David de Gea’s best saves from 2014-15

Manchester United have made a successful return to Champions League football under new management. However, it doesn’t take a genius to realise that they had to thank one man in particular for giving a strings of amazing saves and clearances (on a couple of occasions) to single-handedly win or save matches amidst dogged performances and an injury-hit season. That man is United’s No.1 David de Gea.  Here is a trifle attempt to compile 10 of his most difficult and important saves in the 2014/15 season.

This list has been made, taking into consideration only Premier League matches, with only one save from any particular match.

This match will always be remembered for Chris Smalling’s defensive naivety as his antics in a high tension Manchester derby made him the villain in the red side of Manchester. However, playing with 10 men due to Smalling’s sending off and a makeshift defense consisting of Antonio Valencia, Paddy McNair, Michael Carrick and Luke Shaw, a 1-0 loss against the defending Champions at their own ground doesn’t tell the whole story.

David de Gea’s heroics were visible from the start of the game when he had thwarted Aguero’s shot from a tight angle towards his near post and then made an amazing save from what looked like the move of the match to deny Jesus Navas a certain goal.

The save that made into the top 10 is, however, the one in which he made himself big in the penalty area. In yet another City move, Fernando raced on to a pass on the left flank and gave a beautiful cross into the box towards a dangerous Aguero who was unmarked. The United goalkeeper was quick to react and rushed towards the striker but upon realising the floated ball is moving away from him, he threw both his arms wide and made himself big against the Argentine striker who slid and hit the ball sweetly, only to see the Spaniard being brave enough to save the shot.

David de Gea’s shot stopping ability was never a doubt from the time he moved to Old Trafford, but his ability todeal with crosses and his physical presence were never up to the Premier League level till last year. This season, as evident from this particular save, he has considerably improved these particular attributes and that’s why this save edged out his save against Hazard against Chelsea or his amazing save against Jesus Navas in this match.

A top goalkeeper is one who wins points for his team in crunch and tight situations. If the trend is to be seen, all the top keepers in the world today have the ability to save matches on their own for their teams, and David de Gea is one of them. With Manchester United leading 2-1 and Stoke City taking the game to the home side right till the end, it was David de Gea’s reflexes and Ashley Young’s goal line clearance that earned United all 3 points that night.

Holding a one goal lead in an injury time onslaught is no easy task and when Mame Biram Diouf escaped his marker and dived onto a headed ball by Phil Bardsley and headed it goal bound, he thought he had earned a point for Stoke City. But David de Gea’s immaculate positioning and reflexes saw him produce one more gem of a save in a crowd of people to earn 2 more points for Manchester United. Minutes later, Ashley Young’s goal line clearance to a Diouf’s right footed strike stole the headlines the next day, but De Gea’s save was equally crucial in helping United win this match.

It was another away trip and another winless travel outcome for Louis van Gaal’s men. But it could have been even more humiliating if the man between Manchester United’s sticks was having an off day at office. But unfortunately for West Ham, the United keeper was in top form again as he saved a multitude of shots fired at his goal. Enner Valencia was spectacularly denied twice in the opening half hour of the match, one a 25 yard drive and another, an acrobatic attempt which was incredibly tipped over the bar.

James Tomkins’ header was then saved by de Gea’s right foot. David de Gea is a goalkeeper who has probably made more saves with his legs than his hands and therefore, a save by his feet is included in his top 10 saves.

A perfect  piece of play. A beautifully floated ball into the box. A great leap by Benteke followed by an even better header by him, hit with both power and precision. Only to be matched by a great jump from the keeper tipping the ball over.

It was a day to forget for Louis van Gaal as Manchester United were hammered 3-0 by the Toffees. But David de Gea did produce a fine save from a Kevin Mirallas long range effort as he palmed his shot over the bar. As Mirallas went on a great run, mazing past United’s hapless defense, he found space right in front of United’s box. So, he continued with his run and then unleashed a fearsome shot towards goal which David de Gea did well to tip over.

This save looks ordinary when compared with his other saves but was a technically difficult one to make. First of all, it was a long range effort and judging the trajectory of a ball coming from 30 yards out, with the ball swerving right or left, is very difficult. Secondly, in this particular save, de Gea was back tracking when the shot was fired which made it a little uncomfortable for him as he had to stop and then jump almost simultaneously to make the save. He overcame all this to make a great save with his left hand. It was a great move overall as Joey Barton’s pass to Charlie Austin was very well taken and then Austin hit it in a continuous motion, earlier than the defense expected it and David de Gea had to be on his guard to deny a venomous shot from going in with an equal dose of supernatural agility.

The shot by Connor Wickham was low and powerful and with Johnny Evans right in the line of sight between the ball and the keeper, David de Gea had to make an even quicker save low to his left. The fact that it was close to him and he didn’t see the ball until it went past Evans, made it one of the most difficult save made by him. Although, like the one against Austin, this save is also underrated.

This game propelled David de Gea’s stature in international football as one of the best shot stopper in the world, if not the best, starting the social media trend #ThingsThatDeGeaCouldSave. A premier league record was equalled by the super Spaniard for making maximum number of saves in a Premier League match (8). 6 out of those 8 could very well have been in the top 10 list. Had David de Gea not been with United in that particular match, Mario Balotelli would have scored a hattrick. He has, instead, scored only 1 Premier League goal since then.

Raheem Sterling twisted and turned around Phil Jones and then passed the ball to a free Mario Balotelli who hit the ball first time only for de Gea to make a finger tip save, pushing the ball on to the bar and away to safety. It was a point blank range shot and was brilliantly dealt with by de Gea. His positioning and reflexes were perfect and his overall performance in the match earned him the Man of the Match award. It certainly says something about the keeper if your team has won 3-0 but the MOTM award is bagged by the him.

This is the penalty save and yes, it’s not #1. The Spaniard had a special love for the Merseyside clubs as he made 4 amazing saves in this particular match out of which 3 could have been in the top 5. But penalty saves are rare and difficult to save. They are also difficult to judge but David de gea did well to dive long and low towards his right and saved the shot right before the stroke of half time. A penalty, right before half time gets my vote over that late effort by Olveido or Osman’s thunderous volley. The fact that this was Leighton Baines first penalty miss pips it above Mario Balotelli’s effort.

With your team on a 3 match goalless run, playing away from home with the media outlets speculating about your imminent departure can surely be unsettling for any player. David de Gea, however, continued giving his best and his best save of the season came late in the game against Crystal Palace when he became brave and big for his team, yet again. A looping ball was launched at the edge of the box where Glen Murray did well to win the header and the ball was then received by onrushing Scott Dann who got a superb first touch and then swerved round to pass the ball back to Murray who hit the ball with purpose but David de Gea was there with his arms big and his fingertips denied Glen Murray what looked like a certain goal. It was de Gea’s quick thinking, brilliant decision making, a veteran-esque maturity and overall superb goal-keeping that gave United a much needed, morale boosting 2-1 win against Crystal Palace.

Here’s the youtube link if you want to relive all those amazing saves he made last season.
(including the FA Cup saves against Arsenal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3E1ulVmek