Dante
Average bang
Apologies for the quality of the Nicky Butt one. United did invent it back in the mid-90s.
I tend to agree that this will be the way Ole see's us lining up, but i got to say Pogba as the sole DM petrifies me as he cannot defend well enough.Now that he's signed up, I'll speculate on something I think could work under perfect circumstances which we arent able to meet yet. But perhaps with 1 more huge transfer we would.
And thats the idea of Pogba playing as the deepest player in midfield, playing the quarterback and deep lying playmaker role with Bruno and DVB pressing aggressively and having lots of pressure on the ball. I think in our current state it would only work against weaker teams and might not even work then because of a lack of support for the defense.
But. If we sign a top top CB. For example someone with huge potential and already playing at a high level like Upamacano to help out Maguire and we continue to play our solid fullbacks who can help the defense a lot, I think that could work as plan A in the majority of our games. Perhaps even if we played Smalling next to Maguire we might be able to get by with our defense doing all the actual defending and Pogba just being around positionally and with his physicality and not doing a particularly good job as DM. That would allow 5 of our players to get forward with Pogba setting them off with a creative pass into an advanced position.
Can’t believe Possebon got a chant
Apologies for the quality of the Nicky Butt one. United did invent it back in the mid-90s.
Pogba’s never had oneCan’t believe Possebon got a chant
I like Lisandro Martinez, a left footed CB/DM. A tad bit slow but seems intelligent and composed for a young player.Hahaha good chant!
Lads are there any youth/young players at Ajax who could end up worth 40 million but we could probably get for 20 now? They seem to be an easy club for us to do business with but I don’t know much about their team apart from what I see in the CL
LB, RW (if we don’t get sancho stick with greenwood and get a backup) LW, CB, DLP, ST all need rotation players of a high standard. Surely Ajax have a few more very good players who would be up for the move and Donny already here to help them settle in?
In the sense of what positions I think we need to strengthen in the starting eleven, I don't see where he plays really. So that's why I say he is not the most natural fit - I'm thinking from the vantage point of the formations we usually deploy, which positions I consider weak or in need of a greater level of contention and so on. For me those are RW, LB, RB, CB and most of all CM. For instance I would consider someone coming in to replace Shaw, Matic or Greenwood as starters to be natural signings.Out of curiosity, in what sense is he not a natural signing?
On a related note, Ole and the club spent a good amount of time and effort to ensure that Donny was the right fit for the club.
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I must say, this is a big step forward for us; from signing whatever player was deemed good enough regardless of their background, personality, etc., to now getting players who'd be hungry and willing to play for the club. These are the sort of signings that will move the club forward.
Every single report coming out at the beginning of summer pointed to us wanting a CAM as cover (Grealish or VdB), Sancho and a CB. If the reports about Reguilon are true, I think we may have moved our priority away from CB to LB because we can't find a CB of good enough quality and we are no longer in the business of just buying stop gaps. We've been linked with VdB for a long time and as soon as Grealish and Villa stayed up I'm pretty sure he became our plan A. Just because he's our first signing this window doesnt mean he's come in place of anyone else. We may not sign anyone else because we've dilly dallied too long, but its not because of VdB.In the sense of what positions I think we need to strengthen in the starting eleven, I don't see where he plays really. So that's why I say he is not the most natural fit - I'm thinking from the vantage point of the formations we usually deploy, which positions I consider weak or in need of a greater level of contention and so on. For me those are RW, LB, RB, CB and most of all CM. For instance I would consider someone coming in to replace Shaw, Matic or Greenwood as starters to be natural signings.
I appreciate that the media briefing has been that the club meticulously scrutinized this signing, that Ole talked to him about his place in the team etc., but I don't think this signing was part of some grand plan at all. He was supposed to sign for Madrid, but they pulled out in the wake of the financial impact of COVID, and so United pounced. It seems our scouting department has monitored him, and he was probably considered a back up option in case we couldn't get Grealish, which we can't now given Villa stayed in the PL after all. So yeah, not completely out of the blue, but I doubt him signing wen't down in accordance with our plan A for the transfer window.
So yeah, I think VdB is considered a depth signing, but also someone with the potential to increase the strategic flexibility of our setup, while potentially growing into a challenger for the starting line up as well. Which is great in isolation. I have a good feeling about him in terms of personality etc., but if you ask me what we should be moving on for a first priority, we need to strengthen our core setup since we have considerable deficiencies in several areas of the squad. If the club can address these while also having financial leeway to bolster our ranks a bit of front, then great. However, if we're signing VdB instead of getting in proper attacking options at full back, a mobile and defensively sound CM or a natural RW then I'll be worried about next season, unless the academy can somehow solve those issues. Which would be quite incredible in my opinion.
Reports in the beginning of the summer? Are you're suggesting that paper talk on the cusp of the transfer window qualifies as evidence of Uniteds long term plans? Because when I say plan A, I mean something that follows a blueprint in place for longer than two months. I don't really follow the constant chatter about transfers, because it feels like a waste of time, but I would be interested to know how long we have been linked to VdB from credible sources. Yes, I have seen Grealish and Maddison mentioned in a long time, but not VdB really. I don't know that Grealish and VdB are similar enough that you can really consider them interchangeable. They seem very different in play style and strengths to me, although as I said, the apparent flexibility of someone like VdB could be a big asset going forward.Every single report coming out at the beginning of summer pointed to us wanting a CAM as cover (Grealish or VdB), Sancho and a CB. If the reports about Reguilon are true, I think we may have moved our priority away from CB to LB because we can't find a CB of good enough quality and we are no longer in the business of just buying stop gaps. We've been linked with VdB for a long time and as soon as Grealish and Villa stayed up I'm pretty sure he became our plan A. Just because he's our first signing this window doesnt mean he's come in place of anyone else. We may not sign anyone else because we've dilly dallied too long, but its not because of VdB.
Reports from very reputable journalists. They are consistent with our long term plans. Grealish and VdB aren't interchangeable in terms of style, but what they offer to the team is. They are both players that can offer us something different. If you had watched our last 8 games you'd see that we never subbed bruno, no matter how tired he was. Grealish or VdB offer us that opportunity even though they play in a different way. Ole even last window said he likes to bring in a few players at a time. So the reports of us only trying to bring in Sancho, CAM cover and a CB hold true to his word. So it seems that VdB is part of the blueprint.Reports in the beginning of the summer? Are you're suggesting that paper talk on the cusp of the transfer window qualifies as evidence of Uniteds long term plans? Because when I say plan A, I mean something that follows a blueprint in place for longer than two months.
Yeah we gotta nick this oneAfter scoring at Anfield in 90th minute. Usually, against taking another clubs song and this one was already for Butt, but it is class.
Ffs I felt a bit relieved for Merson when he avoided the chop on Sky, at the end of the day it’s all he’s got I suppose apart from being a function speaker with the odd funny story, but feck him, he’s fecking. clueless.https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/04/it-m...ed-over-panic-buy-donny-van-de-beek-13225373/
Has anyone read this yet?
I would love to see him as a manager in modern dayFfs I felt a bit relieved for Merson when he avoided the chop on Sky, at the end of the day it’s all he’s got I suppose apart from being a function speaker with the odd funny story, but feck him, he’s fecking. clueless.
Hahaha good chant!
Lads are there any youth/young players at Ajax who could end up worth 40 million but we could probably get for 20 now? They seem to be an easy club for us to do business with but I don’t know much about their team apart from what I see in the CL
LB, RW (if we don’t get sancho stick with greenwood and get a backup) LW, CB, DLP, ST all need rotation players of a high standard. Surely Ajax have a few more very good players who would be up for the move and Donny already here to help them settle in?
Just saw this, laughable isn't it. We've been scouting him for a long time it's not a panic buy.https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/04/it-m...ed-over-panic-buy-donny-van-de-beek-13225373/
Has anyone read this yet?
You’d think somebody would give him a few tips of what and what not to say. I guess even his friends/colleagues even enjoy watching him make a fool of himself.Just saw this, laughable isn't it. We've been scouting him for a long time it's not a panic buy.
They even inserted a poll in the article asking if Donny is a panic buy.You’d think somebody would give him a few tips of what and what not to say. I guess even his friends/colleagues even enjoy watching him make a fool of himself.
Guess Bernardo Silva and Mahrez were panic buys for City then?https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/04/it-m...ed-over-panic-buy-donny-van-de-beek-13225373/
Has anyone read this yet?
Proper cracker that was. Let's see about himVery brief cameo but wasn’t impressive. A few stray passes and made a mess of a chance on his left foot.
When did he last kick a ball? Wasn't the Ajax season cancelled months ago?Very brief cameo but wasn’t impressive. A few stray passes and made a mess of a chance on his left foot.
Very brief cameo but wasn’t impressive. A few stray passes and made a mess of a chance on his left foot.
When was the last time he played a competitive game?
I’m not judging him. I didn’t say “Played badly. He’s a crap player.” I just said he didn’t impress. And he didn’t. I know he’s better than that. I’ve seen him play better than that. Just a bit disappointed that I watched the game to get a look at him but a) he got so few minutes and b) didn’t make much of them. Shit happens though. No big deal.When did he last kick a ball? Wasn't the Ajax season cancelled months ago?
Hard to judge him on a 10 min cameo after not playing since Feb
We've been robbedPlayed the Bruno role and didn't look any better than Pereira tbh
I was thinking he had an arguable point, as it’s an area we are strong in. But any small amount of credit I gave Merson went out the window when he said we shouldn’t sign Sancho.Just saw this, laughable isn't it. We've been scouting him for a long time it's not a panic buy.
I saw that also, pretty amusing to be honest.They even inserted a poll in the article asking if Donny is a panic buy.
It's expected 90% of the votes would disagree with such hollow article.
Even though he didnt do well yesterday, you could see what he brings, depth. First half we created almost nothing, but he almost immediately made a run which ended in a big chance. He wasted it, but misshitting a ball can happen. If you have people feeding him, he will penatrate into the oppos box a lot.I’m not judging him. I didn’t say “Played badly. He’s a crap player.” I just said he didn’t impress. And he didn’t. I know he’s better than that. I’ve seen him play better than that. Just a bit disappointed that I watched the game to get a look at him but a) he got so few minutes and b) didn’t make much of them. Shit happens though. No big deal.
He is not totally wrong though. Maybe he is not a panic buy. But his position is our least problem. You cant buy back up players to your starting 11 while you have been short of a left back and a right winger for many many years. This squad management is not optimal. Sir Alex would have never done so. Ignore a position for 7 years.https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/04/it-m...ed-over-panic-buy-donny-van-de-beek-13225373/
Has anyone read this yet?
Only problem with that is the level of opposition. We've seen some really average players do good numbers in that league in recent years.Came across this article on SkySports, where they breakdown some of his stats and where he compares to other midfielders and mostly ours.
The ones that really stood out for me were his final third possessions won and his big chances created (both per 90), where he topped Fernandes and Pogba . He also ranks 2nd, above Pogba, in goals and assists.
After playing a bit with squawka's matrix and comparing VdB to Grealish, Maddison, Bruno and Pogba (using last season's stats for the frenchman), some stats are a bit off but in general, if we are to believe the numbers, Donny excels in some areas and he's pretty solid in others.
At the end of the season a proper alternative to Fernandes looked obvious. Solskjaer clearly doesn't trust Lingard/Pereira as the number 10 and prefers Pogba in a deeper position. We needed another decent number 10.He is not totally wrong though. Maybe he is not a panic buy. But his position is our least problem. You cant buy back up players to your starting 11 while you have been short of a left back and a right winger for many many years. This squad management is not optimal. Sir Alex would have never done so. Ignore a position for 7 years.
Did you say the same about Bruno and the level of opposition in Portugal too??Only problem with that is the level of opposition. We've seen some really average players do good numbers in that league in recent years.
His off ball movement and positioning is what is best about him.Very brief cameo but wasn’t impressive. A few stray passes and made a mess of a chance on his left foot.