De Gea Replacement - Do not use for player performance chat

[Marcelinho87]

The start of bringing our wage bill under control? Hopefully, no matter who has to be sacrificed to do so.

 

[The Purley King]

Accepting that De Gea would need to be paid a lot less if we kept him, which player(s) in the squad do you think he deserves to have wage parity with?

150-200 is fair.
Anything above that and we go for someone new.
We have more pressing concerns for sure but an extra 200k a week is 10m a year in additional wages.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Love De Gea and think he's the only player that has earned a status of legend at this club over last decade or so, but I think it's only right to keep him if he's willing to have his wages lowered. Only recently got rid of Ronaldo who was on huge money and have to keep fixing club's wage bill.

 

[JB7]

Accepting that De Gea would need to be paid a lot less if we kept him, which player(s) in the squad do you think he deserves to have wage parity with?

How much do we pay our back up left back or fifth choice centre midfielder? Probably about that. Clubs don’t tend to pay crazy money to back up goalkeepers.

 

[RopersReturn]

Okay he’s been pretty reliable so far this season, but there’s enough equally talented keepers about who would cost a lot less than the deal de Gea is currently receiving.

 

[Malone_Post]

150-200 is fair.
Anything above that and we go for someone new.
We have more pressing concerns for sure but an extra 200k a week is 10m a year in additional wages.

Considering Alison & Ederson are supposedly on about 100/150k themselves and are far better keepers then the current version of De Gea then anything close 100k would be generous in itself. Nevermind still being the highest paid keeper in the league.

 

[Messier1994]

I have been one of De Gea's biggest critics for quite some time now. I've always thought that he is quite possibly the best shot stopper in the world, but it's the rest of his game that he struggles with. He has had to make phenomenal saves that other keepers either wouldn't have to make (quick off their line), or saves that would be routine to other keepers (better positioning). But if there's one part of his game that to me seems to be very under rated it's when he has the ball at his feet. I see nothing wrong with his distribution. In my opinion, people are looking for something that isn't there, and when a pass does go astray, they say "see, his passing is horrible" (nobody has 100% pass accuracy). My biggest problems with him has been his reluctance to leave his goal line. This year he seems to be doing better. We have seen him play sweeper keeper a lot more than he has before, so there's definite improvement there. I still have a problem with his positioning at times and he still needs to defend his 6 better when it comes to crosses. But he is improving (didn't think he could). And if that improvement continues, I'd be good with having him stay past his current contract, just as long as he is willing to take a pay cut...

I am a bit torn regarding DDG’s ball playing ability. Many of the younger goalies does it first and foremost with a completely different mindset.

But firstly, why does this matter? Simply, the way this team is constructed, we are designed to play up from the back and with the ball as much as possible. In a game where both teams every time they get possession starts of with a long kick by the GK — we aren’t fit to compete with Newcastle, Everton, West Ham and co. All that really matters for us, that is to win the possession game. If we do that, half is won.

Can DDG exist and thrive in that environment? With DDG you can see that old school thought process; should I clear the ball or is there a pass to be made?

With the ball playing generation, it’s borderless. It’s like they are on the training ground passing the ball around in a circle and someone chasing it, just the reflexes at work. Even if the ball isn’t under control, they will play the ball to a teammates if they can get to it and someone is open. It doesn’t matter if their team is in control of things, you can have the most chaotic situation in the penalty area, but if the ball is on the ground in reach of the GK and a RB or CDM is open, it’s an easy pass really and it gets delivered (most of the time). They don’t have a ‘box to check’ that say ‘Can I safely make this pass?’ — and even if their mode is set to stop the ball, they won’t just clear it per default.

How much of an impact does this have? I don’t know. Sometimes it has a big impact, in an alternative universe/sliding doors situation, one situation in minute 60 of a game were you smartly play past the pressure and get a prolonged pressure high up field can have a really big impact on how the game plays out compared to if the ball is just cleared up field and you sink even lower in your defensive game. This is the charm of football, when you have fresh legs and mind you reset fast. Later in games, all of a sudden one team in a previously even fought game pins the other down for 10-15 minutes in a row. But in other situations — if it’s too chaotic, you still must have players up field who really can settle things down and buy time for their team to regroup — to benefit from the GK keeping possession. Often you just get those ping pong situations where a team plays out from the back but lose possession again fairly fast.

Also, regarding DDG’s quality of passing. In Ederson, City get an “out” in its transition game. When they play up from the back. When Ederson gets a pass from the RD and on one touch sends a hard cross over to like the LW — it’s not many in the football world who can make those passes better than him. I doubt KDB would do it better if he was put between the pipes.

DDG is a properly drilled goalie. A goalie doesn’t make a 100 different type of passes like say a CM does. He stands at more or less one area of the pitch, and can pass to what like 9 different areas more or less. What requires skill is really to pass the ball further up the pitch on either flank or of course sending the long ball to the striker. I can only imagine how many 10,000s of passes up either flank De Gea have made during his life time including all trainings, warmups and games. 50,000? 100,000? He is a skilled guy, he delivers those passes really well too. But the difference between him and Ederson is that he isn’t doing it on one touch of a half perfect hard pass that isn’t arriving to him where he wants it. He does not become a calming factor if we suddenly becomes subject of a really hard press that we struggle to handle.

Does this matter a lot? Again, I am not sure either way. DDG is not Joe Hart with the feet.

Ultimately the relevant question is, how much does ETH really rate DDG? If he had a solid alternative who was good with his feet — say an Andre Onana— would he consider playing him over DDG? I don’t know to be honest. One alternative is that ETH — like many of us I recon — think that DDG can be improved but but that it would take 50-60m to do so. But, another alternative is that ETH at the bottom line think that he can get just as much from a goalie out of a much bigger group than the 50-60m GKs, as he can get from DDG. If we start to look at the Andre Onana type of GKs out there, you can usually get someone on free transfer. Then it becomes more like, why even consider using DDGs option? Sign someone else for 100k. It’s not even up for debate.

 

[Isotope]

So what happen if he doesn't accept lower wage? Gamble 50-70m for a new Gk?

 

[FootballHQ]

Surely Onana will be a target for you?

Did well for Ajax for a number of seasons although don't know how he's getting on at Inter. Only 26 so could be number one for nearly same length as De Gea.

Mike Maignan another who could be gettable in June.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

It’s not necessarily ball at his feet that is the problem it’s his complete incapacity to come off his line and claim a cross.
We have conceded shit loads of goals that other teams wouldn’t purely because he is glued to his line.
Facing a shot from 18 yards he may be incredible but it’s that (fairly basic) attribute of being brave and dominating the 8-10 yards around his goal that he is severe lacking.

Ah lads, its the ball at his feet too. How many times have we seen him pass the ball into danger (Fred has been the victim of this a lot but also Eriksen vs Brentford earlier this season) and it result in a goal. Can see that he's clearly been pressurised to using his feet more and his passing has improved but but he's like a deer in the headlights at times and he just won't become 'good' at this element of keeping at his age.

He's also prone to panicking and reefing it out over the sideline a few times a game which messes up our buildup. Even if you don't think his footwork leads to many goals there's an opportunity cost to having a player like him over an Allison or even David Raya in that EtH can't embed his patient build up from the back because De Gea is too shaky on the ball.

 

[Adnan]

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James Ducker: "But United have not activated David de Gea’s option as they look instead to strike a new, shorter-term deal with the 32-year-old Spain goalkeeper that could see him take a sizeable cut to his existing £375,000 a week wages. De Gea’s contract is currently due to expire at the end of the season."

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I'm a little surprised that United are even looking to extend it. I think Ten Hag needs his own GK in the nets before we start see his vision for the club

 

[sullydnl]

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[Adisa]

I'm a little surprised that United are even looking to extend it. I think Ten Hag needs his own GK in the nets before we start see his vision for the club

Dave extending on reduced wages does not mean we won't invest in an alternative.
He has been one of our better players and this won't be happening if Ten Hag wanted him out.

 

[dinostar77]

Dave extending on reduced wages does not mean we won't invest in an alternative.
He has been one of our better players and this won't be happening if Ten Hag wanted him out.

I think its a big ask for any club to sell their no1 and no2 keepers in the same window.

More likely henderson departs permanently next summer and utd bring in a no2 that ETH wants. Then the summer after that de gea is replaced i.e 2024.

Depending on the opposition you could alternate between de gea and a new no2.

 

[MegadrivePerson]

Don't understand the logic of extending De Gea's contract at all?

He's not suited to the style of football ETH wants to play and even if he takes a big pay cut, we'd still be able to get a better fit for the system on a lower wage than De Gea would be prepared to accept.

De Gea is more of a hindrance than a help now sadly. We need to move forward with somebody more in the mould of Sanchez or Costa.

 

[TheNewEra]

If he takes a pay cut and maintains his level of form I think there's no shame in keeping DDG around for a season or two and assessing the situation.

United need a top striker and another midfielder IMO.

GK isn't urgent.

 

[croadyman]

If he takes a pay cut and maintains his level of form I think there's no shame in keeping DDG around for a season or two and assessing the situation.

United need a top striker and another midfielder IMO.

GK isn't urgent.

Yeah definitely down the priority list right now

 

[SinNombre]

It is a completely irrational reason but DDG (and Jones) are our last remnants of a title-winning team. With Jones gone in the summer, would like DDG to win another title before leaving United. As long as ETH gets continuity, we are only a couple of pieces away imo.

 

[bosnian_red]

Definitely needs a pay cut but something like 200k per year than why not. He's improved plenty on the ball, and while he's still weak in the air and ultimately we'll move on sooner rather than later, another year while we focus on CM and ST is fine.

 

[sullydnl]

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[LawCharltonBest]

How do people feel about De Gea signing a new deal? Torn myself

I trust Ten Hag, but feel we won't see his complete vision for United while De Gea is still the #1

On the other hand, De Gea is clearly World Class in some aspects, was part of the last title-winning bunch and will likely be remembered in 10 years as a United great

 

[Scandi Red]

* next lowest priority

 

[groovyalbert]

Say it quietly, he has been immense under ETH. He's really improved his passing range too.

 

[Zoo]

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[DeGea]

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He clearly loves the club. Legend.

 

[Adamsk7]

I have no idea why anyone would want to push this man out of the club. He loves us and he often pulls us out of the sh*t. Apparently his kicking isn’t great and that’s enough to ship him out. Never mind if the guy we get can’t make the kind of gravity defying dives Dave can, he can boot a ball in the direction of our full backs.

Luckily, I don’t think Ten Hag is as fussed about this as half the forum seem to be

 

[IRN-BRUno]

I realise that we're going to need someone who fits more into Ten Hag's style eventually but he's done well this season so if he's happy to extend with a lower salary then it's a good move, there are other areas that need improving first.

Will be a sad day for me when he does leave though.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

How do people feel about De Gea signing a new deal? Torn myself

I trust Ten Hag, but feel we won't see his complete vision for United while De Gea is still the #1

On the other hand, De Gea is clearly World Class in some aspects, was part of the last title-winning bunch and will likely be remembered in 10 years as a United great

I'm okayish with it so long as he's on significantly reduced wages and that the strategy is not for him to continue as first choice keeper in the medium-long term. Once we have flexibility to sell him when we wish (i.e. his wage is not prohibitive to clubs that may be interested in him) it shouldn't hinder us too much and would make him a possible future source of income. I do see GK being a top three priority position that we need to replace though so hope it happens in the summer at latest.

 

[RedPed]

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Excellent news! Feck the haters, hope he signs for another 5 years.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

3 years on £200k per week and it lets us focus on other areas and use the £175k week ‘saving’ on paying a new striker.

 

[Artorias]

He clearly loves the club. Legend.

Legend.
De Gea is a great GK, i don't understand the hate he's getting.

 

[Lash]

I didn't think he'd agree to that, so I would be fine with that. Hopefully one of our academy keepers can develop in the future.

 

[sullydnl]

How do people feel about De Gea signing a new deal? Torn myself

I trust Ten Hag, but feel we won't see his complete vision for United while De Gea is still the #1

On the other hand, De Gea is clearly World Class in some aspects, was part of the last title-winning bunch and will likely be remembered in 10 years as a United great

He very clearly isn't the ideal profile of goalkeeper for this team. But given his efforts to improve under ETH, he also doesn't currently look like quite the liability some may have feared he'd be. You could probably project him to perform like an average to above average PL goalkeeper over the coming couple of seasons.

So the question really is one of timing. Do we want to try and address that inevitable long-term goalkeeper issue this summer? Or do we want to park it by settling for De Gea for another couple of seasons?

Given the uncertainty around the ownership of the club, the budget we'll have to work with and our need to make signings in other positions, I have no particular issue with us opting to kick the can down the road for another couple of seasons.

Not least because while you're correct that we won't see ETH's complete vision for the team while De Gea is #1, I think we're more than a couple of seasons away from seeing that complete vision regardless. And there's still plenty of room for the team to keep improving while De Gea is in the side. The team doesn't need to be perfect to be competitive.

 

[HTG]

Would be a bad decision on your part. The issues he has won’t go away.

 

[Idxomer]

Giving him a new deal is a mistake even on reduced terms.

 

[Based Adnan]

Poor decision. Anything to save a few quid though.

 

[mancsarered]

Our money should be spent on the attack right now. DDG is good enough to win the league, our striking options are not.

 

[romufc]

How do people feel about De Gea signing a new deal? Torn myself

I trust Ten Hag, but feel we won't see his complete vision for United while De Gea is still the #1

On the other hand, De Gea is clearly World Class in some aspects, was part of the last title-winning bunch and will likely be remembered in 10 years as a United great

I am torn like yourself.

He is still I believe the best shot stopper in the game, WC in being a goal keeper.

His issues lie when he has to claim a cross, punch, come off his line and distribution.

I have thought, we need a new keeper to play the Ten Hag way however; recent DDG performances have made me think, can he improve? He isn't old.

Obviously, prior to the WC, alot of people on twitter and the caf were like wow Costa, what a keeper, he got assist in CL.

Having watched him at the WC, I would rather stick with DDG than signing a Diogo Costa for £60m. He is not that great, he has the same issues DDG has and he has a mistake in him.

Unless we find a different keeper, I do not see why we should pay £60m for someone who isnt even better than DDG.

 

[lex talionis]

Legend.
De Gea is a great GK, i don't understand the hate he's getting.

The hate he’s getting has a lot to do with social media, which amplifies individual moments. There was nothing like this 25-30 years ago. If you go back and watch full matches involving Schmeichel you’ll see he had mistakes in him. But he was in fact a legend of a keeper, despite his mistakes. Today, if you make a mistake as a keeper that mistake lives forever on YouTube and Twitter, which then feeds the herd. De Gea has made some incredible mistakes that rightly generated condemnation, but the form he’s been on over the last 18 months has been matched by very few keepers on the planet, 3 or 4 at most.