With all due respect, it's pretty frustrating to keep reading that De Gea is to blame for the suboptimal play (to put it kindly) of our front line. But before we go to the front line, let's briefly assess the performances of three starting midfielders: Casemiro, Eriksen and Bruno. This is relevant to the point at hand.
I don't blame him. But he is part of the reason why ETH might see the need to bring in Weghorst in some games. Because he supposedly is good at winning second balls and high balls. I understand your notion, I have no intention in blaming the GK for everything, I am still a bit of a fan but it is true, that his substandard kicking is part of the reason why we are so bad. Less prominent example is the high line. DDG is extremely uncomfortable away from his line which leads to us as a team needing to stay deeper. From a deeper position, it is more difficult to press high and if you force errors they are further away from goal.
DDG isn't the problem, he is part of the problem. Just like us missing a good striker is part of the problem.
Casemiro has been outstanding for us this season and other than Rodrigo has been the standout CDM in the EPL this season. He was a bit wobbly in his first two appearances, without doubt, but when he found his feet was borderline ludicrous for us. We know about the harsh red cards, which he was a bit slow to recover from once he came back but has been beyond any question outstanding for us this season. I will neither credit De Gea for Casemiro's brilliant play nor blame De Gea when Casemiro has been off peak.
Too much hyperbole for me. But I was told not to take everything to literate so alright. Casemiro had a very good 1st season for me to.
Eriksen. I'm not going to write a paragraph about each midfielder and front line player, but I will say that apart from the poor pass by De Gea to Eriksen at the beginning of the season (Brentford) which led to the first of the three thrashings we took this season in the EPL, De Gea can't be held responsible for the performances of Eriksen, who tends to tire in the second half and clearly needs upgrading on.
True.
Bruno. Bruno is erratic, with extremely high highs and low lows. Bruno's performances are in no way a function of De Gea's passing out of the back.
So true. Bruno is his own chapter in the "problem" book. Which puts him in light he doesn't deserve into because he is great at what he does.
Rashford, Sancho, Martial, Antony and Garnacho. Their ability or inability to finish on great chances (Sancho and Martial had near-sitters they both botched, chances that would have put the match away before stoppage time) we create match after match has nothing to do with De Gea, a goalkeeper.
All teams are missing chances. And I wouldn't expect Kane to be at any position those chances were missed on. I don't think, we are creating much of note to be perfectly honest. We are doing better than last year and probably even the year before but it certainly is key issue of our team. I mean, how often have those chances been long balls in behind the defense. That is all good and well but at some point, that isn't going to cut it. This lesson had to be learned by Ole and I am pretty sure that ETH already knows this.
But we're here to talk about Harry Kane. Hugo Lloris is an inferior GK to David De Gea and Spurs as a squad are inferior to United as a squad. I'll grant you that United are better managed than Spurs, who have been badly managed for a long time now, but Harry Kane has performed brilliantly despite his inferior keeper, inferior back line, inferior midfield and inferior managers.
So Spurs were worse than we but had the great striker so many in here would like to see at United. But where did Spurs end up
? They are sitting on 8th place. In terms of goals scored they are 6th, in terms of xG they are 8th. Goals wise they are behind Brighton, Newcastle, Pool and Arsenal who with no notable striker (I know, also a bit hyperbole). xG wise they are behind those teams plus us AND Brentford.
I get your point to a degree but I just don't see the connection how one individual player would have such an effect.
Your final point about big name players in their early 30s is well taken, however. It's not that Kane is old and about to become feeble, but it is reasonable to ask how much he has left in the tank. If we could know with metaphysical certainty that Kane can replicate his form from this season into the next three seasons, the 80m it would take to pry him from Spurs would be worth every penny. But we don't know that. But...we also don't know that about any footballer at any age. Look at Martial.
Granted. I mean, if we could be sure, that Kane will age like Lewa and Benzema, it'd be a different ballgame as well. But we don't know. And sometimes it just takes a stupid foul for a serious injury. The older the player, the longer it takes to get back. Plus adding another older player to an already aging squad (especially those who are considered 1st teamers) is risky as well as it could just push us into a situation where we have to replace half the squad...
Believe me, I have nothing at all against the player. If he could be brought in for like 50 or even 60 million, I'd be fine, but the figures around are higher. And I think, if we don't bring in GK and a midfielder (plus the striker of course) we'll get into trouble. And for a GK, it is probably not a good idea to try to save money and looking at our midfield, it shouldn't be another veteran as well but potentially somebody approach his natural peak.
