Sharp and lively 45 minutes.
34
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 36
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 1
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He could easily play on the right or left wing similar to how Pogba or Mata operate, I don’t understand why he has to play in the no.10 position with his technical ability and understanding of the game.
We are in need for more creativity, start one of Rashford/Greenwood, and play Bruno/Progba/VdB in the remaining two positions or all 3 should start in home games when we are expected to dominate.
We are in need for more creativity, start one of Rashford/Greenwood, and play Bruno/Progba/VdB in the remaining two positions or all 3 should start in home games when we are expected to dominate.
Liked what I saw tonight. Actually showed some drive and determination rather than a wet fish. However the more worrying part is Ole still didn’t trust him to start tonight. If he’s not starting tonight, I’ve no idea when he will unless second place is mathematically sorted towards the end of the league campaign.
Think his understanding and movement in the game is brilliant . It's just that our players fails to spot him continually. When Mata came , he just spotted that and the whole game changed .
Ole probably won't get the best out of him though. He would just thrive in a system like City. He could easily take that Gundogan role.
Ole probably won't get the best out of him though. He would just thrive in a system like City. He could easily take that Gundogan role.
Had a good half. Let's hope he'll play again soon and not in 3 weeks...
You're right about his movement, but our players seem to be more interested in playing the ball back instead of looking for that forward pass.
When we're under pressure trying to play the ball out, VDB is the one who quickly supports the player with the ball, so creates a forward movement. Has a good understanding with Bruno and Mata.
The cross for Greenwood was perfection.
I am sure Ole will try us some new formations and some different ways to play during preseason. VDB will become dependable.
Why of why couldn’t he have started instead of either Fred or Matic? Getting ridiculous how reluctant Ole is to take that chance.
Decent, shame he didn't get an assist from the cross on Greenwood. Needed Cavani on the end of that.
Absolulely loved the crunching tackle on their CB to win the ball back, definitely showing Ole he's got more grit to his game.
He really does deserve more minutes, glad he got at least 45.
Absolulely loved the crunching tackle on their CB to win the ball back, definitely showing Ole he's got more grit to his game.
He really does deserve more minutes, glad he got at least 45.
Good half from him. Got himself involved and didn’t do a whole lot wrong.
A lovely cross for that Greenwood chance too.
A lovely cross for that Greenwood chance too.
He's looked sharper since the international break. No longer looks afraid to try. Pleasing to see.
Ole's after game interview could possibly explain it a little - was nothing about him but he was saying they'd not felt they'd had a real pre season to try different things out and it might be stuck in his head for now.
Thought he looked alright. Certainly no worse than anyone else out there.
Ole should have played him with Fred and him in midfield. If Fred is playing as DM, then no need for the play to go thru him. DVB is much a better passer of the ball than Fred.
Good half from him. You can see his strength is about finding space, creating space and contribution in final third. Having Bruno next to him in that front four benefits him. I think if we are ever going to rest Bruno to play Donny will be if he still have creative player next to him to utilise his strength like Sancho for instance.
However, this is getting more clear that he was signed to be Bruno’s backup.
However, this is getting more clear that he was signed to be Bruno’s backup.
Watching him today, I think I can see why he's struggling to make his mark on this team. The problem is that the United side is currently built to make the most of Bruno. Rightfully so, but it's very much to the detriment of VdB.
What's clear to see is that Bruno's natural movement is almost the complete opposite of VdB's. Neither VdB nor the players around him seem to be able to adapt to that difference when Bruno is no longer at #10.
If Bruno sees a teammate on the ball, his first instinct is to find a pocket of space to make himself difficult to mark and open to an easy pass to feet. In the same situation, VdB prefers to running into congested areas to make an overload/overlap for the the man in possession to play off.
They're very different styles of play. Equally dangerous when done correctly. But we're simply not used to making the most of the way VdB likes to do things. If he's going to be a success here, either he needs to change or his teammates need to learn how to use him.
If I could be arsed, I'd post a few screenshots. You're just going to have to trust me.
What's clear to see is that Bruno's natural movement is almost the complete opposite of VdB's. Neither VdB nor the players around him seem to be able to adapt to that difference when Bruno is no longer at #10.
If Bruno sees a teammate on the ball, his first instinct is to find a pocket of space to make himself difficult to mark and open to an easy pass to feet. In the same situation, VdB prefers to running into congested areas to make an overload/overlap for the the man in possession to play off.
They're very different styles of play. Equally dangerous when done correctly. But we're simply not used to making the most of the way VdB likes to do things. If he's going to be a success here, either he needs to change or his teammates need to learn how to use him.
If I could be arsed, I'd post a few screenshots. You're just going to have to trust me.
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100%
100%. I'd love to see what he and Fred could do. Frustrated by how much Ole seems to think he can only be Bruno's replacement.
This is where pre-season helps -- which no one incl Donnie has had. So in many ways, Donnie has been bought for next season. We were probably forced to buy him early due to some other club interests alerted by Van de Sar.
He’d thrive at City, Barca, Real, Bayern, Juve, PSG and we’d all sit an moan at our board for not signing a player of his calibre for only £40m.
From being useless one week to shining in the best clubs around the other. Why can't fans take the middle ground.
He definitely seems like a player more suited for possession-based teams. Then, players such as Pogba, Bruno, are the very opposites. They play fast-paced and take risks with their passing which does not suit teams such as City or Barca. The recruitment policy has been at fault with the purchase of VDB, not the quality of the player.
There is no way he can be Bruno's replacement. Completely different players. VDB is a player who has been coached at Ajax to be risk-averse which is the exact opposite of Bruno. I hope I am proven wrong going forward but he is just not the right player the way United play under Ole. The game time Donny gets might as well have been given to Lingard or Pereira.
No slight on Donny but the scouting department has some serious questions to answer. You don't purchase international ready baked players for such amounts and then try and shoehorn them into a system they are not familiar with or do not suit.
I can't accept this notion that a professional football player has natural movement which cannot be coached or changed. Because a professional should be able to do what VdB or Bruno does depending on the circumstances.
Yes, there is no one can be synchronized with VDB but aged Mata. This is the thing that make him sit on the bench most in this season.
VDB (Keep possession and short pass) and Burno (Gamble pass, Pogba is also in this style) are two opposite in play style which i think Ole do not want to change chemistry and efficiency from what Burno's drive currently without a pre-season and it was dangerous to change everything we had in toughest fixtures at the moment.
We have no time to train the Tactic A & B when we have two different AM in a season with no pre-season and no mid week training
But in this match vs Granada, VDB seems some different on his play style than previous. More holding the ball and less one touch passing which is more suit us at the moment. Also, the frequency of interaction including pass and move, ball movement with other players in the field is more than previous matches.
I would think it is good to see and suit better if some player like Kagawa, Mkhitaryan, prime Mata play around him.
VDB (Keep possession and short pass) and Burno (Gamble pass, Pogba is also in this style) are two opposite in play style which i think Ole do not want to change chemistry and efficiency from what Burno's drive currently without a pre-season and it was dangerous to change everything we had in toughest fixtures at the moment.
We have no time to train the Tactic A & B when we have two different AM in a season with no pre-season and no mid week training
But in this match vs Granada, VDB seems some different on his play style than previous. More holding the ball and less one touch passing which is more suit us at the moment. Also, the frequency of interaction including pass and move, ball movement with other players in the field is more than previous matches.
I would think it is good to see and suit better if some player like Kagawa, Mkhitaryan, prime Mata play around him.
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The main difference in his game for the first time was that he has been using free extra seconds to move with the ball and then spot the movement of our players and then try to find them.
In previous games It was hot potato type of passing which created nothing and 99% where sideways or back passing.
His passing was getting better with time on his side and those passes were stronger and longer then previously so that was a good sign.
In previous games It was hot potato type of passing which created nothing and 99% where sideways or back passing.
His passing was getting better with time on his side and those passes were stronger and longer then previously so that was a good sign.
It's not the recruitment department who signed him but rather the manager. The recruitment department provide options for the manager who then decides which target to prioritize. The manager also has his own personal scout (Simon Wells) who he trusts above all else, if reports are to be believed.
This is true and he also plays it first time a lot, something most of our players seem to struggle with, many of them always taking another touch and allowing things down.
Agreed. It's not just Bruno either. The entire front four are all about moments whilst being slack in possession. Doesn't suit him at all.
Solution, like others have said, try him in centre mid. I'm sure he could have played last night instead of Matic or Fred.
Played well yesterday. It’s true he’s not looked suited to our team but I think that is a lot to do with lack of game time and lack of confidence.
No inquest into why he was signed is required. He will play more in future and will be better. Last night was a step forward.
However, even allowing for his future improvement and adapting, he will be fringe first team, starting plenty of games but probably left out of big games when everyone is fit. He will contribute a lot and £40m is okay for that in the modern market.
No inquest into why he was signed is required. He will play more in future and will be better. Last night was a step forward.
However, even allowing for his future improvement and adapting, he will be fringe first team, starting plenty of games but probably left out of big games when everyone is fit. He will contribute a lot and £40m is okay for that in the modern market.
The issue isn't about his style of play but rather our style of play which is the problem IMO. VdB is a player who likes to get involved in combination play which would be fine if Ole had successfully implemented his favoured style of play, which is to press high and adopt a front foot approach where we play a high tempo game with a high line. Sadly he signed the wrong players in defence, hence he has had to adopt a more pragmatic approach with McFred in midfield protecting two CBs who aren't strong in 1v1 duels, whilst defending space. So that has affected not only VdB but also Pogba who is deployed in a more attacking role on the left. And that is the reason it's reported that Solskjaer wants a CB, who can handle threats solo with out the aid of the fullback or midfielder.
It was reported a few months back that Solskjaer believes that we'll see the best of VdB next season. And I believe he's saying that due to him believing there will be a change of mindset next season due to a few upgrades in key positions which will allow him to play a more proactive brand of football. A Jadon Sancho for example is a player who gets involved in combination play and if we signed him, he would work well with VdB IMO.
It was reported a few months back that Solskjaer believes that we'll see the best of VdB next season. And I believe he's saying that due to him believing there will be a change of mindset next season due to a few upgrades in key positions which will allow him to play a more proactive brand of football. A Jadon Sancho for example is a player who gets involved in combination play and if we signed him, he would work well with VdB IMO.
Think he showed more intensity now, and at least tried some things now and then.
If he continues with this effort it might be he could be of use still.
If he continues with this effort it might be he could be of use still.
He just needs a bit of luck on his side too.
On anothe day he gets an assist from Greenwood and his shot goes the other side of the post, then everybody is hailing a great cameo and his confidence is flying.
The important thing is he looked determined, and perhaps a bit fitter/quicker? maybe that was more Grenada being tired and not so athletic themselves.
I like him a lot as a player, I think he'd be absolutely ace in the current city side as they look to play 4/5 passes instead of 1 long pass like we do. It's a stylistic issue that's been engrained into him at Ajax, but I do think Ole needs to give him more chances. He'd certainly of been no worse than any of our CM's today.
On anothe day he gets an assist from Greenwood and his shot goes the other side of the post, then everybody is hailing a great cameo and his confidence is flying.
The important thing is he looked determined, and perhaps a bit fitter/quicker? maybe that was more Grenada being tired and not so athletic themselves.
I like him a lot as a player, I think he'd be absolutely ace in the current city side as they look to play 4/5 passes instead of 1 long pass like we do. It's a stylistic issue that's been engrained into him at Ajax, but I do think Ole needs to give him more chances. He'd certainly of been no worse than any of our CM's today.
I still think he would work better as part of the midfield two. He has yeh attributes we lack there and in more attacking games he can push on from that deeper base to make late runs into the box. Defensively he doesn’t even look that bad so I don’t understand the reluctance.
I didn't see VDB yesterday, but the times I've seen him for us this season, I think he has also looked weak, in combination with what people also mention around style of play, players around him etc. I think that is the main reason Solskjær doesn't trust him in the double pivot, and the no. 10 role has been occupied by a brilliant Bruno.
We have seen this so many times that players need a year or so to adapt to the PL and especially to United and the preasure that comes with it.
I think with a slightly improved physique, a pre-season, and some more pass-and-move players around him (hopefully Sancho), we will see the best of him next season. He was phenomenal at Ajax and their CL season, and I'm sure he will be able to become a great player at United.
We have seen this so many times that players need a year or so to adapt to the PL and especially to United and the preasure that comes with it.
I think with a slightly improved physique, a pre-season, and some more pass-and-move players around him (hopefully Sancho), we will see the best of him next season. He was phenomenal at Ajax and their CL season, and I'm sure he will be able to become a great player at United.
Possibly he will end up as a player who can be a dependable rotation option at 8 and 10 without a terrible drop in quality and, at a push, RW / LW. Here’s hoping a pre-season and a bit more game time will get him there.
A much better cameo from Donny last night, looked lively. The more game time he gets the better he’ll become, he’s proven he’s a good player he just needs the minutes to get up and running.
Has anyone else noticed whenever he does anything good or bad on the field he looks over at the bench to see their reaction.
Don't know if it's because there aren't fans in the stadium and he an hear them shouts but he does it all the time.
In terms of last night, it felt cruel he wasn't given a starting spot in the team. Grenada showed in the first leg how average they were and he could have easily played the 90 minutes during that fixture.
I actually think he did well when he came on, certainly more positive than other games.
Don't know if it's because there aren't fans in the stadium and he an hear them shouts but he does it all the time.
In terms of last night, it felt cruel he wasn't given a starting spot in the team. Grenada showed in the first leg how average they were and he could have easily played the 90 minutes during that fixture.
I actually think he did well when he came on, certainly more positive than other games.
More heavily involved last night.Good.
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