David De Gea and the Legacy of Sir Alex
The fantastic form of David De Gea is the most recent reminder of the formidable foresight possessed by Sir Alex Ferguson and serves as a fine example of how the Scots legendary legacy lives on.
As Louis Van Gaal’s self-professed “philosophy” finally begins to make its mark on The Theatre of Dreams, talk of Ferguson has somewhat subsided and no longer is the camera consistently capturing the agitation and dismay that was so often evident during the much maligned Moyes reign.
Having won four games in a row for the first time since Ferguson’s departure after beating Stoke on Tuesday evening, United look as though they have finally turned that elusive corner - make no mistake, last season United would have succumbed to the substantial Stoke pressure witnessed in the final few minutes at Old Trafford yesterday.
Inconsistency best characterises the Moyesian United, but one man conflicted such a classification and continues to dispel the myth that he would never cut it in the rough and tumble of the Premier League. Throughout the toughest season witnessed in M16 since 1990 - the single, solitary shining light came from the performances of a rejuvenated David De Gea.
Building on the back of his Premier League Team of the Year Award in 2013 the young stopper single handily provided United fans with a sense of optimism and excitement. In a campaign of capitulation and short of genuine world class displays, De Gea endured the season of all seasons and in the process endeared himself to the United faithful like no other since Ronaldo.
Save after save - the Spaniard collected both the Club and Players Player of the Year Awards as well as the adulation of the Stretford End.
While 2013/2014 was regarded as the demise of United it inadvertently resulted in the rise of a genuine world-class goalkeeper. This season however, he has kicked on again. Heroics against Everton, Arsenal and most recently Stoke have now propelled United to 4th place in the league and De Gea is the main man to thank.
Now rightly regarded as United’s most important player the young Spaniard has dislodged Iker Casillas as Spain’s number 1 and at just 24 has the world as his feet, or perhaps more pertinent… in his hands. It wasn’t all plain sailing however.
The retirement of Edwin Van Der Sar in 2011 was always going to leave a seismic-sized, Schmeichel like hole at the heart of a formidable United defence. But the decision to gamble on a relatively un-tested teenager, despite a Europa League title under his belt, resulted in the severe questioning of Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex failed to properly replace Schmeichel in 1999, taking six years and a subsequent ten different goalkeepers before signing the Dutchman.
Pundits and fans alike began to question if Ferguson had learned anything from the Schmeichel debacle. With big names branded about in the form of Hugo Lloris, Manuel Neur and Igor Akinfeev Ferguson’s choice of a then 19 year De Gea was met with considerable condemnation.
De Gea’s early performances only added fuel to the fire and after mistakes against Man City and West Brom respectively the legendary Scot was criticised with cries of incompetence from many quarters.
Lambasted for early mistakes and lamented for being too weak the shaky Spaniard was faltering at a ridiculous rate of knots.
Flattering to deceive, the floundering goalkeeper was already condemned as a flop. With every drop of the ball and failure to collect a cross, mainstream media went into meltdown, or celebration depending on which way one is inclined.
De Gea, now recognised as a genuine world class talent must look back on those times with disdain. But having been subjected to such severe criticism, Sir Alex Ferguson must be awarded for his handling of the situation and allowing the De Gea to flourish despite such widespread outrage.
The genius of Ferguson emanates in many forms but his foresight in relation to potential is unrivalled. His belief in both his own intuitions and the potential of youth is incomparable.
No doubt aided by the expertise of then goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, Sir Alex again gambled on youth, as was so often the case and it is now paying substantial dividends.
David De Gea is a by-product of the Ferguson era and serves a fine example of how his legacy lives on.
Ferguson infamously alleged in his final speech that he had left the club in the best possible position; this has been a hotly debated topic with many citing an ageing squad with no midfield depth as a valid argument to such a statement. However, there is no doubting that he has nurtured and subsequently left one of the most promising young footballer’s to his successors.
Immune to self-doubt and unnerving in the face of adverse criticism, De Gea has propelled himself to the pinnacle of goalkeeping; now sitting on a pedestal alongside the likes Lloris and Courtois and close to Neur - despite the German being four years his senior.
With question marks still surrounding United post Ferguson, one universally accepted truth is that it’s safe to say the club is in safe hands - the hands of a 24 year old goalkeeper destined for greatness.
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