[united for life]

He went to Everton and saved then from relegation. Haters will say he was always injured and almost never played

on a more serious note, i really do not think he had a fair chance at united. Is it because he never performed in training, I do not know. But what I know is that he was a decent player at Ajax and a player that showed good ability on the ball and good passing. He will surely stay for next year and I hope ETH uses him wisely

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Everton playing a lot of fringe players today still no DVB.

 

[Lecland07]

He scored a goal - lost 5-1, though.

 

[NLunited]

No. Donny is a #10 and as a #10 he could be succesfull, also in the PL. But you have to understand that #10's come differently. You have creative #10s and there's 'running/receiving' #10s. Donny is clearly the second category. At United he's been used as a #6/#8 (in which he is average at best) or as a Bruno replacement. However, Bruno was the creative #10 and Donny doesn't have the same qualities. Yet, he had to fill in the role the same way. Obviously that wasn't going to be succesfull. Donny needs to play alongside a creative player like Bruno.

Donny could be succesfull with ETH, but it's not a given of course. It depends on which choice ETH makes. If he decides to play with a creative #10, this will clearly be Bruno and then I don't see much place for Donny in the team. If ETH decides to go with a 'running/receiving' #10 then Donny is probably the best option and I sincerely believe he can be successfull. The creativity can/must then come from the wings. I can see Bruno being used on the wings, as Ziyech was used as a creative winger at Ajax. Ziyech is also a creative #10 in nature but turned into a creative right winger with freedom the move to the inside and be creative. Ten Hag has used both of these variants at Ajax. He will obviously look at all the options available and then choose the system he thinks is optimal for the squad.

There is also the option of playing three at the back, like Holland did against Belgium. Assuming for a moment we get Frenkie the Jong, he had Berghuis and Klaassen in front of him, the two different types of 10’s mentioned playing together.

So, that would be Bruno and VdB.

I also can see Bruno playing as a creator from the wing, although I’m not sure that is the best use him.

 

[The Mitcher]

I genuinely do not see what Ten Hag sees in him.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I genuinely do not see what Ten Hag sees in him.

He literally managed him!

 

[The Mitcher]

He literally managed him!

So? A lot can change in two seasons, and the guy clearly can't cut it in the premier league. Loads of players have played under the same managers at different clubs and that doesn't always mean they are successful. If he doesn't impress after this season, he's out.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I genuinely do not see what Ten Hag sees in him.

Someone posted reddit post in ten Hag thread weeks ago about FC Utrecht fan opinion on what ten Hag might do to United. One of them was bringing his former players. He mentioned the former players he brought in were flop when ten Hag left but were very good and important when ten Hag was there. Just want to give you hints why ten Hag rates certain players who are not even good under different managers but can surprise you under ten Hag management.

 

[The Mitcher]

Someone posted reddit post in ten Hag thread weeks ago about FC Utrecht fan opinion on what ten Hag might do to United. One of them was bringing his former players. He mentioned the former players he brought in were flop when ten Hag left but were very good and important when ten Hag was there. Just want to give you hints why ten Hag rates certain players that might not even good under different managers.

We're in a different league, he may not even be good enough for Ten Hag in England. What works in the Dutch league, does not always work well in England. And as we've seen for two seasons now, Donny can't hack it.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

We're in a different league, he may not even be good enough for Ten Hag in England. What works in the Dutch league, does not always work well in England. And as we've seen for two seasons now, Donny can't hack it.

So the manager should just give up without even trying? Just want to warn you about ten Hag from what I watch in Ajax fan video, apparently he's one of the stubborn one who sticks to his players that he believes can do it.

 

[Poborsky's hair]

If he doesn't step up with his fav manager behind him than he's clearly not enough. Totally different player to Fernandes who will start so my bet he will start on the bench but get perhaps more minutes, when bruno wastes possession so much, and being more motivated and all we might see a turn of luck for him.

At the very worst if Bruno feels pressured and play to his best standards - great.
If Bruno doesn't, VDB can take his chance and if he doesn't we can see some other players step up like Mejbri

Other scenario is that he might get a chance as a no8 but that takes a lot of adjusting, all in all he got so lucky ETH came and he can have a proper restart.

 

[The Mitcher]

So the manager should just give up without even trying? Just want to warn you about ten Hag from what I watch in Ajax fan video, apparently he's one of the stubborn ones who sticks to his players that he believes can do it.

Even after it's blatantly obvious under three managers and two clubs that he's not fit for the league?

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Even after it's blatantly obvious under three managers and two clubs that he's not fit for the league?

I would expect one full season he would stick to VDB if he believes VDB is good enough. I doubt other managers would change his view and decision now. Ajax fans highlighted this as one of his weakness of being stubborn as they mentioned Blind and Haller were playing poorly for weeks or months but ten Hag sticked with them.

 

[tomaldinho1]

So? A lot can change in two seasons, and the guy clearly can't cut it in the premier league. Loads of players have played under the same managers at different clubs and that doesn't always mean they are successful. If he doesn't impress after this season, he's out.

You said you don’t know what he, his previous manager, sees in him…well he obviously knows him very well as a player. Let’s see, he seems quite a divisive player on here despite never having actually played a run of games so will be interesting to see. I rate him, always have and think he can still be a starter for us.

 

[The-Natural]

I'm still a believer.

 

[didz]

There is also the option of playing three at the back, like Holland did against Belgium. Assuming for a moment we get Frenkie the Jong, he had Berghuis and Klaassen in front of him, the two different types of 10’s mentioned playing together.

So, that would be Bruno and VdB.

I also can see Bruno playing as a creator from the wing, although I’m not sure that is the best use him.

I do think it was a mistake to use van de Beek as some kind of alternative to Bruno, given they're wildly different stylistically. Donny isn't really a creative player. He's a willing runner, clever in his use of space and a safe/unambitious passer.

That's the kind of player who benefits from a death-or-glory passer (Ziyech at Ajax, maybe Bruno here), so there could be something to that.

 

[sglowrider]

He will be on his last excuse here next season. From not being given a chance by Ole, Carrick and Ralf(?) to injuries.

Fraudster or a cog in the system player.

We will find out soon enough and finally put to rest any of the arguments in the last 150pages away. Thank god.... though 3rd time lucky maybe have some validation after that.

 

[NoPace]

I genuinely do not see what Ten Hag sees in him.

He saw him be a key part of the team that went to the Bernabeu and tore apart Real Madrid.

 

[The Boy]

Even after it's blatantly obvious under three managers and two clubs that he's not fit for the league?

3 shit managers and 2 teams in turmoil.

 

[sglowrider]

3 shit managers and 2 teams in turmoil.

I have a suspicion that top Ajax transfers are robotically optimised for the Ajax system only. Every outfield player seems to be sub-optimal the moment they leave Amsterdam unless you build the team around them.

 

[leon24]

He can be our Jordan Henderson.
Basically useless in other setups but thrives in a particular specialised system

 

[ash_86]

I have a suspicion that top Ajax transfers are robotically optimised for the Ajax system only. Every outfield player seems to be sub-optimal the moment they leave Amsterdam unless you build the team around them.

It's not unheard of actually . Remember the players we got from Dortmund used to flop right after they come to us. Kagawa, Mikhi (who was the player of the season in bundesliga the year we got him), even Sancho hasn't set the world on fire partly due to the change in system or lack off. They should all perform better given a proper system to work with.

 

[LoneStar]

He‘ll get a chance next season under ETH. I hope it works out this time, given we’ll likely be playing a system in which he was at his best before. Having said that, it’s optimism on my part. So far, he has shown absolutely nothing in a United shirt. The only thing is that he never got a proper run of games to prove himself.

 

[Olecurls99]

He‘ll get a chance next season under ETH. I hope it works out this time, given we’ll likely be playing a system in which he was at his best before. Having said that, it’s optimism on my part. So far, he has shown absolutely nothing in a United shirt. The only thing is that he never got a proper run of games to prove himself.

Yeah, he's played 3 90 minutes in the league for us in 2 years. I don't understand people who have decided he's not up to it.
I hope he establishes himself as our central midfielder. He's a lovely give and go player. Exactly the type of player we need to play Teny's system

 

[Olecurls99]

The comparison isn't very instructive though, because being small and average/slow in speed were specific weaknesses balanced against quality they had in many departments.

What are Donny's qualities? Nobody knows at this level. It's not as if he's poor just because he's slow and weak, he's poor because he's poor. There are about 10 reasons why. Seems disingenuous to point at somebody like Silva and say he did it despite being small. VDB doesn't have a tenth of his ability, that is the real issue here.

We haven't really seen him at this level though. If Silva played 3 full league matches in 2 years then we might have decided he wasn't up to it.

 

[Abraxas]

We haven't really seen him at this level though. If Silva played 3 full league matches in 2 years then we might have decided he wasn't up to it.

The difference is there is no way in hell two managers would not have seen the quality of David Silva, one of the best players to grace the PL. That requires a massive stretch of the imagination.

At the moment VDB can hide behind all of these managers being unsuccessful, or at least that seems to be the argument (even though he is the common denominator, we seem quick to blame managers rather than player responsibility). He did have an injury hit period at Everton, but he wasn't fantastic there either, would they be knocking the door down to buy him? Sometimes he was even left on the Everton bench.

He's been poor in England, everything from getting himself in a team to performing when he has been given minutes. Now the question is has he got a lifeline? ETH was probably the only thing that could have happened to think that might be the case.

 

[roonster09]

I have a suspicion that top Ajax transfers are robotically optimised for the Ajax system only. Every outfield player seems to be sub-optimal the moment they leave Amsterdam unless you build the team around them.

Not a problem, we have bought the system itself

On a serious note, there is no hiding now. All the excuses on adaptability, managers is over. We have signed the manager who made good use of him, played him regularly in most important games. So at least he should be rotational player, if not then there is something wrong and we have to sell him in Jan.

 

[PedroMendez]

Another one in a long line of players, that gets better the longer he hasn't played. I wish him the best, because he seems to be a nice and humble guy, but it would be a miracle, if he had a significant impact next season. He played like 2000 minutes in the last three seasons and only half of that in the league. I don't understand how people can have high hopes for him.

 

[GL21]

Best possible scenario for Donny so here's hoping. I believe he will rise to it. Has been very unfortunate so far since leaving Ajax, either with injury, shit managers, wrong systems, barely tried in his most effective position. He'll be a shining light this season

 

[VanDeBank]

I genuinely do not see what Ten Hag sees in him.

How do you know what ETH sees in him?

 

[ColvaleGoa]

I think DvB might be bit of a lightweight for PL. He got talent but it gets lost in hustle bustle of PL? Might do wonders in any other league?

 

[Ali Dia]

He’s still a saleable asset but I’m sure ETH will give him more games next season. Just a decent shot in the rotation. I doubt he’s going to become a major player for us or anyone else to be honest. System guy, tidy player. Not much else to say

 

[RuudTom83]

What he has shown in the Prem hasn’t been anywhere near good enough.

BUT he now knows what the league is like, has a manager who knows him well…and maybe most important he has a break to get his body/mind ready for next season.

Let’s hope.

 

[themanguydude]

I think DvB might be bit of a lightweight for PL. He got talent but it gets lost in hustle bustle of PL? Might do wonders in any other league?

I doubt it, he's a system player.

It might not even work out if he goes back to Ajax because the guy that created said system is now at our club.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

He's familiar with ETH's system so that should help him. He might be utilised as a CAM (his preferred position) with Bruno being pushed to the left or right and Sancho on the other end.

 

[Real Name]

We're in a different league, he may not even be good enough for Ten Hag in England. What works in the Dutch league, does not always work well in England. And as we've seen for two seasons now, Donny can't hack it.

I still think ETH is an expert more than 'we' are.

 

[Abraxas]

What is this system stuff all about? I can't see any great meaning in it.

Isn't a top player good in a system anyway? I can't think of any good player that isn't good in one, it's a prerequisite, this is football we're talking about not freestyling - they all go into systems so what distinguishes VDB except that we need to line up an explanation for his performances?

Is it to be translated to mean pretty mediocre but if you surround X player by quality players he might look better? That doesn't seem right as it applies to any player. Or does it mean this player is not adaptable at all and can only play if everything is setup for him? Which also means all the other players have to be setup for him, if the concept is taken to its logical conclusion.

Nope, I think you have to be of a certain calibre to begin with and then hopefully you can play in the manager's system. Of course you start by buying suitable players but we seem to be absolving players of all responsibility to use their brain and adapt and if they don't there are "systems" or it's the manager's fault. How do we even know that the "system" is decisive? He was good at Ajax (by all accounts), poor for us and mediocre for Everton so is it a system or a specific club or league or both?

 

[sglowrider]

Not a problem, we have bought the system itself

Majaxter United.

I bet if ETH does well, don't be surprised if we have an orange 3rd kit one day.

 

[Beachryan]

If you accept that Bruno will be starting every match, that means there are 2 other central midfield positions available. If Donny is one, we would need a full-time, tireless dedicated DMF as the other, because otherwise we will have even less defensively soliditiy than with McFred.

A midfield of (hypothetically) De Jong, De Beek and Fernandes is simply a joke and would be destroyed.

I think the issue with Donny is while he absolutely can work as part of a midfield 3, it can't be a 3 where one of the others is Bruno.

If ETH goes for some other formation than 433 then maybe it'd work, like with a back 5 or maybe if Bruno is a full on forward.

 

[roonster09]

Majaxter United.

I bet if ETH does well, don't be surprised if we have an orange 3rd kit one day.

We almost had that in 2015-16 isn't it, Champions league kit.

Spoiler: Kit