25 | Gianluigi Donnarumma - 2025/26

[Chris in London]

I don't know why people (person) are moaning about Trafford. You have to be the best in the world to play for us. That should be the standard. If James gets to that level, then brilliant, he will take Donnarumma's spot. If not, he can't complain.

We have probably got the best combination of No 1 and No 2 Keepers in the country, and possibly the world. If Pickford got injured tomorrow it's 50/50 that Trafford would be England's first choice keeper.

 

[Gorbachev]

Tippy happy. That tippy tappy won us so much. What's your problem with that?

Nothing.

I am saying with our current set of players I don't think that style of goalkeeper is the way forward.

We need to adapt to the modern game and the new profile of player we currently have.

We needed a shot stopper and a presence because the pros of having that style of goalkeeper with the current set of players we have outweighs having a more ball playing goalkeeping who isn't necessarily as good as an all out shot stopper.

For example. I don't think Ederson makes that save Donnarumma did yesterday. Donnarumma was at full stretch for that save and he is much taller than Eddy.

With the way we have played recently, we might have crumbled had that goal went in. It's why Haaland was so complimentary of Donnarumma yesterday because he knew how importing he was.

We are a team that will now not dominate games as we once did and because of that we will be on siege by opposition teams more and take hits on our goal more regularly. This team needed a Donnarumma style.

 

[Gumzy97]

Didn't realise at the time but the Amad cross that was fired into Mbeumo which Mbeumo knew nothing about Donnarumma saved it, he gets a toe to it. The speed of the ball and he still gets a toe to it his reactions are world class. It was probably going out anyway but to get a toe to it at speed the ball was going wow

 

[Stoned Rose]

Not convinced he's the one for us long term but didn't cause any problems. Made saves that you expect a keeper to make! Maybe it will work but I still think Trafford is a better fit long term for our play style.

Not sure if wumming, mental or a combination.

 

[.db.]

I like how when he came out punching, he cleared everything out. Don't think we have had a keeper like that since the great Joe Corrigan?

David James

 

[Stoned Rose]

I’ve forgotten about Ederson already.

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

David James

*Martyn Margetson

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

I’ve forgotten about Ederson already.

The King is dead - long live the King!!

 

[HelloCity]

 

[rice10]

Quite rightly Big Donna is getting credit for “that save” and what a save it was. But for me there were two other saves that happened that made think this guy is built different.

One was the first save where he seemed to float across and casually cushion it down one handed. Then and this is the one made me sit up was the 1v1 with Sesko. He just looked in complete control of the situation, and was massive. I bet he intimidated Sesko when he saw him running through. I also think that is why Mbeumo shit the bed when he was 1v1 as well.

I was one of those who questioned the signing cos it just didn’t “fit” what I expected Pep would want but I am very happy with that debut performance.

 

[Bozo]

Superb yesterday, felt like he's been with us for years.

 

[dublin-blue]

Makes his debut.
Catlike reflexes
Clean sheet
Commanding box presence
Gives it large to the rags.

Yeah, my minds changed. Donna's a blue

 

[fulabeer]

I’ve forgotten about Ederson already.

Not sure if wumming, mental or a combination. :)

 

[Stoned Rose]

Not sure if wumming, mental or a combination. :)

Touche :)

 

[mcfcphil]

Bold prediction…
He’ll win PFA player of the year award.

 

[Lavinda Past]

I thought he was great but let’s not pretend Ederson wasn’t a proper goalkeeper too, he just had different skill sets.

If he’s as effective for us as Ederson was, albeit for different reasons, then I’ll be very happy.

Ederson's 'basic' skills were poor. He was picked for his distribution skills and benefited from Pep's tactical approach.

He was more our 'first line of attack' than our 'last line if defence'. Donnarumma is an infinitely better goalkeeper.

 

[Fiftyyearsandcounting]

Didn't realise at the time but the Amad cross that was fired into Mbeumo which Mbeumo knew nothing about Donnarumma saved it, he gets a toe to it. The speed of the ball and he still gets a toe to it his reactions are world class. It was probably going out anyway but to get a toe to it at speed the ball was going wow

According to Sky commentator it "Simply hit is toe and went out for a corner".
That was on one of the rare occasion he commented on the field action rather than waffling on about something of no relevance or consequence.

 

[NQCitizen]

For a player with the world at his feet (hands?) its nice to see how he genuinely seems to be loving it at City already.

 

[heslops barnet]

Looked very nervous playing out from the back and the defenders looked unsure when receiving the ball under pressure, his long kicking was atrocious but for shot stopper & commanding his area he was brilliant, needs time to find his feet.

 

[HelloCity]

Looked very nervous playing out from the back and the defenders looked unsure when receiving the ball under pressure, his long kicking was atrocious but for shot stopper & commanding his area he was brilliant, needs time to find his feet.

I didn’t feel that at all - think that’s in your head a bit just because of all the propaganda. In fact he looked completely assured at all times - regardless of how any passes were.

Some longer passes did go long, but there were minimal options when he played those passes, and while some of the balls did come back at us, we also saw Haaland bring some of them down brilliant - which is an attribute of his we don’t use enough.

I also think the reason some shorter passes may have looked more awkward was because they were going to young players like Khusanov and O’Reilly in the full back positions - and they’re hardly seasoned pros. It’ll take time to build them all up until they’re fully comfortable playing with each other in that way.