Yeah I’m responding directly to your second post. The bottom line is that both United and VdB won’t want to quit on each other within just 6 months. VdB is here to fight for a place and we need him.
My point about Pereira is that he’s similar to James’ position now in a way. He’s getting undeserved minutes ahead of players who should be getting them instead - which is exactly what happened given time and it will with VdB.
The last point is a fair point but then I wouldn’t care about keeping him if he wanted to quit after a few months behind some ageing and inferior players. His time will come
If Donny is going to leave, it would be after 12 and not 6 months. Or maybe after a second year. But no, not in the next few days, thus six months.
Who could Donny displace in the starting XI? Not Bruno. Not Pogba. He’s not a DM so not Matic.
We replaced Pereira with Bruno, who’s been on all world form since his arrival. But before that Ole gave AP a run of games to prove whether he had it and of course he proved he didn’t. Pre-Bruno Ole had to look up and down the squad, but with Bruno on now, and with Pogba best to his near best it’s hard to see what circumstances would allow Donny to contribute on a consistent basis with the benefit of those two players on the pitch.
If Donny is consigned to being a squad player for us, not even being given minutes to see out a match against Villa — watching a substantially inferior player in James getting those minutes — it’s hard to imagine him being content with that.
Dan James and Jesse Lingard would be content to be long term squad player’s first United and there’s a lot to be said for having such players, but I cannot imagine a player of VdB’s proven quality being content with that.
Just so I’m clear, I’m very happy with the job Ole is doing.