[Falcow]

I'm surprised with the reaction to his performance last night. I thought he played well, his ball retention is excellent and I love players who don't give the ball away for absaloutely no reason whatsoever, we have more than enough of those in the side already, so Donny is refreshing in that sense.

I actually thought our play went very sloppy when he went off but I also acknowledge that we scored both goals late on when he was off.

You can see his football upbringing has been to retain the ball and not be wasteful so he probably needs to be more direct in England. He is only here 3 or 4 months, let's give him a chance, not everyone can make a Bruno impact.

 

[SATA]

I realise he likes giving thumbs up gestures to his teammates like Lukaku did here. It’s good to see him appreciate his teammates but how about be more adventurous with the ball instead of passing it back immediately every time he receives it?

 

[Ralph1386]

He was playing out of position in a bizarre left wing/left center midfield position.

This

 

[Bebestation]

United fans are so big headed now they got Bruno Fernandes.

They expect every midfielder to play like him off the start of their career here.

Whilst it might not be completely true it's not completely false, there is this expectation of Van De Beek trying to play as much like Bruno almost instantly.

They will say stuff like Ole managers players with their individual qualities - then talk about VDB down when he is a pure system based player.

Talking about him putting his thumbs up like Lukaku after one game when he was trying to make runs behind from LW from and over the top over kicked ball from Bruno aswell.

 

[Poborsky's hair]

Pogba won't be here next August so he will get a lot more game time.

If people seriously think he's here to replace Pogba then we should accept years without trophy now but I generally agree that he should get more gametime if Pogba leaves and we won't sign a proper replacement and we should because if Bruno is out we can be very dull in attack. Lots of running and tidyness but lack of anything extra that every Manchester United team should have.

As I said before I think he will come good and be a slightly better version of Daley Blind for us and great servant for our club. Easily a replacement for Lingard, Mata and Herrera at one breath. He's new here so let's give him time but even matching some of these players performances will be a good challenge for him.

Perhaps like for instance Herrera who came here as a no10 and needed to adapt his game to play deeper and becoming rather a ball winner with higher demands and bigger names around available as CAMS, Donny will need to adapt his game as well but he's a clever one with good mentality so I keep fingers crossed for him:-)

 

[NinjaFletch]

This is one issue I have with Ole - why dont we ever play the 433?

Is it a lack of a younger energetic CDM than Matic that can do the job on his own so we can one day play 2 CM/CAM's on either side in a 433?

Or is he always going to play 2 CM'S in a double pivot in a 4231?

Whilst it is successful, I would be a bit disappointed that he isnt trying it out for someone who is generally successful and flexible with his tactics - to be able to play the 352, 4231, 4222 and 433 would be insanely impressive and complete.

We have a false 9 in Martial, inverted forwards like Rashford & Greenwood, CAM/CM'S like VDB, Pogba and Bruno - the only thing we lack is a CDM and maybe a Telles like rotation to Wan Bissaka to get the best out of some other systems and other players we have in our squad.

Because Bruno is, by an absolutely massive distance, our best player. Why on earth would we move him out of his best position in which he has been absurdly productive? Especially to accommodate a player like VDB who has, so far, shown very little to suggest he's even of the required quality, let alone an asset to the team.

I'd make the same point to those questioning why he's playing on the wing. Donny's playing there because he hasn't shown that he's a better option in a midfield three than Matic, Fernandes or Pogba yet, so he's being shoehorned in to the side in the hope he'll show us something and get up to speed. It's not exactly rocket science is it?

 

[Raven]

I think its far too early to be making any judgements. It's often takes a season for players to settle into a new team.

 

[Kuba]

he is like The Total opposite to Grealish, ffs keep The ball see The movement of your teammates make sth happen. That one Touch passing all the time is useless. It is like he was competing with other players at Ajax who will make most passes and have The best percentage of It. We tried that under van gaal and it did not worked at United, fans don't like that kind of football passing and movement bleh. Get The ball dribble past Player see what is going on and try to create some shooting opportunity as fast as you can. Don't bore us with 20 passes sideways or giving it back to defenders.

I hope i am wrong but right now he is nothing player, maybe if we are winning and want to keep The score he can help keep The ball but when we need to score with him we play with 10 players.

 

[Dve]

I think its far too early to be making any judgements. It's often takes a season for players to settle into a new team.

Yes, and also to get up his confidence enough to take responsibility on the pitch and try something creative instead of just passing it to the man next to him. So far he looks best as a nr. 8. Pogba may not be replaced by another 8.

 

[NoLogo]

he is like The Total opposite to Grealish, ffs keep The ball see The movement of your teammates make sth happen. That one Touch passing all the time is useless. It is like he was competing with other players at Ajax who will make most passes and have The best percentage of It. We tried that under van gaal and it did not worked at United, fans don't like that kind of football passing and movement bleh. Get The ball dribble past Player see what is going on and try to create some shooting opportunity as fast as you can. Don't bore us with 20 passes sideways or giving it back to defenders.

I hope i am wrong but right now he is nothing player, maybe if we are winning and want to keep The score he can help keep The ball but when we need to score with him we play with 10 players.

I think if you grow up playing in a system like that of Ajax you learn certain behaviors that are hard to shake or to adapt to something new. While I wouldn't write him off completely he certainly has a lot to relearn if he wants to fit into our team that plays way more direct. I still hope he can adapt to that but if not he will probably be better off at a team that plays more the style he is used to.

 

[macheda14]

If you can have a DM behind him and Bruno I think he be absolutely fantastic. He can one touch pass the ball to Bruno and other attackers fantastically, but will also be providing Bruno with so much movement when he runs into spaces thereby dragging the opposition’s defence all over the place for our attackers to utilise.

He would work as the lone number 10 if the double pivot behind him had very able playmakers. Currently the only creativity we get in Midfield is from Bruno (unless Pogba is starting which isn’t too often). He’s constantly making himself available in tight but intelligent areas that the other players aren’t used to passing into, but if they build confidence in his ability to operate in tight spaces then he’ll be golden.

 

[dal]

I don’t think we should judge a player within 3 months but I’m not judging his ability I just feel 100 percent he is the wrong type of signing.

I’ve said it before, he strikes me as an Herrera without the intensity.

I don’t think this was Ole’s buy in honesty.

Ole’s signings have all had purpose and a nailed down position. Maguire, Bruno, AWB, all brought to play specific positions.

I think he was understandably overruled on Grealish and Sancho and DVB was a backup option who was cheap and the transfer committee approved.

Nothing player for me unfortunately in this team.

 

[Marcus]

I think he will be a success at United. But he needs to try to be more forward-leaning in his play. This will happen in time, the more he gets used to where other players move to and are most comfortable. Probably against more defensive teams. He is very good at retaining possession but that is not what United need from him when we play counterattacking football.

 

[Borys]

Because Bruno is, by an absolutely massive distance, our best player. Why on earth would we move him out of his best position in which he has been absurdly productive? Especially to accommodate a player like VDB who has, so far, shown very little to suggest he's even of the required quality, let alone an asset to the team.

I'd make the same point to those questioning why he's playing on the wing. Donny's playing there because he hasn't shown that he's a better option in a midfield three than Matic, Fernandes or Pogba yet, so he's being shoehorned in to the side in the hope he'll show us something and get up to speed. It's not exactly rocket science is it?

Bingo. This is my understanding Donny situation as well.

At his point I don't see a reason to drop 2 man midfield.

 

[Bebestation]

I've started to wonder if Ole Gunner Soljskaer has actually bought Donny to be his own version of "SAF's Soljskaer" off the bench.

I know he is a midfielder more than a striker but he described him as a goalscorer from midfield. He is a player who tries and finds spaces and makes intelligent runs before actually tapping a ball in to the net - that's the type of player he is.

More than the number of goals, it's about the ability to score an intelligent goal when the time is running up. We have talked about how there is an increase in that 'never giving up feeling or SAF Time" again and you wonder if Van De Beek has the ability to score some important goals when all the important players are on the pitch and trying.

 

[Carl]

I see so many similarities between this thread and the Kagawa and Mkhitaryan threads. Many posters saying what they've seen so far hasn't really been good enough to justify more game time and other posters finding reasons and excuses for the player.

I like Donny (I liked Kagawa and Mkhitaryan too tbh) but when he's given a chance he isn't doing enough with it. That's the brutal truth of the matter and why he's easy to be subbed early or dropped the next game.

He's got great technique and is a very intelligent player but he's also really really forgettable. He's all about 1 or 2 touch to keep the ball moving, and I love that quality in a player, but he needs to add more to his game.

 

[Zen86]

He’ll come good. I think he’s a clever player who links up the play and helps us retain possession, but he’s basically lacking those big game moments that others in our midfield and forward line have. He’ll be one to watch next season.

 

[Red00012]

He plays as if he’s afraid / worried he’ll give away the ball by playing a safe pass all the time. I hope in time confidence will grow and he’ll start playing these passes.

 

[kouroux]

Enough games have passed now to seriously ask about the point of his signing

 

[United58]

Enough games have passed now to seriously ask about the point of his signing

Hopefully it's like Fred whereby it takes a while for him to get into the Premier League, but yeah, it's getting strange now

 

[el3mel]

Enough games have passed now to seriously ask about the point of his signing

I'm honestly very disappointed. He didn't play that much and whenever he does, he's nothing special. Feels like 45m or so wasted. Could have saved the money and pushed for Sancho or even anyone else and get a cheap option from PL to sit on the bench.

 

[kouroux]

Hopefully it's like Fred whereby it takes a while for him to get into the Premier League, but yeah, it's getting strange now

Hopefully this.

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

A very strange signing. Bruno plays 19 games out of 20 and there is no need for a backup. Donny lacks pace and physique to be the CM we need to makes us title contenders.

 

[calodo2003]

Hopefully it's like Fred whereby it takes a while for him to get into the Premier League, but yeah, it's getting strange now

Hope for this.

 

[Poborsky's hair]

I see so many similarities between this thread and the Kagawa and Mkhitaryan threads. Many posters saying what they've seen so far hasn't really been good enough to justify more game time and other posters finding reasons and excuses for the player.

I like Donny (I liked Kagawa and Mkhitaryan too tbh) but when he's given a chance he isn't doing enough with it. That's the brutal truth of the matter and why he's easy to be subbed early or dropped the next game.

He's got great technique and is a very intelligent player but he's also really really forgettable. He's all about 1 or 2 touch to keep the ball moving, and I love that quality in a player, but he needs to add more to his game.

Absolutely spot on, was just thinking about those two players. Even Fred showed promise but made a mistake and was "harshly" benched by Mourinho. But so much to be desired from Donny. His mentality to take more risks and show he's a United player is nowhere to be seen which is more worrying. Clearly the management are not rating him at the moment so he needs to work harder to get a game.

 

[Baneofthegame]

Not sure how people expect him to play when he doesn’t get a consistent run in the team.

 

[Strelok]

Not sure how people expect him to play when he doesn’t get a consistent run in the team.

Not sure how you'd expect him to get a consistent run.

 

[UnitedFan93]

A slower version of Jesse Lingard.

He'll be sold back to Ajax in a couple of seasons for £10-15 million.

 

[Matt851]

A slower version of Jesse Lingard.

He'll be sold back to Ajax in a couple of seasons for £10-15 million.

Wow thats the ultimate burn surely he is better than that

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

The assumption that’s he’s going to “do a Fred” surely relies on him eventually taking Fred’s place in the team. I don’t think Fred is good enough in the long term but he’s more suited to playing centre mid in the Prem than VDB. Think that assumption will fall away like the original assumption of him being signed as Bruno backup.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Funnily enough I think he could've done well yesterday as, though he's uninspiring with it, he keeps the ball rather well.
We were never really in control yesterday.

 

[BusbyMalone]

There just doesn't appear to be a place in the squad for him. I was watching him against Everton (and other games for that matter) and the game just passes him by. Square peg, round hole type of deal. I'm not sure if this was a transfer that was sanctioned by Ole or someone higher up. I can't even say he's been bad because when he's on the ball he looks quite sharp, but he's never bloody on it. The ball just doesn't gravitate towards him, but if you watch him he's always moving and making runs off the ball.

It's a strange one.

 

[BusbyMalone]

Funnily enough I think he could've done well yesterday as, though he's uninspiring with it, he keeps the ball rather well.
We were never really in control yesterday.

What he does well (when he actually gets the ball) is keeps things ticking over nicely. He doesn't linger on the ball and invite pressure on. He's always looking for the one-touch, pass and move type of deal. Personally I would have him where Fred plays. He's a worker so he's not going to shirk responsibility, and I think he's quite press resistant, unlike Fred.

 

[Robindinho]

I think the only way he’s going to play regularly (under Ole), is if we change the midfield setup to a 3...

One holding in Fred/McT/Matic and Donny & Bruno ahead.

Until then, he’ll continue being a bit part player - essentially we’ve paid £40m for a Lingard/Pereira upgrade off the bench.

 

[Delano]

He just isn't progressive enough to play in a 4-2-3-1 as a 10. He could work in a 4-3-3 but I've seen absolutely nothing to say he is progressive enough with his passing or his running to play as a 10.

He genuinely plays like Lingard in our system. One touch, safe passing, strong pressing, little progression and a lack of ability to turn and thread passes. That's not going to cut it.

He either needs to adapt to how we play, or he'll be gone.

 

[lsd]

Hopefully it's like Fred whereby it takes a while for him to get into the Premier League, but yeah, it's getting strange now

Feck I was hoping he would come good but if he turns out to be another Fred we need to get rid now

 

[groovyalbert]

He's a player for a system, and that's not really how we play.

Ole has always been reliant on individual moments of magic to break down opponents. Its why Rashford and Bruno work for him, and why Cavani has been successful. VdB, coming out of Ajax, doesn't really have that individual streak to excel here at the moment.

 

[arthurka]

Some here are acting like he has been here for years, even since he was a kid. The fact of the latter is that he has played 200 minutes of football in a new team under a new manager, there isn't enough football played with him in the team to make a decision on him. I like him and I think he will become a valuable player for this team as he is a smart player and skillful. He has shown that much both for Netherland and Ajax.

 

[RUCK4444]

I said this in the summer, he’s not a DM and he’s not better than Bruno for the no 10 position (obviously)

So he was always going to be a bench option. We got him for strength in depth.

Frustrating as we have holes in the starting 11 and we would have been much better servers going for a top DM so we haven’t got to play Scott and Fred every game.

 

[United58]

He's a player for a system, and that's not really how we play.

Ole has always been reliant on individual moments of magic to break down opponents. Its why Rashford and Bruno work for him, and why Cavani has been successful. VdB, coming out of Ajax, doesn't really have that individual streak to excel here at the moment.

This is an interesting take, and I could see him doing very well at City.

Hopefully he grows into it and gets some game time in the Europa League.