david-de-gea

“OMG,” extolled BBC pundit Mark Bright on Twitter in August, “Man Utd cannot win the Premier League with de Gea.”

Bright’s deliciously reactionary, and embarrassingly premature assertion, made on the evidence one suspects, of having watched young David de Gea in matches against Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion alone, was not the only knee-jerk response in late summer. Indeed, critics from the blogosphere to broadsheet newspapers rounded on the £18 million Spanish acquisition, varyingly comparing de Gea to the hapless Massimio Taibi, and questioning Sir Alex Ferguson’s sanity in replacing Edwin van der Sar with such a callow youth.

But this was not so much a critique of de Gea’s talent, as an assassination; a player thoroughly defenestrated by a media posse unwilling to entertain realistic mitigation. In the wake of de Gea’s outstanding recent performances, one wonders whether the English media pack will now discover the requisite humility.

de Gea’s critics were not simply intransigents in Bright’s mould, but media commentators of an altogether more studied nature. In the Guardian, for example, long-time United observer Daniel Taylor brought forward the question of dropping de Gea after the Spaniard’s Premier League début against West Brom at the Hawthornes. Similar responses came in most, if not all, Britain’s broadsheets.

“Not every team will be as generous as West Bromwich Albion and there has to be a case for Anders Lindegaard to take over,” argued Taylor.

“The Dane is seven years older than De Gea, has a greater penalty-box presence and, when he played in the United States in pre-season, had the trust of his team-mates. The Premier League can be an unforgiving place and, rightly or wrongly, De Gea has already been identified as a ‘dodgy keeper’.”

Meanwhile, in The Times, de Gea’s self-appointed critic-in-chief, and one-time Fergie biographer, Patrick Barclay described United’s new net-minder as “Heurelho Gomes with less shot-stopping skills.”

“The goalkeeper is like a jelly,” continued Barclay, in The Times‘ podcast last August. “I can’t see what he’s got. How on earth Ferguson and all his millions of coaches could have watched this boy week-in-week out and then signed him for the first team I just don’t know. It’s always a risk signing a goalkeeper from Spain, and Ferguson should have known this.”

“I’m looking forward to Man United versus Stoke,” Barclay added, with ill disguised glee.

Barclay, being Barclay, will likely be the last to come down from this particular high horse, let alone the xenophobic rant about Spanish ‘keeping, which has produced the considerable talents of Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes, together with Liverpool’s Pepe Reina, in recent years.

The theme continued in the The Independent, where the normally excellent Ian Herbert was quick to join the throng.

“It is unclear whether the English lessons, with which his manager says he is progressing so well, have acquainted him with an understanding of the term “dodgy keeper” but when it was being blasted out only 35 minutes into his competitive English career yesterday it was hard not to fear for him. The Premier League has a way of finding a player’s weakness and offering no sanctuary.”

Then in The Telegraph former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen, who has enjoyed a season-long war-of-words with Ferguson, was quick to claim that de Gea did “not have the trust of his teammates.”

“My record with underestimating how successful kids can be dreadful, but the crucial difference between the class of 1995 and Ferguson’s current crop is in the defence. It is too simple to say you will win nothing with a kid in goal, but it is a monumental challenge to ask a defence with an average age of 22 to go into games with the likes of Arsenal and Spurs.”

So monumental – it is tempting to point out – that United hammered 11 past the north London duo. Hindsight is a powerful weapon, of course, especially with the bravura of correct foresight in the face of overwhelming opposition. But none of the criticism really made any sense, except as a narrow observation on de Gea’s individual performances over a short period of time.

Certainly, the Spaniard should have kept out shots against City in the Community Shield, West Brom in the Premier League, and perhaps even Theo Wallcott’s strike through the ‘keeper’s legs in United’s 8-2 demolition of Arsenal at Old Trafford. Then came the calamitous performance against Blackburn Rovers in defeat, which precipitated the Spaniard’s demotion, and the cup loss to Liverpool at Anfield, where the home side thoroughly bullied the young ‘keeper.

In truth this was a quintet of games in which de Gea will have learned much about the brutality of the Premier League, but more about the media pack covering the world’s most widely broadcast competition. The former Atlético de Madrid stopper, who has already won a Europa League medal and the European Under-21 Championship, deserved none of the widespread psychological over-analysis.

After all, here was a kid, in his first weeks away from home, girlfriend a plane ride away in Spain, living in a hotel room, and who had little serious command of the language. What else, bar uncertain performances, could ever have been expected, of even the most the brilliant young player?

“There’s obviously an agenda from the media on de Gea and we experienced that again after the game in Benfica,” mused Ferguson in September.

“For some reason, it seems to me they [the press] are desperate for the boy to fail. I don’t understand it. They will all want interviews when he is doing well.”

Six months on and the tidal wave of revisionism flows freely. Some praise followed de Gea’s outstanding performance at Stamford Bridge in early February; barely a week after the loss to Liverpool, which had prompted some commentators to suggest the Spaniard’s time at Old Trafford was up. Assured performances against Norwich City, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers demands even more.

On Monday night, at Ewood, two outstanding saves kept United in the game as the home side tried, and failed, to break the Reds as the game seemed destined for a goalless draw.

Indeed, de Gea’s phone – or more accurately his agent’s – will now be ringing off-the-hook with media requests such is the turnaround. If the Madrileño was culpable for goals conceded earlier in the season, then he undoubtedly saved United points against Chelsea, Norwich, Fulham and Blackburn.

Barclay, who in October accused United fans offering de Gea support of being “trolls,” only partially revised his former position, claiming in October last year that his was merely an observation, correct at the time. The Scot has said nothing on the subject since. Ferguson, and his “millions of coaches” who bought “a jelly,” might wonder when Barclay will take a step further and bite down on humble pie.

Other commentators will be forced to offer revisions to premature judgement too, as de Gea eventually – inevitably some might say – blossoms into one of the world’s finest goalkeepers, as his talent – evident to those who, unlike Barclay, have watched the kid from an earlier age – shines through.

“David de Gea made three fantastic saves to keep us in the game,” said Ferguson on Monday, echoing words he has now become accustomed to repeating.

“Although we had all the possession, we couldn’t create the openings to get in front. Javier Hernandez hit the post and we had a penalty kick claim – I didn’t think it was – so David has done his bit for the team. He has really grown in stature the boy. He was outstanding.”

Now five points clear – possibly eight by next weekend’s end – Bright is increasingly likely to be proven wrong. Both in United’s ascent to the Premier League title, and de Gea’s role in it.

Some, like Spanish commentator Guillermo Balague, never questioned the youngster’s ability to make it at United: “People doubting David de Gea? Seriously? It will be a feast of eaten words at the end of the season,” he said with much prescience in August.

It is a pity his English colleagues lacked the same patience.

Fans, so the cliché goes, can be fickle. Indeed, supporters’ frustration, together with social media’s immediacy, has created the impression that Manchester United fans swing from one instant reaction to the next. One mistake, a poor game, let alone defeat, results in a tsunami of opinion, often debased to mindless vitriolic abuse.

The rush to judgement frustrates at times; a point articulated in January’s United We Stand by editor Andy Mitten. Yet, few supporters’ opinions are formed with the agenda that often dominates the mainstream media. Cruel as supporters are at times, the opinions proffered on Twitter, blogs, Facebook and other communities rarely come with a sense of premeditation. It is both a strength and weakness of the medium.

This dichotomy may not be one United goalkeeper David de Gea is considering today, barely 48 hours after both media, and some supporters, criticised the 20-year-old Spaniard for his part in United’s defeat to Liverpool at the weekend. Indeed, while de Gea has a reasonably active Twitter account it is almost exclusively used in the Spanish language. Given the views expressed by some on Saturday, this is surely for the best.

Yet, a handful of albeit noisy Twitteratti holds no candle to the mainstream media when it comes to damning judgement. This includes broadcaster ITV whose commentary team of Clive Tyldsley and Jim Beglin were so quick to lambast the former Atlético de Madrid stopper. Blamed instantaneously for both goals by co-commentator Beglin, de Gea was quickly fingered as United’s key weak link.

So too has the print media, with stories of de Gea’s quality – or lack thereof – following the youngster since debut in pre-season. This was a story simply too good to miss.

That said, at times de Gea looked concurrently nervous, furlorn and robbed of all confidence at Anfield. Routine crosses were dropped, while the Spaniard’s normally outstanding distribution suffered too. It has been a testing campaign for the youngster, as it was always going to be.

Still, two days later and the rush to judge seems as erroneous now as it did then. Objective review of Liverpool’s two goals at Anfield places the blame at the doorstep of others, with de Gea suffering for the mistakes of his back-four. Indeed, Liverpool’s first, nodded home by defender Daniel Agger, was largely thanks to an unchallenged header. The host’s second came when Patrice Evra wondered out of position and allowed Dirk Kuyt a free shot inside the area.

It is a point hammered home by perennially injured striker Michael Owen, who took to Twitter to defend his younger colleague.

“One comment on yesterdays game. Don’t agree with all this negativity towards De Gea,” Owen Tweeted on Sunday.

“Admittedly he has made a couple of mistakes this season but listening to some people you would think he had a nightmare yesterday. I’m not having either goal was his fault. The problem is, once you get labelled, mud sticks and now any tiny mistake is magnified. Other keepers make similar mistakes and nothing gets said.

“The lad will be a top keeper, he is only young. Harsh to blame him for everything. The fans know he needs their support, his confidence needs boosting. I’m sure he will repay that support for years to come.”

Indeed, even the very best have suffered in the harsh spotlight of the United net. Even the greatest, Peter Schmeichel, suffered a testing first campaign at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Edwin van der Sar made several glaring errors in a otherwise outstanding six seasons with the club. The opening goal of the 2009 Champions League final, for example, saw van der Sar beaten at the near post – a goal scored with barely a murmur from supporters.

Anders Lindegaard, the Spaniard’s immediate competition for a spot in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, has made errors too, although of the less obvious variety. Recall the Dane’s weak hand as Robin van Persie shot across, but very close to, Lindegaard at the Emirates.

de Gea’s real mistake, it seems, is to have built a reputation far too early in his United career. Earlier this season, thanks to Edin Džeko’s long-range strike at Wembley in August, de Gea’s goal was peppered from outside the area. Now, the opposition simply plans to beat up on the slightly built youngster. Liverpool repeatedly launched long balls into the United area.

Reputations in this sport are far harder to dispel than create – a truism that Tyldsley, and especially Beglin, have bought into.

Yet, those who have watched de Gea blossom from Atléti B teamer, to the teenager who was such an important part of the club’s 2010 Europa League win, will remain confident. Ferguson and his coaching staff, who spent months tracking the Spanish under-21 international, will surely remain stoic in the face of media onslaught.

Surely de Gea’s troubles have everything to do with confidence and a lengthy period of adjustment, rather than shortage of talent. Thrust into the spotlight, under pressure to succeed one of the very greatest, and miles from home, there can be no surprise that de Gea has not yet fulfilled his potential.

The question, of course, is how quickly the ‘keeper will find his feet, given the right environment and support. The player is certainly not helped by an ever-changing back four, goalkeeping rotation or, indeed, Ferguson’s rather odd decision to recall the ‘keeper amid the intense heat of an Anfield cup tie.

Yet, others are unsure about de Gea’s make up, including former Red Paul Parker.

“It was not really the Spaniard’s errors that were the problem for me; I thought his mistakes for both goals were relatively minor and he was undone by some poor defending,” adds Yahoo! pundit, Parker.

“What really bothered me was his apparently complete lack of confidence. It makes me wonder if he will be able to handle the scrutiny he is under at the moment. When most goalkeepers make mistakes they get angry – nearly all offer some sort of reaction. De Gea doesn’t do anything at all. He is expressionless, and looks lost.

“Peter Schmeichel made the odd howler, which usually stemmed from making a rash decision – but at least he did something. De Gea’s mistakes come from not doing anything. He freezes, and appears indecisive.”

It is an astute observation by Parker, but one that does not chime with de Gea’s performances in Madrid, where the player’s confidence and maturity so often came to the fore.

It is a cliché, but at just 21 time is certainly on de Gea’s side. For Ferguson and United the equation is different. Taking de Gea out of the firing line now necessitates an extended spell for Lindegaard, a solid if unspectacular ‘keeper whom few will bracket among the very best of his profession.

The delicate balancing act of weighing de Gea’s development against United’s immediate priorities will continue. Good job, then, that in Ferguson the ‘keeper has a manager who is unlikely to bow to media pressure, whether from the mainstream or grassroots.

David de Gea’s difficult start in English football is, of course, a lesson in predictability. Errors against both Manchester City in the Community Shield and West Bromwich Albion on Sunday in the Premier League have brought concerned looks from teammates and critical reviews from the nation’s media.

Neither comes as a surprise, with the former Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper barely out of his teens, ensconced in a Manchester hotel and struggling with the language. Focus for even the most experienced player moving team and country is hard to achieve; in a difficult position and in the media’s full glare de Gea’s early-season errors are certainly forgivable.

That the 20-year-old Spaniard is the subject of sarcastic headlines, knee-jerk reaction and character assassination is little more than par-for-the-course from a British media obsessed with negativity.

Indeed, on the season’s eve Sir Alex Ferguson warned that de Gea will require patience, a statement incorrectly interpreted as a lack of faith in the 20-year-old in some quarters. Nothing could be further from the truth with Manchester United having followed the Spanish Under-21 international for months before choosing de Gea ahead of more experienced rivals. In doing so Ferguson bought raw talent that will take time to adjust to a new country, style of football and the pressure inherent at Old Trafford.

Little surprise then that the 69-year-old Scot should back de Gea now, after the Spaniard failed to deal with Eden Džeko’s long-range effort at Wembley, while allowing Shane Long’s tame shot under his body on Sunday.

“He is young. He will learn. He will come through,” said the United boss, who is unlikely to drop de Gea in favour of Anders Lindegaard for Tottenham Hotspur’s visit in a weeks time.

“David’s concentration cost him the goal. It was a slack goal to lose but it is an experience for the lad. I couldn’t believe he never got a free-kick in the second-half. The aerial assault on him was ridiculous. It was the same when Peter Schmeichel came. They punished him in his first few games against Leeds and Wimbledon. They have him a real torrid time.

“In the second-half today David he was targeted a bit. Not necessarily physically but there were a lot of challenges that should have been free-kicks but the referee decided to play on. He took a battering in the second half, when he should have been protected more by the referee but he wasn’t. Welcome to English football!”

There is little chance that Ferguson will drop de Gea for Spurs’ visit given the damaging effect to the player’s confidence that omission would surely bring. But the United coach is faced with deploying a hugely inexperienced back-four against the Londoners with injuries beginning to bite. Rio Ferdinand’s hamstring strain will keep the 32-year-old on the sidelines for at least six weeks, while captain Nemanja Vidić is out for a fortnight with a trapped nerve. With Patrice Evra also on the sidelines United completed Sunday’s match fielding a defence aged just 20.6 on average.

That inexperience – both in age and games played for the club – will face sterner tests than that of West Brom, a good side though Roy Hodgson has produced over the past six months. Following Spurs’ visit next Monday, United face trips to Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City, with home matches against Arsenal and Chelsea to come before Ferdinand returns. Life is unlikely to become any easier for United’s callow new goalkeeper.

Yet in analysing de Gea’s competitive performances to date it is also easy to overstate the player’s errors and ignore his many qualities. True, two goals have been scored which most ‘keepers at the highest level would expect to stop. The Madrid-born stopper also made two excellent saves at Wembley in the second period and a similar number at the Hawthornes. Add smart distribution to the list and de Gea’s raw talent is not in doubt.

Physically Ferguson team will work with the player, much as Javier Hernández endured a specialised weight training course for six months last season. However, those denizens of the long-ball at the Britannia Stadium will note West Brom’s attempts to rough-up de Gea on Sunday. Referee Stuart Jones studiously ignored three clear fouls on United’s number one in the Midlands; Ferguson will hope de Gea is offered better support in the weeks and months to come.

Questions of physique aside it the mental side of the Spaniard’s game that is of greatest concern to Ferguson now. The unflappable personality so highly praise by the Scot when de Gea officially signed in July will be tested severely in the coming weeks.

It is cliché but also a truism that at Old Trafford talent only goes so far. Behind the scenes Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele will be working to rid the player of fear – another great requirement for any United player.