Should De Go Or Should De Stay

On 29 June this summer a young Spanish goalkeeper by the name of David De Gea was signed by Manchester United for £18m.

The 20-year-old had a successful season for his hometown side Atletico Madrid but had only just cemented his place in their side. That is why it came as a surprise that Sir Alex Ferguson and his goalkeeping coach – Eric Steele – chose De Gea to replace the retired Edwin Van der Sar.

Replacing a world class shot-stopper in the shape of Van der Sar is a hard task to follow even for mature keepers such as Gianluigi Buffon and Pepe Reina. Both players were in the running to replace Van der Sar along with Hugo Lloris, Manuel Neuer and Maarten Stekelenburg.

Neuer and Stekelenburg both moved clubs this summer after speculation that they could be transferred to Old Trafford, joining Bayern Munich and Roma respectively.

The uncertainty of the signing has risen due to De Gea’s early appearances in goal for United. The Spaniard allowed Edin Dzeko to score from 30-yards and then let a tame Shane Long shot roll under his body in United’s opening Premier League fixture against West Brom. Luckily enough for De Gea, United were able to win both games due to late goals.

He did play marginally better against Tottenham on Monday but still flapped at a couple of shots and crosses. De Gea’s best asset seems to be his distribution, highlighted with a long throw that allowed United to counter-attack for their second goal.

Spanish Journalist Guillem Balague has called on the British media to stop criticising the keeper after only a handful of games. He said on his official twitter site: “People doubting David De Gea? Seriously? It will be a feast of eaten words at the end of the season. De Gea is not just good. He is extraordinary.”

The 20-year-old's talent is unquestionable, but Ferguson and Manchester United fans will have to be extremely patient before he turns into a world class goalkeeper. With only Anders Lindegaard challenging, De Gea may have time to cement his place in United’s new-look team.

Anthony Hay

Comments

[Stephen]

It's a no brainer.

those calling for him to be dropped or sold after 1/2 games should all fuck off and support chelsea/city

He's 20, doesnt speak much english , moved to another league, a new country. Anyone remember Evra's first game, Vidic's first few months. Nuff said.

Guillem Balague is no mug and has it spot on.

[Xyth]

What a rubish question! Leave the lad to do his job in peace.

[Ella Patterson]

This was not (thank goodness!) the attitude seen at OT on Monday night. De Gea was encouraged and cheered every time he touched the ball. It made me proud to be there!

[Marcyads]

Hows this even a suggestion awful article its no brainer isnt an option after 3 games to sell someone who cost nearly 20 million shouldnt the article be more is lindergaard better option at the moment something more thoughtful than this.

[Anthony Hay]

If you actually read the article and not just the headline you would know that I'm not suggesting he should be sold. The headline is just a pun, asking United fans if he should stay in the starting line-up I he makes anymore mistakes.

[Connor Galbraith]

Its absolutely ridiculous to write the lad off already and I believe no real United fans are. Does anyone remember how long it took Vidic and Evra to settle into the side and adapt to the premiership. De Gea has played over 100 games for Athletico including a Europa League final and he is still only 20, not to mention winning the Euro under 21 in the summer, he's going to be class so lets give him the support he deserves.

[Julian]

Having seen DG in three games now, I'm very surprised Fergie put him straight into the first team. He's unsurprisingly not used to the English game, he is very young for a keeper at this level and physically he is somewhat slight. He also reportedly doesn't speak a word of English. Communicating with his defenders is a pre requisite for every top goalkeeper. I know United paid 18m for him but all the same I believe he should have been given time to acclimatise to Englsih conditions by first playing second fiddle to Anders Lindegaard. During this time he could have learned some English, bulked up a bit and learned how to deal confidently with high balls and physical attackers looking at every opportunityto intimidate him.

Fergie chose to put him straight in and now we have a situation where he has to swim or sink. My view is that it is a big ask to expect him to perform to his potential right away and he'll take some time to settle in. But having been plunged in at the deep end, what's going to happen if he "gifts" more goals which prove costly to the team ? Fergie is obviously hoping (confident?) he's going to come right and of course DG has the support of the fans. Fergie, rightly, won't drop him now but he may have to if things go wrong in the next few games. That will be a somewhat devastating blow, albeit temporary, to DG but it is a decision which may have to be made in the immediate interests of the team and the longer term ones of DDG.

[kk]

if you dont want others to criticize, then dont use that kind of headline. Agree with Xyth, leave the lad to do his job in peace. Stop with rubbish articles criticizing de gea this, de gea that..he just had two games under his belt and you guys already judge him in articles a flop..that is a stupid judgement

[Mick]

i can't help but notice that every article i read is about the fans saying he should be dropped or sold after 3 games. but reading every comment not just on this page but every other i see nothing but fans defending him. as was rightly said above its a new language new leauge and a new team infront of him. if he is dropped is will completly destroy what little confidence he has at the moment

[kk]

to Julian, im sure you do not know anything about football. as other united fans, i believe in ferguson decision & i believe in de gea. as ferguson said, the same situation occurred to peter schmeichel, shaky in his early games with united, but then becomes a legend.

and for your info, de gea performance during the match against spurs was full of confidence, saved every shot, thats why united kept a clean sheet.

[siggi]

Spot on Mick.

[Dale]

As I said on my article, for the second goal against City, where was the defence? and how about all the important stops he made after his mistake? he is a great keeper, judge him at the end of the season, and then take into account his age and what barriers he has to overcome, rightly pointed out in the comments above - Evra didnt even last the full 90 mins of his debut, and vidic looked awful, now look at them?