Rio Ferdinand has questioned Altay Bayindir’s decision-making and told the goalkeeper to ‘liven up’ following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Bayindir has been given the nod for United’s two opening matches of the Premier League season and has, at times, looked out of his depth between the sticks.
It was Bayindir’s mistake that led to Riccardo Calafiori’s early header in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford and the Turk’s struggles continued at Craven Cottage at the weekend.
Bayindir has looked weak when dealing with set-pieces in both games and was the 27-year-old was perhaps fortunate not to have conceded as he raced out for a corner in a frantic end to Saturday’s contest.
It leaves Ruben Amorim with an almighty selection headache ahead of United’s clash with Burnley next weekend. The Red Devils also face Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup tomorrow evening.
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Andre Onana returned from injury to start on the substitutes bench at Fulham and there are some calls for the Cameroon international to return, despite his error-strewn campaign last term.
Widespread reports suggest Royal Antwerp shot-stopper Senne Lammens is on the cusp of a move to the Theatre of Dreams – but it seems unlikely the 23-year-old would be available for either of United’s upcoming games.
‘We look shaky. The goalkeeper doesn’t fill me with massive confidence,’ Ferdinand said of United’s vulnerability in defending set-pieces on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel.
‘I’ve got to be honest with you, he made a great save in the game from Joshua King, when he came out with his feet, he did really well there.
‘But from set-pieces, even outside of the goal, he’s coming for things that are 50-50 and he’s not sure.
‘The whole backline don’t look good in that area, not just the goalkeeper to be honest with you.’
According to Ferdinand, Bayindir has ‘got to get used to contact’ and United coaches should be ‘smashing balls under the crossbar’ for him on the training ground.
‘He needs to liven up. I know that, definitely,’ the former United and England centre-back added.
‘I’ll tell you what I’d do, I’d be getting him out on the pitch every day and smashing balls under the crossbar.
‘He’s got to get used to it, he’s got to get used to contact and work out a way.
‘Make out the referee is aware by the way that there’s going to be contact. Shout, get him aware to look at you so if there’s any contact, like in the Fulham game, that you get the free-kick.’
Ferdinand believes Bayindir needs to be far more vocal, but insists the Turkey international is far from alone in displaying a lack of confidence this season.
He went on: ‘I don’t think he talks enough, he doesn’t make people aware of what’s going on and then his decision-making in those moments hasn’t been good enough.
‘I don’t think he’s seen enough of that, Declan Rice whipping balls right under his nose.
‘He’s not on his own by the way in lacking a bit of confidence.’
Amorim has been reluctant to single Bayindir out for criticism and instead said United’s team as a whole needed to ‘grow up’ in the wake of the side’s draw at Fulham.
‘We have to grow up a lot as a team,’ the United head coach told reporters.
‘For me, the most important thing is that during the week they were working really hard.
‘Today, we worked really hard, and we are going to improve. The moment that changed the game was our goal.’
Should Bayindir be dropped?
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Yes
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No
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