They used to say it's crazy to be a goalkeeper and I don't need to ask why. Right from time, goalkeepers hardly get the recognition that their performance deserves because the focus is mostly on the outfield players but now, the new trend is giving them the attention and I would say, rightly so.
Staying between the sticks, a lot depends on it and you have to be mentally ready because there are highs and lows for every player. When Manchester United bought David De Gea in 2011 for 18.9 Million pounds which was the British record for a goalkeeper at that time, a lot rested on the young Spaniard and he was thrown right into the action by Sir Alex Ferguson. He was a young 21-year-old goalkeeper after leaving his marks on Atletico Madrid. He endured the highs and lows with so many people doubting his potential but he rose into prominence with unbelievable reflexes between the sticks. His mentality grew and after making over 450 appearances for Manchester United, he has earned the right to be called a United legend.
He overcame the turbulent form he suffered last year which saw Henderson take the starting spot from him. A lot was written about his intentions to join Real Madrid or a return to Atletico Madrid even though I don't see that one happening due to the impressive work Oblak was doing for Atletico Madrid. He got harsh criticisms but he fought back and staked his claim yet again.
He has won so many points for Manchester United and saved the club from further embarrassing defeats due to their shambolic ways of playing. He had singlehandedly won games for United which they didn't deserve to win by denying the oppositions. He has won several Man of the Match awards with Manchester United Player of the Season awards too and that speaks a lot. If the goalkeeper is winning any of these, that's a testament to how impressive he has been and of course, how terrible Manchester United's outfield players have been as well.
David De Gea showed us a glimpse of what to expect after he saved Juan Mata's impressive freekick in the league game right at the end of the game. He showed pace, concentration, reflex and promise and his reflex is one of the things he has been known with as well as his ability to stop goal-bound efforts with his reflex and his legs.
Against Watford, where Manchester United played out a goalless game, the clean sheet he got in that match took his tally to 129 clean sheets in a decade of being with United. He surpassed Peter Schmeichel who held the 128 clean sheets on the 10th slot of the Premier League all-time record holders. David De Gea is now number 10 in that list after replacing the Dane and it's possible that he would move up that table into 7th if he can manage to keep just 3 more before the end of the season as he is just 3 clean sheets shy of those ahead of him in that position.
To be listed in the same breadth with Edwin Van Der Sar, Tim Howard, Pepe Reina and Brad Friedel is no small feat and David De Gea deserves his status as a Manchester United legend and this new trend of honouring the performance of goalkeepers should continue because the success of the game depends a lot on them. One costly mistake can move them away from a winning position into a losing position.
He has made 366 appearances for Manchester United while keeping 129 clean sheets in the Premier League alone. He has been involved in 199 wins with 76 losses coming with him being within the sticks. He has made impressive saves of 1,026 while saving 4 penalties. Penalties have never been his strong suit. He has won Manchester United player of the year 4 times in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. He won it three times in a row and he has won 3 Man of the Match award alone this season.
He won Premier League player of the month for the first time in January, last month and he seems to be getting better with age like fine wine.
Cheers.
Gingered Up! ❣️