What’s up Dave?
Where’s the impregnable, infallible wall we’ve grown to take for granted gone?
Whisper it quietly, but there are now some out there who think his powers are fading.
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And last night’s agonising defeat to Croatia added yet more fuel to that theory.
Locked at 2-2 in injury time and with the Croats chasing a winner that would keep their Nations League promotion hopes alive (still sounds weird to say), De Gea let his country down.
After a period of pinball in the Spain box, the Man United stopper inexplicably parried a tame shot straight to the path of Tim Jedvaj, who couldn’t believe his luck.
Not good. Not good at all Dave.
But the worrying thing is, this blunder isn’t necessarily out of keeping with his character of late.
Since the World Cup De Gea has conceded 35 goals in 24 games; 23 in 16 for United and 12 in 8 for Spain.
It all began with that horror show against Portugal in Spain’s opening group game in Russia, letting Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot squirm through his grasp.
It hasn’t got much better since, with United missing his superhuman performances that perhaps explains why they currently sit eighth, with a negative goal difference, after 12 games.
That 21 in the ‘against’ column is creeping closer and closer to the 27 United conceded in the entirety of the last Premier League campaign.
Where’s this Dave gone?
At Old Trafford his position is almost untouchable but there is a suggestion that Spain are considering alternatives between the sticks.
There is a lack of cohesion between goalkeeper and defence and many feel Kepa Arrizabalaga is better suited to the Spanish system.
So is this the beginning of the end for Dave? Or is his body just starting to creak a bit from carrying United for so long?
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