[sglowrider]

Based on what he is saying here, ETH is trying to rebuild Donnie's confidence.

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/footbal...win-over-real-sociedad_vid1771941/video.shtml

So I have a suspicion he wont get sold any6time soon.

 

[kouroux]

That’s shocking for someone who’s playing in our no.10 playmaker position.

True, nothing can justify it it

 

[bringbackbebe]

That’s shocking for someone who’s playing in our no.10 playmaker position.

He's not a play maker. I'm not sure what exactly he is, but I think we should be more positive. Quite certain he'll eventually be a valuable backup, given how rigorous our U-21 schedule is.

 

[Marcus]

I think he is a decent attacking option. Just coming back from injury is not easy. But let's see how he progresses. I hope he proves us all wrong.

 

[Tarrou]

A low bar perhaps, but Donny does not shit his pants the way Fred and McTominay do. Anyone who argues all three should go have a reasonable argument, but anyone who argues that Fred and McTominay should remain on the squad but Donny should not — for footballing, not resale value, reasons — needs a new pair of specs.

what on earth are you seeing to get this impression?

he offers absolutely feck all in a United shirt and those two at least contribute something

 

[berbasloth4]

Donny clearly isn't good enough for us. He obviously isn't showing in training he is good enough. 3 managers now 4 if you include carrick choose not to use him.

He was brilliant at ajax yes but maybe the pressure the physicality and the lack of time on the ball is against him. Would probably rip it up in Italy.

 

[crossy1686]

Jonathan Greening won a champions league. I don't really get your point.

Have they not proved themselves more than VDB at a higher level? And would you have them starting for United also? Or can we just accept that having a few good games at Ajax doesn't mean he's up to the standards we required?

 

[crossy1686]

Based on what he is saying here, ETH is trying to rebuild Donnie's confidence.

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/footbal...win-over-real-sociedad_vid1771941/video.shtml

So I have a suspicion he wont get sold any6time soon.

He would have gone if we didn't lose two midfielders last summer. If we can replace bodies in January or next summer he'll be off.

 

[Strelok]

I think he is a decent attacking option. Just coming back from injury is not easy. But let's see how he progresses. I hope he proves us all wrong.

Yeah it's his first game for a while and tbf we're playing with Ronaldo which means we had no system whatsoever. I've been critical of him for his entire time here but I'd like to see him in a game where we can play with a proper system.

ETH made hell of a RB out of Dalot, turned DDG into a modern sweep keeper, turned Martial into god mod etc. he seems to have a real magic touch on his players. Let's be patient and give him a couple more games before we write him off again I think.

 

[harms]

I defended him longer than most but that was atrocious. I realized that I almost forgot that he was even at the club when the line up was announced and that feeling hasn't changed throughout the game.

We've had some other poor performers in that game like Eriksen or Cristiano (nice assist though) but at least they showed up.

 

[Name Changed]

Have they not proved themselves more than VDB at a higher level? And would you have them starting for United also? Or can we just accept that having a few good games at Ajax doesn't mean he's up to the standards we required?

I don't know how you got any of that from what I said.

 

[nakpodiareuben]

Donny clearly isn't good enough for us. He obviously isn't showing in training he is good enough. 3 managers now 4 if you include carrick choose not to use him.

He was brilliant at ajax yes but maybe the pressure the physicality and the lack of time on the ball is against him. Would probably rip it up in Italy.

He now looks like a lazy player to me. In England, you have to fight in that position he is playing. I now seriously doubt he will make it here. We will loan him back to Ajax very soon and he will remain in the eredivise or maybe a Southampton but not united quality

 

[crossy1686]

I don't know how you got any of that from what I said.

It wasn't you, you quoted me, quoting some other poster who said VDB could make it at United because he has proven himself at a higher level already

 

[Floyd]

A low bar perhaps, but Donny does not shit his pants the way Fred and McTominay do.

Why would he shit his pants, he's never on the ball. Hell, I could jog out there for 90 minutes doing nothing except making sure I didn't mess up our offside line.

 

[Champ]

A low bar perhaps, but Donny does not shit his pants the way Fred and McTominay do. Anyone who argues all three should go have a reasonable argument, but anyone who argues that Fred and McTominay should remain on the squad but Donny should not — for footballing, not resale value, reasons — needs a new pair of specs.

McT has done more in one game this season than Donny in his whole time here.

I recall people giving McT horrendous abuse for that Chelsea game last season, yet even in that he had 41 touches.
Donny had 13 touches in an hour, that's embarrassing.
He has hit rock bottom, yet still people still find a way to back him up whilst simultaneously sticking the knife into McT.

This place is really really baffling me at the moment.

 

[TMDaines]

He really did have a mare:

 

[RonaldoVII]

It should have been no surprise to anyone who's watched him since he signed how anonymous he was. Should've been shipped out last summer, let alone this summer. Hopefully that was his last game and someone will take him off our hands in January.

 

[JPRouve]

He really did have a mare:

I feel need to make that point because even Opta workers are making that silly mistake. The percentage is meaningless because the sample is too small and pass completion becomes extremely reliant on context. The big issue here is that the sample is incredibly small for a midfielder even an attacking one. I barely watched the game so I won't be able to answer that question, was he acting as a second striker or advanced midfielder?

 

[Verminator]

I feel need to make that point because even Opta workers are making that silly mistake. The percentage is meaningless because the sample is too small and pass completion becomes extremely reliant on context. The big issue here is that the sample is incredibly small for a midfielder even an attacking one. I barely watched the game so I won't be able to answer that question, was he acting as a second striker or advanced midfielder?

Hard to say.
It was like a celebrity, who doesn't play, being given a run-out, who is constantly running the opposite way to the flow of the game.

 

[JPRouve]

Hard to say.
It was like a celebrity, who doesn't play, being given a run-out, who is constantly running the opposite way to the flow of the game.

 

[Sunny Jim]

I think he is a decent attacking option. Just coming back from injury is not easy. But let's see how he progresses. I hope he proves us all wrong.

What makes you think he is a decent attacking option? He scored 2 goals for us and 1 for Everton

 

[Oldham]

Funny to watch his reputation being build up on Redcafe... until he plays and everyone can see how shit he is...
Just a waste of space. Why not play one of our youngsters?

 

[Real Name]

Hard to say.
It was like a celebrity, who doesn't play, being given a run-out, who is constantly running the opposite way to the flow of the game.

This. So much this. He ran and ran and ran but for no purpose whatsoever.

 

[Onerealunited]

Funny to watch his reputation being build up on Redcafe... until he plays and everyone can see how shit he is...
Just a waste of space. Why not play one of our youngsters?

So much agreeing with you. I don’t think Iqbal for example would have done it worse

 

[Brophs]

He now looks like a lazy player to me. In England, you have to fight in that position he is playing. I now seriously doubt he will make it here. We will loan him back to Ajax very soon and he will remain in the eredivise or maybe a Southampton but not united quality

I don’t think he’s lazy. I think his confidence is shot because the club and the stage are too big for him.

 

[sebsheep]

Hard to say.
It was like a celebrity, who doesn't play, being given a run-out, who is constantly running the opposite way to the flow of the game.

That's genuinely so close to the truth.
Never really got into the game. First start in a while but how many more chances do you get if you put in a performance like that?

Not entirely sure how he got a 6.6 from sofascore.

 

[largelyworried]

I really feel for this guy, his career is just on the rocks. He was undeniably good at Ajax. Also undeniable is that he's barely played 5 good games for United. Obviously we should assume he'll leave in the summer. The question is whether we should try and get a few games out of him before then.

 

[MadDogg]

13 touches in the first half. The least of any player on the pitch. Including both teams.

One of these days I want to specifically watch him in a match just to see how he manages to be so anonymous. McTominay at least is noticeable with how his movement and positioning leaves him in areas where it's difficult to receive the ball a lot of the time, but Donny isn't even noticeable. It just feels like he's not even out there most of the time.

The only time he's been remotely impressive to me was in the last couple of games of his first season and a few games in the beginning of his second season. All in a central midfield position rather than the #10 where he always just seems to vanish. He still wasn't particularly good even in that period, but it's the only time that he's been here where he was showing aggression and a willingness to make something happen.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Yeah he's not a good 10, he just isn't dynamic enough. Good when the ball comes into him, but he just isn't strong enough or quick enough.

With even more CM competition, I don't see his future here unfortunately.

 

[Gaiialia]

The problem with Donny yesterday was that I didn't see him being truly active, chasing the ball, or trying to make an impact on the game.

It makes sense that he's out of confidence at the moment. The last two years have been a nightmare for him. Do we have time and patience to give him? I think we do. ETH has been working with 15-16 players to get an initial tactical idea set. Now I'm guessing we're going to see more players coming in. Donny is one ETH knows well.

All said I think this season is the time he has to prove himself valid. Let's see what happens!

 

[MadDogg]

He was brilliant at ajax yes but maybe the pressure the physicality and the lack of time on the ball is against him. Would probably rip it up in Italy.

He wasn't even brilliant at Ajax. He was good and played his part, but he was never one of their key players.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I think he’ll start at the weekend. Feel like Eriksen is overdue a rest so we might genuinely get a McFreek midfield given Bruno’s suspension.

 

[Oldyella]

Hard to say.
It was like a celebrity, who doesn't play, being given a run-out, who is constantly running the opposite way to the flow of the game.

Perfect description of his game last night. Totally out of synch with everything happening around him.

A shame it hasn't worked out for him here, but he's on borrowed time as we continue to improve the squad. Not sure he would bring much in sales wise though.

 

[Fortitude]

This bloke's movement is so elite he eludes even his own team mates

 

[Brophs]

He’ll be 26 at the end of this season. He’s been here 2 & 1/2 years, playing 35 games in all competitions, the majority of which were as a sub, with a half season on loan at Everton thrown in, where he played 7 games and wasn’t first choice. And we’re still sitting here wondering whether he can be a big player for us, all while he can’t get games under the manager he’s had his most successful spell under.

This one isn’t tricky. Wrong player, wrong time.

 

[sugar_kane]

It's really concerning how casual he was yesterday considering 1. this is the manager who he made his name under, and who's style he should be familiar with 2. this is (not for the first time) a chance to relaunch his career

I couldn't believe what I was seeing yesterday at points where he was strolling around or backing out of challenges. Perhaps it's a fitness thing, but if I was a betting man I would say with almost absolute certainty it's not going to work out for him here.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

He wasn't even brilliant at Ajax. He was good and played his part, but he was never one of their key players.

Yep, De Ligt was the rock at the back. De Jong was the build-up, Ziyech was the creative hub, Tadic was the star forward. Van de Beek was more of a right place at right time sort of guy.

Thing is he could probably work alright now with Casemiro and Eriksen, because it's a proper midfield and Eriksen can take on the ball-playing role and we need someone making clever late runs into the box. The problem is that he's too similar to Bruno for that though still and not as good. Just a terrible fit for United and a weird signing. His confidence is also shot and understandably seems to have lost motivation for the club when he was messed around so much for two years.

 

[sglowrider]

I really feel for this guy, his career is just on the rocks. He was undeniably good at Ajax. Also undeniable is that he's barely played 5 good games for United. Obviously we should assume he'll leave in the summer. The question is whether we should try and get a few games out of him before then.

 

[largelyworried]

I guess thats an emoji of some type, but I have them blocked so Im not sure which one. Either way if you could elaborate that'd be great.

 

[sglowrider]

Thing is he could probably work alright now with Casemiro and Eriksen, because it's a proper midfield and Eriksen can take on the ball-playing role and we need someone making clever late runs into the box. The problem is that he's too similar to Bruno for that though still and not as good. Just a terrible fit for United and a weird signing. His confidence is also shot and understandably seems to have lost motivation for the club when he was messed around so much for two years.

Messed around? Its not like he wasn't given any chances. He just doesn't seem to want to grab those opportunities with both hands.

Every time he plays its the same. Insipid. I have not noticed any progression at all after 2 1/2yrs.