[Tom Cato]

Donny has had a rough first year. There's valid question if he's been given enough gametime, but he's genuinely not taken his chances for most parts. He's had some good involvements, but nothing continious.

It doesnt help him that our midfield in his position is stacked.

But writing someone off is always a risk. Next season will be it for Donny, its make it or move on time. He seems like he's a likeable lad so I hope he makes it.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I mean putting him on the LW is setting him up for failure, but it was just more of the same really.

He's currently the mauve of footballers, inoffensive, a bit bland, and you're not even sure what colour it actually is.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

I think we should give him one more season, no doubt that he has really struggled this year, but given the pandemic season we should give him a chance.

Definitely, I fully expect him to be here next season.

He needs a run of games to find form and confidence - but for a number of reasons that's not happened.

I would not be surprised if later down the line we find out he's had a difficult time in his private life. It can't be easy being a young lad moving to a new country and being stuck in lockdown isolation. He won't have been able to have familu and friends from Netherlands visit and stay with him, he also won't have had much opportunity to bond with his new team mates. Probably been a very depressing year for him all round.

 

[Bebestation]

I cant see why he is being played as a LW - but I hope it's some coaching way of getting him to make runs in behind/ make finishes.

I really hope to be able to see him as a false 9 type player inbetween a narrowed down Rashford and Greenwood one day.

 

[Lowkey]

Good player but we dont need him. Move him on

 

[bsCallout]

I'm definitely not writing a foreign player off in their first season in the prem. Especially players joining under lockdown.

I think next year he might be an important player for us, rotating with Bruno and or playing as a no.8 if we get a proper CDM.

 

[lenny_1248]

The thing with Donny is that he's not suited stylistically. He needs to change fundamentals of his game and it's very hard.
Can he do it next season? Anybody's guess.
Here's hoping he does cause on his own he's a brilliant player.

 

[Beachryan]

I'm definitely not writing a foreign player off in their first season in the prem. Especially players joining under lockdown.

I think next year he might be an important player for us, rotating with Bruno and or playing as a no.8 if we get a proper CDM.

This feels right. He also seems a pretty solid guy, and Ole doesn't seem like one to immediately freeze a player out.

The list of first-year flops in the Premier League is not a short one, and many have gone on to have great careers.

I'll be honest, I don't think he fits our system very well in any kind of wide role, but Bruno can't play every minute and I guess you can try to put him in that role. Especially if Mata leaves, who it kind of feels would be a more natural, 'last 15 mins' type fit.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Fred didn't look all too good in his first season either. Donny is clearly technically capable of playing at this level and I think he would have had this adjustment period even if he had gone elsewhere as he was basically born into Ajax and this is the first time he's playing outside of it. He needs to change the way he sees and reacts to the game. That is not an unsolvable issue.

 

[Borys]

I still don't understand why he's not tried in a deeper midfield role. He'll find forward passes a lot easier from this position and his safe ball retention would make a lot more sense in this role. He'd also see more of the ball and the more involvement he has will grow his confidence. His best game against Instanbul came in the double pivot also but hasn't had a look in since.

Pogba's been playing well in his attacking role, instead of keeping him there and playing VDB alongside Fred, we decided to move Pogba back to the double pivot and play VDB out of position and they were both shit. It really is bizarre.

Couldn't agree more. I can't wrap my head around it, he really looks like a midfielder, and definitely not an attacking player (or I don't see it). Every time we play both Pogba and van de Beek I wonder if they should be swapped. Recently Pogba had some good games in attacking role on the left and what Ole does? He plays PP in midfield and VdB on the left. Bizarre.

 

[Teja]

Ziyech has been shit as well, saw one of the Chelsea lot here say there's rumours of him leaving already

Yup I was actually being semi-serious. He looks like a more positive player than VdB - tries the risky pass, gives the ball away etc. sort of like a Bruno-lite. I think he'd be pretty good as a Bruno backup.

 

[Theo Cherry]

Donny is very meek and weak in his approach, not very suited at the moment to English football.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I still don't understand why he's not tried in a deeper midfield role. He'll find forward passes a lot easier from this position and his safe ball retention would make a lot more sense in this role. He'd also see more of the ball and the more involvement he has will grow his confidence. His best game against Instanbul came in the double pivot also but hasn't had a look in since.

Pogba's been playing well in his attacking role, instead of keeping him there and playing VDB alongside Fred, we decided to move Pogba back to the double pivot and play VDB out of position and they were both shit. It really is bizarre.

One of the case study about his game when playing in double pivot for Ajax vs Getafe:

Out of Ajax’s 467 attempted passes vs Getafe, Van de Beek only attempted 29 of them. His partner in the pivot, Lisandro Martínez attempted 47 passes, the third highest amount in this Ajax side. He also didn’t progress the ball much with only 1 progressive pass and 2.35 meters progressed by passes, which is a very low amount. For comparison, Martínez had 6.19 progressed meters per pass.

What we could gain from this rather small sample size is that VDB doesn’t dictate play from deeper areas and is rather looking to pass the ball for purpose to get rid of it as fast as he could. He doesn’t get heavily involved in possession either, even when he plays deep.

His passing style and ball playing style suits a modern no 10 not deeper role. He hasn’t develop it to play in double pivot that suits our style.

 

[DWelbz19]

The thing with Donny is that he's not suited stylistically. He needs to change fundamentals of his game and it's very hard.

This is the overarching point that those who still have faith in him to work here are failing to see.

What does van de Beek excel at? Off the ball movement, occupying spaces in the final third, clever one touch movement.

He is not a central midfielder who wants to circle the middle of the field, circulating possession, or creating chances from deep. He is not a midfielder who makes high volumes of tackles, or interceptions, or wins large amounts of aerial duels. Nor is he a midfielder that will screen the back four.

His strengths just don't fit stylistically. We have a far greater player who occupies the area of the field van de Beek wishes to play most of his football within. At the age of 24, he's not suddenly going to become a brand new player and play a way he has never played before.

We must sell him this summer whilst he still retains a respectable amount of value from his original fee.

EDIT: @UNITED ACADEMY 's post above is a good add-on to this point.

 

[Lassitude42]

This idea that because he's Dutch and from Ajax he must be great is a bit of a myth

This is an Ajax team that in 16/17 finished 2nd in the league and bottled the UEFA Cup Final 3-0 to a mediocre Mourinho Utd side. In 17/18 again they finished 2nd in the league and failed to get out of the group stages for both the Champions league and UEFA Cup. In 18/19 they won the league and got to the Champions League Semi-Finals where they bottled it against serial losers Tottenham Hotspur. And then in 19/20 they won the league, but didn't make it out of the group stages of the CL, and were knocked out in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup by Getafe.

He has good touch but his contribution is so limited. Many footballers can hit 5 yard sideways or backwards passes and drift around not influencing games. He's squandered all his chances to impress against easy opponents. Sell him and get a CM who can play progressive attacking passes.

 

[The United]

One of the case study about his game when playing in double pivot for Ajax vs Getafe:

Out of Ajax’s 467 attempted passes vs Getafe, Van de Beek only attempted 29 of them. His partner in the pivot, Lisandro Martínez attempted 47 passes, the third highest amount in this Ajax side. He also didn’t progress the ball much with only 1 progressive pass and 2.35 meters progressed by passes, which is a very low amount. For comparison, Martínez had 6.19 progressed meters per pass.

What we could gain from this rather small sample size is that VDB doesn’t dictate play from deeper areas and is rather looking to pass the ball for purpose to get rid of it as fast as he could. He doesn’t get heavily involved in possession either, even when he plays deep.

His passing style and ball playing style suits a modern no 10 not deeper role. He hasn’t develop it to play in double pivot that suits our style.

It is a load of craps that people come up with how VDB would excel in a deeper position.

Can he become good in deeper roles in the future? Who knows?

But, based on his style of play here and at Ajax, it is very obvious that he will get murdered in deeper roles in EPL. We already have some issue with CM to become a top team. Playing a physically (and probably mentally) weak player who has no consistent range of passing (which is required for "creativity" and setting tempo) there would be suicidal.

He is, however, useful to come in to play in the box for the last 15-20 mins when we need a goal.

 

[criticalanalysis]

I didn't see the full game but of what I saw, I would not be surprised if he turns out to have a breakout season for us if/when he gets proper game time next year. In fact, I'm calling it. It's a relatively safe bet imo.

He's a bit like Herrera for me. Technically and athletically very smart and sharp in those small pockets of 5-10 yards. If like Herrera/Fred, he can find his position and 'role' in the team, he can have a productive time with us.

I'm not worried about his ability, just not sure if he will get his chance. For every Herrera/Fred, it's a fine line for Kagawa/Mkhitaryan i.e there's not much of a difference in the base quality, it's just timing, luck, management etc.

 

[Alfie092]

He has been average at best for us. I know him starting once every couple of games doesn’t help because he is always going to be rusty but he should be doing more still and you expect better in a game which we had almost basically won before the 2nd leg kicked off (even though we made hard work of it in the end!)

I won’t truly right him of until I see him play a sequence of games and shake of any rustiness and get match sharp. Ideally would like to see him get at least 4-5 games in a row, which is basically every game till the end of the season.

With top 4 basically guaranteed and if we beat Villa I think we will secure 2nd quite easily. Which means we won’t be shifting up or down the table, so we should give Donny the chance to prove himself and stake a claim for maybe starting the EL final and to show he has a future here at Old Trafford.

 

[Sunny Jim]

What's the excuse now?? He played within our strongest line-up and was again invisible. I was convinced he was taken of at half time.

 

[Bobski]

He needs to work hard on expanding his passing range and start to look for shooting chances from the edge of the box. Touch is good, first time passing is generally excellent but it is also on him to adapt rather than just put it all on scouting and coaching fails.

At the moment he looks very limited, a midfield continuity/poacher who relies almost entirely on others to make things happen.

 

[Red Royal]

Watching him makes me think what does he do in training to get match fit? He seems to struggle with the pace of the game which is either he is just nkt up to it or (I hope) it is he is very rusty with the odd game/sub appearance here or there.

If the latter, how do we fix it... hope that Netherlands in the Euros play him into fitness? Give him an extended run of games - starting with Villa or put him in the u23s (which may dent his confidence evem further).

Not sure if I read too much into it, but Ole, who I think has been a great player manager, hasnt been seen to back him much, just an arm around the shoulder, am earlier sub appearance etc.

Think these next 4 or 5 games are going to be vital in what we do with Donny next year.

 

[Member 109952]

Anyone reckon Ajax would take him back for about £20m? Would be a good deal for both parties imo

 

[Foxbatt]

He should leave to any club now. He is not going to get his chance at United. I really wonder what porkies United sold him to come to United and why?

 

[Adam-Utd]

What's the excuse now?? He played within our strongest line-up and was again invisible. I was convinced he was taken of at half time.

If you can't understand why a player who isn't very fast struggles on the wing, then I wonder of your judgement to be honest.

The times we played through him in the first half he looked fine, but in the 2nd half once Shaw went off we lost all control. Telles wasn't getting forward and we barely played any passes down that side like we did in the 1st.

We seem to be playing him everywhere but his strongest position which is CM.

 

[Rozay]

We should have signed James Rodriguez for half the price. Said as much in the summer. I’m personally not confident of much improvement with Donny, as I was highly suspicious that he was not good enough in the first place. We should move him on this summer while we can extract decent resale value. Barring injury, he is unlikely to get many more opportunities next season either.

At the very least, he should go on loan, like the Chelsea model. If they buy a player and they realise in the first season that he’s not what they thought, they’re straight out on loan preserving value. The likes of Bakayoko will be sold for decent money due to being of value to someone else, even if not Chelsea. We may be learning following the Lingard situation hopefully. Usually, we refuse to let out of favour players play football elsewhere, and they just get forgotten in Carrington, draining wages and losing value. This year with Dalot and Jesse etc, we have tried a different approach this year.

 

[InspiRED]

I've said ti before but he is still too Ajax DNA to really fit in this emerging Utd side which is starting to bring back memories of great Utd sides of the past. Must be tough for him and he hasn't had much playing time to adapt, but doesn't seem to have the appetite for the fight and to stamp his mark on the side. He's being steamrollered by Bruno, which while good for us doesn't seem to be good for him. I think it was a poor transfer personally, turned into a bit of a Kagawa. Was so excited about having Kagawa at old trafford, that fictional world of wonder though will never be lost from our imaginations!

 

[Rozay]

Big night for him tonight. The position he is starting in tonight is the easiest access into the first team. If he wants to make an impression here, it’s likely to be in this role.

 

[Bebestation]

Dissapointing.

Im not sure if he is an Ole player or not. I slihtly hope he isnt the more I see him.

 

[slored1]

Why is he so lost on the pitch? Plays like he is 16, no urgency, no imagination. Just one-twos and then hide.

 

[17Larsson]

He is a nothing player. No bite in him at all

 

[Adam-Utd]

thought he did fine.

first half he was in the game plenty, 2nd half the team got tired and matic vacated midfield so he was alone.

not sure what people expect him to do, they say he doesn’t pass forward but what options? a 50 year old mata who can barely move?

greenwood was defending most of the 2nd half also, we had no outlets.

I think he gets a very hard time on here for no reason.

 

[Leg-End]

I think we will move him on given half the chance, can’t see a path for him here.

 

[klayton88]

Such an irrelevant player. I've not seen anything in him to suggest he's a top level player. Would rather start a kid over him. He has to be done here.

 

[lost7]

Meh performance? He showed willingness to play some long passes, so that's nice, but other than a couple of nice touches I thought he was mostly a passenger

 

[Abraxas]

A massively disappointing night. I wasn't really expecting brilliance in that particular side partnered by Matic (who was much the more influential) but I was hoping to see some light at the end of the tunnel and it didn't materialise at any point. I was hoping in that particular position he'd show willingness to get on the ball, keep things ticking over, but mostly he was anonymous.

He was against some good players in that Leicester midfield and I think we saw the difference in dynamism, authority, and probably sheer ability.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Honestly, he looks and plays like someone who knows they're way in over their head. That's why the lack of confidence. Just not suited to the intensity of the Prem.

 

[acnumber9]

He’s just a fish out of water. If you looked up average in the dictionary his scared face would be looking right back at you.

 

[Idxomer]

37 passes, just less than half of what Matic made.

He isn't an 8, a 10, or a 2nd striker either.

 

[Ole90+3]

Out of his depth completely at United. This is without any fans at the stadiums to put even more pressure on him.

I actually can't see any potential there at all. No light at the end of the tunnel. Cut our losses and get rid.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Yeah that was bad unfortunately, I really am rooting for him but if you are going to play an entire game in your shell to avoid making mistakes then you can't give the ball away in dangerous areas 3 times.