All those keepers, with the exception of VDS were squad options at best. Indeed, only Taibi could claim to be in competition for the no 1 spot and we still had Bosnian at the time. The others were cheap back up keepers, and Valdes was only really at the club for rehab and as a favour to start with.
Let's talk 'keepers: who do we buy and why?
- Thread starter Katy Cat
- Start date
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Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
I don't disagree with you over martinez, however it might interest you to know that the average age of premier league keepers is 29. Most keepers actually get better with age, which makes sense as physical decline in terms of what they need isn't as intense as your runners on the pitch, they get more savy and their reading of the game becomes better with experience i'd say.
Why should we look for a stop gap when so many GKs are available and affordable? (Joan Garcia: release clause, Milinkovic-Savic: release clause, Chevalier: wouldn't cost a fortune, etc.)
Again, that is a sample size of one. 31 year old De Gea made numerous mistakes too. 30 year old Barthez was shit here too. I just dont see Martinez ever been at Van der Sar’s level. Good? Yes. All time great? No.
It’s just also telling that all the good old goalkeepers mentioned (maybe bar Yann Sommer, who still has only been fantastic for 2 games and in some cup games) already were great at least in their mid 20s too. Buffon, Neuer, Becker, Ederson, etc. There’s no point in getting a keeper for 1-2 years with no resale value imo.
Diogo Costa (25 y o) makes the most sense for me, but I dont know if he has a deal with City. (Who knows they might get relegated).
The notion that the next 32-34 years old will end up like VdS is generous to put it mildly. Our track record with keepers is not that good barring 2-3 all timers. Martinez was excellent not that long ago, but indeed the signs he's slowing down are there and he will cost premium, compared to the 2m we paid for VdS 2 decades ago.
Buying VDS at 34 and him playing 6 years at the standard he did, and for £2m, is a bargain that will never be repeated. We cannot, and won’t be able to replicate that.
You are right, that our hit rate with goalkeepers is poor. It’s poor irrespective of age.
I realise it's somewhat reductive, but I really just want an enormous, hard fecker who takes charge on set pieces.
Manchester United should not be the most vulnerable club in the world to corners and long throws.
Manchester United should not be the most vulnerable club in the world to corners and long throws.
This.
As much as I loved de Gea, he didn't posses this quality, but made up for it with his world-class shot stopping.
We've tried the modern keeper with Onana and it has been a disaster. We need the Schmeichel/van der Sar presence back in goal.
Feels like we missed an opportunity by allowing Liverpool to capture Mamardashvili. I've never seen him play, but Milinkovic-Savic feels like he has a similar presence and would be an added bonus that he came through our youth ranks.
I’m in Croatia a few days and in one of their papers today we are being linked with Donnarumma!
I hope we activate his release clause one day after the final. He is the real deal and about time we have a top GK
He's rumoured to be going to Arsenal.
Kratos 
Yeah fecking hell we will be left with Milinkovic-Savic who apparently parries like Onana. I don’t know anything about Chevalier so can't comment on his suitability.