Let's talk 'keepers: who do we buy and why?

Katy Cat

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Aug 16, 2023
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It feels like a really interesting time for the goalkeeper market, where we can expect to see a number of big clubs looking to bring in new first choices, in a climate where there don't seem to be that many options*.

City are surely going to replace Ederson in the summer (I don't think he's a great keeper, more someone who's benefited from the halo effect of their success), Chelsea will probably buy (I know they've picked-up a young Belgian player but they have a gap in an experienced, reliable, keeper) and you have to assume we're going need to get decisive and bring in someone to take over from Onana (though it's a moot point where that sits against other priorities and our limited spending power). Sadly, Liverpool have already acted and got Mamardashvili, who I think will become very good.

So, who do we buy and why?

*I'm still in love with Peter Schmeichel, the best goalkeeper in my time as a fan, who SAF described as the 'bargain of the century'.
 
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An upgrade in goalkeeper has to be on the agenda for United but probably a few other positions to be filled first in terms of priority. I wonder though, given Onanas form, could Vitek, Harrison, a buy back on Kovar or Bayinder be the answer in the next 18 months or so?
 
Left field option : Kepa.
Been tremendous for Bournemouth this year.
 
If a lot of clubs are looking for a new keeper, hopefully we can sell Onana. No idea who we should go for. I’d like Martinez just for his shithousery alone.
 
I do think that we should look to replace Onana but our finances mean we wont be able to this summer. My hope is that when looking for a goal keeper we prioritize someone who is a good shot stopper and who can command their area. I don't care whether they are good with the ball or not. I don't want to hear how this goal keepers ball playing ability will unlock our style of play like we did with Onana. We spent 50 Million to make a lateral move at goalkeeper.
 
Wish we went for Mamardashvili tbh.
 
up for giving Bayandir a run in the team and saving the money for other positions
 
just an experienced shot stopper who’s a calming influence will do. 2005 Edwin Van Der sar would be perfect, shame they don’t grow on trees.
 
Donnarumma. Mad that he is only just gone 25. He could solve our problems for 10 years+. He also has only 1 year left on his contract.

Then Mike Manigan can move to PSG.

Everyone is happy bar Milan.
 
Kinsella said:
And what are the chances of getting him given who he plays for?
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They could lose TAA,Salah and VVD for nothing.

Konte hasn't signed a new deal and could leave in 2026. He is dreaming of Real I think.

Maybe they will be happy to deal and not lose another player for free. They already have signed his replacement.
 
thegregster said:
They could lose TAA,Salah and VVD for nothing.

Konte isn't hasnt signed a new deal and could leave in 2026.

Maybe they will be happy to deal and not lose another player for free. They already have signed his replacement.
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I get that. I think he’s a better keeper than Onana and I’d take him, but what are the chances of Liverpool doing business with United?
 
Kinsella said:
I get that. I think he’s a better keeper than Onana and I’d take him, but what are the chances of Liverpool doing business with United?
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Absolutely none, fans would not be happy whatsoever. They haven't forgotten about the Heinze ordeal.
 
Are people just suggesting goalkeepers to make Onana seem better?
 
Give Bayindir an audition for the rest of the season. We don't have the money to be spending another £40/50 million on a keeper.
 
I think the keepers in the CL this season have been quite underwhelming. Feels like there isn't a top keeper out there. The difference between the best keepers in the CL and someone like Selz or Flekken isn't big. They all feel like they're decent all around but not particularly good at anything.

Onana bugs me because I think he lets in easy goals too many times and doesn't compensate by making saves that you don't expect your want your keeper to save. Couple that with the fact that he's supposed to be good with his feet but I've only seen him be decent at receiving the ball and passing it short, just like every other keeper in the league is capable of. Turns out when a professional footballer like a goalkeeper who trains every day or multiple times a day, if you make some of that time dedicated to passing the ball and receiving it he can do it pretty well.
 
You guys mentioning Donaruma like United are going to be at the top table for signings, with no Europe whatsoever likely next season we'll be very lucky to sign anyone of that ilk unless they are paid outrageously which is something we are cutting down on too
 
Nobody for a while. Onana isn't great but he's not a goalie who will hold us back from improving on the pitch and becoming at least a top 4 club. He'd hold us back from the title but there's no point in thinking about that currently when we are 13th
 
bosnian_red said:
Nobody for a while. Onana isn't great but he's not a goalie who will hold us back from improving on the pitch and becoming at least a top 4 club. He'd hold us back from the title but there's no point in thinking about that currently when we are 13th
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I disagree. He's so inconsistent, which not only leads to direct goals / lost points, but I think more importantly undermines the defences confidence on the whole.

I'd take a solid if unexceptional keeper who can do the basics well 9/10 above him in a heartbeat, and I say that as someone who was very pro-Onana and proven thoroughly wrong.

I don't watch enough football outside of the PL to know many left field options these days, though I think Hermansen at Leicester looks promising and you'd expect wouldn't cost the earth when they go down.
 
Poor Schmikes would've never survived the intense drama queen footie geniuses of the message board age. This was only his first couple of years. I recall loads of embarrassing gaffs over the years. The same would go for Gary Neville, Nemanja, etc, good lord Fletcher would've been scalped by sharp, pounding fingertips.

 
thegregster said:
Mad that he is only just gone 25. He could solve our problems for 10 years+. He also has only 1 year left on his contract.

Then Mike Manigan can move to PSG.

Everyone is happy bar Milan.
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Yep I agree, commands his areas, massive and a tad crazy. Shame he’d probably not forfeit champions league for a season or two.
 
Aaron Ramsdale. Southampton are getting relegated so we could maybe get him for cheap. And, he is a better goalkeeper than Onana, by miles.
 
Some interesting themes in here:

Get the best - so a Donnarumma very probably isn't available, for all sorts of reasons but if there was a set of circumstances, where a genuinely world class keeper became available, you can make a strong case for why that might be the right thing to do. Great keepers have great longevity: get the right one in and you don't have to worry about this position for 5-6 years. Maybe more.

Invest for the future - riskier because you're going for someone who might be attainable at a reasonable price, who might have all the capabilities you'd want, who might have a high ceiling, but isn't proven..James Trafford is a name I expected to see as he's being touted as a future star, however, he really struggled in his single season in the PL and, though he's been been breaking records in the Championship, it's in an ultra-defensive Burnley side. And it's the Championship.

The sensible option - I think we made a mistake not giving Kovář a chance and are now in similar position with Vitek. One or both of these - do we have a buy-back option on Kovář? - might be the savvy decision.
 
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