Donny Van De Beek

Aloysius's Back 3

New Member
Joined
May 21, 2018
Messages
2,770
Whilst De Jong & De Ligt are no doubt looking like wonderful up and coming players - I feel like Van De Beek has been hiding behind their shadows a bit.

The guy is calm and composed with elements of tenacity mixed with technical ability. Reminds me of almost of the brand of players that crossed between Van der Vaart & Sneidjer of that previous generation.


Anyone impressed by the him?
 
Joined
Aug 13, 2018
Messages
4,962
Location
Dourset
I liked what I saw of him in the earlier tie with Madrid but it seems the Dutch natives on here dont rate him particularly highly.

If we show strong interest then we may have a chance,certainly a higher rate than going for most of their other stars.
 

Tommy

bigot with fetish for footballers getting fingered
Joined
Aug 3, 2014
Messages
10,672
Location
Birmingham
Supports
Liverpool
I thought he was arguably the MOTM yesterday. I'd definitely take him over a few of our midfield options for the coming season.
 

Henrik Larsson

Still logged in at RAWK (help!)
Joined
Sep 13, 2013
Messages
5,421
Location
Swashbucklington
I liked what I saw of him in the earlier tie with Madrid but it seems the Dutch natives on here dont rate him particularly highly.
More like the coach didn't rate him too highly, because Ten Hag had him on the bench at times at the start of the season, much to Donny's own dismay.

He's been absolutely vital for Ajax when playing though, he's just a very good allrounder and a bit of a marathon man as well. I think one CL match they showed he nearly ran 7 km's in the first half. Scores a very easy goal as well.

Koeman has been using guys like Pröpper and De Roon in midfield for the Netherlands paired with Wijnaldum and de Jong, but given Van de Beek's form over the last months you'd expect he will be a starter now during the Nations League finals this summer.
 

AaronRedDevil

Full Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2018
Messages
9,534
I'd the take any player from Ajax at this point. They are just so many potential great players in that squad.
 

Member 93275

Guest
Football fans: What a pity Ajax will be ripped apart this summer. :mad:
Same football fans: Our club should buy these Ajax players. :devil:

 

Pav1878

Full Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2014
Messages
1,121
I'd even take Daley Blind back right now
I never wanted him gone in the first place.

Versatile player who can cover CB, LB and DM.

Never understood why he wasn't given more time at DM or DLP role.

Alas he wasn't a Mourinho type player so he was out the door
 

Shinjch

Full Member
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
1,251
He looks like a very smart and adaptable player anytime I have seen him. Good decision making wherever he tends to be on the pitch. I imagine he would be a manager's dream
 

Kaglish10

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
976
The only player whose playing style looks uncanny to Schweisteiger. He can play as a playmaking no 6, mobile playmaking no 8 and has no problem operating as a no 10 (just like Schweisteiger) although he's much more comfortable in the central midfield, just like Bastian. A goal scoring midfielder too. He's a very intelligent and tactically astute player with great mentality also. It's even a crime to play him as a no 10 but he's had no problem adapting to it so far.

He and de Ligt are the only ones at Ajax that I won't hesitate to lose a finger to have both at our club.

I don't get why some people think Frenkie is superior to Van de Beek. Personally, I find Van De Beek much more impressive in the central midfield than Frenkie (with all Frenkie's mazy dribbling). It's a shame that Van De Beek had to play as a no 10 to accommodate Frenkie and Schone in midfield. It was like how Pirlo wasn't appreciated as a no 10 at Inter and let him go to AC Milan where he was deployed in the central midfield and that led to Milan domination for many years (likewise at Juventus).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Invictus

Tommy

bigot with fetish for footballers getting fingered
Joined
Aug 3, 2014
Messages
10,672
Location
Birmingham
Supports
Liverpool
Football fans: What a pity Ajax will be ripped apart this summer. :mad:
Same football fans: Our club should buy these Ajax players. :devil:

Haha, I'm incredibly guilty of this. I'd be all for leaving them alone, but if other clubs are going to try for some of em, then I damn want us to be in the race as well.
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,336
Location
india
Gab Marcotti said he's a generational talent. That good?
 

Aloysius's Back 3

New Member
Joined
May 21, 2018
Messages
2,770
The only player whose playing style looks uncanny to Schweisteiger. He can play as a playmaking no 6, mobile playmaking no 8 and has no problem operating as a no 10 (just like Schweisteiger) although he's much more comfortable in the central midfield, just like Bastian. A goal scoring midfielder too. He's a very intelligent and tactically astute player with great mentality also. It's even a crime to play him as a no 10 but he's had no problem adapting to it so far.

He and de Ligt are the only ones at Ajax that I won't hesitate to lose a finger to have both at our club.

I don't get why some people think Frenkie is superior to Van de Beek. Personally, I find Van De Beek much more impressive in the central midfield than Frenkie (with all Frenkie's mazy dribbling). It's a shame that Van De Beek had to play as a no 10 to accommodate Frenkie and Schone in midfield. It was like how Pirlo wasn't appreciated as a no 10 at Inter and let him go to AC Milan where he was deployed in the central midfield and that led to Milan domination for many years (likewise at Juventus).
I think this is a good comparison - he does remind me of schweinsteiger.
 

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
29,464
I think this is a good comparison - he does remind me of schweinsteiger.
he's got that same awkwardly effective ball-carrying style through the middle where you feel like he's a fat bastard with no real pace but somehow he keeps gliding past players and somehow looking quite stylish.
 

Member 93275

Guest
Only 100m for K̶l̶a̶a̶s̶s̶e̶n̶ Van de Beek! Coooome on, he's better than Frenkie, it's a steal!
 

Kaglish10

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
976
Only 100m for K̶l̶a̶a̶s̶s̶e̶n̶ Van de Beek! Coooome on, he's better than Frenkie, it's a steal!
Thanks to the little hype, he won't go for nothing more than 20mil, same way Inter sold Pirlo to Milan for a peanut because he wasn't impressive as a no 10.

Beek is no Klassen though while an Ajax's fan like yourself don't know this remains a mystery. He's not a no 10 but a central midfielder.

 
Last edited:

Aloysius's Back 3

New Member
Joined
May 21, 2018
Messages
2,770
Only 100m for K̶l̶a̶a̶s̶s̶e̶n̶ Van de Beek! Coooome on, he's better than Frenkie, it's a steal!
What's you opinion about him & some of his strengths and weaknesses?

I don't think he is better than De ligt or De Jong - but it's not like they play in the same positions to make any sort of comparison is it?
 

Vanya

Full Member
Joined
May 23, 2016
Messages
590
Didn't he start of as a CB/CDM when he was younger?

I don't find him to be as talented as Frenkie on the ball but somehow he's still quite effective.

Not the kind of player we need IMO.
 

Member 93275

Guest
What's you opinion about him & some of his strengths and weaknesses?
His strengths and weaknesses are well documented on the Internet in various analyses, but that's not really the point. He's a good player, but not a world class player. It's like if Lingard would have played at Ajax, became part of the oiled machine, was in great form, scored some goals, and suddenly regarded as this world class player. While he's not. Take VDB out of the machine and put him in Everton and he'd struggle to make the difference like Tadic at Southampton.
 

Kaglish10

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
976
His strengths and weaknesses are well documented on the Internet in various analyses, but that's not really the point. He's a good player, but not a world class player. It's like if Lingard would have played at Ajax, became part of the oiled machine, was in great form, scored some goals, and suddenly regarded as this world class player. While he's not. Take VDB out of the machine and put him in Everton and he'd struggle to make the difference like Tadic at Southampton.
Lingard doesn't have Van De Beek's vision nor the ability to dictate the play, so your comparison is mute.

Secondly, I saw same Van De Beek transform a non incisive clueless Ajax side to a threatening one when he came on for Schone against us in the Europa final match hence, I would say he's actually one of the main man in this Ajax team. Didn't Frenkie come out so early in the game against Excelsior yet Ajax went on to win the match by 6-2 without Frenkie's input but Beek's major input? Beek actually played in the central midfield in that match.

As for Tadic, he was mostly deployed as a winger at Southampton whereas he's been deployed through the middle or utilised as a wing forward for Ajax so far. This is to tell you that playing in one's most comfortable position/being utilised right can do wonders to one's confidence.

Van De Beek isn't a no 10 but a central midfielder whereas Lingard and Klassen are no central midfielder.
 

Member 93275

Guest
You keep being obsessed by the exact positions or roles while I'm comparing the class.
 

Aloysius's Back 3

New Member
Joined
May 21, 2018
Messages
2,770
@legolegs what's your opinion on van de beek?

Not a comparison to de ligt or De Jong but just his ability as a midfielder and his importance to ajax.
 

Henrik Larsson

Still logged in at RAWK (help!)
Joined
Sep 13, 2013
Messages
5,421
Location
Swashbucklington
Such a poindexter name.
Interesting, because in Dutch it sounds more like a bit of a typical chav name really :lol:

Correctly spelled it would be Donny van de Beek, (or simply Van de Beek when not using his first name) never with a capital D in the 'de' part.
 

Kaglish10

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
976
You keep being obsessed by the exact positions or roles while I'm comparing the class.
I really don't know what side you're on. You're probably biased towards Frenkie and feels I was trying to put him down for Van de Beek hence your attempt not to acknowledge Van de Beek's ability, even as I'm biased towards Beek also. Or you're one of those Ajax fans who are happy about the less hype of Van de Beek, which means he may likely stay for another season and help out to compensate for the loss of de Jong and de Ligt because I have heard some of the Ajax's fans say such.

However, I would have you note that many Ajax fans think Beek was fantastic whenever he played in the central midfield hence I'm not the only one who thinks he's better in the central midfield. No doubt he's adapted into the no 10 role now compared to when he was first deployed in the role but he's far better as a central midfielder.

Ajax fans comments on him as a no 6 below (I used Google translation):

*Dutch*
*Het middenveld staat verdedigend ook beter met Donny op 6. Schone is een liability als het op verdedigen en omschakelen aankomt. Ik vind Donny heel uitgenast in het hinderlijk onderbreken van een (potentiële) tegenaanval. Het is vloeken in de kerk, maar daarin vind ik hem bijna op z'n Van Bommels acteren.

English Translation:

Midfield is defensively better with Donny at 6. Schone is a liability when it comes to defending and switching. I think Donny is very much in the mood for interrupting a (potential) counterattack. It is cursing in the church, but I find it almost acting like Van Bommels.

*Dutch*
*Ik vind Schöne tekort komen in de topwedstrijden dit seizoen. Kan het fysiek niet meer aan en is voetballend niet direct een meerwaarde als je onder druk komt. Vind VD Beek in de topwedstrijden het beter invullen*

English translation:

I think Schöne is inadequate in the top competitions this season. Can't take it anymore physically and playing football is not immediately an added value if you come under pressure. Find VD Beek in the top matches the better fill

*Dutch*
*Goed om er nog een jaar bij te houden als ervaren jongen met veel voetballende kwaliteiten maar zal in de basis plaats moeten maken voor vd Beek of De Jong*

English translation:

Good to keep it up for another year as an experienced boy (Schone) with many footballing qualities, but will have to make way for vd Beek or De Jong in the base

*Dutch*
*Donny is veel meer de voetballer en mist de kwaliteiten op de positie waar hij nu staat die Ajax juist nu zo nodig heeft, imo zou binnen het huidige systeem de plek van Schone de zijne moeten zijn. Door de huidige (veld)bezetting op het middenveld krijgt ook Ziyech minder ruimte om zijn echte kwaliteiten tentoon te spreiden omdat hij en Donny in een te kleine ruimte opereren en te vaak voor dezelfde bal gaan. Volgens mij was het Kieft die daar gister ook een voltreffer opmerking over maakte.*

English translation:

Donny is much more the football player and lacks the qualities in the position where he is now (no 10) that Ajax needs just now, imo should be the place of Schone in his current system. The current (field) occupation in midfield also gives Ziyech less room to display his true qualities because he and Donny operate in too small a space and too often go for the same ball. I think it was Kieft who also made a direct comment about that yesterday.

*Dutch*
*Opvallend detail gister: Toen Schöne inviel, ging Lasse spelen op de halfpositie en niet meer op "6". Lijkt me ook verstandiger. Lasse op "6" kan echt niet meer en ik vond VD Beek daar wel goed gister (en eigenlijk altijd). Brengt veel meer power, loopt verdedigend meer dicht en is opbouwend sneller en beter dan Schöne*

English translation:

Striking detail yesterday: When Schöne came in, Lasse (Schone) started playing in the half position and no longer on "6". Also seems better to me. Lasse on "6" is really not possible anymore and I thought VD Beek was good there yesterday (and actually always). Brings a lot more power, is more defensively close and is constructively faster and better than Schöne.
 

ti vu

Full Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2015
Messages
12,799
If we're letting Pogba go, then I am all for getting him. Not flashy and can be underrated, but he's very good allrounder with an eye for goal. The games I saw him, he has this ability to put shot away in difficult angle. Have that Ballack feel about him. Strong in the air too.

He would be wasted if we're just trying to build the team for Pogba and restrict him aka Ballack and Lampard in same team situation.
 
Last edited:

giorno

boob novice
Joined
Jul 20, 2016
Messages
26,144
Supports
Real Madrid
His strengths and weaknesses are well documented on the Internet in various analyses, but that's not really the point. He's a good player, but not a world class player. It's like if Lingard would have played at Ajax, became part of the oiled machine, was in great form, scored some goals, and suddenly regarded as this world class player. While he's not. Take VDB out of the machine and put him in Everton and he'd struggle to make the difference like Tadic at Southampton.
Agree with this. Conversely, put him on the current liverpool and he'd look like a star. He's a good player but needs the right environment to thrive. He'll never be the best player on a great team, he's a complementary piece, not a keystone

De Jong, De Ligt and maybe Neres are the only truly special players on this Ajax side. I also like that fullback, Mazraoui? Great player
 

giorno

boob novice
Joined
Jul 20, 2016
Messages
26,144
Supports
Real Madrid
Whilst also being able to take the piss out of Lazio as well recently (a club I detest).
I'd laugh at the whole fracas that followed if it wasn't for all the whistle-blowing

Honestly agree it was in bad taste, but we've now got politicians asking for him to be banned for the rest of the season :lol:
 

ti vu

Full Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2015
Messages
12,799
Agree with this. Conversely, put him on the current liverpool and he'd look like a star. He's a good player but needs the right environment to thrive. He'll never be the best player on a great team, he's a complementary piece, not a keystone

De Jong, De Ligt and maybe Neres are the only truly special players on this Ajax side. I also like that fullback, Mazraoui? Great player
Disagree with both assessment. He looks much less a system player than say De Jong. He's more a wild card of the system in Ajax style, and show great adaptability to make thing sticking without failure to rise to the occasion in passing, movement, finishing, positioning... The more adaptive player that has higher chance to success away from Ajax. Again Ballack esque in my opinion.
 

giorno

boob novice
Joined
Jul 20, 2016
Messages
26,144
Supports
Real Madrid
Disagree with both assessment. He looks much less a system player than say De Jong. He's more a wild card of the system in Ajax style, and show great adaptability to make thing sticking without failure to rise to the occasion in passing, movement, finishing, positioning... The more adaptive player that has higher chance to success away from Ajax. Again Ballack esque in my opinion.
I'm not saying he's a system player, i'm saying he's a complementary player. Put it this way: Van de Beek can succeed in many circumstances, but unless he's in the right ones he's not going to be more than a good or very good player

De Jong is a system unto himself. If you have De Jong, you play his football, and you'll be great at it too