David de Gea faced criticism following Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park in April. Alan Shearer, along with many Newcastle United fans, seems unconvinced about the prospect of signing De Gea. According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Magpies are contemplating making a move for the goalkeeper, who is currently a free agent.
The absence of Nick Pope due to a shoulder injury, potentially sidelining him for five months, has raised concerns for Newcastle. Despite having Martin Dubravka as a dependable backup, the speculation surrounding De Gea’s possible arrival has surprised many. Interestingly, Dubravka played second fiddle to De Gea while on loan at Manchester United last season. With Pope’s injury and the De Gea rumors still speculative, Dubravka now has the opportunity to prove himself.
🚨🇪🇸 Alan Shearer on De Gea: “You've got to be brave. He's not comfortable, there's no way that David de Gea's comfortable doing that, he doesn't want to do that. Teams are quite happy to let him have the ball because they understand that's a problem for #MUFC."
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) April 4, 2023
Fan reactions to the news have been mixed, with concerns about wages, lack of playing time, and existing alternatives. While Toon icon Shearer has not commented on the situation, he previously criticized De Gea in April after Newcastle’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United. De Gea was singled out for his perceived lack of distribution skills, a factor believed by many to have contributed to his departure from Old Trafford.
Shearer stated on Match of the Day 2, “You’ve got to be brave. He’s not comfortable, there’s no way that David de Gea’s comfortable doing that, he doesn’t want to do that. Teams are quite happy to let him have the ball because they understand that’s a problem for Manchester United.”
This perceived weakness has carried over to De Gea’s potential role at Newcastle. Despite Pope’s exceptional shot-stopping abilities, doubts persist about his capacity to initiate attacks from deep positions. Modern goalkeepers are expected to execute precise passes while minimizing the risk to their defenders in possession.
Alan Shearer hailed David de Gea after yesterday's game #mufc https://t.co/UWo40KO1fb
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) April 24, 2023
While there might be a time when Newcastle considers alternatives beyond Pope, it appears unjust to do so in the short term unless a world-class goalkeeper, proficient both in shot-stopping and ball distribution, becomes available.