[Ekeke]

Absolutely doesnt get into the game enough in AM. Needs to come deep and play some passing moves and switch play like Bruno does. Has played there a bunch of times now, I dont think he's ever done well in that position for us and there are no signs that its about to click.

That said you can still see him making runs and calling for the ball several times in a row, only for his teammates to decide against playing the pass behind for him and going backwards and sideways again. He and the players around him are not on the same wavelength at all.

At this point its hard not say we should just sell him in the summer and replace him with someone who might come in and be more effective. I'd still rather see him start in CM than Fred though, which says more about the latter

 

[Lentwood]

The most damning thing about DvdB is that you can't ever say he has played "badly" because its not like he takes bad touches, makes bad passes, loses possession etc...

The damning thing is he does absolutely nothing, ever. In fact, I can't remember one game in, what, three seasons were he made a significant contribution for an extended period.

It's basically the equivalent of what would happen if a well-meaning fan with a good football brain played. Lots of running about and pointing but not able to get anywhere near the ball

 

[sglowrider]

Honestly this is the most insightful thing I’ve read about him. Beek can basically do one thing - if - everyone else around him has been drilled into providing that moment for him.
I’ve given up on him after today.

I admire your optimistic outlook on life. I think most of us here gave up on him a year ago.

Now I know who I can contact if I suffer from mental health challenges.

 

[sglowrider]

The most damning thing about DvdB is that you can't ever say he has played "badly" because its not like he takes bad touches, makes bad passes, loses possession etc...

The damning thing is he does absolutely nothing, ever. In fact, I can't remember one game in, what, three seasons were he made a significant contribution for an extended period.

It's basically the equivalent of what would happen if a well-meaning fan with a good football brain played. Lots of running about and pointing but not able to get anywhere near the ball

He will have the shortest Youtube highlight video of his time at United ever in the history of Manchester United -- and possibly in the world. He will lower the bar for any prospective transfer target after his video, a multiple medal winner that cost $35million..

 

[pocco]

Remember the stories that he was wanted by Real Madrid shortly before we swooped in? No fecking chance.

 

[sglowrider]

Remember the stories that he was wanted by Real Madrid shortly before we swooped in? No fecking chance.

They will not only wave the white handkerchiefs at him but then after the match, hire busses and go to his home and proceed to wave more of it there.

 

[Bebestation]

Lingard was much better

 

[Parma Dewol]

I'm at the sympathy stage now. He can surely play football - and really quite well going by previous compilations - but his move to United has been an absolute disaster.

Form, fitness and confidence have all deserted him and surely there's no way back now. He isn't the first and won't be the last to have crumbled under the pressure at United. You wonder if he'll ever get his career back on track. Surely he has to move on, and quickly, to salvage whatever years he has left

 

[Kostov]

Sell, he brings absolutely nothing.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Saw motd 2 post match and Micah Richards highlighted him essentially coasting through the game. Always felt he was a pure system player because he has absolutely nothing about him. The amount of fecking dross the previous regime left Ten Hag. Can only assume he’ll return to Ajax at some stage for probably half of what we paid but at this stage it’s the best we’d get.

 

[Salus Populi Suprema Lex]

I feel sorry for the guy; things just haven't worked out. When push comes to shove, he isn't good enough. He looks lost and completely devoid of confidence. One of a number of squad players who need to be cleared out of the club. It's clear Ten Hag has no faith in him.

 

[Hughes35]

He's useless. Offers absolutely nothing, I honestly don't know what he brings to the table.

We need to get rid of him asap.

 

[Luka Mora]

I feel sorry for the guy; things just haven't worked out. When push comes to shove, he isn't good enough. He looks lost and completely devoid of confidence. One of a number of squad players who need to be cleared out of the club. It's clear Ten Hag has no faith in him.

Agree and he doesn't deserve abuse just because he's not good enough. He tried to move last summer but Ole blocked it while assuring him he'd be given game time which he didn't get.

There's no shame not being good enough for United, we were stupid enough to pay 40 million for him, more fool us than anyone.

 

[Grande]

The most damning thing about DvdB is that you can't ever say he has played "badly" because its not like he takes bad touches, makes bad passes, loses possession etc...

The damning thing is he does absolutely nothing, ever. In fact, I can't remember one game in, what, three seasons were he made a significant contribution for an extended period.

It's basically the equivalent of what would happen if a well-meaning fan with a good football brain played. Lots of running about and pointing but not able to get anywhere near the ball

Yesterday it was actually possible to see the bad and good of DvdB. First 25m his deffnsive positioning was good, but he was otherwize totally anonymous, like often with us before. Second part of first half, he was very good, getting on the ball, speeding play, having a big function in us dominating play then. Second half was stop start.

If we play quick pass-and-move, he will speed up play and help penetration. If not, he will become invisible and can’t force the issue.

 

[crossy1686]

No one is going to take him lads, he's here until his contract runs down

 

[romufc]

Isn't this what people were calling for? Eriksen, Casemiro, Donny midfield?

He had 85% passing which is what everyone wants with Bruno right?

 

[Member 109952]

People give Pogba stick and for the price tag, but Pogba gave us many good games.. inconsistent yes but early on under Mourinho and in Oles first season he had very good spells.

At half the price at £40m I'd have VDB as our worst signing post SAF quite easily. You don't get half of what Pogba gave us, hell you don't get anything at all and worse it's a net detriment as someone who actually does anything could be playing instead.

It's a shame and not really his fault that he was signed for such a high price, just another casualty of us signing players based off of their names without doing any actual scouting under Ole and the Glazers.

He should drop back down to a more top heavy league like the Eerdevisie that can accommodate his skillset, last year I would've been happy with £20m from Ajax while his stock was still high, right now if can get around £10-15m I'd call that a good outcome.

 

[McGrathsipan]

People give Pogba stick and for the price tag, but Pogba gave us many good games.. inconsistent yes but early on under Mourinho and in Oles first season he had very good spells.

At half the price at £40m I'd have VDB as our worst signing post SAF quite easily. You don't get half of what Pogba gave us, hell you don't get anything at all and worse it's a net detriment as someone who actually does anything could be playing instead.

It's a shame and not really his fault that he was signed for such a high price, just another casualty of us signing players based off of their names without doing any actual scouting under Ole and the Glazers.

Pogba played week in week out. DVB hardly at all. There is a big difference.

DVB doesnt have the talent - Pogba did/does.

 

[JB08]

Apparently he has played 56 times for us?

What the feck?

 

[Lentwood]

Yesterday it was actually possible to see the bad and good of DvdB. First 25m his deffnsive positioning was good, but he was otherwize totally anonymous, like often with us before. Second part of first half, he was very good, getting on the ball, speeding play, having a big function in us dominating play then. Second half was stop start.

If we play quick pass-and-move, he will speed up play and help penetration. If not, he will become invisible and can’t force the issue.

He reminds me of those lads you see at school who are decent on the yard at break and decent at 5-a-side/7-a-side but are terrible XI-a-side players.

 

[Grande]

He reminds me of those lads you see at school who are decent on the yard at break and decent at 5-a-side/7-a-side but are terrible XI-a-side players.

I think ratjer that it’s true what many have said about him - his profile of strengths and weaknessea makes him much more suited to some tasks than to others, and hence to some roles in some kinds of plays than to others. He could doubtlessly be a decent CM in most Dutch eredivisie teams, but nothing more, but in the right role in the right team, he’s one of a few that can do all the right things at the right speeds. He’s like a get-away driver in a robbery gang, or maybe rather, the one who delivers you the diamond incizor by the bar after you’ve gotten through the metaldetectors undeterred in Ocean’s 14.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

Apparently he has played 56 times for us?

What the feck?

Most of them have been about 5 mins at the end of games. I can't imagine he's started more than 15.

 

[JB08]

Most of them have been about 5 mins at the end of games. I can't imagine he's started more than 15.

Aye I assumed the same. I still wouldn’t have guessed 55, more like 25-30.

 

[Polar]

Bying DVB for £35m and offloading Pereira for £10m is the most stupid business United have done ever. We paid £20m for a huge downgrade

Pereira has impressed me at Fulham and probably would’ve suited ETH’s style of play pretty well. Pererira in my view isn’t far behind Bruno in terms of quality at the moment (read this season).

 

[Stacks]

Bying DVB for £35m and offloading Pereira for £10m is the most stupid business United have done ever. We paid £20m for a huge downgrade

Pereira has impressed me at Fulham and probably would’ve suited ETH’s style of play pretty well. Pererira in my view isn’t far behind Bruno in terms of quality at the moment.

I would say he isn't too far behind Pogba either imo

 

[kundalini]

Most of them have been about 5 mins at the end of games. I can't imagine he's started more than 15.

21 starts across all competitions for United. 4(1) FA Cup, 4(1) EFL Cup, 6(4) CL, 2(3) EL, 5(26) PL - the late sub appearances have typically come in the PL.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/donny-van-de-beek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/288255/verein/985

Luckily his contract expires on 2024, so if we don't find a club to sell maybe loan until his contract runs out so we can save the wages.

Maybe some team from the bundesliga or the Eredivisie would take him.

Summer 2025 + 1 year option. https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...fficially-announces-donny-van-de-beek-signing

 

[NinjaZombie]

I don't think I've ever watched a player struggle to get involved in the game as much as him. I've seen a bunch of shite players play for us but they at least tried to make things happen, they just weren't capable.

I didn't think it was possible to be less involved than Cleverley buy Donny has successfully achieved that. He's a player you can predict exactly how his 90mins will go.

Bebe got on the ball a hell lot more times than Donny.

 

[crossy1686]

Apparently he has played 56 times for us?

What the feck?

Surely that's 5.6 times?

 

[crossy1686]

Bebe got on the ball a hell lot more times than Donny.

And at least took shots and ran at the defender

 

[The holy trinity 68]

And at least took shots and ran at the defender

I would take Obertan before Donny.

 

[USREDEVIL]

What a player. Always sprinting to get to the ball, making crunching tackles, delivering tasty crosses and through passes...

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

I admire your optimistic outlook on life. I think most of us here gave up on him a year ago.

Now I know who I can contact if I suffer from mental health challenges.

I’m your man.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Apparently he has played 56 times for us?

What the feck?

Not true. He never played for us, he was included in the squad 56 times

 

[Sunny Jim]

Bying DVB for £35m and offloading Pereira for £10m is the most stupid business United have done ever. We paid £20m for a huge downgrade

Pereira has impressed me at Fulham and probably would’ve suited ETH’s style of play pretty well. Pererira in my view isn’t far behind Bruno in terms of quality at the moment (read this season).

I said this few weeks ago. Plus Pereira has agressivnes to his play

 

[rooney2009]

Absolutely doesnt get into the game enough in AM. Needs to come deep and play some passing moves and switch play like Bruno does. Has played there a bunch of times now, I dont think he's ever done well in that position for us and there are no signs that its about to click.

That said you can still see him making runs and calling for the ball several times in a row, only for his teammates to decide against playing the pass behind for him and going backwards and sideways again. He and the players around him are not on the same wavelength at all.

At this point its hard not say we should just sell him in the summer and replace him with someone who might come in and be more effective. I'd still rather see him start in CM than Fred though, which says more about the latter

Really you would have him over Fred..Wow
Fred brings energy. Drive and high tempo football
Donny is a nothing player as in he isn’t good or bad at anything
He doesn’t do anything so can’t be judged, it’s like he hides or runs in a different trajectory to the ball
He is of the worst midfielder sto have played for us as in he offers nothing
He is worse than Anders,Lingard or even Dan James
I hope he never starts another game for Utd

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

ETH was entirely reponsible for those two no shows vs Real Soicedad and Villa. It makes no sense to start a player who has missed close to 3 months of football. Yet he wasn't even in top form pre injury. He isn't match fit. Even worse you play him behind an attack with Rashford out of position. A kid and the current CR7

 

[Oranges038]

Bying DVB for £35m and offloading Pereira for £10m is the most stupid business United have done ever. We paid £20m for a huge downgrade

Pereira has impressed me at Fulham and probably would’ve suited ETH’s style of play pretty well. Pererira in my view isn’t far behind Bruno in terms of quality at the moment (read this season).

Not really, he's doing well for Fulham but Pereirra had already proved he wasn't good enough, Donny at least had some European pedigree. I'd say getting rid off Smalling, and Evans and replacing them with worse players like Bailly, Lindelof and Maguire is much much worse than the Donny deal.

 

[flappyjay]

ETH was entirely reponsible for those two no shows vs Real Soicedad and Villa. It makes no sense to start a player who has missed close to 3 months of football. Yet he wasn't even in top form pre injury. He isn't match fit. Even worse you play him behind an attack with Rashford out of position. A kid and the current CR7

I think he is trying to get one of his favourites lads a last chance at a world Cup at our expense because I can't see a way vdb is fairly in the starting 11. He was atrocious vs sociedad and that should have been the last we seen of him starting an important game.

 

[Bosnian_fan]

I really don't like those "system" players, that countries like Netherlands are capable of producing at higher rate than most others, because their football philosophy is developed further.

I may be old fashioned or perhaps just plain wrong, but for me midfield should consist of Casemiro type of player, playmaker a la De Jong(as we often mention him) next to him and either another eight or a pure ten ahead.

These guys that are not good enough to be attacking mids, but also not creative enough to dictate play from deep, and also defensively incapable due to phisicality to be pure defensive midfielders are really an enigma to me.

 

[Bastian]

I think he is trying to get one of his favourites lads a last chance at a world Cup at our expense because I can't see a way vdb is fairly in the starting 11. He was atrocious vs sociedad and that should have been the last we seen of him starting an important game.

Come on. His reputation is on the line in every single match. The only possible motive he can have for playing Donny is that he believed, and was proven wrong, that Donny would show some spirt and minimal hunger to keep his place. Even throwing Maguire up front, which could be construed as a "I need money in January" was just desperation to get another goal.

He has shown that he doesn't trust most of the squad and creativity in the middle is a must for him, even when the players are fatigued.

I do hope this club can utilise the extended break before the resumption of the league to get some players shipped out so we can address at least one of the most problematic areas.