DDG - it needs to be said

Wilt said:
He‘s got a six year £117,000,000 contract ....equivalent to £19.5 million per year.

Makes me wonder what player/players we could get for that kind of money.

Its no fecking wonder he likes Ole :lol:
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For such a 'corporate' club we're fecking shit at business. I thought business was supposed to be Ed's bread and butter!! Guy couldn't buy a clue. Sick of it.
 
Nicolarra90 said:
He's been the constant.

It may be a little harsh but he's been the only constant since 2011, and no wonder our defense have been sh!t since then, even in those last years of Rio and Vidic.

Yeah... He was able to do many of those hollywood saves, but as an analogy, those saves are the same as AWB tackles, a great asset to have, but a result of covering his own deficiencies.
VDS didn't need to do those spectacular saves cause he was great in all other areas of keepers play.

The keeper and the 2 CB are a unit, like a 3 leg table, they should play and understand the game together, maybe we've been faulting the wrong legs of the table all along
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Some really good points here. De Gea was insanely good from 2013-18 and my favourite United player. His unbelievable shot stopping overcame his other deficiencies. Plus, teams weren't getting as far in against us, as they are now, so were shooting more from distance, which was easy for him. It must be difficult for central defenders to have a keeper who stays rooted to his line and doesn't come for crosses. This has always been the case with him, but opposing teams now smell blood and are really targeting his weaknesses. This season has got even worse, going for shots feet first rather than diving to use his hands, with Tuesday's debacle a show of cowardice that I have never seen from a professional keeper, let alone a previously world class one. It's like having an outfield defender on the goal line, rather than a goalkeeper who takes full advantage of the rule which allows him to use his hands. His demise started at the World Cup in 2018 and has continued since. Tuesday night was the final straw for me, and Henderson must be given a proper run of games now, to enable the defence to function better, knowing that they have a good all round goalkeeper behind them. De Gea's demise has been sad to see and we should all be grateful for his unbelievable displays from 2013-18, but his time is now up I'm afraid. This is Ole's Jim Leighton moment.
 
edcunited1878 said:
DDG won a PL with Rio and Vidic, so the defense hasn't been complete shit, just underwhelming since there is a dearth of top CBs. Now there's a lot of good, but not great CBs with different skill sets from when DDG first came to United.

VDS was a better overall keeper, but he too made spectacular saves, albeit fewer of them as he was behind a wall most of the time. DDG has regressed the past 2 years, there's no denying it, but he's still a capable GK.

DDG has propped up the 3 legged table for 7/8 years, and he's been pegged down the past couple years since the 2018 WC. But he's not this complete liability like Karius or Kepa.
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True that, but anyway that was 100% RVP

And sure he's not a complete liability, but is an upgrade we must do if we want to be a PL challenger instead of a top 4 challenger
 
Nicolarra90 said:
True that, but anyway that was 100% RVP

And sure he's not a complete liability, but is an upgrade we must do if we want to be a PL challenger instead of a top 4 challenger
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Kasper Schemichel won the PL. Courtious won the league with Chelsea. You just need a reliable GK, but understand how their style and play suits to your defensive setup/beliefs and the role in the greater team.

There are deeper issues within the first team setup, such as relying on individual managers to dictate the overall first team sporting project. If you want to pay DDG that much salary, then give yourself an out and make the contract 3 years instead of 5. United are in this situation because Woodward and co didn't have the complete oversight and vision. They didn't have to bend over backwards to keep and pay DDG for as more or as long. Should be projecting your squad at every position 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 48 months out. Romero and a backup would have been adequate to bridge the gap for Henderson, but that takes someone in control of the entire football side of things...it pre-dates Jose and Ole...and that's on Woodward and the club.

DDG isn't the future. Henderson is the first to get a legit chance at claiming the #1. If that transition really starts on Saturday or sometime this year or going into next season, so be it. But United stuck themselves with a massive contract for too many years on a player past his peak. DDG is the last string from Fergie's bow, not including Pogba, Jones, or Lingard.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
Yep absolutely. It is very much untenable to have the highest paid player in the whole bloody league on the bench though.
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I think that this thinking of not being able to drop such a highly paid player is at the heart of the issue here. Either Ole or someone above him doesn't want to lose face. In reality the damage has already been done in the contract decisions. They should be putting the football first, we need the best team on the field rather than the most expensive one.
 
Buffalo Bills said:
I think that this thinking of not being able to drop such a highly paid player is at the heart of the issue here. Either Ole or someone above him doesn't want to lose face. In reality the damage has already been done in the contract decisions. They should be putting the football first, we need the best team on the field rather than the most expensive one.
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Couldn't agree more. You can see the rewards Chelsea are reaping right now - it'd be easy for us to try to save face and insist Kepa plays given our level of investment, but the hierarchy has accepted that he's a sunk cost and that the team's performance has to be the priority.
 
I hope Henderson can become our number one he seems to have a good attitude. I haven't watched enough of him to be totally confident. What i have seen is he has been solid.

Whether he can be anywhere near De Gea's standards i don't know i mean lets not forget for around 5/6 years De Gea was clearly the best keeper in the league if not the world
 
DDG - and also Pogba and Martial - make playing for United look like it’s a 9-5 job that they’re kinda sick of. They’d be the bloke down the pub every night “...yeah, it sucks, I’m bored, but the money’s alright, innit?...”
 
Steven7290 said:
Can't be a coincidence I've been having the exact same names on my list. Mata for all his physical deficits, has never given me such impression.
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Yeh. Can't fault Mata approaching the game. He run like an old man, so eager to impress.
 
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De Gea would have been long gone had Fergie stayed on longer. Fergie was a master at knowing when a player had lost the hunger and desire to stay on top. He was ready to flog Rooney before bonehead Moyes arrived and decided to do the opposite of what Fergie recommended to him.

Pogba, Martial and De Gea and their toxic attitudes are holding the club back.
 
I watched Sheffield quite a few times last season & Henderson is a very good goalkeeper. His absence is a big reason Sheffield are struggling this year.
I personally feel that he is a better all round keeper than DDG & you are very lucky to have a ready made replacement should Ole have the cojones to pull the trigger on DDG & put Henderson in.
 
Even if he starts for the derby it has to communicated that it's the last chance saloon for him. At least Aguero isn't playing so he doesn't get to put the customary max power futsal shot past him.
 
jeff gurr said:
I watched Sheffield quite a few times last season & Henderson is a very good goalkeeper. His absence is a big reason Sheffield are struggling this year.
I personally feel that he is a better all round keeper than DDG & you are very lucky to have a ready made replacement should Ole have the cojones to pull the trigger on DDG & put Henderson in.
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Yeah I definitely feel that Henderson commands his area better than De Gea,he also showed what he can do from a distribution point of view with the goal at West Ham.

I will admit it's hard to really judge his shot stopping ability because he hasn't really had much to do yet in the games he has played.
 
lsd said:
I hope Henderson can become our number one he seems to have a good attitude. I haven't watched enough of him to be totally confident. What i have seen is he has been solid.

Whether he can be anywhere near De Gea's standards i don't know i mean lets not forget for around 5/6 years De Gea was clearly the best keeper in the league if not the world
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He can never be peak De Gea but it’s enough. De Gea for about 5 years was just incredible at times. Some of his performances were just insanely good.

The best teams ever like Barcelona with Valdes only needed a person fit for their style of play. De Gea has been better than Valdes if you ask me but has won nothing of note in comparison.
 
Ole may knew that DDG should be dropped but the board will doubt the GK selection who is the highest paid GK in the world. This season maybe a display that to indicate DDG performance dropped (and also a comparison with Dean) to push the board make a decision or accept that GK selection situation. (I think our manager have no right to get rid any highest paid player until the board agree)
 
Desert Eagle said:
Yes seriously. He's been crap for going on three seasons now. Giving him a new contract was incredibly stupid. I'd rather Henderson be our number one in all comps.
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I have no problem with anyone thinking his time is up and personally I would like to see Henderson have the #1 spot but the whole "feck off and take ole with you" attitude is pretty disrespectful for a player who has been with us for so long and was such an important player for so long. He deserves better from fans even if he is past his best.
 
Like Pogba, we should have cashed in on him a few years back. Too bad.
 
Oranges038 said:
Ill just leave this here too.

Schmeichel on the team style and type of goalkeeper. Uses Ben Foster as an example, could almost be describing De Gea.

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Yeah I agree with what he’s saying. DDG actually hinders how we defend and how we can attack quickly. He sticks to his line no matter what, he just doesn’t have the game to come out. It doesn’t work for a top team nowadays
 
Stack said:
I have no problem with anyone thinking his time is up and personally I would like to see Henderson have the #1 spot but the whole "feck off and take ole with you" attitude is pretty disrespectful for a player who has been with us for so long and was such an important player for so long. He deserves better from fans even if he is past his best.
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Agreed.
 
DDG given his wages is going to be tricky to move on as we found with a few other players. Seems we are good at securing sponsorship deals, but an expensive, 5 year deal for a football player doesn't always work as well as a bumper 5 year kit sponsorship!

Not sure if Henderson is the answer, but now is the time to find out. DDG should be moved on along with Pogba and a few others.
 
The 3rd goal vs. Leipzig shows actually what is missing in the club. The last 5% to give everything you got. Bayern got that Mia san Mia attitude with players like Neuer and Lewandowski (maybe Kimmich too, donno yet) who always want to win and walk upfront. They pull the weaker players with them.
Maguire could have cleared as well, if he gave 101%, DDG exactly the same. Actually the only guys I'm seeing walking in front are Bruno, Rashford who are not (yet) acknowledged leaders and Shaw who is simply not good enough of a footballer to be a leader. Pogba lost his status. OGS doesn't seem to be able to fire them up constantly.
Rio said post match that there is missing an identity. This identity is what seperates a big from a top club and currently Utd. is a big club but not a club which is in everyone's mind when it's about "who is gonna win this year?".
 
Drop him for tomorrow . I don’t want cowards protecting the goals in a derby . You want players that will fight for the badge on the shirt . drop him now and make him pay for that 3rd goal.
 
croadyman said:
Yeah I definitely feel that Henderson commands his area better than De Gea,he also showed what he can do from a distribution point of view with the goal at West Ham.

I will admit it's hard to really judge his shot stopping ability because he hasn't really had much to do yet in the games he has played.
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Even if Henderson's shot stopping isn't as good as peak De Gea (And to be honest that's a difficult bar for anyone to reach), if his all around goalkeeping game, like being more commanding on crosses, being more willing to come off his line, organizing his defense, etc, then we'll be better off overall.
 
DDG is earning near 400k a week. There is no "oh lets just not play him for the other guy". He's either 'bin the cnut' and give someone else the no1, or he plays.
 
Stack said:
I have no problem with anyone thinking his time is up and personally I would like to see Henderson have the #1 spot but the whole "feck off and take ole with you" attitude is pretty disrespectful for a player who has been with us for so long and was such an important player for so long. He deserves better from fans even if he is past his best.
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If feck off is too rude for you it is what it is. We disagree. He has cost us a lot in recent years and used up most of that credit.
 
stubie said:
This is where the ruthlessness is missing in the club. Liverpool once ditched Westerveld for one error whilst De Gea is now becoming more unreliable.

I’m at the point now where I feel it’s time for him to go
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And to think the club had a chance to be passively ruthless with him and not give him a bumper new contract. What did they do? Give him a bumper new contract.
 
I actually think de Gea has improved a bit with coming off his line this season, probably due to Henderson in training, but he went back to old habits the other night. Maguire should have cleared it but Henderson would definitely have collected it.
 
stubie said:
This is where the ruthlessness is missing in the club. Liverpool once ditched Westerveld for one error whilst De Gea is now becoming more unreliable.

I’m at the point now where I feel it’s time for him to go
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That's such a selective pointless argument to make. You cannot in any way compare De Gea to Sandor flipping Westerveld.

Liverpool also got rid of David James and Brad Friedel. But kept Dudek even after all his mistakes, how many keepers did they go through to get to Allison?

Both Friedel and James went on to have long premier league careers, Liverpool were probably wrong on Friedel. Man Utd also got rid of Howard, Carroll, Taibi, and Ben Foster. Arsenal got rid of Fabiamski and Szcecsny for the same reasons. Not because of one mistake simply because they just weren't good enough.

The difference between these guys and De Gea is that they never reached the level of De Gea and the high standards he set for himself for a number of season at their clubs. It looks like De Gea is in period of terminal decline, much like Casillas had at a similar age. He was so good for so long, but it's at the point now where Ole has to either shit or get off the pot on this one.
 
GledTheRed said:
His body language bothers me, same as Pogba.
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I agree with that. When we concede these days (and it’s a lot), he gives off Poor body language, a bit like a sulking child, shrugs his shoulders and you imagine him thinking, “oh well”. I could be wrong but he doesn’t look pissed off with himself or anybody else when he concedes. It should hurt him.

Ole must be courageous now and bring Henderson in for the Derby. Send a message that poor performance or a weak attitude won’t be ignored. I fear Ole is too much of a ‘yes man’ to make this progressive move.
 
He's past his best, I guess sometimes goalkeepers experience early decline too. He's still decent just not for a team that wants to get back to the top, he's mid-table standard now. In hindsight I kinda wish we had bought a better fax machine.
 
De Gea, Shaw, Pogba and Martial are the four players I feel just cannot be relied on to deliver what the club requires. Too complacent for me, despite pulling a high salary.

They have their qualities of course, but all four have glaring weaknesses in their game. We'd be better replacing each of them with someone who may not match their best quality, but is a better all rounder in their position, with no weaknesses for the opposition to exploit.

De Gea doesn't command his area or come for crosses, Shaw doesn't know how to attack or cross a ball and is injury prone, Pogba is a luxury player who doesn't put in a midfield grafter's shift, Martial doesn't attack the ball enough in the penalty area.

Those are pretty glaring weaknesses, for the rest of the team to compensate for, as well as doing their own jobs. It's like having a Ferrari engine in a Trabant body.
 
He's getting by on past performances with fans and management clinging to the hope that his best ability is once again just around the corner.
 
De Gea's gameplay choices effects the whole of our defensive line.

That's why him leaving will eventually lead to the return of our defensive ability within our club.

That's why I can't wait for his exit. I respect the guy for his time here but sometimes he genuinely feels like he is one of the only goalkeepers who uses their arms as little as they possibly could.
 
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