VIDEO: What Sir Alex saw, if he was scouting David De Gea
Sir Alex might have combined scouting a team and a player
The rumour mills have been going into overdrive since it was revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson had missed Manchester United’s Carling Cup match against Scunthorpe, preferring to be at Mestalla rather than Glanford Park. The official reason for this, according to assistant manager Mike Phelan, was that Fergie was there to scout Valencia ahead of the Champions League clash on the 29th of September, but I find this rather dubious.Sir Alex has a small army of scouts who have been compiling dosiers on teams for years and United have played Valencia in the recent past, so it is quite probable that he was there to scout a player.
This situation is similar to when Fergie was at Craven Cottage in pre-season to see Fulham take on Werder Bremen with the official reason that he was there to scout Fulham, as they were United’s second opponent of the season, but as it was revealed later on, Sir Alex did speak to the representatives of a certain Mesut Özil.
The tabloids have been speculating that Fergie was there to watch Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea and it’s certainly not a far-fetched idea. The truth will probably be comewhere inthe middle and maybe Sir Alex was both scouting the team and the player.
As I highlighted yesterday, De Gea is one of the best, young goalkeeping prospects in Europe and at 19 has already played and won a Europa League Final.
He has put in numerous impressive performances last season and was outstanding against Barcelona over the weekend. He made anumber of good saves yesterday, which would not have gone unnoticed by Sir Alex.
If you have not seen De Gea’s performance against Barcelona, I would urge you to do so. He pulled of a number of great saves against world class opposition and looks more an experienced pro than a 19 year-old. His distribution is also very good.
Valencia vs Atletico. De Gea action from 2:40 onwards:
David de Gea vs Barcelona – he had a stormer:
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Wasn’t scouting De Gea, Fergie was there purely to watch Valencia. We don’t need De Gea when we have the world class Tomasz Kuszczak.
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Nothing cause Sir Alex wasnt there for de gae, he went to scout VALENCIA ahead of our european tie this upcoming week or is that to hard for you to understand and accept…any think thou to fee your sick obsession of WASTING MONEY on an player not required, Kuszczak is the future so accept it (or are you 1 of those blind ppl who thought garbage like flopster was good enough, yet pathetically disknowledge how good Tomasz is.).
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Read it and weep little boy.
http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/ferguson-entusiasmado-gea/dasftb/20100923dasdasftb_18/Tes
Sir Alex was there with goal-keeping coach Eric Steele.
Now why would he scout a Valencia game with a goalkeeping coach.
My sick obsession with wasting money?
My “disknowledge’ of Kuszczak?
By the wya, Ben Foster was spotted by Sir Alex himself, are you questioning Fergie’s ability to spot talent?
Was it Fergie’s fault that Ben didn’t go on to fulfil his knowledge at United?
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:37 pm
[...] to my earlier post highlighting what Sir Alex might have seen of goalkeeper David De Gea at last night’s game [...]
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Mike Phelan himself stated Sir Alex was there for Valencia, he will know why Sir Alex was there not some f’n press, but hey thanks wee little man for revealing you believe everythink the press saids…I dont question anythink our genius manager does, fact is i back every decision he makes, unlike others (we both know there many fans) who either questions him and the players.
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:45 pm
So sad….
Your initial comment criticized me on several levels, but you have no reason to.
I’ve followed Manchester United all my life and have seen many players come and go. I have no beef with any of them. Some are just meant to be starters and others are squad players.
All are important. Just because I don’t think a certain player should start regularly for United, doesn’t make him a bad player or me a bad supporter.
I didn’t say Kuszczak was shit, just that I don’t see him as van der Sar’s supporter.
Why don’t you answer the qestion of why Fergie chose to scout the match with goal-keeping coach Eric Steele? Because of his tactical insight?
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:56 pm
RFR, mate – why bother?
Check the spelling. believe is either a kid, an idiot or both.
The picture of Fergie with Eric Steele says it all. They were definitely there to watch a keeper, whether it was De Gea or Valencia’s GK who knows?
- believe, you ask if RFR believes everythin(k) the press says, are you so stupid that you believe evreything the Manchester United staff say?
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Dan there nothing wrong with my spelling and dont stick your nose where it aint wanted, this between me and RFR. I believe our staff because its from our boys and i wouldnt believe anythink till its concrete…RFR, I be honest lad, if i offended your integrity as a fan than my apologizes, i just dont believe for a second we went there to watch another gk due to fact valencia’s the other team…like you ive seen many come & go over past 20 years and its just bugs me when they dont get credit they deserves.
September 24th, 2010 at 1:40 am
There to scout Valencia, not De Gea. Kuszczak is our next number one and if we do buy another keeper, he will be backup to Tomasz. KK has earned the right to a chance as our number one and I believe he will get the chance by Fergie next season, De Gea is not good enough to replace Edwin as he is an inexperienced boy. Tomasz is the future United #1.
September 24th, 2010 at 2:31 am
Yes, he was there to scout Valencia, not De Gea, that’s why Fergie brought goalkeeping coach Eric Steele to the match.
Photo here:
http://www.redforcerising.net/2010/09/23/photo-sir-alex-in-valencia-with-goalkeeping-coach-eric-steele/
Maybe Fergie did both, scout the team and at the same time scout a player or some players., but you cannot deny that bringing Eric Steele doesn’t mean they wanted to scout one or both of the keepers
September 24th, 2010 at 5:31 am
De Gea is a small man, weak and fagile, no chance could he handle our league. What happened to the obsession with Stekelenburg, Lloris, Akinfeev, Neuer, that’s right, the media hasn’t linked us to them has they. KK is our future number one, De Gea would only be backup and will never be as good as KK. Kuszczak is World Class keeper and our natural replacement of Van Der Sar. Fergie believes in KK and I believe Tomasz will get the chance he deserves – to be our first choice keeper.
September 24th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Yes, Kuszczak is our future number 1…that’s why he’s starting every week and a 40 year-old is his backup…. Oh wait….
Anybody who thinks Kuszczak is or can be on par with Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar, clearly doesn’t watch enough football. Kuszczak is a good keeper and on his best day he can pull off some fantastic saves, but his kicking and throwing are poor and he never seems certain with his actions.He seems to dally before coming out and when he does, it looks clumsy. Keepers like Akinfeev and De Gea are much more instinctive and assured.
Mrs Kuszczak, I find it funny you choose to criticize De gea’s size. He has a physique like van der Sar and he’s a fine keeper. De Gea is only 19 and will develope.
September 24th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
what are you? 5. KK is better than not assured De Gea and Akinfeev so stop talking garbage you little polish hating children, grow up. No one (besides you) are comparing Tomasz with the best keeper of all time Schmeichel or Van Der Sar. What, can handle fact one of the worse keeper’s ever Flopster was sold, Ben was nearly as bad as Taibi. Tomasz is good enough to be our next number one, so grow up.
September 25th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
at kuszcak 1
are you retarded
de gea is 19 and has been lauded by his coach as the best goalkeeper in the world. The lad is barely 20, such a young age for a goalkeeper. He was in spains preliminary world cup squad for god sakes. Whether we sign him or not,he undoubtably will be a world class keeper if he already isn’t, and that is something kuszack isn’t.
For the record i actually like kuzcak but he is not a manchester united first choice goalkeeper
September 26th, 2010 at 1:31 am
De Gea is not world class and his coach would say rubbish like that. De Gea isn’t good eough to be United’s #1 (yet….who know’s 10yrs from now), Kuszczak has shown the world he is good enough. KK would of been at an International competìon if not for an injury (can’t remember which).
September 26th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Kuszczak was apart of the Poland 2006 World Cup squad (aldo a mistake in a friendly caused him to sitout on bench), got picked for 2008 Euro but withdrew due to injury – have’s 10 cap’s for Poland. when joined WBA several clubs in Europe and England wanting him. Sir Alex Ferguson moved the earth to get KK from WBA eventually paying £2.125m ad 2 player’s. KK has played 53 gms so far for us, played in Champions League, played League cup 2010 final, been on the bench for 2 Champs Lge finals.
September 26th, 2010 at 1:56 am
KK has featured in the League, domestic cups and Europe, winning the Premier Lge, Champions Lge, Club World Cup, League Cup and Community Shield and has never let us down when called upon. Fergie got KK to stay a year or so ago when he throught of leaving for first team football as he knows how good Kuszczak is and I am positive he will give KK chance as our #1. Kuszczak is a top class goalie with all the attribrutes to be our first choice keeper for the next decade. How about you people give KK a chance.
September 26th, 2010 at 2:03 am
When Kuszczak had that 11game spell last season, he proved he was good enough (unlike Flopster) and Sir Alex Ferguson found it hard to have to remove him for Van Der Sar. Kuszczak has never let United down when called upon and deserves the opportunity as our number one. Give Tomasz a chance before passing judgment just because you are obsessing over a paper linked keeper (what happened to Akinfeev, Neuer, Lloris etc…). KK is good enough, he deserves a season as our number one to see how he handles it.
September 26th, 2010 at 2:47 am
rumours say we would have to pay £17m for De Gea as it is the buy out in his contract – RIP OFF. Good thing we have a proven goalkeeper in Tomasz Kuszczak, a top class if not world class keeper, a man Fergie believes in, a man good enough to be our next number one and deserves the opportunity.