David De Gea did well to disguise Manchester United’s fragile defence last season, making the fifth most saves of any goalkeeper in the Premier League and securing 18 clean sheets.
That won him the Golden Glove and helped Jose Mourinho’s side to a second-placed finish. The Spaniard was their Mr Dependable who would, quite literally, save the day.
After 12 league games this season, however, De Gea has kept just one clean sheet and leaked 21 goals. Only Cardiff’s Neil Etheridge and Burnley’s Joe Hart have conceded more.
Despite his dip, recent seasons have shown they don’t come much more reliable than De Gea. In four of the last five campaigns, he has been named his club’s Player of the Year.
A positive, yes, but also one that indicates an unhealthy dependence on your last line of defence. As Mourinho said previously: ‘I think when a goalkeeper is player of the season, it is because something is wrong.’
Though De Gea should take his share of the blame for United’s leakiness, he has not been helped by a back line consistently leaving him stranded between the sticks.
Despite Mourinho’s famed stability, United’s defence has been calamitous at times this season. There was Ander Herrera’s comical attempt to fake it as a defender against Tottenham, plus their overall performance at the back when Newcastle visited Old Trafford in October.
The statistics show how United have faced 153 shots in the Premier League this season. Of those, 62 have been on target, and only West Ham (66), Brighton (67), Cardiff (67), Fulham (75) and Burnley (82) have allowed more.
As manager of Chelsea, Mourinho worked with the likes of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. At Real Madrid, with Sergio Ramos and Pepe.
In 12 league matches at United, Mourinho has used five different centre-back combinations, with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof the latest he has chosen to stand by.
The Portuguese will point to the fact his centre-half suggestions were shot down in the summer, though his persistent chopping and changing has caused confusion nonetheless.
In front of the defence, Marouane Fellaini has occasionally performed admirably as a deep-lying midfielder. Fred, on the other hand, has offered little-to-no protection since signing for £52million.
The Brazilian was supposed to be the man to free Paul Pogba of any defensive donkey work but has been an unused substitute against Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus twice.
As a result of all this, United have a negative goal difference at this stage of the season for the first time in 41 years. At a time when they want to convince De Gea to sign a new deal, the feeling of being so exposed cannot be an enjoyable one for the 28-year-old.
De Gea’s one and only Premier League clean sheet this season came way back on September 2. Since then, he has had to pick the ball out of the net week in, week out.
In last Sunday’s Manchester derby, he had to hold his hands up for the part he played in the 3-1 loss. Sergio Aguero’s strike, sent through his arms, should not have got by him.
Dave saves, as United’s supporters say, though he is having a hard time of it lately.
De Gea is set to make his 250th Premier League appearance after the international break and is only six clean sheets away from 100. At this rate, he will be waiting a while for that century.