The Spanish Cat's English awakening

 by @CheGiaevara


There are doubters, there are sceptics, there are enthusiasts and there are believers. Not since the depature of Carlos Tévez has there been such a discussed topic as the one I would like to set in perspective; the arrival of David de Gea.

 

When David de Gea Quintana signed for Manchester United on June 29th 2011 it meant the ending of an era for Manchester United fans. The instant Edwin van der Sar decided to call time on his career, United fans worldwide searched for his successor. Everyone from world-renowned goalkeepers such as Gianluigi Buffon and Julio César to slightly lesser known talents such as Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi and Thailand international Kawin Thamasatchan. Some would even have to admit they were clutching their lucky charms as soon as the rumours regarding Liverpool's Pepe Reina started to run rampant. As United fans all drew their favorites, there was always one name everyone had in back of their heads; David de Gea.


The signing of De Gea reignites my belief in Sir Alex Ferguson's will to give youth a chance. We come off a season where I felt a lot of youngsters was overlooked and by giving a 20-year old the chance to become United's numer one, Sir Alex reignites not only my hope, but the hope of every young talent in the world that dreams of coming to Manchester United. The signing of De Gea is not only a good signing for today's Manchester United, but for the United of tomorrow as well. During the Community Shield we got a taste of our future with De Gea in goal and a defensive line consisting of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Rafael. They proved a vital part in the foundation that broke down Manchester City's two-goal lead that afternoon. Yet, in victory, the spotlight was on the £18-million-signing and his goalkeeping howler on a seemingly easy longshot from Edin Dzeko. Had Fergie comitted yet another mistake in his search to replace a goalkeeping legend?

Saving a penalty from Diego Milito in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup

David de Gea established himself as top-notch goalkeeper in Spain's La Liga in 2009 when Atlético's number one, Sergio Asenjo was away on international duty. To David de Geas surprise, and luck, Atlético's number two, Roberto, was victim of a injury that saw Atlético's number three get the shot of a lifetime. Not only did De Gea grab his chance, but he held it like weak cross from the flank. As Asenjo returned, a line of howlers came with him and it didn't take long before David de Gea was Atlético's new number one. Earning the nickname "Van der Gea" for his similarities to Edwin van der Sar - both athletically and style -the young Spaniard impressed most fans around the world with his calmness, his quiet lifestyle and his excellent goalkeeping skills. His season was topped off by winning the first ever UEFA Europa League by beating Fulham 2-1 at the HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg. With a 19-year-old David de Gea between the goalposts. Further success came the following season in which De Gea helped Atlético to a disappointed seventh place. He did achieve success, however, winning the UEFA Under 21 European Championship with Spain. A few days later, De Gea's Mancunian adventure was a fact.


What is stealing the headlines is not De Gea's past, but his present. And understandably so. A dodgy performance against Manchester City followed by the epidomy of goalkeeping insecurance the week after at West Bromwich. To me, personally, David de Gea looks out of place between the goalposts. I know he's good and I want him as our goalkeeper, but just by looking at him, it does not even seem like he wants to be there at the moment. I do understand De Gea, though. He has left his family, his friends and all he has ever known and has come to a foreign country where he does not know anyone, does not speak the language and generally has no idea how England functions. In addition to that, he works under new circumstances. In Spain, the players are more protected, more untouchable and much less impsoing than they are in England. A man standing close at 6 ft 4in, De Gea is not little man himself, but his phsyique proves different. At the Hawthornes, he was bullied by West Bromwich players throwing themselves into him, pushing him around and making him uncomfortable. Successfully.

Can he shut the critics up?

You must say that De Gea is a huge gamble in terms of all the things he will need. Time being one of them. At Manchester United, you cannot afford to give a goalkeeper too much time. You only get so many times until the lads on the pitch are not able to turn things around like they did at Wembley against City and against WBA at the Hawthorns. Like I said earlier, De Gea looks scared. What he does not need is for his own supporters to doubt him. I believe, wholeheartedly, that David de Gea could become the greatest goalkeeper ever in Manchester United history. He has the potential and he has the abillities to do so. It's just a matter of if his minds will play more games with him or not. He already has newspapers writing page upon page about this "huge gamble", he has the fans of other teams chanting "dodgy keeper, dodgy keeper" and he lacks the abillity to tell people about it. The last thing he needs is for you and me to be down his throat about it. He's a Manchester United player and as a Manchester United fans it is our duty to embrace the boy. Make him feel a part of our family. Make him feel part of something big. Make him feel United!

I would like to finish my views on David de Gea in form of an analogy. A sunflower is a beautiful flower. It's big, it's nice to look at and it brings out a smile in people. A sunflower needs much water, air and sun to grow into this wonderful flower we all know it can be. If you put a sunflower in a closed room, not giving it any sun, any water or any air, it dies little by little. Not every sunflower becomes as huge and as beautiful as you hope, but you still have to put the seed in the ground and nurture it. Without all of this, it will die.

David de Gea's seed is his talent, his water is the trust of Sir Alex Ferguson, his air is the help of his teammates and his sun is our support.


GRANDE DAVID!