David De Gea

[S7_MUFC]

David de Gea is a great, great goal keeper who I rate highly since his Atletico Madrid days, but he has gone from being underrated to overrated. You'd think he's a re-born Lev Yashin.

No, the gulf in class between Bravo, ter Stegen and DDG is not huge.

But the thing is he was absolutely brilliant even when he had severe weaknesses like dealing with areal threat but he's turned that weakness into strength and now he's terrific when dealing with crosses and that combined with his reflex(I think he's best in the world in this aspect) and his distribution makes him as close to perfect as it gets when it comes to goalkeepers...
I don't know if this video was posted here already but this basically shows the difference between De Gea you rated highly and De Gea of now...

 

[serghei]

You put the ball in the corner and no keeper can do much to prevent a goal from happening. Like that shot from Suarez against PSG for 3-0. That is why strikers are the most expensive and most valuable players, they have the control of the ball, the initiative. Keepers are reactive, they respond to whatever is thrown at them, and when the shot is too good, no keeper can do anything to stop it. De Gea is brilliant, but he is not much better than Bravo and Ter Stegen (both are among the best at reflexes). Getting him would not make sense.

 

[S7_MUFC]

You put the ball in the corner and no keeper can do much to prevent a goal from happening. Like that shot from Suarez against PSG for 3-0. That is why strikers are the most expensive and most valuable players, they have the control of the ball, the initiative. Keepers are reactive, they respond to whatever is thrown at them, and when the shot is too good, no keeper can do anything to stop it. De Gea is brilliant, but he is not much better than Bravo and Ter Stegen (both are among the best at reflexes). Getting him would not make sense.

Keepers can pull off some spectacular saves too...De Gea's save against Mata's free kick a few season ago is one that comes to mind...Also most shots don't end up in top corners because if that was the case than there'd be no point in having good goalkeepers..Why are the likes of De Gea,Neuer etc. so highly rated when goalkeepers are so irrelevant? I'm not saying he would make much difference to Barca of last season because their defence was great but I rate De Gea so highly because we could've finished outside top 4 if it wasn't for De Gea and difference between him and Valdes(although he just played 1 and a quarter game) was absolutely scary for me..

 

[Butaan4barca]

watch neur, and you will know, what difference it makes.

 

[Icarium]

DDG's distribution sucks imo. He will be a great addition to benitez madrid though.

 

[S7_MUFC]

DDG's distribution sucks imo. He will be a great addition to benitez madrid though.

His distribution is terrific for a goalkeeper and most United fans were even joking about converting him to a midfielder if he failed as a goalkeeper...

 

[DonAK]

But the thing is he was absolutely brilliant even when he had severe weaknesses like dealing with areal threat but he's turned that weakness into strength and now he's terrific when dealing with crosses and that combined with his reflex(I think he's best in the world in this aspect) and his distribution makes him as close to perfect as it gets when it comes to goalkeepers...
I don't know if this video was posted here already but this basically shows the difference between De Gea you rated highly and De Gea of now...

He's the better shot stopper than Bravo and ter Stegen and has improved a lot when dealing with crosses and I respect him for that, but his distribution is nowhere near the level of ter Stegen or Bravo(talking from a Barca perspective here). He is behind both.

In the end you could argue DDG is better which would be a very fair opinion in my eyes, but to say he's in a different class is just wrong on so many levels.

ter Stegen can still improve a lot. His first season at Barca without regular playing time every week and he has done very well IMO. With regular playing time and getting more adjusted to the team he'll improve further.

In terms of their potential I see Courtois, DDG or MAtS being pretty much at the same level, each having some advantage of their own. Courtois' shot stopping, DDG's reflexes and MAtS distribution.

 

[Icarium]

His distribution is terrific for a goalkeeper and most United fans were even joking about converting him to a midfielder if he failed as a goalkeeper...

What? All the united matches i saw he was bad. Which is not 1 or 2, i have seen around 10 matches i think.

 

[S7_MUFC]

He's the better shot stopper than Bravo and ter Stegen and has improved a lot when dealing with crosses and I respect him for that, but his distribution is nowhere near the level of ter Stegen or Bravo(talking from a Barca perspective here). He is behind both.

In the end you could argue DDG is better which would be a very fair opinion in my eyes, but to say he's in a different class is just wrong on so many levels.

ter Stegen can still improve a lot. His first season at Barca without regular playing time every week and he has done very well IMO. With regular playing time and getting more adjusted to the team he'll improve further.

In terms of their potential I see Courtois, DDG or MAtS being pretty much at the same level, each having some advantage of their own. Courtois' shot stopping, DDG's reflexes and MAtS distribution.

Maybe but I don't think De Gea's distribution is poor at all and I can remember multiple instances where his distribution directly led to goals but just can't think of exact match(I remember LVG saying de gea's assist was brilliant)...How was Valdes's distribution at Barca? Because compared to De Gea he was awful in our final 2 matches and his pass percentage in those matches were in low 40's compared to De Gea's percentage that is in 60's..

 

[Icarium]

If you only want to compare PL keepers, he is not bad but actually quite decent. But for a spanish keeper his distribution skills are quite below par.

 

[S7_MUFC]

What? All the united matches i saw he was bad. Which is not 1 or 2, i have seen around 10 matches i think.

I don't know what match you saw but his pin point passing towards Fellaini that led to Fellaini winning the ball and starting our attack was the feature of our play and Chelsea played Zouma in midfield just to counter this scenario..Also towards earlier parts of our season our defenders were really struggling to bring the ball forward so De Gea had to play a lot of long balls because our build up play was non-existent...How often do Barca keepers play long balls?

 

[DonAK]

Maybe but I don't think De Gea's distribution is poor at all and I can remember multiple instances where his distribution directly led to goals but just can't think of exact match(I remember LVG saying de gea's assist was brilliant)...How was Valdes's distribution at Barca? Because compared to De Gea he was awful in our final 2 matches and his pass percentage in those matches were in low 40's compared to De Gea's percentage that is in 60's..

He was good. The problem with comparing Valdes and DDG(not saying Valdes will be better than DDG for you) right now is that Valdes was out for long with a serious injury and has to settle in a completely new environment for him. He's going to be shaky at the start and take his time to settle down. Maybe LVG should have played him in the cups so he atleast had some minutes under his belt.

 

[S7_MUFC]

He was good. The problem with comparing Valdes and DDG(not saying Valdes will be better than DDG for you) right now is that Valdes was out for long with a serious injury and has to settle in a completely new environment for him. He's going to be shaky at the start and take his time to settle down. Maybe LVG should have played him in the cups so he atleast had some minutes under his belt.

Maybe but I was surprised at how crap he was at passing because it's supposed to be his strength...If we do persist with him as our no 1 than we'll be shitting our pants every time the ball comes into the box..De Gea's catch to punch ration when it comes to crosses was around 91% compared to mid sixties in the season before and Valdes doesn't seem capable of catching anything..

 

[zanela]

I don't know what match you saw but his pin point passing towards Fellaini that led to Fellaini winning the ball and starting our attack was the feature of our play and Chelsea played Zouma in midfield just to counter this scenario..Also towards earlier parts of our season our defenders were really struggling to bring the ball forward so De Gea had to play a lot of long balls because our build up play was non-existent...How often do Barca keepers play long balls?

As if sending the ball over to the most aerially dominant player (also thug) in the park, for him to then "win" the ball, is hardly an achievement. Trying sending over a long diagonal ball to the feet of midgets. Thats what our keepers do, on a regular basis.

As for your question.

RE:

Ter Stegen (97) is the player with the second most accurate long balls in the CL this season #fcblive Most: 117, Kroos

And if that isn't sufficient I can provide video evidence.

The truth is DDG has gotten a lot of practice to fine tune his goalkeeping skills thanks to your defense. And that's golden for a young talented keeper. Even he has acknowledged it. He will 've it tougher in a side where he's non-factor for much of the game, and then called in to make a match winning save from out of no where. The madridista, as you say is a complete goalkeeper, but I won't say he's really top bracket at any particular aspect.

 

[S7_MUFC]

As if sending the ball over to the most aerially dominant player (also thug) in the park, for him to then "win" the ball, is hardly an achievement. Trying sending over a long diagonal ball to the feet of midgets. Thats what our keepers do, on a regular basis.

As for your question.

RE:

And if that isn't sufficient I can provide video evidence.

The truth is DDG has gotten a lot of practice to fine tune his goalkeeping skills thanks to your defense. And that's golden for a young talented keeper. Even he has acknowledged it. He will 've it tougher in a side where he's non-factor for much of the game, and then called in to make a match winning save from out of no where. The madridista, as you say is a complete goalkeeper, but I won't say he's really top bracket at any particular aspect.

I know it's considered "hip" here to downplay anything or anyone associated with the premier league but that is that's the most ridiculous attempt at it also playing the ball successfully in the vicinity of your most dominant player in the air is good distribution in my books...