[andersj]

Would have made more sense getting someone more flexible. Probably what we thought we did. But right now, it looks like he is not good enough to play any other position than AM. And his confidence appears to have taken a hit too.

If we had gone all in on Grealish or even Sancho, they would be able to play anywhere in attack.

 

[Chief123]

If he’s not getting a start in this busy schedule, then it is very strange. Considering Pogba is gone in the summer and VDB is most likely his replacement at the moment. Very strange to bring him in next season and not give him a look in this season.

 

[FrankDrebin]

He's likely going to play in all our cup games.

 

[dinostar77]

Feel sorry for VDB. He should never of come to Utd. Wasted by Ole. He could have been a starter for Real Madrid. I wonder if Ole just doesnt fancy him as a player?

 

[Ballache]

He won't be at United by 2022 IMO.

 

[AshRK]

Ole doesn't know what's his use is. He has to hang in there. Chances will come.

 

[Bebestation]

Ole wanted Grealish and ended up VDB to cover the gaps.

He is keeping him injury free until the transfer window when his choice of player comes.

I feel sad for him. We need a goal and he is a goal scoring midfielder.

 

[Terranova]

He's never going to play much a with a manager that prefers to not lose instead of preferring to win. He should've been subbed on to try and get a win instead of hoping for a moment of brilliance/luck.

 

[united for life]

He won't be at United by 2022 IMO.

He’ll probably be a starter by the time Pogba leaves. At the moment, Paul still gets ahead of him. Donny is a good player. Probably still adapting and still needs to step up in training (i’m assuming this is why he isn’t getting enough game time). We were 0-0 today against Wolves but still Ole didn’t go to him as an attacking option. Needs time but I’m confident he’ll get there

 

[Ballache]

He’ll probably be a starter by the time Pogba leaves. At the moment, Paul still gets ahead of him. Donny is a good player. Probably still adapting and still needs to step up in training (i’m assuming this is why he isn’t getting enough game time). We were 0-0 today against Wolves but still Ole didn’t go to him as an attacking option. Needs time but I’m confident he’ll get there

I hope so, I rate him but I don't think Ole does.

 

[Van Piorsing]

He would do better than Pogba today. Ole trusts same players that let him down so many times, yet he can't just test VdB who can operate in tight spaces exactly like Wolves defended.

Baffled by this, just hoping Donny will be ready on 2nd part of the season and bang some goals then.

 

[Renegade]

He was brought in to provide cover for Bruno, but Ole quickly figured he can’t play/win without him. So DVB will have to sit it out or figure out how to play RW ala Mata.

 

[TheGame]

He should play against Villa alongside Fred.

 

[kouroux]

Such a strange signing this.

 

[zenith]

He should play on pogba's position more often

 

[Borys]

Huh. I was sure he would get his chances in midfield during the festive season, and yet here we are still trying to prove the whole world Paul Pogba is a midfielder (not even mentioning he should be phased out of first team anyway).

Very very unlikely to play against Villa as it is quite clear which midfield combinations Ole prefers. I can only understand Pogba is played against teams that will sit deep because he can score from range, but if that alone is keeping Donny 5th choice then we might as well just sell him next summer. Shame because I thought he was doing really well in midfield. Certainly looked more natural there than PP.

 

[Berbasbullet]

He should play against Villa alongside Fred.

I’d be keen to see this.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

Interested to see how he’d do in Pogba’s place as the ‘lone centre midfielder’ in yesterday’s setup.

 

[90 + 5min]

It is a team sport. He will get games. He is a part of a team.

And if we are being honest, he hasn't light up the place when he has been playing. I know it is hard to play under pressure so he needs to adapt.

 

[Idxomer]

Interested to see how he’d do in Pogba’s place as the ‘lone centre midfielder’ in yesterday’s setup.

Not very well.

 

[Drainy]

He should play against Villa alongside Fred.

The most easily dribbled passed midfield ever?

 

[DRM]

The most easily dribbled passed midfield ever?

He's combative and will works well with Fred. But of course Ole will never go for it.

 

[phenry]

It is a team sport. He will get games. He is a part of a team.

And if we are being honest, he hasn't light up the place when he has been playing. I know it is hard to play under pressure so he needs to adapt.

Exactly this. I recon he was brought in for cover and as a long term option with PP not very committed. We've been lucky with injuries so he hasn't had much of a run or a chance to adapt. From what I've seen of him we're lucky to have him as an option over Lingard but he hasn't made a strong enough case to be any better than 5th choice. I think we were right to sign him though. If we want to win titles we need depth

 

[MetoTTT]

The most easily dribbled passed midfield ever?

I thought that was Pogba. Sometimes I don't have to even drbble/pass him because he's walking and isn't where we need him to be.
I feel really sorry for VdB. Shocking by OGS, really!

 

[DoomSlayer]

He is the new Fred. People just need to relax, the guy is young and will get plenty of chances to show his qualities at our club.

Wasn't brought in as a world class player that slots in the first 11 so what exactly is the issue? Only problem I have is we could have gone for a DM instead, but it is what is.

 

[Drainy]

He's combative and will works well with Fred. But of course Ole will never go for it.

Them two with Bruno would be 'combative' but easy to dribble passed. They are all weak in that stat.

 

[Godfather]

He can play in the FA Cup before the Pool game so Bruno can get some rest

 

[Drainy]

I thought that was Pogba. Sometimes I don't have to even drbble/pass him because he's walking and isn't where we need him to be.
I feel really sorry for VdB. Shocking by OGS, really!

Statistically Pogba doesn't get dribbled passed often.
His defensive weaknesses are more concentration based.

 

[Borys]

Them two with Bruno would be 'combative' but easy to dribble passed. They are all weak in that stat.

How so? And how good/bad are Matic and Pogba on that (I always thought they are the easiest duo to go past so would be interesting some stats)?

 

[justsomebloke]

Would have made more sense getting someone more flexible. Probably what we thought we did. But right now, it looks like he is not good enough to play any other position than AM. And his confidence appears to have taken a hit too.

If we had gone all in on Grealish or even Sancho, they would be able to play anywhere in attack.

An even bigger problem is that he's not good enough to play AM either, which is where we most critically need him, in order to give Bruno a rest every now and then. At least it looked that way in the first half against West Ham.

 

[Drainy]

How so? And how good/bad are Matic and Pogba on that (I always thought they are the easiest duo to go past so would be interesting some stats)?

Fred and Bruno get dribbled past over 2 times per game on average. Pogba less than 1 and Matic 1.3.

They are more aggressive with the press so naturally are riskier against dribblers.

 

[CM]

There just isn't much of a place for van de Beek in this squad. I don't think he is great in the deeper roles and he's just never going to get in ahead of Bruno unless it's a lesser cup game or a dead rubber.

I don't think he has been that good in the recent cameos he has got either. Maybe there's an argument to be made that regular football will help him along but the recent evidence suggests he overplays and a lot of sideways passing.

 

[POF]

The only way this was a sensible signing was if he was a player who could play multiple roles. It seems Ole wanted a player who could play across the 3 in a 4-2-3-1. Grealish was clearly his preference.

That role just doesn't seem to suit Donny. He's a nice tidy player but it seems number 10 is the only role Ole is comfortable in playing him where he can perform. Unfortunately for him, that's the position occupied by the only indespensible player in the team.

Grealish would have given options out wide and a different type of number 10 to Bruno. Donny is basically a worse version of Bruno. If he can't play in the 2 in midfield, it won't be a successful signing.

 

[Borys]

Fred and Bruno get dribbled past over 2 times per game on average. Pogba less than 1 and Matic 1.3.

They are more aggressive with the press so naturally are riskier against dribblers.

Hm that's interesting, certainly contrary to the general view on Pogba.

I still think this will be somehow screwed because Matic and Pogba are our second choice midfield and they don't play top opponents.

 

[CM]

Hm that's interesting, certainly contrary to the general view on Pogba.

I still think this will be somehow screwed because Matic and Pogba are our second choice midfield and they don't play top opponents.

I don't mean this as a piss take but I think the defending player actually has to get close to the opposition attacker for it to register as a take on.

 

[Drainy]

Hm that's interesting, certainly contrary to the general view on Pogba.

I still think this will be somehow screwed because Matic and Pogba are our second choice midfield and they don't play top opponents.

Probably just let's people run off him so it's not captured by the stats in fairness

Anyway, point is that a midfield of Fred VDB and Bruno would be really weak to the counter

 

[MattyLT]

Needs to earn his place, and Pogba has been very good lately. Doesn't have to be more complicated than that. Maybe not Ole's first choice signing, but I very much doubt the transfer committee would sign someone Ole flat out wouldn't want.

 

[Rustyspider13]

We'll have to alter our playstyle if he is to play as a 10. So, I think he'll get his chances as an 8 after Pogba leaves. Right now the games are too important to try new midfield combinations. I'll only start worrying if he doesn't start vs Watford.

 

[Leonzo1]

He is the new Fred. People just need to relax, the guy is young and will get plenty of chances to show his qualities at our club.

Wasn't brought in as a world-class player that slots in the first 11 so what exactly is the issue? Only problem I have is we could have gone for a DM instead, but it is what is.

This. people losing the plot each game he doesn't start in. Probably just needs to adapt to the league and do better in training. He does not strike me as a sulking character that will kick a fuss about not playing. plenty of very high-quality players needed a season adapting to the PL. Fabinho barley played his first season, Fred barley played, Ndombele was awful, Pulisic took a long time adapting, and many many others. he'll get game time, especially since it looks like Pogba won't be here next season. Chill out guys.

 

[Alemar]

Could it be that VDB doesn’t actually show enough in training to warrant starts? Lately at least, OGS is clearly using merit as one of the important factors for team selection - we no longer have consistent underperformers starting.

VDB didn’t have many starts, but did he set the world alight? No, he was just...Ok. But Ok gives him a bench spot, in order to get more, doesn’t he also need to do more?