To say that Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens enjoyed a good debut season would be underselling just how convincing he has looked between the sticks at Old Trafford. The 23-year-old has excelled in his maiden Premier League season and appears to possess all of the qualities needed to become an outstanding goalkeeper for the club.
Little was known about the shot-stopper before he arrived in Manchester last summer, and many fans and pundits thought the pressure of the role would prove too much for an inexperienced shot-stopper. However, Lammens has gone about his business with a quiet confidence, producing big saves when needed and showing a level of composure on the ball that far exceeds his years.
The Belgian‘s performances have even prompted a flattering comparison from a former United captain and Premier League legend.
A difficult role
Gary Neville has often referred to Manchester United’s goalkeeper position as one of the hardest in football and, ever since Spanish shot-stopper David De Gea left the club, he has certainly been proven right.
Andre Onana was signed from Inter Milan for a significant fee, with many believing his footwork and range of vision would be key to unlocking the way Erik ten Hag wanted to play.
Unfortunately, though, the Cameroonian never looked comfortable in goal. He was rash, struggled to hold onto shots and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, his passing was sloppy. Across his two seasons as United’s first-choice goalkeeper, the former Ajax player made a staggering 22 mistakes leading to goals.
His consistently poor performances led to Ruben Amorim dropping him at the start of last season and sending him out on loan, opting to give Altay Bayindir the chance to prove he was capable of being United’s first-choice goalkeeper.
However, the Türkiye international did not have the quality required for such an important position and the Red Devils quickly delved into the transfer market for a replacement.
A breakout season
Lammens arrived at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth an initial £18.1 million, including add-ons, and immediately appeared comfortable. He kept a clean sheet on his debut, a 2-0 win against Sunderland, and the starting shirt has been his ever since.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of his game is his ability to claim balls from set-pieces, something both of his predecessors struggled greatly with. His shot-stopping has been tremendous too, having prevented 6.39 goals across the season.
These eye-catching performances and incredible stats have not only seen him voted Premier League transfer of the season, but also caught the attention of Wayne Rooney, who recently compared Lammens to a goalkeeper who has shone in both the Premier League and on the international scene.
Amongst the league’s best
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, United’s record goal-scorer said: “I think consistency is key, and I think you’ve seen with Pickford, Pickford’s been really good again this season. Lammens has been consistent and steady all season. For me, Donnarumma and Raya, they’ll be the two standout ones this season.”
While Rooney went on to concede that Arsenal’s David Raya had been the Premier League’s standout goalkeeper in his opinion this season, he did state that Lammens had come close.
“He’s done well, he’s come in, there’s a big pressure at Man United to go in and be a goalkeeper at Man United. But I just think Raya has been a level up.”
Perhaps next season, Lammens can go one step further in Rooney’s eyes and be the best goalkeeper in the league with twelve months of experience of English football under his belt, though ranking amongst the top four in your position isn’t bad going for a newbie.
Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
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