Source: Team_Talk
Rio talks up De Gea turnaround
Rio Ferdinand is convinced a baptism of fire at Stoke will prove to be the making of David de Gea's Manchester United career.[LNB] After arriving from Atletico Madrid in the summer with an £18million price-tag hanging round his neck, there was huge expectation on De Gea the first time he pulled on a United shirt.[LNB]Edwin van der Sar's gloves were always likely to be difficult to fill, and some tentative early performances, including a tortuous afternoon at West Brom in August, had some critics ready to write the 20-year-old off as an expensive flop.[LNB]No-one was repeating those words at the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.[LNB]Not only did De Gea make a couple of outstanding saves to deny Dirk Kuyt and Jordan Henderson late winners, but he managed to exert a command over his penalty area and looked confident under the high ball.[LNB]It marked De Gea's most complete performance since his arrival from Atletico, and Ferdinand feels the trigger was a Saturday evening at the Britannia Stadium last month, when it was expected the Spaniard's world would cave in.[LNB]"The game against Stoke was a pivotal moment for him," recalled the 32-year-old, who was also part of the side that defended doggedly to earn a 1-1 draw.[LNB]"There was a lot of pressure on him. People expected things to go wrong for him because of the size of the opponents and how Stoke put pressure on the goalkeeper.[LNB]"He dealt with that game brilliantly, which was huge confidence-wise.[LNB]"I didn't notice a change in him because he is not an emotional type of guy or someone who is that animated, but you can tell from his performances since that he is looking more comfortable and confident."[LNB]Like so many United goalkeepers, De Gea is going to be compared with the legends who have gone before.[LNB]It proved too much for a dozen Sir Alex Ferguson brought in as potential replacements for Peter Schmeichel.[LNB]If the United boss has managed to get a suitable replacement for Van der Sar at his first attempt, it will be a pretty remarkable feat.[LNB]Not that Ferdinand wants to start making those kinds of comparisons.[LNB]"David had big shoes to fill but he will tell you himself he has loads of things to learn and loads of things still to do in the game before we can start comparing him to anyone," said the United defender.[LNB]"He is showing why the club spent so much money on him and went out big to get him."[LNB]There are those who had the ability to be a United goalkeeper, but failed to cope with the key demand of maintaining concentration during long periods when they had little to do.[LNB]It was an accusation levelled at Tim Howard during his years at Old Trafford.[LNB]"The difference with clubs like us and others is that elsewhere goalkeepers are always involved in the action," said Ferdinand.[LNB]"Here, he is not involved for a long time and then bang he has to make a quick save. That is what sets the top keepers apart."[LNB]Ferdinand also had cause to be pleased with his own performance after a difficult few weeks, which culminated in his axing from England's squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro.[LNB]Indeed, on a day when Wayne Rooney was reduced to the role of substitute as a direct result of the "devastation" felt at the three-match ban for his red card in Podgorica, and was then upstaged by fellow bench man Javier Hernandez, who scored United's equaliser eight minutes from time, United's defence as a whole can be reasonably pleased.[LNB]If Ryan Giggs' failure to remain static in a wall proved costly as Steven Gerrard stroked Liverpool ahead, other than that, the hosts were largely toothless yesterday until their late rally.[LNB]It was a change United required after their increasingly lax defending, which has gone unnoticed due to their efforts at the other end of the field.[LNB]"We know if we are giving teams too many chances," said Evans.[LNB]"But that is the way we have been playing. When you are scoring that many goals and creating so many chances yourself, you are going to be a bit open at the back.[LNB]"It is a big responsibility, especially for the two centre-backs.[LNB]"The full-backs do go on and sometimes your midfielders get in the box as well, so you are left with two at the back.[LNB]"If the opposition break, you are just waiting for the onslaught.[LNB]"This time we were set up differently."
