To be fair, Fred like development arcs are the exception and not the rule though.
I honestly feel sorry for him, so for his sake the most id like us to part ways before this drags on any longer
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To be fair, Fred like development arcs are the exception and not the rule though.
I honestly feel sorry for him, so for his sake the most id like us to part ways before this drags on any longer
Agreed but it's a big "if". Till now he hasn't shown the qualities required even for a good sub. Ole also knows it and this explains why he only subs him in after 80'+, or why he's reluctant to start him even in less important games. I hope he gains progress in the future, but for the meantime he hasn't been a good sub and people are rightly frustrated considering this signing is 30m+.
I wonder if we sell him this summer, how much would he cost? Since everyone knows he is flop here, maybe sell him back to Ajax for half the price we’ve paid him for? (Say 20m?)
This is what I see.
I mean Ole even brings him on when we need a goal so I feel like he knows like he is capable of playing as a second striker but he also is getting played as a LW and a CM/CDM which is confusing since its not really his style.
Doesn't seem to matter where he plays, he just dissapears in games and goes missing.
There is a good player in there somewhere, technically very good excellent control and composure good eye for a pass but he's got find a way to impose himself on the game more.
I do feel for him, The signing was out of left field, and it didn’t make much sense with his spot occupied. But I think that people are too quick to call him useless, and on some channels, ridiculing him. He came through the Ajax system and is a Dutch international so clearly he has talent. He is young and coming to the toughest league in the world. He needs time to bed in and adapt,he also needs regular game time, for me the best option would have been to sign him and loan him back to Ajax, it makes far more sense than the current situation which can’t be doing his confidence any good. But imho we can’t just give up on him yet.
Fair enough then.
A geriatric Mata is better than him last night. Let that sink in
I thought you didnt too?
I don't rate him at all. Said since the beginning he'll flop at United, but he has shown more at Ajax than Gravenbergh has so far.
That said, Gravenbergh is infinitely more talented than Donny, but he's a typical youth player so far. Moments where he shows glimpses of his talent and whole games where he' s a bit crap. And, like all ajax players, he was born and raised at Ajax where througout your acadamy years your opponent is rubbish and you play according to a strict principle.
Just for emphasis though, no I dont rate Donny van de Beek. Not at all.
In the entire game he did this impression of wanting the ball with gestures from hands etc., but the whole time he would be hiding behind opposition players and rarely presenting a real passing option for his team mates. In the rare times when he did get the ball, it promptly went back or sideways. It was a terrible 1/10 performance as far as I am concerned. Anyone has got stats on number of touches, passes by him? The entire game seemed to pass him by.
He did make a few clean tackles which surprised me to be fair. Maybe that's something to build upon.
He did make a few clean tackles which surprised me to be fair. Maybe that's something to build upon.
Maybe the PL should fine is in the future every time he starts! 
To me it seems like it is a mental issue. If he can't overcome that though, he won't make it here. Not playing often certainly does not help, but then again he's not taking the chances once he does
Let me derail the thread a little. What do you think of Kudus Mohammed ? I being Ghanaian am a bit biased towards him but I feel he’s a much more dominant and technically gifted midfielder than Donny albeit not ready yet for the big stage.
I think his style of play is more of what we’re looking for in Donny. He has potential to be a starter in a bigger team if he can get over his injuries and be more consistent.
He reminds me Pereira. Mind doesn't work fast enough for this level.
Disappointing.
Yet to see anything exceptional in his game.
Coasted through last night.
Yet to see anything exceptional in his game.
Coasted through last night.
Feel sorry for him. He literally does nothing.
Just trots around and occasionally gets the ball, and passes it backwards to the nearest player.
Doesn't look he he truly wants to get on the ball for me. He's hiding because he knows he isn't good enough.
Just trots around and occasionally gets the ball, and passes it backwards to the nearest player.
Doesn't look he he truly wants to get on the ball for me. He's hiding because he knows he isn't good enough.
This was a golden opportunity for him to state his case. Didn't happen. Squad player at best!
I thought we sold Schneiderlin?
Play as an SS as a backup to Lingard.
I've seen him compared to Andreas Pereira. I don't see it.
DVDB is a nothing player, offers nothing, he's just there.
Andreas loses the ball a lot, because he's thinks he's better than he is and tries difficult stuff which he can't pull of. But he's got grit and really puts himself about. I can respect that, even if he neither is good enough for us.
DVDB is a nothing player, offers nothing, he's just there.
Andreas loses the ball a lot, because he's thinks he's better than he is and tries difficult stuff which he can't pull of. But he's got grit and really puts himself about. I can respect that, even if he neither is good enough for us.
I wonder if he is just too slow for this league. He tried the 360 spin twice, and even when he executes it technically perfect, he doesn't get away from his defender because it is all done in slow motion. Honestly, Mata is much quicker off the mark than Donny. He works his arse off and tries to get into position, but other players don't use him. He just plays the ball back to them, so I can understand that. The difference in watching Bruno is staggering; Bruno is in the exact same spaces with the same players surrounding him, yet he finds space with a perfect touch and is able to turn, but again, Bruno is much quicker and more agile.
I loved it when he actually was free and then proceeded to spin himself right into a Leicester player and promtly losing the ball. Genius
If you are going to lose the ball, do it in style mate, do it in styleI loved it when he actually was free and then proceeded to spin himself right into a Leicester player and promtly losing the ball. Genius
this is mainly down to sharpness + fitness. Players who aren't playing regularly won't be at their peak athleticism.
While he's obviously not going to be a "quick" player, he never had this issue in the CL against the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid and Tottenham.
The proof is there that he CAN operate at that level, so what is the difference?. Let's not act like he was supposed to be dominating this match single handedly either, Ndidi and Tielemans are 2 of the best CM's in the league.
Just like Fred, he's obviously taking time to adjust to the pace of the league. In the PL teams shut you down ASAP and don't give you time to dwell on the ball, other leagues retain shape and make you pass through them but it gives you more time to think.
Before we become too judgemental we need to give him a chance to have a break, hit it again next year and see if he can come back fighting. I know he is a very good player, but will he be able to handle the speed? that's the question.
He had a perfectly fine first half but people here can't seem to acknowledge that either.
Send him back to Ajax while they still rate him.
VDB disappointed vs Leicester, what else to say. He could make a claim for one of the spots in a pivot but didn’t manage
It's funny to see some posters who were always first to criticise our own talents such is Cleverley, Lingard, etc., defend nothing players from abroad who are supposed to perform even better because they are paid a lot.
You talk a lot of sense but I do not agree with the bolded part. He tried to play it safe yet he still ended up losing the ball several times in dangerous positions.
I just can't for the life of me see a future for him here.
He's been given enough time on the field now to be judged and for me he hasn't done enough.
I'd give him another twelve months but realistically does he believe in the move now, maybe he feels he want's to leave. I wouldn't stand in his way if that was the case, he's not done enough to warrant such a lofty status whilst with us.
I'd give him another twelve months but realistically does he believe in the move now, maybe he feels he want's to leave. I wouldn't stand in his way if that was the case, he's not done enough to warrant such a lofty status whilst with us.
This is kind of why I thought Ole bought him to be honest; to have the more versatile and better version of Lingard in the squad.
From CAM he makes runs and finishes as a support striker/ shadow striker and at CM he should be able to play better than Lingard ever could.
Lets see if he adapts to the league and gets the chances or if he infact was just a player put in to Ole's face by the board.
Not sure about those that compare him with Fred. With Fred, it was obvious that he was struggling with the pace of the league. He was having too many loose touches, under hitting and over hitting too many passes, and was not judging his tackles and moves for interceptions well. More often than not, he thought he had more time on the ball than he really did. There was obviously a player in there who was clearly struggling.
Van de Beek is not really giving the ball away too much or having too many loose touches, he just doesn't have any quality that is good enough for Premier League level. He is not very strong, he is not tall, he doesn't kick the ball longer than a few yards, he does not carry the ball, he is not quick, he does not dribble, he is not exactly a great defender, he doesn't take set-pieces, he doesn't offer much energy to compensate for his limitations. He is just nothing.
I'm honestly surprised that how he has managed to get to professional level with such a negligible skill set. Never seen a more timid footballer in the Premier League.
Van de Beek is not really giving the ball away too much or having too many loose touches, he just doesn't have any quality that is good enough for Premier League level. He is not very strong, he is not tall, he doesn't kick the ball longer than a few yards, he does not carry the ball, he is not quick, he does not dribble, he is not exactly a great defender, he doesn't take set-pieces, he doesn't offer much energy to compensate for his limitations. He is just nothing.
I'm honestly surprised that how he has managed to get to professional level with such a negligible skill set. Never seen a more timid footballer in the Premier League.
I can only remember 1 the moment where he got pressed and lost it in front of the 4 back, but lets be honest all of our midfielders have lost the ball in a similar style before. Leicester are good pressers too.
I just don't expect a player who's been in the wilderness for so long to walk into a stuck together side and be world class. People aren't being realistic. I do think CM is the best position for him though, it suits his playing style more and relies on him being better in control, pass and move rather than athleticism which you need to be a forward in england.
He has gotten games where he could showcase what he is all about but he just never shows up.
For example a game with no pressure vs Roma he just strolled around the park doing shit all and yesterday he was worse.
Hope the Ole haters who have been slating him for not playing DVB can stop that nonsense now.
Amad on the other hand looks up for some minutes.
For example a game with no pressure vs Roma he just strolled around the park doing shit all and yesterday he was worse.
Hope the Ole haters who have been slating him for not playing DVB can stop that nonsense now.
Amad on the other hand looks up for some minutes.
Don't know if it has been mentioned yet but there was a point in the first half where Bailly had the ball looking for options, and VDB moved across his path and blocked a pass to Williams. Just seems as though he has no awareness or ability to demand the ball yet. Hopefully just his settling in period and will come back after pre-season firing and contributing.
Agree on the Fred comments. At least you could see the potential was there once he settled. Just not sure we can say the same for van de Beek. Looked a different player in that Ajax system.
Loan him out, let him up his value like Lingard. We always sell players on the cheep so let’s change that. Loan him to a Bundesliga team like Leipzig or something.
Is the fact he performed during a handful of CL games "proof" he is going to be a good player for us or even at this level? History is littered with players that had a good tournament, a good world cup, a good anything. I would say it is only proof that he was a good player for Ajax for that period (and possibly for his entire Ajax career - few except Dutch fans would probably know)
A handful of appearances even if they are at an impressive level are scant proof of anything when the reality is he needs to be good enough week in week out for Man Utd.
Awful player, no heart. Sell him as soon as you can.
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