It fits in with some of the chat that there was a plan for Van de Beek and that despite barely any game time both he and the manager were on the same page. Obviously he now has to prove himself this season.I noticed he’d bulked up against wolves last year. Maguire has even made a comment about it on Instagram saying he better not stretch the armband too muchIt indicates he’s going to be playing deeper you’d think? He’s brilliant technically but I’m still not sure he has the dynamism Ole requires from his midfielders. He also needs to get involved more.
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he was ok, his movement passing wise is very quick. He had a nice little run where he mazed through three players, the pass was just a little too short for the run.. Really rooting for him and want to see him do well, he can be a big player for us.
He takes up the most bizarre places on the field where he's surrounded by 2/3 players.
I like to say its done on purpose, as a sign of making space for others, but he keeps asking for the ball.
Anyway, underwhelming cameo again.
Garner, though he was intent on injuring players, was far more eager in trying to influence proceedings.
I like to say its done on purpose, as a sign of making space for others, but he keeps asking for the ball.
Anyway, underwhelming cameo again.
Garner, though he was intent on injuring players, was far more eager in trying to influence proceedings.
Don’t be silly, look at the hair.
Yes, I don’t see what he brings, although he could become a deeper lying playmaker in time maybe?
That's the way it's played. Just because he kept asking for the ball when he is marked so tightly don't mean that it should be passed to him. He is no Berba I agree for the ball to be passed when he has a player on him. I think he will become a decent player for us.
My thoughts exactly. It seems he's a kind of player who could help us to keep the ball under pressure, he really is comfortable in tight spaces and surrounded by opponents. I also feel he's much more involved when playing deeper, what is beneficial for the team as well.
I like him off the ball as well, he's decent tackler although a bit too eager for me liking. Still, I wouldn't call him an attacking midfielder playing as a CM, as he looks very comfortable in deeper areas.
Like you mentioned, the biggest concern is about his fitness. Last season even when VdB started he looked exhausted after 60', I can't tell if he ever finished a game.
He needs a consistent run of 10-12 games in the first XI without being subbed for every one of those games. Then we might see the real DVB. Hopefully Van Gaal will make him central to his plans for the national team and boost his confidence as well.
I really hope he proves the doubters wrong this season. The way he's been written off so easily just shows the fickle nature of our supporters.
He can only show his best with 10-12 games, I agree with that.....but he has to earn the right to get them, so far he hasnt shown anything to deserve a run of games, has to take the admittedly scant opportunities he has had.
Personally, what is the real VDB anyway? I always thought he was pretty much a more energetic Dann Blind in midfield when he was at Ajax, not a bad thing.....but liek Blind not worth shelling out the transfer fee in my opinion.
I honestly think he will be gone next summer
He’s not going to get enough game time if Pogba stays anyway so he’s better choose his decision wisely.
Goretzka buffed up and started playing like an absolute monster. Hopefully the same can happen with VDB
He will come good, either in a double 8 in a 433 formation or in Pogbas expected absence as a double pivot, both with him as much as with Pogba we need a proper defensive CDM by their side.
Just his luck that Ole said he would start the Preston game and then it's cancelled!
Would love to see a transformed DVB owning our midfield.
All the muscle in the world won’t make him less gutless when passing the ball.
Realistically we are only signing one central midfielder this window, if that. Therefore I'm beginning to lean more towards signing a natural defensive midfielder and giving VDB a chance alongside him.
That sounds nice but need to see him begin to look a Manchester United for a handful of games before getting my hopes up. Been absolutely woeful in hid United career thus far.
Rashford & Shaw were playing through injuries, Bruno was being played into the ground and now his own teammates set VDB on fire. What kind of squad are we builiding...
As first choice?? VDB first needs to show that he's actually good enough to play for us even as a squad player. No point in planning with him as a starter in mind at this stage.
Garner out performed him the other night.
And yet he only got 14 minutes against Brentford, despite OGS promising 20-30 minutes before the match.
He can bulk up in the gym all he likes. I'm not going to get excited about him until something actually changes on the pitch.
He can bulk up in the gym all he likes. I'm not going to get excited about him until something actually changes on the pitch.
It is a bit optimistic, granted. I'd just like to see something a bit different from McFred. Pogba in a pivot doesn't really work, so VDB is the closest thing we have to a nice technical midfield player. I do think that Fred will be an automatic starter though and any midfield signing will oust McTominay.
This has been the biggest concern for me with VDB.
So negative with the passing, even when he was given chances and we were playing some excellent counterattacking football at the time, he would ignore the killer pass and play it square, absolutely killing the counter.
When he gets his next chance he absolutely has to be more progressive with his passing and also ensure he’s not anonymous on the pitch, stand up and try to dictate things.
Delusional take.
Donny played 12 minutes after returning from injury and looked fine. Garner has been absolutely invisible this preseason and has been outperformed by Levitt.
Might not have put it quite as harshly as that but I agree with the sentiment. If Donny sees himself playing deeper he needs to change his game. Currently he's way too risk averse on the ball and doesn't make himself available for the pass when a teammate is on the ball.
I always thought he looked more comfortable playing closer to goal. His first couple of games for us in the Carabao when he was playing little flicks around the corner and making late runs into the box is the most promise I've seen from him in a United shirt.
He was set to start the Preston game. United were being very careful with his minutes against Brentford, he had only trained for a couple of days before that match.
Donny Van De Baek ? no no no, Donny Van De Hulk
I think and hope that he can be re-trained as a deep-lying playmaker, but it will take time. He certainly has the brains to learn that role though.
But why would you want him to do that when his best attributes are finding free spaces and standing inside the box ? that makes no sense mate
People have never seen him play for Ajax. He has been brought up to play in a different way. They move the ball to space and not to the player. If he played like that he would be passing to no one. That's probably one of the reasons why he was playing " safe".
German players usually struggle too in midfield when they come to the PL.
I don't think he would be good as a DM.
German players usually struggle too in midfield when they come to the PL.
I don't think he would be good as a DM.
I really hope he'll make it here eventually but he is not even close to a deep lying playmaker. He's a very similar player to Aaron Ramsey or Thomas muller. Actually The player he is most similar to in our squad is Jesse. Watched him quite a bit when he played for Ajax, He excells with a free role close to the box that allows him to roam around and play quick interplay with the forawrds. Unfortunately we rarely play this type of player from the start but I reckon if he can retain some of his form he will be extremely useful against a low block defense.
I can see a big season from him especially if we move to a 433, the biggest thing I noticed with him was his spacial awareness, he would often find himself making top runs through opposition back lines but more often than not, never got the ball. Think he would link good with Sancho too as they are both always on the move and like to pass into the space.
Come one Donny!
Come one Donny!
His mindset will.
If that’s the case he won’t make it at Utd. The only chance he has is developing into a number 8 in one of the deeper positions. Personally he’s performed far far better in that role for Utd and that’s where he has his best opportunities. I think he has a chance considering his ability to retain the ball under possession. With confidence his passing could improve too.
To be honest, a young midfielder in his first year for the biggest club for England isn't going to set the world alight if his chances are sporadic.
Paul Scholes had spoken on it too, even though he's a bizarre pundit at times I think he knows his midfielders and what helps them - and he has also said VDB needs games in succession to be able to make an impact and find that chemistry with his peers. Playing one game, then not the next 7, then playing 15 minutes at the end of the game, the playing cup matches with the second string etc, that's not going to help him.
Of course there is an element of him being wasteful too and not taking the chances proactively whilst he's on the pitch. For example he shone against Southampton and was one of the best players on the pitch by far, then he was anonymous vs West Ham. So yes there is an element of him needing to do better but I think if he was given more consecutive chances we'd see him more consistent.
Midfielders often need to play themselves into the team to get on that consistent run they are capable of. We have seen many midfielders take a long time to settle into the team and get consistency - be it Fred after his terrible start for us, or better players like Fabinho at the start for Liverpool, or Rodri for City.
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