1 hour ago, robdog said:

One for the doubters

If only he had that strong a wrist for their first goal. No idea what he was doing dropping his arms for the second either, he completely misjudged it. He also passed the ball straight to a Valencia attacker right on the edge of our box again. People have their doubts about him and rightly so - one penalty save doesn’t change that.

Fairplay on the pen save, but statistically a keeper will eventually stop one, to the rest of his game today - hes  got out of jail a few times until he decided to watch that cross go in. That pass to Dave in the corner got Kante a yellow and a free kick into the box, off his line got chipped luckily it missed, slightly mitigating circumstances was the CBs  in front of him today, Kurt looks OK with Tomori but with AC hes dragged down to that level. I'd say buy a better world class CB, then pair him with Rudy/ Tomori and cash in on today's pairing.

 

 

 

I have to say ive had my reservations about Kepa for some time. Yes he makes the odd good save but for 70 odd million you would be entitled to expect that. Hardly a game goes by when hes not at fault for something.

For me he's on the small side for a keeper and he Does'nt govern his six yard box with much Authority, he also looks uncomfortable in possession and often puts defenders under unnecessary pressure with his distribution.

Its still early days for him and he's young for a keeper so I hav'nt given up hope that he will turn things around. I do think Frank needs to bring another keeper in to add some competition though.

1 hour ago, General said:

Kurt looks OK with Tomori but with AC hes dragged down to that level.

Interesting take, I actually think it’s Zouma who kept going walkabout today. There were a couple of time’s he went charging out to left back when Azpi was getting back in and there was absolutely no need for him to be going out there. It leaves Christensen completely isolated in the centre of the defence and a massive hole where the LCB should be. I don’t think either played particularly well tonight mind you.

8 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Interesting take, I actually think it’s Zouma who kept going walkabout today. There were a couple of time’s he went charging out to left back when Azpi was getting back in and there was absolutely no need for him to be going out there. It leaves Christensen completely isolated in the centre of the defence and a massive hole where the LCB should be. I don’t think either played particularly well tonight mind you.

Small sample size but the one time AC and Fik played together it worked quite well. Would be harsh on Kurt but maybe that's worth a try next.

30 minutes ago, Osgoodwasgood said:

I have to say ive had my reservations about Kepa for some time. Yes he makes the odd good save but for 70 odd million you would be entitled to expect that. Hardly a game goes by when hes not at fault for something.

For me he's on the small side for a keeper and he Does'nt govern his six yard box with much Authority, he also looks uncomfortable in possession and often puts defenders under unnecessary pressure with his distribution.

Its still early days for him and he's young for a keeper so I hav'nt given up hope that he will turn things around. I do think Frank needs to bring another keeper in to add some competition though.

 

 

I hear this YANK named Zack Steffen is doing pretty well in the Bundi (on loan from Citeh). 

 

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-the-best-goalkeeper-in-germany-manuel-neuer-zack-steffen-sommer-nubel-8208

 

Edited November 27, 20196 yr by haviet1

I have to say ive had my reservations about Kepa for some time. Yes he makes the odd good save but for 70 odd million you would be entitled to expect that. Hardly a game goes by when hes not at fault for something.
For me he's on the small side for a keeper and he Does'nt govern his six yard box with much Authority, he also looks uncomfortable in possession and often puts defenders under unnecessary pressure with his distribution.
Its still early days for him and he's young for a keeper so I hav'nt given up hope that he will turn things around. I do think Frank needs to bring another keeper in to add some competition though.

He just isn't a great goalkeeper. He is good but not great. He makes too many mistakes and he makes them too regularly. Not just the howlers that any keeper can make on any given day but, and probably more significantly, getting basics wrong too often. Coming off his line when he shouldn't, or the opposite, really bad decision making in terms of distribution and, far too often, his wrists bend like the hinges on Val's door when an earthy Irishman comes a knocking.

Think we will end up cutting our losses on him. Just not sure when. Maybe next summer.

The problem is the lack of consistancy. Against Ajax he let in a total fluke goal, tonight as well. Those things stay in everyones mind and suddenly he looks like he has no talent even when he makes a good save. Then the reaction is quite cynical, yes he's paid to make saves, but it should be always special when he saves a big chance and not the same reaction as if he's always expected to do well when in reality it's the opposite; He should take care of these flukes but he doesn't, then later he will save a good shot or a penalty which isn't really expected. 

He looks like he's still getting used to the pace of the game, specially in Europe. If this form continues he will be regarded as an unsecure keeper and many players will have the will to test him from a distance.

People may look at De Gea and think maybe we should give Kepa time, but he joined United when he was 20 years old, and if memory serves me right he didn’t take as long as Kepa is now. Sure, their defence was a lot better than what we have but still, would you trust Kepa to keep us in the game when we have a world class defence? Not for me.

By the way isn't this like his 4th kit variant this season? Why are there so many GK kits? I like the sunrise colour

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

The problem is the lack of consistancy. Against Ajax he let in a total fluke goal, tonight as well. Those things stay in everyones mind and suddenly he looks like he has no talent even when he makes a good save. Then the reaction is quite cynical, yes he's paid to make saves, but it should be always special when he saves a big chance and not the same reaction as if he's always expected to do well when in reality it's the opposite; He should take care of these flukes but he doesn't, then later he will save a good shot or a penalty which isn't really expected. 

He looks like he's still getting used to the pace of the game, specially in Europe. If this form continues he will be regarded as an unsecure keeper and many players will have the will to test him from a distance.

 

That second/fluke goal was on him. He made a terrible judgement/decision, he jump, put his hands up, then took them down thinking it was going to sail over or out of bounds. A better keeper would follow the ball and put a hand up to push it out/over the net. He was lazy. He did not follow all the way through on that cross. And it was a cross.

 

I do think he should have saved the first goal, the fluke though was so powerfully hit i dont think he saves it even if he starts to jump like Michael Jordan. Yes he looks a tit for putting his arms down making it look like it was going to miss, but I think it is just one of those unsaveable hits.

One of his worst performances all season. A penalty save doesn't change that. Willy can save pens.

Changing the centre back area often causes problems, it's not really an area you change a lot. I think Zouma playing LCB and with a new partner had a big effect on him, he's been comfortably playing with Tomori and on the right side for over a month. Tough decision for Frank but I can see why he did it, Christensen has came back and if we can get the Christensen back from two years ago we are in luck. I still rate the lad as a defender, I think if we were to sell him he would end up doing well elsewhere. 

6 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

People may look at De Gea and think maybe we should give Kepa time, but he joined United when he was 20 years old, and if memory serves me right he didn’t take as long as Kepa is now. Sure, their defence was a lot better than what we have but still, would you trust Kepa to keep us in the game when we have a world class defence? Not for me.

I know, I did mention De Gea was younger than Kepa was, but I think the De Gea bad form lasted for half a season at the very least, he did calm down but he was making mistakes all that season. It was difficult for him to adapt to that pressure. 

With Kepa it's different, he came and actually did really well under the pressure, he had a good opening season, but it's gone backwards this season. I'll use De Gea as an example merely to pinpoint that maybe we shouldn't write him off so early, I remember many United fans at the time wanted De Gea replaced as he looked a liability at the time. 

12 hours ago, robdog said:

One for the doubters

Every dog has its day, shame about the other two goals, just not a keeper and never will be, basic natural instincts don't exist, first goal weak wrists again but also standing on his line meant he pushed it into side netting, now I've never played in goal to his level, but played to county level for many a year and know you should always be slightly off your line even if it's only a few inches, and those small margins would of meant he would of pushed it wide, the second goal these fluke cross shots sometimes go in but it was a bad misjudgement by the most expensive keeper in the world!

Maybe a couple of games off would help him. Not worried about his hinging wrists or his shot stopping abilities. I'm more worried about his judgement in crosses and especially his passing. Against Valencia he made 3-4 critical mistakes. A game before he passed to Aguero like in training. One of the most leathal attackers in the game.

I know Frank's judgement about players is excellent so he can solve this. Kepa is one of the brightest keepers in the world. Just a period of slump I guess.

I think he's been fine? I don't understand the criticism. 

As good as he can be with the changing of defenders and our attacking nature. 

The comparison with De Gea is not fair. He had issues mostly with the set pieces and the crossing. In Kepa's case we are talking about all around holes in his game - from shot stopping, to crossing, commanding the D, work with the feet and mistakes-prone. 

Barring the penalty save that was Kepa's worst game for us. The penalty save was superb though - as Frank said it wasn't just an ordinary penalty save, it was special. Not many keepers in the world could have pulled that off.

1st goal Kepa should definitely be doing better there. 2nd goal was a fluke that was miles over his head. He'd have needed to be 9ft tall to save that! The 2nd goal isn't on him.

He generally looked shaky last night and his passing was poor.

1 minute ago, DannyVblue said:

2nd goal was a fluke that was miles over his head.

Maybe Valencia did their homework, they should have realised how in previous games this season Kepa has struggled with high balls fizzed into him, then it's no fluke, if a little fortunate.

Maybe Valencia did their homework, they should have realised how in previous games this season Kepa has struggled with high balls fizzed into him, then it's no fluke, if a little fortunate.

I'm sure Wass knew this and made that simple shot over his head. I wonder why other players don't shoot these over shorter keepers....[emoji849]

No, he made a good point. All the opposition need to do is lob the ball into the box and it’s panic time.

Thinking about it, maybe Kepa is missing Rudiger? There’s a clear lack of communication between him and the centre halves, look at Christensen for example. Maybe Kepa need someone to tell him what to do.

Get rid let's buy another worldclass keeper ship him off the Spain [emoji57]

Coming off his line in the first half was his worst error.

Stay on his line and Christensen has an easy back pass for Kepa to clear his lines. Instead Kepa comes rushing out to a ball he'll never get to and forces Christensen to try and clear it facing the wrong way.

Rodrigo really should have scored the chip.