Meh, not really. For our #8 position we need someone with passing range who will be assertive, dominate touches on the ball and control tempo. Van de Beek is very much a random support player who is tidy but won't do those things. At United, he won't get ahead of Pogba or Bruno, and he provides less than Fred does overall... So what's the point in keeping him here? Next season when Pogba is gone, we need to be buying someone like Bennacer who is actually a very good midfielder who can control games with a good passing range and ball progression stats, so again, what's the point in Van de Beek? He's a decent at best player who won't ever really have enough to his game to start for a big team.
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As mentioned in my last post .. i just don't see the point in us taking him back next season. He's rightfully behind Bruno, Pogba and Fred in the pecking order for #8 or #10. He's not a #6 so no point in comparing McTominay right now. Next season Pogba will be gone but surely we'll look to buy a midfielder who can actually control games with their passing and be an assertive, dominant midfielder? Van de Beek's best case next season is we ignore buying a midfielder again, and he rotates with Fred and midfield remains an issue for us.
Teams fighting for 4th place is totally different to a club like United trying to be top of the league. Lingard had a great purple patch with West Ham, yet they didn't deem him valuable enough to buy him. If a suitable bid came in, he would have been sold.United fans on here keep saying it is the players. We have a lot of quality players and dvdb is showing that again just like Lingard did at west ham last season.
VDB is a good player, but good isn't going to cut it at United as a starting XI player when trying to compete for a title. If Pogba leaves and United persist with two 8s, Bruno automatically is an 8 with the other 8 between VDB, Fred, McTominay, and potentially a new 8. VdB isn't head and shoulders above Fred or McTominay across the board. And he certainly isn't better than Bruno or Pogba.
How do we know United is his level or not if he never ever plays though. He’s played more for Everton already than United in the league! There’s no way to judge Van de Beek at United fairly with so few minutes.
Enjoyed that. Good to see Donny get a 90 mins under his belt. Played as a 6 in a midfield 2. First half he was the best player on the pitch. Tired a little around the 70 - 80 min mark and then dug deep to finish the game. Good match and happy for the lad
In 2 games, he has more minutes for them than for us right ? It's a disgrace tbh. Dress is however you want it, it ain't like Utd is blessed with many great options in CM
This arrogance is why we are an average team. When was the last time Utd were fighting to be top of the league. Sooner people accept what we are which is an average top 8 premier league team, the sooner everyone will find inner peace. Average players, average performances, average average average
He's not some guy that has never played though. We know what he is as a footballer. It doesn't take long to look at what he provides and conclude that he isn't what United needs next to Bruno Fernandes. Especially this season while we have Pogba, it's pointless. He doesn't have the passing range, he doesn't take charge on the ball and dictate the tempo of games, he's not all that great defensively, he's not a progressive or creative passer... He's short link up player with decent off the ball movement, which isn't really what this United team needs from our #8. He can be perfect in his role, but the type of player he is still won't be what United needs from a squad building perspective.
He wasn't given a proper chance and it's baffling whichever way you cut it. I understand people have genuine concerns over his quality and the type of player he is versus what we need, but there is no doubt his entire situation has been mismanaged by this club from start to finish.
If West Ham and Everton paid the wages United do or attracted a Varane or Sancho, their aim isn't a 4th place contender. This was the year United tried to genuinely close the gap on City and Liverpool...and it has spectacularly failed.
United's aim is to challenge, yet you have to earn that right, but the truth is they haven't finished below 6th since David Moyes season...they finished 7th with Giggsy at the end. So saying they are an average top 8 club is wrong. Have they been severely underachieving this season...most definitely.
VDB isn't this world beater who will change the fortunes of United. Ole saw it, Rangnick saw it, and the next manager will see it too. He's a good player but there are better players who suit the team better in his best positions.
Utd have spent a billion in the last 10 years and we are further away than ever of winning a league.
Maguire shite
AWB shite
Mcfred shite
Rashford shite
We are no longer a top club and the sooner people realize that and understand that the better you will feel. The scary thing is its gonna worse. In the summer Pogba and Cavani gone. Ronaldo on his last legs. We need a cb, CDM, cm, RW, and two strikers.
If he starts 5 games for everton, thats more than the number of games he started for utd (4). Disgrace. Happy for him. Top player who just needs gametime and a run of games to show how good he is.
There's clear disconnect when VDB was acquired. Knowing where and how he was effective for Ajax, then not being deployed to his strengths, then not getting any legitimate run in the teams under Ole and now Rangnick.
And a RB possibly too
Agreed. I'm not going to pretend I know what has been going on behind the scenes and the precise way Donny should have been used in our team but I do know the way it's panned out for him at United stinks to high heaven. Signing a player and then treating him like this when the team are struggling this badly is a sure sign the organisation of this club is a fecking mess.
Nah I think Dalot is developing well and Laird can come in, providing he can stay fit.
Not sure how you can say he provides less than Fred. Let's see how it pans out at Everton before making that kind of judgement.
It's not like the current midfield have actually delivered, is it
Hopefully he can develop a cross too
United aren't a top club performance wise, yes, but they are still a massive club overall. Their downfall has been player identification, recruitment, development, and continuity in regards to baseline abilities, mentality, and playing philosophy. Going from LVG to Jose then Ole is madness. The spectrum of those 3 are so wildly different and you wonder why the club has some many different types of players. This season has seen the worst of Maguire, AWB, Rashford, Martial, etc.
United have quality players, need more because of their failures, and this includes VDB. Can be a good squad player and grow into a fringe starter.
I think he'll do well for Everton. They have a lot of hot heads so his calmness will prove useful imo.
The sheer arrogance of a Utd fan summed up. You have the audacity to ridicule Donny and say he can't get a game in this Utd team because being good doesn't cut it. This same team that can't be Middlesborough, can't beat Burnley, can't beat Southampton. Disaster mate. You are in for a rude awakening as to how far this team is going to plummet
I'll leave this here from the Guardian match report on the Everton v Leeds game:
'Van de Beek brought vision and authority to central midfield, igniting a much-improved display from Allan alongside him in the process, while the often-maligned Iwobi was a potent threat on the right wing.'
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/12/everton-leeds-premier-league-match-report
'Van de Beek brought vision and authority to central midfield, igniting a much-improved display from Allan alongside him in the process, while the often-maligned Iwobi was a potent threat on the right wing.'
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/12/everton-leeds-premier-league-match-report
We'll agree he does need to work on certain aspects, but isn't it refreshing to see a RB control the ball and move the ball.Hopefully he can develop a cross too
Massive club, massive club bla bla bla. Lot of followers on social media, lot of sponsors, popular around the world in terms of fan base. No one cares if we are a massive club
It's what you do on the pitch that counts. I don't expect us to win every game or trophy, but I do expect the players to at least show they give a shit. Easily the most unlikeable group of players I have ever seen. Can't even beat boro at home. As long as the Glazers are making a buck we are nothing but a franchise. Drifting further and further away. Look at city and Liverpool buying players in Jan for the future.
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I mentioned he's not good enough to be a starting XI in the United squads he's been part of and that's the truth. Ole saw it, as did Rangnick. Did he deserve more playing time, yes.
United deserve to plummet, if they do, because they are the only ones to blame. They improved since Ole took over and earned and deserved their improvement. But for a lot of reasons mostly unknown and some known, they capitulated this season.
Match against Boro was a freak result, be honest. Burnley was more competitive for about 20 minutes when they got their goal, but even then, United should have gotten the 3 points. And Soton are in good form. Drew against City, beat Conte's Spurs.
Fred provides a lot more defensively, especially with his pressing, and does an ok level of ball progression, which Van de Beek doesn't really match. Though I do generally like Fred anyway. We'll see how it goes. Would be nice for Van de Beek to suddenly turn into a controlling midfielder with a good level of defensive work and good level of ball progression. Not holding my breath on a complete transformation and him showing stuff he's never shown though, at any level.
Not good to start for Utd. Same Utd that can't beat Boro, Burnley and Southampton. Log off and get some sleep because you are taking nonsense in here.
Really pleased for him - he's only going to get better and better.
Watched the whole match, and he was okay. Good in the attacking third, decent in the middle of the pitch but remains a liability as a defensive shield. Everton had Allan and dare I say it, a much more organised back 4 than we do. There were numerous times where Leeds just skipped straight by Donny, he's just not very good defensively.
That's fine, but it's probably why Ole was scared to use him.
I think he's a good footballer, but am certainly not convinced he's amazing.
That's fine, but it's probably why Ole was scared to use him.
I think he's a good footballer, but am certainly not convinced he's amazing.
I suspect it's because he was bought by the owners without the input of Solskjaer.
He can start as a rotation player but is he going to start ahead of Bruno? No. One of McTominay and Fred will start. And now Pogba is back.
You think you're so righteous and just dismissing anything objective many people and mostly myself, have said.
Our team is crying out for good footballers, never mind amazing.
Not at all. People were talking about how pleased they were for Donny today and you came in here and started ridiculing him. He not good enough to start for Utd, Utd are a massive club. No one is interested.
This is such a weird thing to say. How many times dont we see players from other leagues who arent deemed "good enough" excel when they take the step up?
I mean its not even rare, it happens all the frigging time!
Smaller clubs in top leagues makes a lot of money doing just that, buy players deemed not good enought for the top teams only to uncover a gem and then sell him on to
the top clubs. Surely this cant be news to you?
The same can be said about players who are deemed good enought who fail to take the step up. There can be million different reasons for that, the system the team uses, how the player fit in in his new city, how he get along with his team mates and so on. Some times a player just click with the club.
But one thing is for certain, the only way to find out is to give the player time to show what he can do.
misplaced anger
We are all pleased he is playing because he deserved to play much more for United.
But "ridiculing" him i am not. It's the harsh reality that he, and his Everton teammates had a strong match against Leeds. A team who are bottom 3rd of the table, like Everton. One match that is being blown out of proportion and it is coupled with United again drawing.
VDB isn't good enough to be a bang on starting XI player week in, week out under two managers since he's been at the club. That's a matter of fact. Nobody can dispute that. However, many believe he can improve and be that player who can stake his claim in the future, but it is up to the next manager and the player himself if they can strike that balance of team shape and player expectancy.
If United do go with 3 central midfielders, then having a top CDM is key to having effective 8s or more advanced CMs like Bruno or VDB. Then having the understanding of the players around you with the requisite ability on and off the ball is always essential.
Glad he is doing well. A lot of fans including myself have been calling for him to be given a proper chance for United. Not too long ago he was outstanding in the Champions League run for Ajax. Hope the new manager gives him a chance.
What stands out more than anything is his one touch passing getting a man through the midfield press running onto the back 4
I watched the whole match as well. Disagree about him being a defensive liability. He played in a double pivot and in the first half he was good all round, didn't put a foot wrong.
Won headers, duels. Press resistant. Covered lots of ground, passed to the right man.
2nd half was shaky by the whole team, including VDB, but they kept a clean sheet and saw the game out.
Seemed to disappear after 70 mins (fatigue?)
He didn't play as a true 6, that was Allan. Different roles, different instructions.
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