Update: Altay Bayindir given backing amid Manchester United goalkeeper chaos News

The long-term future of United’s number one position is unclear

The long-term state of Manchester United’s goalkeeping department is in flux, with current starter Andre Onana being given time off recently due to on-field errors and off-pitch issues – but fans in the Manchester Evening News comments section are telling Ruben Amorim to give second-choice Altay Bayindir the time to prove himself.

Of United’s three senior goalkeepers, Andre Onana has been the nailed-on league and European competition starter, but has suffered high-profile errors throughout his time at the club that cast doubt on his future. Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is his understudy, making just 8 appearances for the club since arriving in 2023 – though 7 of those have come this season, the latest seeing his team ship 4 goals in a defeat to Newcastle United.

Amorim can also call upon Tom Heaton, an experienced United academy graduate, although he has not made an appearance for the club since making a couple of League Cup starts two seasons ago. At 39 years old, he will not be a long-term prospect for the club, and putting him in after so long, despite his vast experience in English football, could be a risk.

Some fans are desperate to see someone challenge for top billing, even after seeing Bayindir in action against Newcastle. Commenter Brad1954 says: “Putting Onana back in will be a massive mistake. Bayindir wasn’t great but he was thrown in at the deep end and was in a no-win situation. Everything he did was scrutinized in the smallest detail.

“It was a makeshift team and playing Lindelof as your main centre half is not going to help, Dalot and Mazraoui had a nightmare and Amass was on his debut the other side. Ugarte, Bruno and Eriksen were porous in midfield as well, so I would say another chance for either Bayindir or Heaton if pushed.”

Reader Steady Irwin writes: “That quote from Ferguson was freakishly accurate. We must have lost about 15 points due to keeper errors this year, or not saving things an outstanding keeper would. He’s mostly remembered for being a good man manager and motivator, but quotes like that prove there was an awful lot more to the man behind the scenes.

“Back to today and we actually need two new keepers, but maybe it’ll be enough with one good keeper and keep Onana as backup.”

Boysof66 says: “Bayindir deserves a run of games before judgement is passed. I think that Amorim does not have the courage to leave Onana out on Thursday but he absolutely should, he’s a liability. The game was well over long before Bayindir’s mistake for the fourth goal, other than that apart from his distribution, and that was no worse than Onana, you could not fault him for any of the first three goals.

“I would be ok with Heaton in goal but it won’t happen, he will play Onana. Amorim will be gone by the end of next season if not before, he’s out of his depth although many managers would be with the absolute shambles at United.”

Asterix01 writes: “Utd didn’t lose because of one goalkeeping error, the match was lost well before then. To blame Bayindir is disingenuous. Unlike Onana who has made mistakes that have ‘cost’ Utd on several occasions, the match against Lyon being one of a number this season. I’m sure Amorim would like to be more ruthless with players that consistently perform poorly. Thing is, his hands are tied.”

OohAhCantona says: “Altay made one error in kicking the ball out, and could not be blamed for any of the goals. In my opinion Onana is guilty of letting in goals that he should have saved.”

Have your say! Is it time for Amorim to lean more on his second- and third-choice goalkeepers? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.