Who decided to sign Van De Beek?

Marwood

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
4,251
This only makes sense if we didn’t have glaring holes in our first 11. Why would you sign a back up CAM when we had no actual striker or RW?

Pogba can play CAM and is very good in that position. I’d argue it is his best position, releasing him of defensive duties.

We would have been better off keeping the €40m this summer and investing in areas that can be greatly improved.
Yeah that's why me and a few if my mates questioned it at the time. Bruno and Pogba already here, did we really need another in that sort of position.

Even if Bruno was out for months, Pogba would simply slot in there with Rashford back to the left.

We all want more squad depth but it seemed a bit much at the time, especially when we're short in other areas.

There's no way he gets ahead of Bruno or Pogba so if he wants a career here he'll have to become a CM. If he can do that great, it's what we need.
 
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
22,545
Location
Somewhere out there
People seem far too hasty to write him off IMO. He might still come good. It’s not as though he hasn’t shown glimpses of what he could bring to the team. Getting cameo appearances as part of a severely understrength “B team” who’ve been dominated every time is the worst possible way for any new signing to show what he can do. Especially when he’s new to English football.
Agreed.
 

deleon

Full Member
Joined
May 16, 2008
Messages
734
I wasn't too crazy about him signing, but we've seen too often that players sometimes only come into their own after a season or two. If we can sign someone like Sancho this summer, we would probably be able to rest Fernandes more and van de Beek would get his chance.

On the other hand, if Fernandes is still our only matchwinner going into the new season, then VDB needs to be willing to play as a central midfielder. He will initially make some mistakes, but eventually be an okay player for us there - sort of like Fred.
 

clarkydaz

Full Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2013
Messages
13,354
Location
manchester
People seem far too hasty to write him off IMO. He might still come good. It’s not as though he hasn’t shown glimpses of what he could bring to the team. Getting cameo appearances as part of a severely understrength “B team” who’ve been dominated every time is the worst possible way for any new signing to show what he can do. Especially when he’s new to English football.
it also must be odd signing for a manager who has no faith in you
 

STYLOISRED

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
729
Location
Nigeria
Fred, Fabinho, Jorginho, Rodri, Tielemans, e.t.c. just a list of premier League Midfielders who were nothing special in their first few months in the EPL. Yet the Caf never learns.
 

TheReligion

Abusive
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
51,446
Location
Manchester
Ole wants two no 6s. He will be getting a young one back from Forest ( Garner), but needs another more experienced one ( at least a notch up from McFred.). Will take at least £50m to buy him; which is why he will take Varane for £40m if he can to fill the CB role required, leaving possibly enough for the no6 and Sancho if he can get money for Lingard.
What's happening with Pogba? You seem to know what's what
 

TheReligion

Abusive
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
51,446
Location
Manchester
Surely it's obvious he's taking Matas place in the squad? Bought for £35m which isn't big big money these days. Plays a similar style and way. Mata on his way out..

It's a squad game and he's still not settled. I don't get the drama about it all.
 

STYLOISRED

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
729
Location
Nigeria
Surely it's obvious he's taking Matas place in the squad? Bought for £35m which isn't big big money these days. Plays a similar style and way. Mata on his way out..

It's a squad game and he's still not settled. I don't get the drama about it all.
It's the caf. You have posters here doubting Bruno's ability after seeing perform for a year and half. Ofcourse there will be no sympathy for a player still finding his feet.
 

TheReligion

Abusive
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
51,446
Location
Manchester
It's the caf. You have posters here doubting Bruno's ability after seeing perform for a year and half. Ofcourse there will be no sympathy for a player still finding his feet.
If truth be told he's not even been expensive and at the age he is still holds a decent resale value if things don't improve.

There's plenty of bits to do in the summer but this obsession with VdB is baffling.

Look at Liverpool. They have a £65m Keita who they can't get a tune out of and Thiago, bought for a similar price to Donny, and 7 years older, struggling.

Apparently though Liverpool's recruitment is top notch. Even have posters turning their nose up at Varane in the transfer forum as he's finished at 28.

If you didn't laugh you'd cry.
 

Maticmaker

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Messages
4,617
DVB is one for the future, he was brought in early because it was thought Pogba might be off after Riaolo's utterings. Came in at the wrong time and will need time to settle. He was recommended by VDS.
 

b20times

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Sep 3, 2018
Messages
326
We got him half price, he was available at 80m the season before. Getting him for 40m was a bargain.
 

acnumber9

Full Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2006
Messages
22,253
I feel like he was signed as a backup to Fernandes, but we’re too over reliant on him to drop him.
He was. And Pogba too before Ole realised that he just wasn’t particularly capable of either. The fact we started the season so poorly and have went with two defensive midfielders since has meant even less chance of him playing. He’s now filling the Pereira role and doing a little worse at it.
 

laughtersassassin

Full Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
11,330
DVB is one for the future, he was brought in early because it was thought Pogba might be off after Riaolo's utterings. Came in at the wrong time and will need time to settle. He was recommended by VDS.
No offence to VDB but he cannot replace Pogba. He can't lace his boots.
 

Maticmaker

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Messages
4,617
No offence to VDB but he cannot replace Pogba. He can't lace his boots.
My point was it was an 'each way bet', if Pogba did leave we had someone to at least to put in there, admittedly not as good, but can develop into the squad, if not then VDB becomes a 'spare' who would then have chance to settle into the squad without massive expectation.

Also at one point in his career, Pogba couldn't lace Schole's boots either.In fact didn't SAF bring Scholes out of retirement because Pogba wasn't cutting the mustard? Some would say that is what drove Pogba to leave in the first place.
 

kaus.p

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 14, 2021
Messages
1
I do think we've been overreactive to Donny's situation. It is nothing new for an Ajax player to take a while to get adjusted to a different brand of football. Look at De Ligt and Frenkie. Ajax play a system which has safer passing, taking less risk in playing the ball forward and choosing more assured passing options instead of regularly switching wings and playing lofted through balls like Bruno does or Pogba does.

Donny had no pre-season, hadn't played any football in 2020 before he came. So he had no time to understand a completely different system at Utd. Fixtures have come thick and fast in the PL too. Donny was anyway like a Muller at Ajax. He found spaces, ran into them, played quick one-twos in tight spaces and became a final third player. You can see glimpses of that in games v Palace, Leicester and Burnley. That's the real Donny role, not the one we saw v Istanbul or Leicester recently.

He's often made many good runs in the final third but because Fred and McTominay's technical ineffiencies, Donny's runs have never been picked out. Check out the first half v West Ham away. Donny's off the ball runs were top class, but no one saw them because they've not played together too much plus our two DMs aren't great on the ball. So I think we must be patient with this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cheimoon

Crashoutcassius

Full Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2013
Messages
10,295
Location
playa del carmen
He's obviously an ole signing. He's obviously a good player. Just needs to play better when he gets his chances and probably needs more luck in getting his chances. He shouldnt be guaranteed a spot, nor should he be panic sold, if we have significant injuries to fred Scott or Bruno this year we would be glad to have him, assuming he took his chance.
 

Beachryan

More helpful with spreadsheets than Phurry
Joined
May 13, 2010
Messages
11,551
I do think VdB is a far better footballer than we've seen, but totally agree with this thread: who on Earth thought he'd work for us?

His skillset appears to be: good first touch, excellent awareness, focus on short-passing and one-twos to creat opportunities.
Our attack is designed around: pace, quick counters, rapidly moving the ball vertically and letting Bruno play risky, generally direct passes.

We almost couldn't have picked a worse fit for how we setup from an attacking perspective.

Maybe you can make an argument that now with Cavani up top, Pogba out left, Shaw in this form and Rashford somewhat marginalised, we could switch to more of a continental style that would suit VdB. But that's the damn opposite of where we were when we signed him (MMM ahead of Bruno).

It was a massive error, and screams of Ed signing someone he knew he could, rather than the player he should.
 

Crashoutcassius

Full Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2013
Messages
10,295
Location
playa del carmen
I do think VdB is a far better footballer than we've seen, but totally agree with this thread: who on Earth thought he'd work for us?

His skillset appears to be: good first touch, excellent awareness, focus on short-passing and one-twos to creat opportunities.
Our attack is designed around: pace, quick counters, rapidly moving the ball vertically and letting Bruno play risky, generally direct passes.

We almost couldn't have picked a worse fit for how we setup from an attacking perspective.

Maybe you can make an argument that now with Cavani up top, Pogba out left, Shaw in this form and Rashford somewhat marginalised, we could switch to more of a continental style that would suit VdB. But that's the damn opposite of where we were when we signed him (MMM ahead of Bruno).

It was a massive error, and screams of Ed signing someone he knew he could, rather than the player he should.
Who on earth thought he'd work for us? Let's start with everyone on this forum not blighted by hindsight bias
 

Leftback99

Might have a bedwetting fetish.
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
13,967
Who on earth thought he'd work for us? Let's start with everyone on this forum not blighted by hindsight bias
I wasn't convinced unless we saw him as a 6/8 (which we seemingly haven't). Said so in his transfer thread.
 

jesperjaap

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
5,695
Seemed to me last summer a lot of people on here seemed to prefer him as a signing over Grealish. Many saying how intelligent and technical he was etc etc etc.

Even at £35m he was a disappointing signings at the time. He ISNT a far better player than he has shown so far. Of course he is better as he has been anomynous even when he has played. But he really isnt that special. I am slightly surprised he hasnt got more games in the pivot even though it isnt his ideal position as he was a hard worker at Ajax, and with his technique I thought he would get more opportunities in certain games than he has. But apart from that he is only cover to Fernandes.

Personally if we could get anywhere near back what we paid for him, I would happily sell him. Are several players for the pivot would cost his expected sell on fee anyway if squad depth is a worry for people. But I really cant see him kicking on and being an importan tplayer for us next season as I never thougth he would do in the first place
 

jesperjaap

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
5,695
Who on earth thought he'd work for us? Let's start with everyone on this forum not blighted by hindsight bias
Would love to see the VDB transfer thread last summer again as I remember lots of people saying what a great signing he was and a far better player than Grealish, would solve our balance in midfield etc etc..........I didnt think he would be as poor or unplayed as he had, was never excited about the signing at all though, thought he would be pretty average
 

Joseunited

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
1,903
Gutted for the lad really, looked like top class potential whilst playing for Ajax.Putting on the red shirt of United seems to much for him.I wouldn't be in a rush to sell him though,give him another season to see if he can show Ole why he bought him.
He's young enough that his resale value will stay the same if not even go up.
 

GlasgowCeltic

Full Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2006
Messages
5,060
If he is to establish himself which of Fred and Mctominay will Ole trust him to play ahead of?
 

UnofficialDevil

Anti Scottish and Preoccupied with Donkeys.
Joined
Aug 5, 2006
Messages
18,902
Location
I'm not anti Scottish, I just wanted Moyes out.
Same guy that signed Bruno.
Exactly, when a signing is good its the managers choice, when a signing is bad it wasn’t his choice. A load of crap. People were saying Cavani wasn’t Ole’s choice when we signed him now he is getting praised for signing him. All players signed are the managers choice, good and bad.
 

Nikelesh Reddy

Full Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2017
Messages
1,912
How are people just ignoring these quotes, you have it from VDB's mouth and Ole's, yet people still want to argue against it, and invent some conspiracy to add even more fuel to the fire against Ed and the owners. (They're terrible enough without blaming them for VDB's poor season)

Hindsight is 20/20, almost everybody here thought it was a great signing at the time, due to him doing very well at Ajax in multiple positions.

Sometimes things just don't work out, like Veron, but that doesn't mean Ole didn't want him.
He's obviously failed to impress in training.

It's a shame.
I actually reckon Ole thought that DVB could play in a midfield 2.Ole probably felt that with Pogba wanting to leave,DVB could potentially be a creative force in midfield...In my opinion DVB was signed to play behind Bruno and alongside a defensive midfield player like Mctominay/Matic...But after watching him train week in,week out Ole has probably come to the conclusion that he’s not suited to that role...
 

laughtersassassin

Full Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
11,330
My point was it was an 'each way bet', if Pogba did leave we had someone to at least to put in there, admittedly not as good, but can develop into the squad, if not then VDB becomes a 'spare' who would then have chance to settle into the squad without massive expectation.

Also at one point in his career, Pogba couldn't lace Schole's boots either.In fact didn't SAF bring Scholes out of retirement because Pogba wasn't cutting the mustard? Some would say that is what drove Pogba to leave in the first place.
That's a false equivalency tbh mate.
 

Tapori

Full Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
2,397
Location
Manchester - South Side
I don't understand. Maybe someone can explain where - at his best -Donny would assist us in squad or team through a season?
Style, matches, types of use?
 

Tallis

Full Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
982
I am not sure why everyone is so worked about DVB. Firstly, I think there is a possibility he will come good next season with hopefully some pre season behind him. As others have said, he has never got a run of games so far and he seems like the type of players who plays best in partnership with other players.

But if he doesn’t come good, we can sell him and recover most of the transfer fee (particularly if fans start to come back to stadiums and the transfer market improves). He is not a Sanchez type financial catastrophe. He didn’t cost much more than what we paid for Matic and Bailly and those guys will have no transfer value.
 

Lee565

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2019
Messages
4,978
As good as Fernandes is, he does cause a conundrum where him in the first 11 hinders pogba and van der beek because both of these players would be best suited to a 3 man midfield but with Fernandes in the side we have to use a formation like 4231 that allows for an attacking midfielder.

Still think using Fernandes as a false 9 with rashford/cavani and Greenwood playing as inside forwards is worth trying against certain sides, if the likes of tuchel and Guardiola can pull off using a false 9 with good success, then why can't ole?
 

Polar

Full Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2020
Messages
1,424
People seems to forget things..

Pogba’s future at United was uncertain and we also needed backup for Bruno; replace Lingard and Pereira.

Grealish and VDB wasn’t set up against each other. Most people wanted Grealish, but rightfully thought it was a joke to pay £80m for him. The “Grealish door” was closed as long as Pogba stayed. Many thought of him as a replacement for Pogba.

VDB was our second alternative or our second tier alternative. We were quit desperate for more offensive depth on our midfield. At half the price of Grealish, VDB off course was another quality than Grealish, but at the same time an good alternative to Lingard or Pereira. Many of us recognised the transfer, but it wasn’t much hype before the deal practically was done: many examples of people trying to oversell him or considered him as some kind of saviour.

He was 23y and among 30 nominees to Ballon d’Or. He ended up as nr.28 together with Felix og Marquinhos. It was also said LVG was interested in VDB already in 2015.

Everyone agree VDB has been a great disappointment so far, but we don’t need to start a blame game. Let’s instead hope VDB adapt and develop. I’m not to optimistic, but we have witnessed big turnovers before.

…. and I start to get tired of “Grealish” hitting my face in every second post on this forum. It’s like Bitcoin hype when ATH:lol:
 
Last edited:

Lentwood

Full Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
6,783
Location
West Didsbury, Manchester
It was a gamble worth taking in my book. It hasn’t worked out but we paid £35.1m for an International footballer who is still only 24.

I would be shocked if we lost money on the transfer. I could think of 10/15 clubs who would pay that for van de Beek, if not more.

Far from this being a sign of continued poor recruitment, I would say this is an example of much better recruitment - we can “fail fast” in this scenario i.e. try something and if it doesn’t work out, move on quickly.
 

Desert Eagle

Punjabi Dude
Joined
Sep 25, 2006
Messages
16,778
Exactly, when a signing is good its the managers choice, when a signing is bad it wasn’t his choice. A load of crap. People were saying Cavani wasn’t Ole’s choice when we signed him now he is getting praised for signing him. All players signed are the managers choice, good and bad.
This is especially true at a club like united where managers have a lot of power. You could maybe understand at it at a Chelsea type club where there have legitimately been owner signings or a club with a director of football that is in charge of transfers. People that are saying he wasn't first choice are also missing the point. No manager gets all their first choice transfers. Ultimately it's the manager that gives the final sign off and ultimately it's the manager who will take the flack for the performance of the player.
 

wolvored

Full Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
9,871
Didnt Murtough say the other week Ole has veto over any player they scout to buy?

"Ole has a veto, because as a club we will not sign a player that a manager doesn't want."
Google the first 4 words for links.
 

Scholsey2004

Full Member
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
3,600
Didnt Murtough say the other week Ole has veto over any player they scout to buy?

"Ole has a veto, because as a club we will not sign a player that a manager doesn't want."
Google the first 4 words for links.
Which means the transfer committee comes to him and says 'we cant get Grealish but we can get van de Beek if you still want a player'. Hobson's choice.
 

Sandikan

aka sex on the beach
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
52,712
People seems to forget things..

Pogba’s future at United was uncertain and we also needed backup for Bruno; replace Lingard and Pereira.

Grealish and VDB wasn’t set up against each other. Most people wanted Grealish, but rightfully thought it was a joke to pay £80m for him. The “Grealish door” was closed as long as Pogba stayed. Many thought of him as a replacement for Pogba.

VDB was our second alternative or our second tier alternative. We were quit desperate for more offensive depth on our midfield. At half the price of Grealish, VDB off course was another quality than Grealish, but at the same time an good alternative to Lingard or Pereira. Many of us recognised the transfer, but it wasn’t much hype before the deal practically was done: many examples of people trying to oversell him or considered him as some kind of saviour.

He was 23y and among 30 nominees to Ballon d’Or. He ended up as nr.28 together with Felix og Marquinhos. It was also said LVG was interested in VDB already in 2015.

Everyone agree VDB has been a great disappointment so far, but we don’t need to start a blame game. Let’s instead hope VDB adapt and develop. I’m not to optimistic, but we have witnessed big turnovers before.

…. and I start to get tired of “Grealish” hitting my face in every second post on this forum. It’s like Bitcoin hype when ATH:lol:
He probably deserves a second season, and has barely had any sort of run. It's all coming in for 10mins or the odd league cup game or when the big players are rotated and it's a mish mash line up.

Therefore, he tends to look a safe player, passing 5 yards either back to whoever gave him it, or sideways.

I'm not sure we're the right style of play for him anyway though, and I really can't see where he can regularly get in the team.

He doesn't strike me as being able to play in the 2 behind Bruno at all.
 

Sandikan

aka sex on the beach
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
52,712
Which means the transfer committee comes to him and says 'we cant get Grealish but we can get van de Beek if you still want a player'. Hobson's choice.
I'm pretty certain almost all managers would take "someone" over no-one when offered a transfer.

I just can't see what Ole had in mind for him, unless he'd presumed either Bruno would be rotated a lot more, or that Van B could operate behind Bruno effectively.
But enough people on here who'd seen him voiced their concern that he operated in the exact position Bruno did.
 

Scholsey2004

Full Member
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
3,600
I think its a case of the transfer committee buying into a name without really putting the in-depth research in. His passing stats were poor whilst playing in midfield for the best team in the league in a side with a possession based style. On paper he definitely looked like supporting cast, similar to looking at Tom Cleverleys stats compared to Michael Carrick's. When we offered Ajax €40m they must have thought theyd won the lottery.
 

Scholsey2004

Full Member
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
3,600
I'm pretty certain almost all managers would take "someone" over no-one when offered a transfer.

I just can't see what Ole had in mind for him, unless he'd presumed either Bruno would be rotated a lot more, or that Van B could operate behind Bruno effectively.
But enough people on here who'd seen him voiced their concern that he operated in the exact position Bruno did.
I think hes one of those players who every week people reckon hes best in a different position until he plays there and is mediocre so hes best in another position. Its probably the same people who were all for signing him. We've all become invested in at least one player in the past who ultimitely wasnt good enough. We were all doing the same thing with Kagawa.