The Footie Thread

[Tashyboy]

Such is the life of a goalkeeper, though. It comes with the territory I’m afraid.

De Gea’s distribution, and his confidence with the ball at his feet, are both dreadful. Always have been. And whilst I accept that was magnified with the equally calamitous Maguire in front of him, both are key attributes for top ‘keepers in the modern game. It’s precisely why Guardiola jettisoned Joe Hart almost as soon as he took over at City.

De Gea may be a wonderful shot stopper most of the time, but he has been rather left behind by a game which has changed enormously since his arrival at Old Trafford. It is quite clear Ten Hag wants his side to be able to play football from the goalkeeper forward. It’s equally clear De Gea isn’t up to it.

I am a huge De Gea fan. Always have been. But United cannot afford to have a goalkeeper who is so clearly uncomfortable with the ball at his feet. It just undermines the confidence of those in front of him too much.

When Pep came to City, Joe Hart was out almost immediately, not being able to play from the back was quoted as one of the problems. Hart went on record and said “ he was never given the chance to show he could play from the back”. I don’t know if he has improved any since he has turned up at Celtic. That said he is no longer in Englands squad so that says something. After Hart we had Claudio Bravo. He could play from the back but Lordy Lordy he was dire, yet his stats for the national team are very impressive. He soon went for Ederson who has been fantastic. Remember during the week when he turned a forward inside out when being closed down. What I am saying is that Pep was Brutal when it came to keepers. TH needs to be the same. I agree that De Geas best years are behind him.

 

[Billysboots]

He's been a world class keeper for 10 of those years, i dont think it matters how long he has been there for. If anything a stable keeper is only a positive in the unstable side that ManU have been with different managers in recent seasons.

Agreed. But my overall point is that, in all that time, whilst the game has changed De Gea has not adapted to those changes.

 

[Tashyboy]

Agreed. But my overall point is that, in all that time, whilst the game has changed De Gea has not adapted to those changes.

As part of my morning wake up I surf the net. Part of that is BBC football gossip. It states on Forbes that De Gea is close to signing a contract extension.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

He only had to turn 180° and he had beat the press. Instead he's panicked and played the wrong ball. Maguire has had a look around and pointed he wanted the ball to his feet, he was confident of receiving it knowing he would be closed down. De Gea had just put the ball out of play from the same position leading to the goal too so maybe he wasnt comfortable playing a longer ball. It was a complete mess but i think Maguire takes the brunt of it 80/20.

He had 3 players on him almost instantly. De Gea could see the full picture, Maguire could not. It was a crazy pass to give him.

 

[Billysboots]

He had 3 players on him almost instantly. De Gea could see the full picture, Maguire could not. It was a crazy pass to give him.

Both at fault in my book. Maguire for asking for the ball and De Gea for giving it to him.

You could perhaps forgive inexperienced players that sort of mistake. These are senior, seasoned international footballers.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Both at fault in my book. Maguire for asking for the ball and De Gea for giving it to him.

You could perhaps forgive inexperienced players that sort of mistake. These are senior, seasoned international footballers.

I wonder if Maguire is trying to prove himself at the moment, ie not hiding, asking for the ball even in unwise situations etc. That could have added to it. I still think the greater fault is with the keeper though, he can see everything in front of him. Easy pickings for Sevilla, they did their homework well.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I wonder if Maguire is trying to prove himself at the moment, ie not hiding, asking for the ball even in unwise situations etc. That could have added to it. I still think the greater fault is with the keeper though, he can see everything in front of him. Easy pickings for Sevilla, they did their homework well.

To be fair to Maguire I've never seen him hide, even through all the criticism.

I've just rewatched the 1st goal and he was totally at fault, he told De Gea he wanted it to feet and I suspect he thought the easy pass was to wan bissaka .... but he got closed down way more quickly that he expected I think.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

In football, what you were like last year, 2 years ago, 10 years ago means nothing. You are judged on current form and how you have have played in the past few games. If we are judging De Gea on how he played 10 years ago then something is very wrong. Maybe bring back Jim Leighton if Utd want a keeper who was good a few years back?

Form is temporary, Class is permanent. We are not judging how he played 10yrs ago, his allround game over the last 12 years has been consistently superb. Yes he's had bad games,patches of bad form but doesnt every footballer? He's been very good for large parts of this season and he had bad game yesterday. Shame for him it was in the 2nd leg of a 1/4 final. It happens and i have no doubt he'll bounce back, hes too good not to.

 

[clubchamp98]

He has, but I’m not sure Ten Hag is going to tolerate any player, especially a ‘keeper, who puts in such an appalling performance in such a big game.

He needs players he knows he can rely on in big games. He’s got to be looking at De Gea’s display tonight and thinking he can’t trust him. And it won’t be easy for De Gea to come back from that in the long term.

Just seen the goals on the news this morning. Anyone having a pop at Maguire for the first needs to take a step back. De Gea hung him out to dry. I'm sure not intentionally but still, that isn't on poor old Maguire on this occasion.

Maguire does ask for the ball though.
but DeGea shouldn’t give it to him.

 

[Neilds]

Form is temporary, Class is permanent. We are not judging how he played 10yrs ago, his allround game over the last 12 years has been consistently superb. Yes he's had bad games,patches of bad form but doesnt every footballer? He's been very good for large parts of this season and he had bad game yesterday. Shame for him it was in the 2nd leg of a 1/4 final. It happens and i have no doubt he'll bounce back, hes too good not to.

But how long back do you go? Age catches up with everyone and the games progresses. Also, how come people trot out that 2/3 bad games doesn't make someone a bad player but they only need one good game to be proclaimed a world beater again?

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

Agreed. But my overall point is that, in all that time, whilst the game has changed De Gea has not adapted to those changes.

With respect, i totally disagree. He's worked under 5 or 6 different managers with different styles of play, winning ManU's player of the year on 3 consecutive occassions and he kept the no1 spot throughout. To say he's not adapted to those changes is wrong.

 

[Billysboots]

Form is temporary, Class is permanent. We are not judging how he played 10yrs ago, his allround game over the last 12 years has been consistently superb. Yes he's had bad games,patches of bad form but doesnt every footballer? He's been very good for large parts of this season and he had bad game yesterday. Shame for him it was in the 2nd leg of a 1/4 final. It happens and i have no doubt he'll bounce back, hes too good not to.

Consistently superb with patches of bad form? So not really consistently superb, then?!

I’m nit picking, I know. But there comes a time in every footballer’s career when they need to move on. With De Gea’s contract up in the summer, I just think now is the right time for club and player to part ways.

Ten Hag is looking to the future. A ‘keeper whose best years are now probably behind him is not the future.

 

[clubchamp98]

Consistently superb with patches of bad form? So not really consistently superb, then?!

I’m nit picking, I know. But there comes a time in every footballer’s career when they need to move on. With De Gea’s contract up in the summer, I just think now is the right time for club and player to part ways.

Ten Hag is looking to the future. A ‘keeper whose best years are now probably behind him is not the future.

Who would be your man then.?
good keepers are a rare breed

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

But how long back do you go? Age catches up with everyone and the games progresses. Also, how come people trot out that 2/3 bad games doesn't make someone a bad player but they only need one good game to be proclaimed a world beater again?

For what? He's 32 yrs old, relatively young for a keeper. Man U signed Van der Sar when he was 36!!
Criticise his performances, judge his current form but at least apply common sense before writing him off. These days it seems players are not allowed bad games/poor form without being written off.

 

[Neilds]

Who would be your man then.?
good keepers are a rare breed

If you find one, please let Rotherham Utd know. Our main keeper is out for the season, looks dodgy for the No 2 as he had to come off at halftime midweek and we are left with a 20 year old who only made his debut in the midweek fixture. We are looking for permission to get someone in on an emergency loan deal

 

[Billysboots]

With respect, i totally disagree. He's worked under 5 or 6 different managers with different styles of play, winning ManU's player of the year on 3 consecutive occassions and he kept the no1 spot throughout. To say he's not adapted to those changes is wrong.

Of course he hasn’t adapted.

When De Gea arrived at United a decade ago we were used to seeing goalkeepers kick it long, from their hands. Playing as a sweeper was an alien concept. Totally unheard of.

That is not the way teams play now. And it’s certainly not the way Ten Hag wants his team to play. Do you not recall him berating De Gea for going long earlier this season? He doesn’t want that, but De Gea has not adapted sufficiently to play it short or receive the ball to his feet from those in front of him. He’s visibly jittery. That is not a player who has moved with the times. It simply isn’t.

He may well have won United’s player of the season multiple times but that has been because they have been so bang average in front of him that they have been totally reliant on him to bail them out, repeatedly.

I’ve said it several times now. I’m a huge De Gea fan. But in the world of modern football, he’s no longer the complete goalkeeping package.

 

[Billysboots]

Who would be your man then.?
good keepers are a rare breed

I really like the look of David Raya.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

Consistently superb with patches of bad form? So not really consistently superb, then?!

I’m nit picking, I know. But there comes a time in every footballer’s career when they need to move on. With De Gea’s contract up in the summer, I just think now is the right time for club and player to part ways.

Ten Hag is looking to the future. A ‘keeper whose best years are now probably behind him is not the future.

You are nit picking, All footballers have bad form patches, even Messi and Ronaldo!! If you think he should move on then thats your opinion that you are entitled to have. He's still in the top 10 goal keepers in world football for my money.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

Of course he hasn’t adapted.

When De Gea arrived at United a decade ago we were used to seeing goalkeepers kick it long, from their hands. Playing as a sweeper was an alien concept. Totally unheard of.

That is not the way teams play now. And it’s certainly not the way Ten Hag wants his team to play. Do you not recall him berating De Gea for going long earlier this season? He doesn’t want that, but De Gea has not adapted sufficiently to play it short or receive the ball to his feet from those in front of him. He’s visibly jittery. That is not a player who has moved with the times. It simply isn’t.

He may well have won United’s player of the season multiple times but that has been because they have been so bang average in front of him that they have been totally reliant on him to bail them out, repeatedly.

I’ve said it several times now. I’m a huge De Gea fan. But in the world of modern football, he’s no longer the complete goalkeeping package.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. It takes more than 10 months to adapt to a new playing style, the whole team have proved that.

 

[Billysboots]

You are nit picking, All footballers have bad form patches, even Messi and Ronaldo!! If you think he should move on then thats your opinion that you are entitled to have. He's still in the top 10 goal keepers in world football for my money.

Top ten shot stoppers, probably. And my personal view is that shot stopping is still the priority for a goalkeeper. We clearly agree on that.

But he’s no longer a top ten all round goalkeeper. He can’t even make his national squad any more because of the way Spain want their football played.