Nah he was underwhelming in the main and often injured and no way worth 200k a week that he gets now.
Donny van de Beek | van de Beek's father: "[Moving to United] a dream come true."
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I like him, but can he play the holding midfield role? I'm aware he's versatile and will be great for the squad, but we really need a DM to take over from Matic.
He's a squad player who will play lots.
the caf - What are you doing Ed I would be happy if we sign anybody
Linked with VDB - Not good enough he is mediocre
Linked with VDB - Not good enough he is mediocre
The obsession with a clear line between starting 11 and squad player is over the top. Our starting 11 is far away from the extraordinary fitness and injury record of the likes of Becks or Ronaldo when they played for us. If he is not a starter from the beginning, he will be as soon as someone in the midfield gets injured. And even if by a miracle everyone stays fit, still hardly anyone will start every game next season.
That’s my point...I don’t think he is.
We don't really play with a specialist DM until Jose signed Matic, and I think Ole is trying to move away from that.
He will play more often than not, we don't need a DM for the majority of games.
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I really like this signing. Great energy and technique on the ball. Willing to take risks with his play. Ole definitely has his type of player and I think he fits that perfectly.
Started as no 6. But found himself to be no 8 and 10 since his assets is more suitable as box to box. His assets are his off ball movement especially making run to the box and score. He has quick feet that he can play quick one touch passings. Good passing ability but not someone you expect to do like Bruno & Pogba in term of playmaking ability. He has high work rate and energy to keep moving around and suitable in high press.
Yeah I think he’s a starter.
love it
Thread title requires update. This is clearly close.
I like him. I think he would be huge upgrade on Periera, Lingard or Mata. I see some posters say he won't get in first 11 but with all the games United have there is enough to go round. If we have a big champions league game mid week wouldn't it be nice to rotate either Pogba or Bruno out.
I also think he could link up very well with Martial and particularly Greenwood. From what I see I could see him cutting a few calls back with Greenwood cutting in from the wide right.
Here's hoping!
I also think he could link up very well with Martial and particularly Greenwood. From what I see I could see him cutting a few calls back with Greenwood cutting in from the wide right.
Here's hoping!
Because injuries and fatigue management is not that big of an issue in their FIFA games, so it's hard for them to understand how important depth is.
Close for United so about 5 more weeks.
What? This guy isn’t Jadon Sancho!
In all seriousness, I’ve never seen this guy play. Having said that, I do love signings. Plus I bought him in Fifa career mode and he was a star performer. For a bit of perspective I also bought Sancho and struggled to squeeze him into a formation I liked. I approve.
In all seriousness, I’ve never seen this guy play. Having said that, I do love signings. Plus I bought him in Fifa career mode and he was a star performer. For a bit of perspective I also bought Sancho and struggled to squeeze him into a formation I liked. I approve.
How was your squad depth?
That is his greatest attribute in my opinion. His intelligence. Like Muller he seems to have high game intelligence and creates space for himself.
I really hope this happens. Just think it’s makes so much sense at $35m. We will pretty much be playing twice a week for the whole season. We saw the effect 2 months of playing twice a week had on our first 11. Donny would offer us something different in midfield, good cover for Bruno. Still only 23 and has upside, will improve with better players around him. Stays injury free which I think will be very important this season. Has international and CL experience. Is very solid pro with good work ethic and leadership qualities. At worst he’s a big upgrade on Lingard and Pereira but hopefully he can develop and push for starting position.
I get that some people think we need to strengthen in other areas first but let’s be honest people we need about 5 signings before we are good enough to proper challenge for the big trophy’s.If we sign Donny we then only need 4 more. Not all going to happen this window but think this is a signing that just makes sense.
I get that some people think we need to strengthen in other areas first but let’s be honest people we need about 5 signings before we are good enough to proper challenge for the big trophy’s.If we sign Donny we then only need 4 more. Not all going to happen this window but think this is a signing that just makes sense.
What position does this cnut play though? He turns up everywhere!
He's a good player. We cannot be a serious side if we're bringing in the likes of McTominay, Lingard, Pereira or Mata whenever we have to rotate or we're suffering from an injury or two in the middle. Aside from injuries, the way we went from looking like the best team in the league to a mid-table side once our first XI started to fatigue says it all. Not only is he talented and has a good profile having grown up playing in the Ajax environment, he's shown himself to be a big game player in Champions League ties - even having that level of experience at 23 years old is a huge plus in comparison to somebody like Grealish. I'd prefer Grealish but if we go for VDB at his expense so that we'll be in a better position to get Sancho then I'm all for it. He strikes me as a Park Ji Sung type of player, holds his own technically when playing with more talented players but has the engine and defensive nous to make himself a key player for us in the bigger games. Having somebody like him in games against City and Liverpool or in the latter stages of the UCL makes him a serious asset in my opinion.
Ultimately, the reality is we need a midfielder, and the reality is that there aren't many CMs or AMs we're going to sign who will displace Pogba or Bruno right now. VDB is good enough to fill in for them and provide competition if either of them aren't performing to their level. The same goes for our front-line, we aren't going to find a better left winger or striker in this market than Rashford or Martial right now and that's a reflection of the current market and a testament to how good they are. Sancho is pretty much the only opportunity we have of taking our starting team up a level (due to Greenwoods age and natural position, rather than his lack of ability) from an attacking perspective, which says a lot about how talented our front 5 are. Now it's about building a foundation for them to thrive and VDB is a very good pillar for that foundation.
Ultimately, the reality is we need a midfielder, and the reality is that there aren't many CMs or AMs we're going to sign who will displace Pogba or Bruno right now. VDB is good enough to fill in for them and provide competition if either of them aren't performing to their level. The same goes for our front-line, we aren't going to find a better left winger or striker in this market than Rashford or Martial right now and that's a reflection of the current market and a testament to how good they are. Sancho is pretty much the only opportunity we have of taking our starting team up a level (due to Greenwoods age and natural position, rather than his lack of ability) from an attacking perspective, which says a lot about how talented our front 5 are. Now it's about building a foundation for them to thrive and VDB is a very good pillar for that foundation.
Sancho can't play as a 10 in United's system. Look at Bruno's workrate in that role and the fact his back ups currently are Lingard and Pereira rather than Mata. There's a key defensive element to that role in United's system.
From what I've seen of Sancho, I think he would be a weak link defensively in a wide position, let alone the 10. Sancho only adds depth for the wide positions and striker (Greenwood or Rashford can play there).
United are clearly looking for someone who can play a similar role to Bruno at #10 while also being able to play other positions to a high standard. Grealish covers 10, the wings and could play in a midfield 3. Van de Beek seems to cover anywhere in midfield (including #10).
Personally, I'd prefer Grealish to Van de Beek because I feel United need more quality and depth in the front 3, even if they do get Sancho. If they get Van de Beek rather than Grealish then signing another forward this window is critical.
Goldbridge from UT was optimistic, but also entertained the idea of us working in cohots with Ajax to hurry Madrid up which in turn bring Aston to the table to negotiate for Grealish. Anyone else seeing that?
I think he slots in well in place of Matic. And can easily replace Pogba snd Bruno when these two need rest or substitution.
Joke's on you. It's actually a big deal on fifa
Double smoke screen. You love to see it
Our likeliest first signing. Wasn’t expecting this.
Terrible. Whenever signing players I felt too nervous about telling them they’d be rotation players in case they rejected the move. I also hated the fact that whenever I’d drop someone for literally a game I’d get “boss I’m confused why I was dropped for the last game”. So I made as little changes as I could. Not sure I’d make it in the real world.
If this is the new setup with our transfers I am all for it.. Think he will become a very good player for us.
Yeah but you love to see it.
Nah. I hope not at least. Van de beek a better player for our needs anyway, and much cheaper (and younger, and more proven at a higher level).
I would honestly ignore him.. He based his argument over the regular journos like Simon Stones not backing up the original report. Stones has in the last few hours written a piece on us being interested.
It's part of Woodward's 5D chess strat that will allows us to sign both Sancho and Messi.
Cocks out
Yeah this was my take on him after watching him in the CL, with the bolded being my concern. He comes across as an intelligent player on the pitch though, so I wouldn't put it past him to reinvent himself into the role, especially if he started there as you say.
You might be right. My hope was always that we'd move back to a 433 (mainly so Pogba can push further forward) once Ole got his players in, but it's seeming unlikely.
Problem is we atleast know what Grealish offers. VDB on other hand could be a Van der Meyde or De Jong. We just don't know how he will adjust.
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