Ole don’t like him. Should leave or else he’ll waste his career.
34
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- Appearances
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Against a low block his movement and one touch around the box might have helped
But we will never know
But we will never know
I still think he will become a regular rotation option next year. 10-15 starts and more sub appearances. Especially if we get a proper no.6 over the summer.
I think we are going to see more of him in Fred's place next to Scott Mctominay next season
You're the only signing of the season and the manager doesn't even trust you to come on for a few min in a Europa final.
I'd rather we use him in a potential Sancho deal because I don't see Ole using him next season as well.
I'd rather we use him in a potential Sancho deal because I don't see Ole using him next season as well.
Been a trainwreck of a signing. I'm not sure what he's going to contribute next season given what we've seen.
I have no idea. Especially if Pogba stays. He's behind Bruno for the #10 spot and Bruno is almost never rested and has an immaculate injury record. If he is injured, pogba would be first choice there. In midfield, he's behind Fred, McTominay and Pogba to be the #8. I don't really see that changing either.
We signed a 45m midfielder to not even use him that much for the majority of the season in any meaningful game and there are people here complaining about squad depth. It's really crazy.
Fred was written off as our worst ever signing, before becoming a solid midfielder.
Van de Beek can still be a success here as a goalscoring No.8, but if Ole doesn't rate him, then get rid pronto and try and swap him for another player.
Dortmund have no interest in swap deals as we pay way higher wages than they do to central midfielders, but the likes of Serie A teams might be interested.
Van de Beek can still be a success here as a goalscoring No.8, but if Ole doesn't rate him, then get rid pronto and try and swap him for another player.
Dortmund have no interest in swap deals as we pay way higher wages than they do to central midfielders, but the likes of Serie A teams might be interested.
Well there in lies our problem what was Fred for again £47 m let that sink in £47 m for just above average midfielder ,add in £89 m for Pogba who isn't suitable for midfield two and declining Matic for another £35 m and now another dud who isn't suited to our team for £35m no wonder we are always short of 3-4 players every damn summer to take the next step.
I don’t think he is average. Fred is a useful player for a top 2 team in England.
That's 3 million that what Man City paid for Benjamin Mendy, 8 million less than Spurs paid for Tanguy Ndombele, and 2 million more than Arsenal paid for Thomas Partey, and 25 million less than what Arsenal paid for Pépé, with Fred becoming far more important for Utd than any of those signings are for their clubs. Let that sink in.
Ole's record in the transfer market has been far better than the charlatan Jose's was. Ole clearly wanted Jude Bellingham as his priority signing over Van de Beek, but often you don't get what you want. He wanted Sancho over Diallo and Pellistri, and wanted Haaland over Cavani.
What would you have done in his boots? Not signed Van de Beek and instead have tried to outbid Arsenal for Thomas Partey, who let's face it, was everyone's biggest wet dream signing on the caf this time 1 year ago.
He is slightly above average bit of upgrade on Herrera who again had reputation which far exceeded his capabilities on the pitch .
He should not be more than squad player with limited role for a team genuinely aspiring for biggest trophies.
The less he plays the more his stock rises. When he plays, the caf turns on him. Its funny.
Feel for him really, he’s not been given a chance to succeed really, yet in the odd appearance he has had he hasn’t set the world alight either. I think he’s a good player in a good team unit. We aren’t a good team unit. We rely on individual brilliance and that’s not VDB strength.
think the problem is who do you take off. mctominay was played great, pogba and bruno are our most creative players, and taking off a winger for a central midfielder vs a low block seems daft, width is important too, especially when you have cavani up top
that old chestnut
If we're honest, he looked better than Mata, Matic and Amad on the weekend. And plays a useful position against a low block, and always does play with some energy and intent.
Given that, it remains unforgiveable for me that Ole didn't put him on in the 90. He's actually even more useful, cause you can bring him into the middle for Rashford, and get Pogba up closer to Bruno et al on the left. Such an obvious change to make, and yet here we are.
If Mourinho was our manager it would be a 'sign to the owners' that transfers are needed, but for me it was just that Ole got stage fright. It makes no sense to me how our most famous substitute player refuses to acknowledge the importance of substitutions.
Given that, it remains unforgiveable for me that Ole didn't put him on in the 90. He's actually even more useful, cause you can bring him into the middle for Rashford, and get Pogba up closer to Bruno et al on the left. Such an obvious change to make, and yet here we are.
If Mourinho was our manager it would be a 'sign to the owners' that transfers are needed, but for me it was just that Ole got stage fright. It makes no sense to me how our most famous substitute player refuses to acknowledge the importance of substitutions.
I actually reckon if he was played more we'd see more of his positive attributes coming through. He hasn't though, so it is what it is. Have to hope he can crack on from here.
Honestly, if I was in charge, I would have tried to win the game, so Rashford was the choice for me given how the game was going.
BY doing that, we give more freedom to Pogba on the left which means more space like hes had before.
Mason moves up closer to Cavani (and their link up play before has been really good)
And we go to that 442 hybrid where we have McT helping out defence, as Shaw and AWB push up (they really offered nothing attack wise).
Again this might seem hindsight, but I was also thinking this during the game.
I think the argument some will make is you dont task of Rashford as he might do something, but from 60 minutes we could see he was ruining our attacks, and it only got worse from that point on. And on top of that, remember the 08 final when Fergie took off Rooney for Nani?
With the way they crowded the box and defence, having two up top would have helped more imo.
Donny started well for us — no, not world class, but he did start well — but Ole never gave him a proper run of games. 85th minute here, 89th minute there, with a few starts with the B team...and Donny fell out of sorts.
Clearly inferior to Bruno and a peak Pogba, I don’t see a place for Donny in this squad as things currently stand. He needs regular starts and he’s not going to get that unless Pogba leaves. Best for all concerned that we sell him to a club which can use him.
Clearly inferior to Bruno and a peak Pogba, I don’t see a place for Donny in this squad as things currently stand. He needs regular starts and he’s not going to get that unless Pogba leaves. Best for all concerned that we sell him to a club which can use him.
He does get tired. Its just even when hes tired he might pop up and do something. Plenty of times he isnt running as much or has a tired touch
Stage fright is the perfect way to describe it. He has no idea what to do when his "big" players that he trusts aren't performing. He daren't take them off because they've got him out of jail so many times. Rashford being a prime example. So, unlike almost every manager, he just leaves them on and prays they will somehow contradict the previous 80 minutes and do something amazing. It's happened so many times, you can see why he thinks it, too. The question is will it happen so many times next time, or will his luck finally run out?
Greenwood closer to Rashford would also have enabled Bruno to step back a bit too, to try and pick the hole. To say there was nothing Ole could've done because we had a crap bench is just rubbish. I can't believe people on here can defend Ole for not trying anything in 120 mins of football. It doesn't matter who's on your bench. If the team on the pitch isn't working you sub people. Especially when those players on the pitch have played the most minutes in European football. It's just incredible that he did nothing.
that’s true. But the problem is that he never really got a proper run of games. A game every now and then isn’t enough. Coming on as a late substitute doesn’t help either. I’m guessing his performances in training aren’t helping his case (only guessing here).
Wiki says he has played in 36 games this season 
Surely that’s not right?
Surely that’s not right?
Did it say games or minutes?Wiki says he has played in 36 games this season
Surely that’s not right?
it's about the same anyway
You could almost argue that Ole doesn’t know how to use him as a game changing sub particularly with Pogba and Bruno potentially still on the pitch. I don’t think Ole has a clue what he is as a player which is very depressing for a £45 million recent Ajax hot pot.
Its sad to see a club as big as us to sign a player and not knowing what his best attribute/position is and where to deploy him. A player who has played CPL Semi final and Dutch team national does not get minutes in a Europa League final with 5 subs and where one player is playing half injured (Rashford) and others are totally out of gas.
Nobody can tell me, this was a club signing and Ole went along with it, because it was reported he convinced him to sign for us. If we are being honest, I don't think he has a future here unless Ole starts using him as an 8, because after Pogba and Bruno being the number 10, we expect our number 10, who will take chances and play risky passes, whereas he is the opposite of it, he will always prefer keeping possession and recycle the ball (perfect for Pep/Biesla or even LVG).
If Ole does not intend to use him as an 8, then for his sake I hope we sell him and actually sign somebody who we can use as an 8. Because with new signings (hopefully Sancho), we will have LW (Rashford/Pogba/James) AM (Pogba, Bruno) and RW (Greenwood/Sancho/Amad) and ST (Cavani/Martial) position sorted. We will probably sign Rice or another DM which would mean that player will always start alongside Mctominay/Fred (Ole's love for double pivot) thus he is the odd one out in each position.
I think we can use him as an 8 alongside Rice or Mctominay as he is not only press resistant and will help us play out from the back, he is also hard working defensively therefore alongside a strong DM, he will be fine. I wonder why we have not tried him in that position and wasted a year of his development essentially.
Nobody can tell me, this was a club signing and Ole went along with it, because it was reported he convinced him to sign for us. If we are being honest, I don't think he has a future here unless Ole starts using him as an 8, because after Pogba and Bruno being the number 10, we expect our number 10, who will take chances and play risky passes, whereas he is the opposite of it, he will always prefer keeping possession and recycle the ball (perfect for Pep/Biesla or even LVG).
If Ole does not intend to use him as an 8, then for his sake I hope we sell him and actually sign somebody who we can use as an 8. Because with new signings (hopefully Sancho), we will have LW (Rashford/Pogba/James) AM (Pogba, Bruno) and RW (Greenwood/Sancho/Amad) and ST (Cavani/Martial) position sorted. We will probably sign Rice or another DM which would mean that player will always start alongside Mctominay/Fred (Ole's love for double pivot) thus he is the odd one out in each position.
I think we can use him as an 8 alongside Rice or Mctominay as he is not only press resistant and will help us play out from the back, he is also hard working defensively therefore alongside a strong DM, he will be fine. I wonder why we have not tried him in that position and wasted a year of his development essentially.
Id be interested to see him play alongside Garner in pre season. Donny had a good game playing next to matic with that defensive stability so even though Garner isn't properly ready I think they could compliment each other well. He seems to work better when there is movement ahead if him so hopefully we bring sancho in, our team looked so static at times.
A team like the below could be very interesting to watch.
A team like the below could be very interesting to watch.
Cavani
Sancho Bruno Greenwood
Garner Donny
If I did my math right he has played minutes corresponding to about 17-18 full matches.Wiki says he has played in 36 games this season
Surely that’s not right?
Most of the time in cups, only 525 minutes in the league.
I wonder if he regrets coming to United.
Baffling situation. Hasn't even been given a proper chance.
Most likely scenario for me is Ole never wanted him, the club bought him because it was a tap in of a deal to appease fans and Ole isn't playing him because again he never wanted him and maybe even partially as a way to tell the board "don't bother buying me players, it'll only end in this".
Most likely scenario for me is Ole never wanted him, the club bought him because it was a tap in of a deal to appease fans and Ole isn't playing him because again he never wanted him and maybe even partially as a way to tell the board "don't bother buying me players, it'll only end in this".
I think we have been trying to make "bargain" signings for a while now. Bailly, Lindelof, Fred, Bruno, and Donny to me seem like signings that someone at the club recommended in the hopes that they would kick on and improve to the top level.
It's a good idea, and one that is crucial for success if we're not the biggest spenders. Wijnaldum, Jota, Jesus, Ndidi etc are examples of other clubs doing the same to good effect. However, the manager does need to know how to use the players for it to work. Eg. Jose's treatment of Fred.
Donny van de Bench
One of the most bizarre signings ever.
One of the most bizarre signings ever.
No.8 is his position, alongside a specialist No.6.
His prospects for next year really depend on who we recruit. Paradoxically, signing another midfielder could improve his chances as he just doesn’t pair well with anyone in the current squad.
His prospects for next year really depend on who we recruit. Paradoxically, signing another midfielder could improve his chances as he just doesn’t pair well with anyone in the current squad.
De Beek was not signed to be a bench option. You do not pay £40m for a player who was first team at Ajax just to sit on the bench.
I think Solskjaer has completely wasted him this season. He hasn't given him a chance. His performances weren't bad enough to not give him any more chance; in fact, they weren't even bad. That is what I don't understand.
Solskjaer sabotaged his own depth by not giving any game time. He only had 300 minutes in the Premier League beofre securing second place, and then saw another 180 or so minutes in the last three games after second was secured.
I think Solskjaer has completely wasted him this season. He hasn't given him a chance. His performances weren't bad enough to not give him any more chance; in fact, they weren't even bad. That is what I don't understand.
Solskjaer sabotaged his own depth by not giving any game time. He only had 300 minutes in the Premier League beofre securing second place, and then saw another 180 or so minutes in the last three games after second was secured.
Spot. On.
I love how revisionist history plays out like this. You can count on one hand the number of forward passes he played this season and still have fingers left.
Hope he's one of those players who looks pony season 1, then superb season 2.
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