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2021-22 Performances


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Ralph1386

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Donny is really Schrodinger's midfielder. That bloke said he was the worst player and the girl said he was the best.
Yes I noticed the girl contradicted him by saying Donny was the best after he said he was huffing and puffing :lol:

Too bad the game wasn't televised.
 
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Alemar

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Mata has played a role in cup games
One of our younger attackers could have played such a role, and very likely better. It is strange to have a player on such an astronomical wage as Mata if he is only good for a few easy cup games - it doesn’t make any sense. Give those 5 games to Hannibal and save 7m per year on wages alone (in addition to giving youngster some experience)
 

RUCK4444

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One of our younger attackers could have played such a role, and very likely better. It is strange to have a player on such an astronomical wage as Mata if he is only good for a few easy cup games - it doesn’t make any sense. Give those 5 games to Hannibal and save 7m per year on wages alone (in addition to giving youngster some experience)
I don't know about that, Mata was very good in the cup games.

He's also a very good/experienced character to have in the dressing room for the younger lads. It's his last year now, I believe he's being ushered into a coaching role of some kind.
 
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Agreed, I simply can't understand why we don't try him alongside Fred or Mctominay in tough away matches where opposition will press high. He is more suited to those matches where he will keep possession and get us out of tight spots, whereas Pogba delays and invite press and loses it in dangerous situations.

I honestly feel this is out best front 6

Fred/Mctominay VDB
Sancho/Greenwood Bruno Pogba
Ronaldo/Cavani

Not only this formation would mean we will always have two to three players available to receive the ball, as Pogba does not make runs beyond the striker and will drop into the pockets (similar to a no.10), and it won't make us predictable with all of Ronaldo, Bruno, Greenwood and Sancho making forward runs with nobody to pass through the middle.
true story
 

Stacks

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I don't know about that, Mata was very good in the cup games.

He's also a very good/experienced character to have in the dressing room for the younger lads. It's his last year now, I believe he's being ushered into a coaching role of some kind.
does city or any big team keep guys around on big wages because they are fun to be around and make the younger lads feel warm and fuzzy inside? it appears only United give out contracts to players who barely play and take up squad space for younger players.
Mata played 31 minutes in Europa league, 500 mins in Prem, 90 mins (1 game) in FA cup, 168 mins (over 2 games) in League cup. he was hardly used in any comp and is here on sentiment.
 

Sunny Jim

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does city or any big team keep guys around on big wages because they are fun to be around and make the younger lads feel warm and fuzzy inside? it appears only United give out contracts to players who barely play and take up squad space for younger players.
Mata played 31 minutes in Europa league, 500 mins in Prem, 90 mins (1 game) in FA cup, 168 mins (over 2 games) in League cup. he was hardly used in any comp and is here on sentiment.
he was Also hardly avaiable due to his mothers death
 

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does city or any big team keep guys around on big wages because they are fun to be around and make the younger lads feel warm and fuzzy inside? it appears only United give out contracts to players who barely play and take up squad space for younger players.
Mata played 31 minutes in Europa league, 500 mins in Prem, 90 mins (1 game) in FA cup, 168 mins (over 2 games) in League cup. he was hardly used in any comp and is here on sentiment.
Yes they did they kept Kompany around forever. His last couple of seasons he was mostly there for moral support and occasionally playing some cup games.
Liverpool still keep Henderson and Milner around.
 

Stacks

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he was Also hardly avaiable due to his mothers death
thats true but in 2020 he was an unused sub for 20 premiership matches. That must be a record.
Yes they did they kept Kompany around forever. His last couple of seasons he was mostly there for moral support and occasionally playing some cup games.
Liverpool still keep Henderson and Milner around.
For 3 seasons Kompany suffered major injuries every year. He was crucial in their 2019 title closing stages playing 8 matches in a row as a starter. He actually started the season starting matches but again injuries. They then released him and he had another injury prone season. I believe he was injury prone which reduced his playing time.
Henderson is a key player for Liverpool and was playing 90 minute a game games for nearly 17 straight games and done his groin last season
Milner surprisingly started 4/7 champions league games he was available for and was unused in only 8 premier league games he was fit and available. (this includes being left out of the squad)
 

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does city or any big team keep guys around on big wages because they are fun to be around and make the younger lads feel warm and fuzzy inside? it appears only United give out contracts to players who barely play and take up squad space for younger players.
Mata played 31 minutes in Europa league, 500 mins in Prem, 90 mins (1 game) in FA cup, 168 mins (over 2 games) in League cup. he was hardly used in any comp and is here on sentiment.
There’s plenty of teams that keep players around a year or so longer than they perhaps but it’s good to have a few experienced players in the dressing room.

As it happens I wouldn’t have minded seeing mata and certainly Jones/Lingard move on in this last transfer window but with the latter two it’s not as easy as it seems to get rid of them.
 

Tom Cato

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Ole is not like that. He has no intention to play either Mata or Jones, yet doesn’t try to sell them. Same is with Lingard. For some mysterious reason Ole is happy to have surplus players in the squad just eating up wages.

So, there are no reasons to believe he would act differently in relation to VDB

Are you aware why your post is full of incorrect statements?
 

Gazza

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Why add fuel to the fire?

It's counterproductive
Normally I might agree. But the situation with VDB is so strange that it requires some clarification. We've invested a lot of money on a player who might as well not be in the squad. I actually would like to hear from the people involved, even if it is obviously one-sided. Ole is free to clarify what is going on with Donny whenever he is asked about it in a press conference and I'd like him to do so, to be honest!
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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I figured I could exaggerate a little this time with 'going nuts', but I see that's supposed to work only one way. ;) I appreciate, though, that you see me as a person you can confidentially go to if you want to complain about other posters that I have nothing to do with. :wenger:
‘Confidentially’ on a public fan forum? The fact you’re still attempting to quip is flattering but that was dim even by the standards you continue to set. It’s the same song different cretin, using all manner of nonsense to evade your initial pointless response. Stay on topic.
I think it makes a lot of sense for Albers to explain the situation a bit, and to make clear where Van de Beek stands in this. It's good for the player, too, as he doesn't have to make comments and get the response if his agent does it for him. And in the end, it was all extremely mild and nothing anyone couldn't figure out for themselves: Van de Beek would like to play more, is interested in leaving, thinks it's flattering that the club doesn't let him, but hope that does translate into playtime this time. In case that doesn't connect to previous quotes, it is what the agent says here:
I’ve read this same post in multiple guises & addressed it.

We have multiple other players on the fringes with agents who choose to keep their discussions private. The club has had players far greater than VdB will ever be, cast to the fringes without needing their agent to front up to the press. His agent didn’t ‘need’ to do this, the actions are questionable & made to put pressure on the club. VdB has done nothing with the game time he’s had, he’ll be given chances against opposition befitting his standard.
Except, of course, if you want to go hyperpartisan and anything anyone says about United that isn't positive is out of bounds.
A straw man argument.
Plus those new quotes a bit above my post also show that Albers really isn't being a bad guy here.
Again, irrelevant. My original point [which has riled you so badly you’ve been in my mentions for 2 days] was about the action. His agent didn’t have to disclose anything, & better players have been treated far worse whilst their agents conducted business in private. The comments do nothing but stoke a fire, VdB hasn’t particularly performed well in bursts - he doesn’t warrant minutes otherwise OgS [who is one loss away from #OleOut] would surely be playing him.

What are you hoping to gain here? We disagree, move on.
 

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‘Confidentially’ on a public fan forum? The fact you’re still attempting to quip is flattering but that was dim even by the standards you continue to set. It’s the same song different cretin, using all manner of nonsense to evade your initial pointless response. Stay on topic.
thatwasthejoke.gif
A straw man argument.
Not really. It seems that it's either this or agents can't speak in public for you.
[which has riled you so badly you’ve been in my mentions for 2 days]
You've also been in my alerts all this time. :cool:
Again, irrelevant. My original point was about the action. His agent didn’t have to disclose anything, & better players have been treated far worse whilst their agents conducted business in private. The comments do nothing but stoke a fire, VdB hasn’t particularly performed well in bursts - he doesn’t warrant minutes otherwise OgS [who is one loss away from #OleOut] would surely be playing him.
So again agents should just shut up at all times. That appears to be your point, as even this small comment is already mouthing off in your book. And yes, that's on topic; it's in fact at the core of our discussion.

I don't know which fire is stoked though. As I said, the club will know all about Van de Beek's opinion on his status at United (that he's unhappy he isn't playing and would prefer to move if he's considered not good enough), and any outsider can guess as much as well. What do the comments change?
What are you hoping to gain here? We disagree, move on.
I did say that a while ago already, but happy to go on while you do. ;)
 

VanDeBank

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We have multiple other players on the fringes with agents who choose to keep their discussions private.
VDB cost 40m and hasn't had 2 starts in a row, which is incredibly rare for the biggest signing of any given window. Him shedding some light on the situation does reduce speculation (notice how the conversation has shifted since the accurate translations of the interview have been published). You're right that he's pressuring Ole into playing him or pressuring the club into loaning/selling him in the next window, by disclosing that there's some sort of agreement or understanding.

My disagreement with you came stems from the fact that you think there's a double standard between Albers and Raiola and that you think them giving interviews is somehow the same.
As noted by many, their tone is completely different. Albers hasn't spoken negatively of the club, hasn't lost cases in arbitration for illegal transfer practices and doesn't offer Man Utd players to Liverpool. And those are the reasons Pogba and Raiola are disliked, not that they gave an interview discussing their client, which you think is "mouthy"/"being a gobshite".
 

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I thought he looked good in central midfield in the one preseason game. Constantly made himself available to receive a pass from the CBs, did much better than Matic in the last game.

Maybe it's worth 40m to have cover for Bruno in case he gets injured.
 

ghagua

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Normally I might agree. But the situation with VDB is so strange that it requires some clarification. We've invested a lot of money on a player who might as well not be in the squad. I actually would like to hear from the people involved, even if it is obviously one-sided. Ole is free to clarify what is going on with Donny whenever he is asked about it in a press conference and I'd like him to do so, to be honest!
You are right. VDB was brought up in the Ajax system so he knows how to play. It's a matter of finding out if he is suitable for this league, but we can't find out if he is unless we give him game time. By game time, I do not mean 5 minutes here and there once a month, but a few games on the trot. Those saying he can't play the holding role have no idea how Ajax trains their players to play different roles. I believe VDB can play with any of our current midfield players but the sight of McT coming on injured in the Southampton games shows that there's an agenda why VDB is not playing. Maybe VDB was forced on Ole and is now showing who is in charge.

Here is a video of a discussion regarding VDB which the host explains another theory why VDB is not getting game time


 

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You are right. VDB was brought up in the Ajax system so he knows how to play. It's a matter of finding out if he is suitable for this league, but we can't find out if he is unless we give him game time. By game time, I do not mean 5 minutes here and there once a month, but a few games on the trot. Those saying he can't play the holding role have no idea how Ajax trains their players to play different roles. I believe VDB can play with any of our current midfield players but the sight of McT coming on injured in the Southampton games shows that there's an agenda why VDB is not playing. Maybe VDB was forced on Ole and is now showing who is in charge.

Here is a video of a discussion regarding VDB which the host explains another theory why VDB is not getting game time


There's some weird conspiracy theories surrounding Donny that is frankly bizzare. What you'll sack your manager for not playing this one player that at best is a tidy keep the ball moving type player? I mean there were conspiracies about Zaha shagging Moyes' daughter but even then we didn't go as far as to say the manager should be sacked for not playing him.
 

lex talionis

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Donny is more than a tidy ball keeper. He’s actually pretty decent on goal too

Whether we should have spent 35m on him is a very fair question, but he’s not the spastic clown he’s been made out to be by some here. We’re all to speculate as to why we brought him in, but it is undeniable that Donny is nowhere near the class of Bruno or Pogba.

But that’s not surprising. There isn’t a single squad player on earth who is anywhere close to Bruno or Pogba. And I’m not sure I can identity more than 2 or 3 players in the entire PL who are.

So, was it was wise to spend 35m on a squad man? Or should we have spent 35m to bring in a proper CDM?
 

ghagua

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There's some weird conspiracy theories surrounding Donny that is frankly bizzare. What you'll sack your manager for not playing this one player that at best is a tidy keep the ball moving type player? I mean there were conspiracies about Zaha shagging Moyes' daughter but even then we didn't go as far as to say the manager should be sacked for not playing him.
No, you don't sack your manager based on any conspiracy theory, you sack your manager for lack of success as far as titles are concerned, or shit show performances on the pitch. VDB is a player who given game time might be able to produce for the team. He played a leading role for a proper football and is not likely to have forgotten how to play once he came to United.

What I would question is how VDB has not had a second on the pitch this season while Ole decided it was beneficial to bring on an injured McT on against Southampton. This is after Donny had a good pre-season game against Everton.
 

::sonny::

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It will be impossible for him to do important things after 1 year of inactivity, need time
 

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No, you don't sack your manager based on any conspiracy theory, you sack your manager for lack of success as far as titles are concerned, or shit show performances on the pitch. VDB is a player who given game time might be able to produce for the team. He played a leading role for a proper football and is not likely to have forgotten how to play once he came to United.

What I would question is how VDB has not had a second on the pitch this season while Ole decided it was beneficial to bring on an injured McT on against Southampton. This is after Donny had a good pre-season game against Everton.
Really? Finishing 3rd and 2nd in his first two full seasons from being the perennial 6th best club at the time? And lets not pretend that there were not a lot of very good games and performances in there. Yes sometimes when we don'l gel we look like we can't string 3 passes together, but when we find our feet we're a very good team that plays a very explosive and attacking brand of football. And for the most part all of our transfers under Ole have been good to some extent. I'm fairly sure VDB will end up being fine as well, but if he doesn't he'd be the exception rather than the norm and that would be on him.
 

amolbhatia50k

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I wrote an elaborate piece on Donny when he just came to United, see below.. This still holds true for me.. (apart from my last suggestion to perhaps switch to a 442 diamond is not something I would suggest today anymore now that Sancho came..)

I wasnt able to see the match yesterday, but I read a few comments about him connecting well with Mata and that doesnt surprise me at all. I also read some comments stating he was kinda invisible on the pitch for a central midfielder and to be frank.. That also doesnt suprise me at all, looking at Donny's strenghts and looking at the line up yesterday... As someone who watches every Ajax match, I think three of Donny's major strenghts are the following.

1) Donny is a very good in combinations in tight spaces. In this he is a typical Ajax youth product, who is comfortable receiving the ball with little room, finding a close open man with one touch and moving immediately away again to receive the ball somewhere else and making room for other players. I read a couple times above that he was looking for 1-2's a lot and this is recognizable for me. His technique is not spectacular on the eye, but very effective and solid. Thats why I get the link with other technical gifted players close to him in the pitch, like Mata, and thats why I think he could play really well together with Bruno.

2) Donny finds spaces behind the opponents defense. When is isnt directly involved in the combination where the attack is being built up, he is a very good ball receiving midfielder. Somehow he is always 'there' and always 'open' in the final phase of an attack, whether to finish it of himself or to give the final pass to a teammate. Thats why with Ajax he worked extremely well with Tadic as a false number 9 who involved himself in the play and left spaces for Donny to dive into.

3) Donny gives you goals. He is not only good at finding spaces on the pitch and behind defenders, but when he receives it there he is very clinical. The goal against Palace was a good example of that. I think he has a very high conversion rate for changes in the box.

Donny is NOT a player who finds the creative solutions himself, with a pass between the lines (at Ajax that were Ziyech, Tadic, Promes, Neres) or by picking up the ball from defense and bringing it forward (at Ajax that were Frenkie, Blind, Schone). He is just not going to be that player for you.. You need other on your midfield to do so... So therefore seeing he was paired with Matic and Fred yesterday, I can understand is was very hard on the eyes, because you have no one to create creativity from midfield for you.. Ole should know this and not expect Donny to play like this..

If you start expecting Donny to be the creative brain in your team, United have completely wasted their money. However when used in his strenghts, I think he can be a very very good player for a world class team.

With Ajax this fit perfectly, because you had other players around him who did the things he's not world class in - finding the open spaces in creative manners - but he was used in his strenghts by Ajax playing combination football with other players comfortable on the ball and therewith creating spaces with quick combination football, ánd diving into the deep spaces left by Ziyech, Tadic and Neres in the attacking line.

How would this translate into United?

I think a midield with Pogba Bruno and Donny would never work on the highest level, as there is no balance. I think you always need a midfielder who is behind the ball 95% of the times. At Ajax that were Schone, Frenkie and last year Martinez. At United that could be Matic. If you play Bruno, Pogba ánd Donny you wouldnt use all of them in their strenghts as one of them would have to play in the #6 role, otherwise you risk getting your midfield overrun. I do think United however needs all of Donny, Bruno and Pogba on the pitch because all of them contain crucial qualities which no other current United players have. Donny bringhts depth and scoring ability off the ball, while also have the technical capabilities to link up with Bruno and Pogba. Bruno is the creative brain upfront and Pogba can be worldclass as a midfielder who brings the ball from back to front.

So íf you want to play them all, you need to switch strategy in my opinion, by either playing with Bruno as a false #9 in a 433 like situation, ór in a 442 diamond situation... Both are quite similiar actually). I think both could work extremely well as you will also be able to rotate the two attacking positions with Rashford, Greenwood and Martial. Remaining problem however is that in both scenario's you need proper wingbacks who can also provide some wide threats.
The problem is that none of those systems work for us. We have too many gifted attackers at the top end to be sacrificing them to accomodate VDB. He's also been physically underwhelming in his appearances so far. It's hard to see where he fits in tbh. Those three years together give you nothing defensively and nothing in terms of the engine room. It's Bruno or VDB for me, at least based on what we've seen so far. That's why Ole barely plays him.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I would like to believe he is good enough but so far there is no evidence show that he has something to offer in double pivot. Donny is not destroyer and he doesn’t dictate a tempo too. I don’t know what he offers honestly if he plays double pivot, I think he plays like Cleverley in double pivot which keep things simple and safe. McTominay is more destroyer than Donny so he plays over Donny. Fred is also more destroyer than Donny so he plays over Donny.

My big issue is that Ole is still insisting to keep him. Saul was available on loan, he would have been a better option. Why can’t Ole just let Donny go and get Saul on loan. If Donny is in his plan, then play him and give him lot of minutes because we spent 40m on him which we could have spend it on a midfielder that good enough to start for us.
 

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If he really is he's not a United material, he should absolutely be after every little chance he gets and prove everyone wrong. Kagawa and Mkhitaryan came with a higher profile and failed miserably, due to being especially mentally very weak.

I'd hope he can profile himself as Herrera who came here playing mostly as a #10 but wasn't good/spectacular enough for a team of our calibre so adapted pretty quickly into a great #8. Both players are quite weak physically but positionally intelligent, with average passing range, average pace, but it didn't stop Herrera be very good for us, because he had the grit and determination to change his game and become more of a ball winner. It's perfect time for Donny now, let's not be hysterical with every game he doesn't play though.

He will get his chance eventually. Matic showed he's way past it despite being decent in the preseason but of course preseason is nothing compared to real EPL, so I hope Ole have seen enough. Fred has been brilliant for us the season before last one and still very decent last season overall, but didn't start well. He's actually our only player who covers so much ground and presses very well from midfield so it's hard to displace him even if he's had a bad first half, so it's still much safer bet then play Donny but the chance is coming imho. McTominay was average at best except for two or three games where he was brilliant, last season but somewhat depandable, but is injured now.

Pogba will take one of the spots now when we are flooded with the attacking talent, so maybe Donny will get his chance soon in an easier home game. next to him but it's a big task because it's a one man midfield at times either next to Pogba or Matic, off the ball..
Good post, agreed. Nice to see someone who is able to understand and appreciate Fred here.
 

Cheimoon

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I would like to believe he is good enough but so far there is no evidence show that he has something to offer in double pivot. Donny is not destroyer and he doesn’t dictate a tempo too. I don’t know what he offers honestly if he plays double pivot, I think he plays like Cleverley in double pivot which keep things simple and safe. McTominay is more destroyer than Donny so he plays over Donny. Fred is also more destroyer than Donny so he plays over Donny.

My big issue is that Ole is still insisting to keep him. Saul was available on loan, he would have been a better option. Why can’t Ole just let Donny go and get Saul on loan. If Donny is in his plan, then play him and give him lot of minutes because we spent 40m on him which we could have spend it on a midfielder that good enough to start for us.
Given that Van de Beek was looking at transfer options but was blocked from moving by United in the end, my theory would be that United did plan to replace him with someone that better fits the team; but that this fell through and hence they finally did want Van de Beek to stay. If that's correcet, then actually neither the club nor the player are happy with the current situation, but what can you do. I'd fully except Van de Beek to continue to barely feature (since his style doesn't fit), and that the club will look to replace him in the January window.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Given that Van de Beek was looking at transfer options but was blocked from moving by United in the end, my theory would be that United did plan to replace him with someone that better fits the team; but that this fell through and hence they finally did want Van de Beek to stay. If that's correcet, then actually neither the club nor the player are happy with the current situation, but what can you do. I'd fully except Van de Beek to continue to barely feature (since his style doesn't fit), and that the club will look to replace him in the January window.
Saul was available on loan in the summer. Saul wouldn't be available on loan in January. I doubt there is a realistic option to get in January to replace VDB, it will cost more as not many club will sell their player easily in January.
 

Adam-Utd

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I would like to believe he is good enough but so far there is no evidence show that he has something to offer in double pivot.
Well this is a straight up lie already.

His best performance for us came against Wolves in the deeper position. It suits him way more than any of the other areas we've tried him.
 

lex talionis

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With respect to the claim that Donny’s “style” doesn’t fit United, I’m curious whether anyone here believes Fred’s or McTominay’s style “fits” United.

Fred needs no introduction here as a footballer who can’t complete a pass under duress, but when given a bit of space can. But he is completely useless in the final third. McTominay has a thumping shot in him, but I can’t imagine anyone here regards him as a proficient passer of the ball.
 

Tom Cato

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With respect to the claim that Donny’s “style” doesn’t fit United, I’m curious whether anyone here believes Fred’s or McTominay’s style “fits” United.

Fred needs no introduction here as a footballer who can’t complete a pass under duress, but when given a bit of space can. But he is completely useless in the final third. McTominay has a thumping shot in him, but I can’t imagine anyone here regards him as a proficient passer of the ball.
McTominay is entry-level Michael Carrick, he's a perfect Manchester United squad player mold.
 

lex talionis

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McTominay is entry-level Michael Carrick, he's a perfect Manchester United squad player mold.
Perhaps, but we only see a 6 or 7 performance out of McTominay when Fred is also playing. Absent Fred, McTominay rarely impresses. Sometimes, but then again he does what’s asked of a squad player.
 

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Well this is a straight up lie already.

His best performance for us came against Wolves in the deeper position. It suits him way more than any of the other areas we've tried him.
Tell me what did he offer in that game? Did he dictate or control the tempo? Did he play in destroyer role?
 

Adam-Utd

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Tell me what did he offer in that game? Did he dictate or control the tempo? Did he play in destroyer role?
Yes he did it all, and he got the assist that won us the game. It seems maybe you didn't watch it or don't remember it.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Yes he did it all, and he got the assist that won us the game. It seems maybe you didn't watch it or don't remember it.
It seems we both were watching the same game but viewing it different way, so either your football knowledge is shit or my football knowledge is the one shit here. If that’s the case then we shouldn’t be listening and reading each other posts ever again because we won’t be on the same page. In my view, he didn’t dictate the tempo and he didn’t play like a destroyer in that game.
 

ReddevilTinu

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Apr 28, 2014
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I am sincerely gutted for DVB. He is a great lad, showed his commitment by beefing up to manage the physicality of the league and nobody can question his footballing brain as well. He had a good preseason under his belt and still not picked once in the league. I don't know what is the plan for him by the United management but Southampton and then Wolves games he should have been in that midfield which was not performing to the level needed for championship team
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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So again agents should just shut up at all times. That appears to be your point, as even this small comment is already mouthing off in your book. And yes, that's on topic; it's in fact at the core of our discussion.

I don't know which fire is stoked though. As I said, the club will know all about Van de Beek's opinion on his status at United (that he's unhappy he isn't playing and would prefer to move if he's considered not good enough), and any outsider can guess as much as well. What do the comments change?
I took a night off. Let’s park the futile attempts at humour & concentrate on the topic.

No one is saying all agents ‘should’ do anything. I’ve highlighted two that talk openly & labelled them ‘mouthy’, ‘gobshites’.

This is how I see it [so you can’t stop telling me how I do], there are countless agents & agencies. Take Manchester United for example & off the top of my head I can tell you who Ronaldo’s agent is, he is THE best player ever. I can tell you who Pogba’s agent is, cause his agents a gobshite. What I can’t do quickly is tell you who represents Lingard, Shaw, McTominay, Maguire, Greenwood & many other players. I can however now tell you who represents VdB because in spite of VdBs poor performances since joining the club his agent has resorted to leveraging the club in public.

So as I see it, Albers has more in common with a Raiola type than the other ‘nameless’ entities.

Albers works for VdB & his comments are in his clients interests, I don’t need you to keep regurgitating his reasons in different guises - that isn’t up for debate because that isn’t what apparently got you both upset. The point is he didn’t ‘have’ to do what he did & in doing so, it’s actually more of an exception than standard practice.


VDB cost 40m and hasn't had 2 starts in a row, which is incredibly rare for the biggest signing of any given window. Him shedding some light on the situation does reduce speculation (notice how the conversation has shifted since the accurate translations of the interview have been published). You're right that he's pressuring Ole into playing him or pressuring the club into loaning/selling him in the next window, by disclosing that there's some sort of agreement or understanding.

My disagreement with you came stems from the fact that you think there's a double standard between Albers and Raiola and that you think them giving interviews is somehow the same.
As noted by many, their tone is completely different. Albers hasn't spoken negatively of the club, hasn't lost cases in arbitration for illegal transfer practices and doesn't offer Man Utd players to Liverpool. And those are the reasons Pogba and Raiola are disliked, not that they gave an interview discussing their client, which you think is "mouthy"/"being a gobshite".
I address why I see Albers comments closer to Raiola’s than ‘unnamed’ contemporaries above but you seem to be stuck on the fact that Raiola’s actions are worse. I’ve addressed this already, his actions being worse don’t make Albers fine.

Look at a Lingard, a player whose career has stalled for United but is coming off the form of his life to end last season & more importantly has actually been a key contributor to our recent [measured] successes - where’s his agent(s) to provide clarity? You really are self righteous if you think he made those comments to ‘reduce speculation’ amongst the fanbase. He didn’t do this for us mate. It’s now an even bigger OgS issue.

I’ve been saying the conversation has shifted for multiple posts, the fact you’re trying to throw that in as some revelation shows you aren’t here to debate in good faith. If you’re so worried about the topic shifting how many more times are you going to mention Pogba being offered to Liverpool? We already know this & as bad as it is, it’s irrelevant in this discussion. No one cares why you dislike Pogba. How is losing legal cases relevant to Albers being vocal whilst many of his contemporaries do their business more discreetly? I’d advise you to stay on topic before echoing me about how the conversation has shifted.

There is a huge double standard, both agents [to varying degrees] have made comments to disadvantage the club publicly. The severity isn’t the discussion.
 

Cheimoon

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I took a night off. Let’s park the futile attempts at humour & concentrate on the topic.

No one is saying all agents ‘should’ do anything. I’ve highlighted two that talk openly & labelled them ‘mouthy’, ‘gobshites’.

This is how I see it [so you can’t stop telling me how I do], there are countless agents & agencies. Take Manchester United for example & off the top of my head I can tell you who Ronaldo’s agent is, he is THE best player ever. I can tell you who Pogba’s agent is, cause his agents a gobshite. What I can’t do quickly is tell you who represents Lingard, Shaw, McTominay, Maguire, Greenwood & many other players. I can however now tell you who represents VdB because in spite of VdBs poor performances since joining the club his agent has resorted to leveraging the club in public.

So as I see it, Albers has more in common with a Raiola type than the other ‘nameless’ entities.

Albers works for VdB & his comments are in his clients interests, I don’t need you to keep regurgitating his reasons in different guises - that isn’t up for debate because that isn’t what apparently got you both upset. The point is he didn’t ‘have’ to do what he did & in doing so, it’s actually more of an exception than standard practice.



I address why I see Albers comments closer to Raiola’s than ‘unnamed’ contemporaries above but you seem to be stuck on the fact that Raiola’s actions are worse. I’ve addressed this already, his actions being worse don’t make Albers fine.

Look at a Lingard, a player whose career has stalled for United but is coming off the form of his life to end last season & more importantly has actually been a key contributor to our recent [measured] successes - where’s his agent(s) to provide clarity? You really are self righteous if you think he made those comments to ‘reduce speculation’ amongst the fanbase. He didn’t do this for us mate. It’s now an even bigger OgS issue.

I’ve been saying the conversation has shifted for multiple posts, the fact you’re trying to throw that in as some revelation shows you aren’t here to debate in good faith. If you’re so worried about the topic shifting how many more times are you going to mention Pogba being offered to Liverpool? We already know this & as bad as it is, it’s irrelevant in this discussion. No one cares why you dislike Pogba. How is losing legal cases relevant to Albers being vocal whilst many of his contemporaries do their business more discreetly? I’d advise you to stay on topic before echoing me about how the conversation has shifted.

There is a huge double standard, both agents [to varying degrees] have made comments to disadvantage the club publicly. The severity isn’t the discussion.
The severity is exactly the point of debate. From your post above, it appears you think there are only two categories: 'anonymous/unnoticeable' and 'mouthy/gobshite'. I think what we're both getting at here, is that that's a ridiculous black-and-white characterization that doesn't do the Van de Beek situation justice at all.
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
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Messages
31,571
You are right. VDB was brought up in the Ajax system so he knows how to play. It's a matter of finding out if he is suitable for this league, but we can't find out if he is unless we give him game time. By game time, I do not mean 5 minutes here and there once a month, but a few games on the trot. Those saying he can't play the holding role have no idea how Ajax trains their players to play different roles. I believe VDB can play with any of our current midfield players but the sight of McT coming on injured in the Southampton games shows that there's an agenda why VDB is not playing. Maybe VDB was forced on Ole and is now showing who is in charge.

Here is a video of a discussion regarding VDB which the host explains another theory why VDB is not getting game time


Goldbridge is an absolute imbecile, you're not adding good credibility by posting his videos!
 
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