jeff_goldblum
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- Dec 6, 2011
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Goalkeepers have strengths, weaknesses and styles of play like any other player and a keeper who would be excellent in one team mightn't suit another. The question with De Gea isn't whether he's 'better' than Henderson per se, it's what he's better at, what he's worse at and how that fits into how we set up.
De Gea's major weakness is his passivity - he reacts to events as they happen rather than seeking to dictate them. In situations where many keepers would challenge for a ball or rush out to stop a shot or put pressure on a striker, De Gea sticks to his line and backs himself to make a reaction save when the shot comes. Unfortunately that means he abdicates responsibility for a lot of the stuff you'd generally take for granted from a keeper, and the centrebacks have to work harder (and put themselves in uncomfortable situations) to pick up the slack.
In a team who set out to defend deep with tall, strong centrebacks, shotstopping is the main thing you're looking for in a keeper. In this team, which sets out with a high line and for whom quality on the ball is as important for a centreback as their defensive abilities (Smalling remains probably our best pure defender and he's out on loan whilst Lindelof starts), a keeper who can dominate his area and cover behind the back-4 is more of an asset. Those who have watched Henderson a lot this season will be in a better place than me to judge whether he fits that bill. I imagine given the differences in style of play between us and Sheffield United that it's hard to tell.
De Gea's major weakness is his passivity - he reacts to events as they happen rather than seeking to dictate them. In situations where many keepers would challenge for a ball or rush out to stop a shot or put pressure on a striker, De Gea sticks to his line and backs himself to make a reaction save when the shot comes. Unfortunately that means he abdicates responsibility for a lot of the stuff you'd generally take for granted from a keeper, and the centrebacks have to work harder (and put themselves in uncomfortable situations) to pick up the slack.
In a team who set out to defend deep with tall, strong centrebacks, shotstopping is the main thing you're looking for in a keeper. In this team, which sets out with a high line and for whom quality on the ball is as important for a centreback as their defensive abilities (Smalling remains probably our best pure defender and he's out on loan whilst Lindelof starts), a keeper who can dominate his area and cover behind the back-4 is more of an asset. Those who have watched Henderson a lot this season will be in a better place than me to judge whether he fits that bill. I imagine given the differences in style of play between us and Sheffield United that it's hard to tell.
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