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Telegram Sam
Andy Cav
Brilliant shot-stopper, fantastic reflexes but there's more to it. He's got the potential to be fantastic, but he's a maturing player, just not the finished product.
Bear in mind that at no point have I actually said he's a bad player. I haven't even criticized him, but there are better goalkeepers in the league and he hasn't cemented his place in the United team...that's Ferguson saying that, not me.
Ninja
I honestly think he's made fewer mistakes than any keeper in the league this season. I can remember 1 that was costly, and that was arguably Vidic's fault more than his. He's becoming increasingly more confident in the air (I don't think he came once and didn't win the ball against City) and his distribution as a keeper is second to none. He still needs to improve his command of his back four, but I feel thats something that will come when he feels secure in his role and has a stable back four in front of him.
Why he is rotated with Lindegaard is anyones guess, I think Lindegaard was signed being told he'd play a lot and needs to be given his chance, but De Gea has played every big game this season with the exception of Liverpool away (where he had a shocker last season), it shows you that Ferguson recognises his ability.
If we forget all the nonesense and pre-conceived notions of De Gea, since Christmas he's been in a very select group of Premiership goalkeepers, since the start of the season I doubt anyone has been better; Hart's made his share of errors, Reina's been awful, Cech's solid but never the player he once was.
He's definitely not a weakness for us.
Abbott
Vercoe
Bwahahahahaha!! Deary me.
K3V0
I'm going to put it out there that Ferguson wants to avoid having a similar issue that he had when Van Der Sar was injured/needed a rest. The keepers that came in like Foster or Kuszczak never really looked confident in themselves, so perhaps by keeping Lindegaard playing a game or two in every 10 he feels he'll stay fresh and confident he can step in if De Gea is out.
I don't tend to buy into the idea a keeper needs to be top class coming for crosses and top class commanding his area, he just needs to keep the ball out of the net, De Gea does that very well and has cut out a lot of silly errors (something I put down to his age and also lack of English) last season.
For me Lindegaard is good enough for United as a backup and I'm confident he can step up if needed.
Fantastic
Absolutely crucial skills that separate top goalkeepers from mediocre ones. There's nothing more painful to watch than a keeper flapping at balls into the box. When you can look at 5+ corners a match and at least 10 more crosses in open play it's important to know your keeper can deal with those balls. As for command of the area, look at how someone like Petr Cech marshalls his defence to understand what makes him such a superb player.
Ninja
I'd agree that to be the case in England.
On the continent not so much. Some of the widely regarded best keepers in the world would probably struggle with crosses initially because its not been as crucial a aspect of their footballing education. The crucial thing is their good enough to adapt and adjust to it.
Shola
Cech was a spectator the other day when Carlton Cole got in ahead if Ivanovic to score a header from about six yards out on a floated cross.
Jamieandhisego
Fantastic
bluemoon.
What's Victor Valdes got to do with great goal-keepers?
Abbott
He was immense a few seasons ago, arguably as good as anyone else. He's gone off the boil since then unfortunately.
jumberto
VP.
Vercoe
Surely his dad would know? Stupid fucking lions.
bluemoon.
Valdes has never been of the same quality as Casillas or Buffon (as two examples of great keepers).
jumberto
Casillas quite often does something Rob Green or Barthez would be embarrassed by, leading to a goal, and more often than you'd expect from the worlds best keeper but it tends to get ignored. Valdes gets crucified for the mistakes he makes.
Abbott
Well no, but those two are the two best keepers of the past decade, so that's a bit unfair. Valdes was one of the best in Europe for a spell is all I'm saying, but you're right that he's not anymore.
VP.
Telegram Sam
Good read. I particularly enjoyed this analogy;
VP.
AFC
Telegram Sam
Fantastic
VP.
bluemoon.
VP.
Never heard of him.
AFC
I read somewhere yesterday that he's scored 25 goals in his last 50 games from centre back
jumberto
Probably using the corner cheat.