What makes VdB such an interesting topic of conversation is that we know he’s a quality footballer and that many of us would like United to play a more structured passing and moving style of play than what United are all about, which is this perpetual hunt for moments of individual genius.
Our last two match winning goals by Pogba and Bruno. Pure genius. The goal by Greenwood, taken beautifully off a long ball by Rashford. The goal by Rashford, taken beautifully off a long through by Greenwood. Both were beautiful goals, but hardly well-worked team goals.
Donny’s game, as many others have discussed here, is tightly knit passing, looking to pick locks. He doesn’t have a long ball in him that I least I’ve seen. That’s an aspect of his game I’d like to see him develop, as the long ball is crucial to our system of attack, whether on the counter (the first two goals v Liverpool) or a cross (the Bruno cross to Cavani, which led to Edinson hitting the post).
I don’t see Donny ever displacing Bruno or Pogba and of course he’s in no way a holding midfielder. We’ll see if Pogba stays at OT next season, but if he does Donny is a squad man for us at best. Whether his ambition as a footballer can be satisfied with being a squad player is an open question.