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Also more talented than Donny, but haven't seen much of him since he's been out injured a lot. I also have to admit, I don't watch Ajax outside of the CL / EL a lot. Seeing them trounce opposition week after week while my beloved Feyenoord stumbles about is too painful
Thanks for your reply. Hopefully Feyenoord returns to it’s glory days soon.Also more talented than Donny, but haven't seen much of him since he's been out injured a lot. I also have to admit, I don't watch Ajax outside of the CL / EL a lot. Seeing them trounce opposition week after week while my beloved Feyenoord stumbles about is too painful
Fred had the benefit of getting alot of game time because we more or less had noone else to use there.
It's proof that he can and has played to a higher level.
That is true, but injuries do happen. Ole needs to have confidence in him though and give him a chance. IF say Matic leaves this year, and then Fred or Mctominay gets injured, he needs to put Donny into CM instead of pushing Pogba back. Only once he gets a run of games can we truly say he's just not going to cut it.
does he have the mental foundations? What does that even mean?
Reads the game, quick thinker, good decision making on his passes.
I’ve not seen any of that.
Watch a bit more then. He's great at 1 touch passing, links up well in tight areas.
Why don't you think CM is an option? he's way more involved in the game than as a 10.
It's proof he played some good games for Ajax in the CL but I don't see how much more can be read into it from such a limited sample. It's not as if he's done it year on year in a strong league or the CL, or been terrific for his country. It seems like we constantly harp back to a few particular outings whereas Ajax fans that actually watched him are somewhat realistic in stating that he was a good player but hardly a fantastic talent for them and that is over the course of seasons not games.
Hehe, thanks, but I'm not holding my breath. Disappointment is part of the charm of being a Feyenoorder though.Thanks for your reply. Hopefully Feyenoord returns to it’s glory days soon.
I'd happily take him back as an Ajax fan. When used in the right way(which Ajax always will) he'll be great again.
Donny completed 37 out of 43 passes. To give some context, Mata completed 40/49, Matic 75/85. Touches (which Opta means occasions a player had the ball, rather than actual touches) Donny 58, Mata 55, Matic 102.
I’ve watched every game he played for us. He’s a distinctly average player.
He can bully people as the 10 in the dutch league. He can't do that in England and thats why looks like a deer caught in headlights every time he plays.
This is a disservice to Kagawa. Would take him over DVB any day.
Please take him, absolutely pointless player.
Thanks a lot..!! there you go. VDB had as much 'participation' in our game than Mata who was playing much further ahead and himself had a poor performance.
You guys realise why Matic had so many touches and the rest of our attack didn't right?
That looks pretty horrible to me. But then again I've never been a fan of these narrow formations so maybe I have an element of bias against it. I just don't see how you do not struggle for width and also defending those areas, all the quality is packed into small areas of the pitch and while they're supposed to offer some width from midfield and allow the full back acres it rarely seems to be a good idea. Good for the odd game as a specific application but over a season - it's hard to imagine. Also Rashford and Greenwood both in a position that hasn't been where we have seen them having success looks strange.
VDB wasn't in an attacking position though, he was playing a double pivot. He really should be getting involved in play more often especially in that position. The reason he seemed to be marked out was because he was either not moving or if he was moving he was cowering behind opposition player.You guys realise why Matic had so many touches and the rest of our attack didn't right?
Passing it around the back 3 isn't a sign of a good or better performance. Most of the time it was VDB standing in midfield alone surrounded by Ndidi and Tielemans ready to pounce
Its not really narrow its Rashford and Greenwood as inverted forwards/wingers like Mane and Salah and VDB as a False 9 Shadow Striker like Firmino.
He was searching for Leicester players for cover and the ball accidentally hit him
We definitely need another Eredivisie flop to improve our situation.
To be honest, you have a point. At least Kagawa showed something. I've seen nothing from DvB - weird signing.
Disagree there. We used different tactics from what we normally use yesterday with Matic almost playing like a 3rd CB. McFred generally play a lot higher up the pitch. He was outnumbered about 3 to 1 during build up.
Kagawa was very intelligent, he used to create chances and was able to run at defenders, can cross with boot feet and had an eye for a goal, he played the free role (roaming AM/LW) very well, he didn't survive under rigid managers like Moyes & LVG.
That's just not true. We barely had any possession if you watched the game.
i'm trully sorry but i find the obssesion with VDB is very very weird. here's a player who has shown nothing to suggest that he deserves a spot in our starting IX let alone to relegate our best player away from his best position. VDB needs to completely embracing Ole's brand of football if he wants to turn his united's career. forget the methodological football he learnt from Ajax. LEARN how to be more creative, more be expansive, be more brave to make something out of nothing with the ball at his feet, and be more nonchalant whenever you made a mistake (this something i notice from donny, that hed look extremely uncomfortable after making a mistake), after then we will talk about his spot in the starting XI. He gets one more season to do that, and finger crossed he'll succeed here.
Matic contributed more than VDB in attack and defence. He waltzed through Leicester's midfield multiple times in the first half. Not sure how anyone could say he left VDB on his own.
It is crazy anyone who saw the game would think Matic was worse. First half, he was a third CB and basically our entire midfield. Second half his legs just went away and it's expected considering his age and his lack of match sharpness.
No. Fred plays deeper all the time during our build up if you ever notice. It's just that Matic doesn't have the energy of Fred to keep bombing forward.
who said he was worse? he did a few nice things in the first half just like VDB did.
