It’s dangerous to overreact to a single performance, especially when it comes in a narrow 2–0 win over a newly promoted side. But sometimes, one game is enough to show you what’s been missing. For Manchester United fans, Senne Lammens’ Premier League debut offered something rare in recent seasons: calm.
The 23-year-old Belgian didn’t need to make a world-class save to announce himself. He didn’t command the spotlight or demand a post-match graphic. Instead, he did something arguably more impressive, he played with assurance, composure, and maturity beyond his years. In a match where United were vulnerable to counterattacks and lacked fluency in midfield, Lammens stood tall. Or rather, he stood still. No unnecessary flapping, no panicked decisions. Just quiet confidence, clean distribution, and a first clean sheet.
Compare that to what we’ve seen over the past few years. Altay Bayındır, who finally got his chance last season, never looked settled across ten appearances, managing just one clean sheet. André Onana, for all his big-game pedigree, has struggled with inconsistency, especially in high-pressure situations. Both keepers offered chaos; Lammens, in 90 minutes, offered clarity.
Of course, he’ll make mistakes. He’s young. There will be misjudged punches, lapses in positioning, and moments where the pressure of the Premier League exposes his inexperience. But what makes Lammens stand out is that his foundation already looks strong. The raw materials are there: a towering frame, fast feet, smart instincts, and, crucially, a sense of timing. Timing not just in shot-stopping, but in when to rush, when to hold, when to calm the game down.
In a team still finding its identity under INEOS, that kind of steadiness matters. With a back line that has been in constant flux and a midfield still figuring out its balance, the last thing United need is volatility in goal. Lammens may not be the long-term starter yet, but he looks like someone who can grow into that role, and quickly.
More than that, he’s someone fans can get behind. After seasons of debate, of “De Gea or no De Gea,” of the Onana experiment, of wondering whether Bayındır was ever trusted, Lammens feels like a fresh page. A project worth investing in emotionally. Not because he’s flashy, but because he feels like a United keeper. No-nonsense, disciplined, composed.
In many ways, Lammens is emblematic of what INEOS say they want to build, a younger, hungrier, more modern Manchester United. One not reliant on bloated reputations, but on upside and progression. It’s early days, but Senne Lammens might not just be a player for the future, he might already be the keeper United need today.
And if the Carrington rebuild really is coming, they might want to start with the goalkeeping wing, because there’s finally someone worth building around.
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