he says he thinks SAF was there to see Valencia not him. Aww, bless the naive little teenager
"I'm under contract until 2013, I'm with my family and friends, which is what I need and what's important."
He also reckons Atletico should be top 3 and that it would be nice if Torres came home.
Torres always said if he went back to Spain then it'd be back to Atlético. They could never afford him though.
Foster and Howard where flawless, in their first year in the EPL where strikers are tall and keepers aren't protected by crosses at all. Barthez went on to win the WC and Bosnich was a seasoned EPL keeper. All where broken by the immense pressure that being United's no 1 keeper entails. I wonder whether De Gea can succeed where these guys had failed.
I think that we should try to replace VDS with another seasoned keeper who has got the experience and character to do well in that 'cursed' role. Its really not a position where a young player can go and learn his trade. Not at United.
Even if we show patience towards the kid would he show patience towards himself? I mean, 1 crucial mistake at OT had broken down much more experienced keepers then De Gea. What if the pressure start piling on until the kid is reduced to a disaster waiting to happen?
Now, you're taking off...
Yeah its not like he's played for one of the bigger clubs in a big league or that he has any European experience or only recently did well in a European final. Oh wait.
I'm not saying that cou'dnt happen. It has every chance of turning out that way, which is why I said it would be "a concern" earlier on.
Personally my 'keeper of choice would be either Adler or Neuer who are still both young but seem to have that classic German mentality.
Ah so you only have to play in the European Carling cup final to get that much needed experience not to crumble under the pressure of being United's no 1 keeper. If only Barthez knew about it.
Well both are older then the De Gea guy and are used to a much physical league then the La Liga league where the average striker's high is around 5.7ft tall.
Also he played the majority of the Europa league games last season when Atletico came up against Liverpool and Fulham and De Gea done perfectly fine then. Considering he's only 19 and already recognized as one of the top prospects in european football makes him a little bit different. I dont buy this whole different league thing, people said Torres wouldnt hack it in the premier league and he laughed in all of their faces. De Gea has so many strengths to his game at such a young age and he can only get better. I doubt there is any other top team around the world who has a top goalkeeper like him at such a young age. Spain have a great track record for goalies in the past, Casillas got thrown in the deep end at a young age at arguably the biggest club in the world and look how that turned out.
It's all individual. It's not as if De Gea went to the Europa League matches thinking "ah, it's the lesser european competition, it's not a big deal". It was a HUGE deal for him, biggest games of his life, and he handled the pressure. It does tell you something.
Whatever we do after VDS would be a risk, it's obvious. Normally I'd agree with you about going for a seasoned pro. but if we find a young talent that is special enough, go for it. There are no assurances in this business.
There is a big difference in terms not only of physical characteristics but also on different interpretations of the rules of the game. In the main continent, if a goalkeeper is touched by an opponent then the ref will much of the time give a foul in favor of the keeper. Things are different in Britain, that is why some of the best crossers play in the EPL as opposed to the Italian league and La Liga where wingers tend to cut inside.
Anyway my point is simple. This role has seen the ruin of various careers many of whom had more experience then the De Gea guy. Is it wise to put a 19 yr old keeper there? Pls stop mentioning Buffon or Casillas.
a) you're talking about unique talent
b) we expect much more from a keeper then Juventus does.
Any keeper as talented as that kid deserves to be mentioned ala Buffon or Casllias.
Im not saying that. What Im saying is that just because someone had won the European carling cup means jack shit. We had goalkeepers who failed here despite winning the WC. Honestly I've never seen a more demanding role in football. A goalkeeper at United is expected to be able to handle crosses, he is expected to have a high level of ball control to manage the constant (and sometimes bad) passing of our defenders and deliver the ball to the right routes, he needs to be an excellent shot stoppers and he needs to remain a solid figure even when the rest of the defense is crumbling in pieces. Many clubs (and I am talking about big sides) would settle for a great shot stopper. FFS I doubt if Buffon has all the characteristics to make it at United let alone some 19 yr old rookie. Oh wait De Gea is not a rookie he won the European carling cup.
If he's good enough, it wouldn't matter what age he is. Case in point: Petr Cech.
However, I'm abit concerned with Fergie's decisions with regards to goalkeepers, so I'm not believing the hype. Yet.
I struggle to mention Casillas near Buffon let alone De Gea.
He may be good enough for all we know but does he has the character to get up and pick the pieces once he had done a mistake? That's the big issue here. We had more experienced keepers (ie people who won WCs and not some cup against Fulham) who had struggled to come to terms to that. Can a 19 yr old keeper succeed where others failed?
PN Cech joined Chelsea at age 22 and they were nothing near to what United are now.
That is your own tongue tied dilemma init?
That is your own tongue tied dilemma init?
Buffon did. Casillas did. Why cant he? A keeper either has the calmness and unyielding self belief that makes a goal keeping great or they don't. This kid seems to have both in spades.
If we have had experienced goalkeepers who have won world cups and failed here (Barthez) then by your logic we shouldnt go for one of them either. So what do you want? VDS has 1 more season left at the most. Dont see why going for a 19 year old keeper who has shown great quality at such an early stage can be a bad thing...
De Gea is quality and would make a fantastic addition to United, I've seen quite a bit of him this season and I'm very impressed.
Is that Russian number 1 available on a free next summer? He's worth a punt on a free transfer.
Devilish, it's time for you to come out and say whom you would rather have us buy than de Gea. Simple as.
I agree. He'd be a good replacement for Kuszczak.
Both keepers came from the same league they played in. They had been trained since they were kids to do well in that particular league. Not to forget that Juventus/Real at that time were perfectly happy to settle for excellent shot stoppers. That characteristic is certainly not enough at United.
First of all I have nothing against the De Gea guy. What Im concerned about is his age, not his talent. In my opinion once VDS retire, we should get an experienced keeper, with the right characteristics (tall keeper who is good on crossing etc). If SAF is dead set to get De Gea then someone like Rai Van Del Gouw (experienced guy with the physical presence to do well but who is ready to accept the bench) is a must.
Barthez didn't crumble under pressure. He just had concentration issues. It is also a hip injury that put paid to his United career, for it caused him a glaring weakness on one side.
There is little difference between him and PIG
He kept doing silly mistakes and things went worse with every mistake. It was evident that he couldn't handle the pressure anymore.
I've seen nothing to suggest this kid isn't good in the air. Which is a requirement for a club like United. In addition, at 19/20 he can always develop that aspect of his game if he lacks it. If Gomes of Spurs could adjust to life in England so can a kid as young as De Gea.
Spurs's role is not as demanding as Uniteds.
Surely CSKA would not let Ankinfeev gor for nowt?
In conclusion, for whatever reasons, Devilish agrees we should buy de Gea.
Alright then, simply delete the previous page in this thread
Alright then, simply delete the previous page in this thread
In conclusion, for whatever reasons, Devilish agrees we should buy de Gea.
Alright then, simply delete the previous page in this thread
That is besides the point. My point is an EPL keeper has to be good aerially. I don't see any reason why De Gea couldn't adjust to it if a Gomes could. If even the far less talented Reina came her and succeeded immediately. How much more a player with superior natural talents?
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