Hardly surprising a young promising keeper is proclaimed as a future player. No different to say many proclaiming Macheda as being the future of United's attack.
Sir Alex in for Akinfeev
- Thread starter zain
- Start date
Spot on
He's nowhere near Barthez's level when the latter joined United. Barthez was one of the best four or five in the world at that time.
But no one would have foreseen his spectacular collapse at United. He was so rattled that his games became riddled with silly schoolboy errors.
The trick is finding a keeper who can maintain or even improve his level when he joins us. It's all about the big-match temperament, and unfortunately you never know how they will react till they pull on our jersey. A punt on a keeper like Akinfeev would be no different from any other.
Which is wrong. We must get a keeper who has VDS' gla keeping strengths. & this Talented Russian doesn't have the most important ones.
To be honest, I've not watched him enough to judge his attributes. But what I'm saying that when it comes to us buying a keeper, the mental aspect is a very important one, and most of the time this is something we can't tell until he starts playing for us, especially in the big games.
I'll leave it to the scouts and the coaching staff to decide who's good enough to play for United ability-wise, be it Adler, Neuer, Akinfeev or whoever. But whoever we choose, there's a chance that they may falter once they get to OT because of their match temperament, or lack of. This risk will be reduced if we sign someone already playing at a huge club, but the very top teams won't let go of their established keepers easily.
I get where you're coming form. The thing is about this Russian lad. He has the temperament and is a leader. Just like Neuer and Adler. But unlike the German's and the french man Lorris, he is weak aerially and not that good with the ball at his feet. Which can be a problem for a United keeper as seen with Foster.
What makes VDs most valuble to us apart from his temprament is the fact he is ace in the air and good with his feet and distribution. To replace him we really need a keeper of similar attributes. Rather than a line keeper.
United need to sign a top keeper, have no problem with them spending 35 million on Cesar. Inter will have their price. Sign him up SAF.
If we where to spend that much money on a player, I'd rather see us use the money elsewhere. Like a creative attacking midfielder in the Silva/Hamsik-mould.
For a 30 yo gk...............gimme that. Seriously the lad is at the top of his game bring him n if that is the price, do it a sec
Didn't know he was that old. I'm even more convinced now that we shouldn't spend that much on him.
Do you know how old Vds is?????
Yes, and? Van der Sar is more an exception to the rule, You can't expect every goalkeeper to maintain a top class level going into their late 30's. At a certain age you become more vulnerable to injuries, and I think it would be both risky and plain stupid to pay £30 mill on someone who is entering the latter parts of his carreer. Especially considering the current financial climate our club is in.
If you spend that money on a keeper and get the type of Service Buffon has given Juventus, it is worth every penny. It beats getting a Silva or a Hamsik IMO.
You consider Cesar to be at the level of Buffon and Casillas Chief?
The difference is that Juventus got him in when he was young and could spend a huge amount of time at the club.
We do need a good kicker, because we tend to play a lot of balls back to the keeper. Not sure if this is something Akinfeev is still improving on, after all he is still very young for a keeper. I reckon it'll be easier for someone to improve on his kicking and distribution than his match temperament.
Personally I'd prefer a taller keeper too, but like I said, I'll leave it to our scouts to figure out what we need. If Akinfeev can perform well consistently for us like how Given (who is about the same height) had done for Newcastle, that wouldn't be too bad at all.
yup.
you can't feck around at the GK position....a golden GK between the ages of2 24-28, i'd spend buffon money on.
If Akinfeev performs in a similar way to Given had done for Newcastle then that would be bad news for the defence. What we want from our keeper is someone who can organise the defence from aerial bombardment which Given never convinced on.
This all confuses me.
One flaw in the kids game and he's written off... Instead of paying homage to his attributes and skills that shine, we're knocking the fact he\s poor in the air... THAT is all anyone here seems to be getting at.
Akinfeev is a captain by trade, he earned it, he IS a leader... He organizes defensive units VERY well and despite his own flaws in regards to crosses and corners, he's got great communication skills and knows a number of languages (Including Portugeese, which would come in handy with the twins).
Akinfeev is young enough to not only improve on things he's poor at, but can continue to grow with the attributes that he's excelling at, at such a young age.
He is about their level, yes. He'd replace Van der sar seamlessly. I doubt we will look at him though unfortunately.
i would agree with spending £30m or so on a truly top notch keeper. If they can provide us with 5-10 years of solid keeping, its money well spent. Exactly which of the multiple "emerging" keepers SAF thinks would fit the club is very much a judgement call. There has been enough debate on here and chin-wagging to at least agree that there are quite a few promising options. Adler, Neuer, Akinfeev, Lloris, Mandanda - Carrizo and Ustari are somewhat less talked about but still good prospects.
Frankly though, anyone who puts a 26 (or is it 27?) year old Foster on the same level as the above needs their heads checked. I would have no qualms with splashing the cash on any of those choices and offloading Foster.
Frankly though, anyone who puts a 26 (or is it 27?) year old Foster on the same level as the above needs their heads checked. I would have no qualms with splashing the cash on any of those choices and offloading Foster.
Jussi
I struggle to see how you know that, regardless of whether you watched him in Russia or not.
Give examples of some excellent organisation skills that you've noticed.
Yesterday was a typical Akinfeev game from the matches I've watched (I'm a fan of the Russian national team and have also watched a number of CSKA's CL games this season). One brilliant save at the death, but before that some distinctly dodgy decision-making - went for a walk-about in the first half (clearly no communication there, which Searl appears to think is his strength), and then I felt was partially culpable for the goal. Foster Mark II for me.
Now Lloris - he does look promising.
Now Lloris - he does look promising.
It's called build-ups to corners and set pieces... Alot of young keepers lack in these areas and he does a great job.
He looks the real deal, IMO. I've only seen him about seven or eight times, but he's got the lot from what I have seen. Can't see any obvious weaknesses either.
At the price Lyon want he might be out of our reach, but paying twenty five odd for a Buffon/Casillas standard keeper would be good business. And of all the keepers I've seen, he's the one I'd reckon will be up there with them in a year or two.
that's a bit harsh but he certainly doesn't inspire confidence - simply doesn't look a big club / big game player
same goes for Lloris IMO - both decent keepers, but doubt either could step it up at OT
I'd have more confidence with Lloris than Akinfeev as the Frenchman seems the more complete keeper.
Lloris would also be a feckload more expensive. when he leaves lyon, it'll be for 20 million.
Set pieces are organised by the coaches, a bit of shouting on the pitch during set pieces doesn't mean a lot.
What about in open play, seen any examples of his organisation skills?
Same amount it would take to prise Akinfeev from CSKA. The key difference here least in my view is that Lloris is the better keeper. But we should only sign someone who is clearly better than Foster, otherwise it's not worth it.
My view too. Massively impressed me every time I've ever watched him (unlike Akinfeev)
I also think 20m for arguably the best young keeper in the world isn't that expensive. It would be absolute peanuts for the best young striker in the world.
So that makes it Lloris, Silva and Villa in January with Foster and Nani out then? Nice
if akinfev went for 20, then lloris would go for more. that was what i was trying to get at. not only is lloris better, he's also at lyon.
i'm not disputing that lloris is better.
i fully agree with those not convinced with akinfeev. i am in the same boat about him. i don't think he would give us a MUCH better improvement over foster.
You never know, the fact he's Russia's captain might bump the price up as much as Aulas.
I wouldnt complain if he was a stop gap purchase.
Lyon would ask a king's ransom for Lloris. Their top brass are expert negotiators as they don't have to sell until the player demands a move. And even then the Lyon money-people hold all the cards. Essien was a 15m player in 2005 yet they got 24m for him. Same for Drogba the year before. Granted it was Abramovich just spending freely but they often get top dollar for their players.