02 Jul 2021 19:12:13
Evening all.
Ed, with Heaton signing and Lee Grant putting pen to paper on a new deal, could DeGea be on his way out? Any suitors?

{Ed002's Note - David de Gea (G) Manchester United may need to choose between Henderson and De Gea with the other moving on. Italy might have a solution. Wages will be a major issue in any transfer.}

1.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 12:12:39
Thanks for the reply Ed. Is there a preference by the club either way as to who moves on?

{Ed002's Note - I think the time has come to make a choice and it probably should be Dean Henderson. The issue with DDG and any sale will be his wages.}

2.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 12:43:17
Really interesting. Henderson had a brilliant time at SU and he’s looked assured most of time since becoming regular for United. As a fan, it’s hard to looked away from De Gea though, he’s been tremendous for us. Sounds like a potential transfer that could run the length of the window. Thanks for time Ed.

3.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 13:22:31
I don't think anything will take away what a brilliant player DDG has been for us, and it's criminal that after 10 years of service he only has 4 proper trophies (not including community shield's as they are glorified friendlies), including one one league title.

That said a key factor of being a top club is knowing when to move players on before you become saddled with a declining player on huge wages.

An argument could be made that during the final few years of Sir Alex the club tried to squeeze every ounce out of aging and declining players rather than spend big on bringing in top class replacements.

With players like Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs and RvP all over 30 when Sir Alex retired and still a key part of the side.

Maybe if the club had moved a couple of those players on and brought in quality replacements for them then maybe DDG would have more than a solitary title, a couple of domestic cups and the Europa League for 10 years service.

I'm not saying Dean Henderson is definitely the answer, but he probably deserves a genuine shot at nailing down the position.

We gave players like Carroll, Foster and Howard more than a season to prove themselves, and arguably they had done less than Henderson to deserve a shot.

4.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 14:22:35
I think Hendo has been ok without being particularly inspiring. A few wobbles but generally 'ok'. Let's hope the gamble (if that's what this becomes) pays off as the back-up options are grim if it doesn't work out and all of a sudden a GK becomes a priority next summer while we watch big Dave tear up Serie A in the form of his life like Lukaku.

5.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 14:36:00
Ed, are many of the same clubs as mentioned a few months ago still interested in Henderson? Sides like Chelsea, Spurs, Dortmund (I think they were mentioned) .

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea have not made any approach for Dean Henderson. Borussia Dortmund have opted for someone else. Spurs have Henderon on their list of Lloris replacements but are in talks over another.}

6.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 15:02:43
Spenno, if we can get a CB and a CDM this summer, which isn't out of the question then looking forward to next summer then what are the priorities?

In defence we are more or less covered in the full back positions. Maybe a RB, but hopefully Williams has a great season on loan and is more than capable of stepping in. At CB if we sign a top level CB this summer then I don't see us needing one next season, especially if Mengi has a good season on loan, he could be capable of stepping up to being the 5th choice CB behind the likes of Maguire, new signing, Lindelof and Bailly.

So we probably don't need a signing in defence.

In attack our wide areas are looking pretty stacked with Sancho, Rashford, Greenwood, Amad and James. With players like Pellistri, Elanga and Shoretire waiting in the wings (pun intended 😂) . We will need another striker with Cavani leaving. Whether that is as a first choice or as solid competition for Greenwood depends much on his development this coming season.

Midfield is the other area where things get interesting. McTominay is a solid option, and if we sign a CDM then that makes two. But next summer could see an exodus in midfield. Pogba will probably leave on a free, as will Matic with his contact up. While if Donny doesn't kick on this season I would expect him to leave as well. Garner if he has a good year on loan might be ready to step up to a squad role. We will probably look to bring in someone else in midfield, unless either Donny proves himself or if Hannibal is ready to step up.

So realistically next summer we will need to bring in a forward with probably Cavani and Martial leaving.

And maybe a midfielder if Donny doesn't step up this season.

Therefore if we need a new keeper because Henderson doesn't prove good enough I'm sure we could stretch to that.

7.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 15:14:43
Well of course it’s impossible to answer what Utd’s priorities will be next season as we don’t know the outcomes of the two windows before that! But for sure, a main CF is clearly going to be needed. Which players past their prime will be available then? Benzema? I just of course. But that will be the priority, and then a midfielder of some ilk, as Mata and Matic will be off and who knows what shape the midfield will be. Too many variables.
As for Henderson, all we can do is wait and see. When he does his Karius impersonation in an important fixture we shall see what happens. But they have obviously made a decision, one way or the other. Maybe we’re wrong and Hendo is more likely to go.

8.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 16:37:20
Spenno, how many mistakes did DDG make in his first few years?

Henderson will make mistakes, every keeper does. It's about how they pick themselves back up afterwards and whether they can learn from them.

From what I saw of him last season with Sheffield United he fronted up when he made mistakes and he learnt from them. He was also one of the top 3 or 4 keepers in the league that season. So I think he has enough about him to give him a go. Obviously it's a world of difference playing for Sheffield United and Manchester United, but we'll never know if he can do it unless we give him a chance.

9.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 20:42:47
Its not about mistakes. De Gea made mistakes in his first years but still we all could saw the potential. Is this the case with Henderson?
Henderson had only a very good year with a mid table team as many goalkeepers has. Including our newcomer Heaton who had a fantastic season with Burnley. Really is this the criteria?

10.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 21:56:32
Herrera, based on current ability and not past performances Henderson and DDG are at a similar level.

The difference is Henderson is in the ascendency, while DDG is declining.

11.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 22:12:00
The thing is that you compare Henderson with De Gea of first season and the mistakes of the two which is wrong. Making mistakes is the one and the potential the other.
All players make mistakes and that's means (almost) nothing. Comparing the two we can see a young De Gea making mistakes but having the potential to be world class and Henderson making mistakes but don't seem likely to become world class. That's what matters (being world class) and not the current ability. So either we believe Henderson will be world class and stick with him or we don't believe it so we stick with a tested keeper like De Gea and next year we replace him with a top keeper. That's suit us, as Henderson will bring more money now instead after the average year he will have next season and next year it would be easier to find a buyer for De Gea as he will come close to his contract.

12.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 22:34:57
That's the difference, I think Henderson has the ability to be a top class keeper.

If they are currently both at a similar level then surely it makes sense to gamble on the player on the upward trajectory rather than the one on the downward trajectory?

Then if it doesn't work out then replace him next year?

{Ed014's Note - makes sense to get rid of both and just buy a quality keeper.

It’s all this pissing about that gets you nowhere!

13.) 04 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 23:28:37
Its not a position to gamble. If they are not good enough then as 014 says get rid of both. And if we can't rid both this summer, then the easiest way is to keep De Gea for now who has a shorter contract.
Although they are not at the same level. If you mean same performances maybe, but not the same level. De Gea has concentration problems and make mistakes. Henderson has not the same reflexes and has some bad positioning. Its easier for De Gea to recover from his problems than Henderson to up his game to the required level.
Generally i am with 014 on this. Its not a position to gamble so if you can go and take a too goalkeeper.

14.) 04 Jul 2021
04 Jul 2021 06:12:48
If it was so easy replacing someone in the squad - people need to remember how we struggled with the GK situation before we got Van Der Sar. There is no guarantee that a new keeper would solve the situation especially someone coming in from another league.

First we need to make sure that our defense is solid and stable to give anyone replacing DeGea a decent chance of succeeding.

DeGea's strengths are his shop stopping and quick reflexes and has shown that he is mentally strong when he struggled in his early times at the club.

Hendo for me though is the complete GK overall and he just needs to work on his reflexes and needs to calm down a bit in situations where he seems to be in a rush at times. With age on his side there is room for improvement.

For now if we are able to get in a proper CB and organize our defense properly then all we need is a reliable GK and Hendo fits the bill. He is not top class but someone with the abilities we need at the moment.

Given a choice I would keep both with DeGea as No.1 and Hendo learning and gaining experience with enough opportunities to see what he is capable of. Next season if we have enough trust in Hendo being No.1 then sell DeGea otherwise get in a new keeper to replace both.

15.) 04 Jul 2021
04 Jul 2021 08:05:03
People are probably scared of what will happen if we sell Henderson and he shows class for another team.

Imo, England rarely has a top class keeper, I honestly can't remember a top team having English keeper recently. There was a big hype around Hart, but how long did that last?

Sure, I can't see the future, maybe Henderson is the one, but i'm not convinced. I don't see the talent Shappy is talking about, but then again, i'm no expert.

16.) 04 Jul 2021
04 Jul 2021 08:18:02
Henderson has not had a proper full season with United under his belt.
I would give him an year before judging him.
There must be some reason Chelsea, Bayern, Spurs were interested in him .

17.) 04 Jul 2021
04 Jul 2021 10:14:30
People talk about buying a new keeper like it's popping to the supermarket and picking one off the shelf.

In truth there is only one possible keeper who may in theory be attainable who is pretty much guaranteed to be an upgrade and that is Oblak. The issue is that Atletico value him at 100m.

All other top proven goalkeepers are already at top clubs and it would be very hard to sign them.

In my opinion any other keeper we could sign would be as much of a gamble as either giving Henderson a run or sticking with a declining DDG. Imagine if we sell DDG and Henderson and the new signing flops, we then have a choice of Heaton or Grant.

DDG's decline can be linked back to the last world cup and his poor performances with Spain. From which he never mentally recovered. I wonder how spending the last few weeks sitting on the bench while Athletic Bilbao's keeper starts for Spain will have impacted him mentally?

Will it reinvigorate him and make him push to win back his place, or will he decide that his international aspirations are over, and he has little left to push for. He's the highest paid keeper in the world, sit back and coast to retirement.

If it's the former then we could see him get back to close to his best. If it's the latter then he will likely continue to decline maybe at a faster rate.

Either way sticking with DDG is a gamble, making Henderson the No.1 is a gamble, signing a player from outside the league without experience of playing for a club with huge expectations is a gamble.

Whatever choice is made it will be somewhat of a gamble. Signing a new player is a the biggest gamble as you can have no idea how they will settle. Going with one of the keepers we have and know is less of a gamble as you have more information to base that decision on. But it's still a gamble.

Personally I'd back the player whose on the up rather than the player whose on the decline.