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We played a defensive game against City too when we won 2-0 with Henderson in goal. We had 34% possession and conceded 23 shots. I don't really remember us ever playing with high defensive line under Ole.
It's just an example of another shambolic summer though is it not? We let our 2nd choice keeper (who was first choice until covid) leave - for nothing basically, without replacement. Whatever people think of Henderson (who has this knack despite "not being rated by the caf" of keeping clean sheets and saving 'easy' penalties sigh), he should have remained to push de Gea on. If the hierarchy wanted him gone he should have been replaced - like they should replace Pogba Lingard etc. But here we are, worse than last season somehow. Criminal, as Henderson put it himself.
Of course we were, every team will play defensive to win a game the point I'm making is that if you are going to get the best out of De Gea you have to defend deep. If you push up it creates gaps between the goalkeeper and defence because he does not cover those gaps, balls in behind and crosses into the box are left to defenders every time without fail whereas they were more comfortable in front of Henderson (and Romero for that matter) because they did cover those spaces and deal with balls into the box.
No I don't disagree with any of these flaws you're mentioning for De Gea. We all know shot stopping is what made his career while he's lacking in other aspects you would expect from a goalkeeper. I thought last season for him was better than the previous 2 in which he was awful even when it came to shot stopping.
Two average keepers. Not worth arguing about. Average is pretty kind actually. Especially in De Gea's case.
Fair enough, I can certainly agree that last season was an improvement on his previous two years!
Yeah, neither one of them is the answer.
De Gea is undoubtedly more talented than Henderson, but being good at reaction saves doesn't mean much if you're scared of challenging strikers in the air, scared of leaving your 6 yard box, scared of being passed to and incapable of organising a defence.
But United should always have 2nd GK to challenge DDG's spot. It was no coincidence that DDG performed well when he had Romero, a solid GK on the bench. Then started fecking around when Romero left
I don't necessarily think Henderson is the answer but that logic doesn't really make sense.
Based on what exactly?
But Heaton is not good at all, that’s the problem. Maybe Kovar?
Maybe. I'm hopeful Heaton or Kovar can at least get the basics right. Those howlers are getting into De Gea's head.
Yeah, 100%. We’ve had so many different CBs struggling in front of him, they can’t all be as terrible as they seem. Plus you have the likes of Smalling and Blind who look fine when they play for a different team. People underestimate how big a role a keeper plays in the overall effectiveness of a back four. Even when he’s not on the ball he should be organising the rest of them as he’s the one player who always has a view of all of the opposition attackers. And you just don’t see (or hear) him doing any of that organising on match days. Throw in the general uncertainty about whether he’ll come off his line to sweep or claim a high cross and not being a reliable option to pass the ball too, as well as often passing the ball to attackers in dangerous positions. It’s a recipe for disaster. Must be an absolute nightmare to play in front of.
Probably more to do with the fact that we pay him a feck-ton of money and will continue to do so until 2024.
2023*
While you're right I think you're being optimistic thinking we wouldn't
This is Man Utd, we're extending that contract come hell or high water!
You are probably right, but to me stuff like this is the proper test for Murtough and Arnold. Do you do the completely sensible thing that is on a plate and earn a tick against your performance, or do you do the stupid thing and keep them.
I actually thought he was great for us.
Better than Henderson, much better than current De Gea too. Signed for Boca recently so that’s not a possibility.
Losing Pogba, Matic, Lingard and Mata this summer without getting a penny for them will have been excruciating for the bean counters at the club. You can guarantee they’ll find a way to convince themselves that extending the contracts of De Gea et al will “protect their value” and we can find a mug to buy them off us at a later date.
Exactly this, to be a goalkeeper you need supreme confidence in yourself.
