Spot fekking on. There’s a lot to be said in favor of taking responsibility for beating the defender or taking the shot, but far too many opportunities are wasted by refusing to make or make oneself available for the pass. Seems central to how modern football is supposed to be played, but we haven’t gotten the memo yet.
34
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 36
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Spot fekking on. There’s a lot to be said in favor of taking responsibility for beating the defender or taking the shot, but far too many opportunities are wasted by refusing to make or make oneself available for the pass. Seems central to how modern football is supposed to be played, but we haven’t gotten the memo yet.
You're right- we don't but we honestly should.
Rashford------Cavani-----Sancho
------Pogba-------------------Bruno-----
-------------Rice or Kante type------
but then surely McTominay and or Fred-one of them is to be moved on before VDB? Fred's first season was arguably worse, although I love what he's become and to me McTominay has been constantly improving, but I don't really have the numbers for that. Right now I would hold all three of them and yes if we land a great or great potential, then and only then move one of them on (if VDB fulfills his potential and Fred stays Fred than I think it could possibly be McTominay that should move on, although he's my second favorite midfielder that we have. I do think if he continues to grow he could be something absolutely special, again why I wouldn't move him on. I would rather make a huge signing or like you said sign a potential, and still then we would have six midfielders for six spots in a 4-3-3. There's of course the case of Pogba
| Appearances | 137 |
|---|---|
| Goals | 28 |
| Assists | 29 |
not bad numbers at all, considering how poor our team was for a majority of his time here. Surely we need to get the best out of him and Bruno, and that holding midfielder is key
I don't think Ole would fancy selling Fred or McTominay before VdB, the first two are nailed starters for him and VdB barely plays.
If Pogba leaves we will need much more than VdB, as you say for all the heat he gets his numbers are not bad and he's able to produce magical moments that turn games around.
I'm not against keeping VdB I just think it would be better to sell him and bring in someone new.
Would Ajax take him back for £20m? 50% off deal?
Take that and put it towards Buendia who is a vastly superior player.
Take that and put it towards Buendia who is a vastly superior player.
Reportedly out of the Euros now. Not been a great year for him, this.
Was our chance for him to do half-decent and put himself back in the shop window too...
Was our chance for him to do half-decent and put himself back in the shop window too...
He’s injured. Really bad luck for him, nothing going right for him on the pitch right now.
Tbh, I don’t want him in the ‘shop window’ at all. In fact, if he can handle himself defensively, I’m keen to see more of him in the first XI next season.
Anyone who has read any of my posts will know I’m desperate for the ability to pass and move to be brought into our midfield. Seeing as we are also insistent on signing Sancho, it seems, who doesn’t compliment the players around him in the starting XI as it is, I’m even more hopeful of a successful Donny integration. Donny and Sancho will likely be the only two players on the same wavelength.
What a nightmare 12 months for the lad.
Yes, our off the ball movement is very poor, I don't know if it's down to players not trusting their teammates to find them or players not trusting their own first touch and ball control to go into tight spaces and receive the ball, even if this happens the ball does not progress a lot of times as then the player in a tight spot requires someone to move into another tight space, receive control and move the ball. We're very poor at playing what you're calling "modern football".
If I have to guess I'd say it's a coaching issue. Look at our coaching staff and you'll know. 3 of them have the job because they've been players at the club, the other two I don't know.
I get the point you're raising, I just don't see it with the guy. If he's a link-up guy to play cute football with Sancho, it's in a midfield 3 which just isn't happening with big bad Bruno first name on the team sheet for eternity. The midfield two is Solskjaer's preferred formation and it's one the guy doesn't fit. He's a central midfielder who doesn't tackle or intercept well, sit deep and screen a back four, nor does he make creative insightful passes between the lines. He's a busy bee who wants to give and go. Mostly go. That isn't just in his volatile season here, that's going back to his entire career at Ajax.
You're being too mean on Sancho too -- the XI are not pretty enough for compliments anyway.
Another player Ole overused.
What the hell? How did he even manage to get inured? Did he fall off the bench?
That's a shame, I hoped he can use this stage to show that he is a decent footballer.
That's a shame, I hoped he can use this stage to show that he is a decent footballer.
Can't catch a break can he. Was hoping he'd show us why we bought him.
This really sucks. Would have been a great opportunity for him to get some confidence back. Let's hope he comes back determined to prove himself.
Any word on what the injury actually is?
He was injured for us when he'd of likely got some starts and now he's injured when he may of got some minutes for his national team, seems he's only available when he's not needed
He was injured for us when he'd of likely got some starts and now he's injured when he may of got some minutes for his national team, seems he's only available when he's not needed
I’d imagine it’s actually easier to get injured when you haven’t been playing and aren’t match fit.
I think he’s played 2 full PL games all year. Strange how life works out, he would have gone to Real and got loads of game time given their injuries but ended up benchwarming for us in the Europa.
Any word on what the injury actually is?
He was injured for us when he'd of likely got some starts and now he's injured when he may of got some minutes for his national team, seems he's only available when he's not needed
He could have and he might have.
Gutted for him. What a miserable season he's had.
No matter what you think of his footballing ability/qualities, he's way better than what he's been permitted to show this season.
His is genuinely one the worst first seasons with us that I can remember.
No matter what you think of his footballing ability/qualities, he's way better than what he's been permitted to show this season.
His is genuinely one the worst first seasons with us that I can remember.
Any word on what the injury actually is?
He was injured for us when he'd of likely got some starts and now he's injured when he may of got some minutes for his national team, seems he's only available when he's not needed
BBC saying groin injury.
20/21 has not been kind to the lad. Shame too as I was looking forward to seeing him in action.
Seemingly you lot think he’s had unfair treatment at United. He looked way out of his depth every time he was given a chance. If anything he strikes me as someone who is quite happy to warm the bench as long as he can cash in his paycheck every week.
I’m a fan of Ole but I do wonder how this guy will be under a different manager at our club - a manager that knows how to use him.
So I’m always thinking how he maybe is if Ole fails next season.
So I’m always thinking how he maybe is if Ole fails next season.
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Doubt he would have made an appearance in the Euros anyway. He wasnt even on the bench for the last 2 friendlies.
Poor lad.
Would that not have been due to injury?
Good (from a Utd Perspective). Ole will get a proper chance to look at him in the preseason friendlies.
If this lad didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck at all.
Thats a shame i wanted him to have a good euros and break into Utd first team as a regular starter. He has alot to offer.
Unfortunate that, the ideal situation was he had a really good euros and came back rejuvenated. It would have been the only stretch of games he's had in the last year.
So apparently he had been injured for a while and was playing and training using painkillers.
He has no match rhythm from a good year. Needs to play every game on pre-season and build somekind of a form... or just sell him and admit mistake.
Don't think so. 2 players couldnt make the bench, so Donny and Gakpo were in the stands both matches. Though in retrospect, it might have been due to his injury.
Another player suffering from more injuries thanks to our coaches and medical team's handling of his injuries. I get they have to make decisions that are best for the club but this is just pathetic given he wasn't even getting any real minutes.
From that perspective, it's probably better for United that he's staying home and will get a proper rest. Last 1.5 season has been hard on the players, and those going to the Euros now again will have little time to recover. Even if Van de Beek hasn't been getting a lot of match time, he has been in training and everything else all through the season, and will benefit from a rest and mental rest as much as everyone else.
Shame. Was looking forward to him being player of the tournament, which probably would have happened.
The players have several trainings, practice matches and fitness drills every single week on top of the match schedule. The two hours dedicated to gametime has little to no bearing on a players ability to escape injury if they have not played games frequently.
Donny has just been extremely unlucky, whatever his injury is.
I get that but then why do so many footballers talk about being ‘match fit’? Big difference between doing all the fitness and training work and then going into a game. Not saying that’s what VdB did but I think it’s rational to think it’s a factor.
Playing matches against real opponents with something on the line is different from training or friendlies. Match fit isn't just a reference to physical well being.
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