I think his passing range is very questionable from what I've seen so far. Its one thing having good positional play and having a decent short to mid passing game (which he does), but his mid to long range passing is arguably worse than even McTominay and Fred (who aren't great shakes at it either). And there's definitely something to be said about his aversion to playing a killer forward pass. It's weird, it almost reminds me of the LvG days where we'd do a whole complicated build up phase to create a slight opening for a killer pass only to promptly pass it sideways or backwards. It's frustrating because I want him to be better and I know he can be better.
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I think his passing range is very questionable from what I've seen so far. Its one thing having good positional play and having a decent short to mid passing game (which he does), but his mid to long range passing is arguably worse than even McTominay and Fred (who aren't great shakes at it either). And there's definitely something to be said about his aversion to playing a killer forward pass. It's weird, it almost reminds me of the LvG days where we'd do a whole complicated build up phase to create a slight opening for a killer pass only to promptly pass it sideways or backwards. It's frustrating because I want him to be better and I know he can be better.
Be like a new signing if we can get him firing this season 
He's definitely got the passing range, he just prefers to keep it shorter. Look at the videos from his Ajax days and he can smack it long no problem.
The issue is Ajax players are taught to keep the ball short, play it to the easy available player. Work your way up the pitch efficiently.
Ole doesn't want his players doing that, he wants quickest route to goal and the killer pass if available.
As a 10 that's important and that's why he looks "too safe" compared to Fernandes, but as a deeper CM playing safer and keeping the ball moving is more important.
He played as the deeper CM against Wolves at the end of the season and had is best performance. He's better where he doesn't have to run and just use the ball.
Jacked VDB is going to be a revelation this season.
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How did he do today?
Looked better.
Looked robust and assured. Prepared for the PL.
Looked fantastic as a number 8 today, just like the Wolves game last year.
Hope to see him getting more opportunities there going forward
Hope to see him getting more opportunities there going forward
From that half alone his level of preparation looks higher than Pogba's.
I thought our midfield was overrun when he was on
nice. Missed the first half so I didn't get to see him play. Hopefully he can kickstart his United career this season
Matic was fantastic. He was the one bringing VDB into the game.
I don't think Donny did much to show he could do it himself. But it's too early to say how he's going to adapt when the football actually starts.
I don't think Donny did much to show he could do it himself. But it's too early to say how he's going to adapt when the football actually starts.
I think it just proves how a quality DM will allow all of our midfielders to play better. A quality DM sitting next to either mctom, Fred, dvb or Pogba will work.
I really wanted OLE to give him a chance and for him to get an extended run in the team but today's performance was underwhelming.
Matic was the better player against an average Everton midfield.
By half time we were 3-0 up, had about 60% possession and had restricted them to 0 shots on goal.
I'm not sure how being "overrun" is actually meant to manifest itself but in this case it didn't stop us from completely dominating the game.
I must have been watching a different game. I thought both Matic and Donny were superb and completely dominated the midfield. Everton were chasing shadows in the first half.
I still don't see why we play him in CM when his best performances for Ajax in the CL were much further up the pitch.
We have rarely played him in centre midfield.
They had one attack where one of their midfielders got past VDB about 20 minutes in. That’s clearly being overrun
we have rarely played him anywhere tbf
That’s true. I think until the Wolves match, most games where he played deeper were short cameos off the bench. There were times when he was playing that he was essentially playing as a striker last season on the shoulders of the centre backs. Complaining we play him too deep is baffling to me.
Compared to his previous outings it was positive, but Matic and Fred are still better right now. As soon as they started to press, they were able to bypass him easily.
Pogba played today more as LM/LW hybrid, more part of the front-3 than part of the midfield. McTom played CB. I wish that indicates, that the lesson has been learned esp. regarding Pogba. Fred played way better than expected as a single-pivot. If we really switch to a system with two 8's most of yesteryears lessons don't carry a lot of substance because the roles are pretty different. Might well be that we see some players reach unthinkable heights because they can play a role that fits their skill set the best. Of course it applies in the other direction as well.
Agreed. The match confirmed what we know about Donny, he is a good footballer but there aren't much strong indicators that he is capable of playing b2b. He lacks the spacial awareness in defensive terms in my mind. And that isn't shocking at all because thats nothing you should expect a player to be able to be when you by an SS/10 like player.
For me it stays a weird transfer for now. But of course there is a chance, that Donny will find a way to flourish.
We were 3-0 up when DVB went off and De Gea could have brought a deckchair.
Jesus I swear most people here don’t actually watch our matches 
He was good, and did his job well. Everton had a lot more of the ball when both him and Matic went off.
I actually think that he makes too many intelligent runs when playing as a CM even for his own team mates to pick him out or utelise him.
It kind of looks like he is hiding away from getting the ball - but instead he is moving to positions that require quick passes that have high chances of being intercepted by the opposition.
He should be playing further up & I understand that Bruno is better but VDB doesn't seem to be playing in his Ajax position here at United.
United will dominate the majority of matches and the game will mostly be played in the opposing half. DVB will then obviously play a more forward. Basically, playing alongside Bruno as a number 10 and will also be able to float around finding pockets of space. It's just those tough matches we will need more naturally defensively-minded players.
If you're a midfielder that get's into a CB position to distribute the ball without being pressed, you're gonna have an easier time than when you have a dude breathing down your neck every time you receive the ball. Not to take anything away from Matic's performance, but it's strange to compare two completely different roles. It's like saying "Maguire's fantastic, he brought Donny into the game". Matic wasn't in midfield when we had possession, and let's not pretend he buzzed around the pitch like Fred out of possession, either.
Well, Bruno was often a lot of more adventurous than shown in the image above. With him all over the place, and Matic deep, Donny can get isolated at times.
They had one attack where one of their midfielders got past VDB about 20 minutes in. That’s clearly being overrun
I'm pretty sure that was when he made a poor tackle to recover someone else's hospital pass, or was it a different moment?
He went to sleep one time defending in his own box. Other than those 2 (or 3) moments he did alright, but it needs improving if he wants to challenge McTominay. For now, it's good he's shown Ole Wolves last season wasn't an anomaly.
Yeah I think that was it. He was fine, pretty decent in possession and showed for the ball. Encouraging but hopefully he actually kicks on.
We were well on top. Not that it matters, but id like to see stats, as it just seemed like him, Bruno and Matic clicked and we saw none of them take too many touches on the ball and released it quickly.
He did look like he was trying to put himself about more and go into challenges which is a good sign.
He did look like he was trying to put himself about more and go into challenges which is a good sign.
Please remember to puff and pass. I want to smoke what you’re smoking
True and pretty promising in theory. That is why I am looking forward to see it. But still, Donnys skillset isn't the traditional B2B. And my feeling is, this will show. At latest around 10 or 12 weeks into the season, when opposition managers have a clearer picture of our setup and intentions and when there is some data available, which approaches makes us struggle the most. And if it turns out, that suddenly being very aggressive in midfield to crush our already thin midfield it might result in a completely different picture than last season.
Football is so great, looking forward to see that so much.
And by the way, thanks for promotion
Fully agree on this. And this is some sort of reoccuring issue. We had more or less the same thing when we played Pogba, Matic and Bruno together earlier in Oles reign. As long as Matic is evading pressure so often that he plays along with the CBs (I don't think, this is a problem in general, but Matic stays there to long which then increases the problems in the buitup) AND Bruno interprets his midfield role as the one of a striker, we could have Prime Gullit and he would struggle to create a working midfield just because of the numeric disadvantage. Us having Pogba there or Donny, increases the bad effects and this is one of the main reasons we either have to adjust Brunos role in games, where Matic is playing or Matic cannot play.
Exciting to see him today. Looked like a new signing tbh.
Nothing great but not bad too.
What game were you watching? We had 60% possession, playing some nice stuff. Everton’s best period of the game came in the 2nd half when we changed it.
No, it wasn't. We dominated the entire first half. Everton was trying only counter.
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