Donny van de Beek image 34

Donny van de Beek Netherlands flag

2022-23 Performances

View full 2022-23 profile

4.7 Season Average Rating
Appearances
10
Goals
0
Assists
0
Yellow cards
0
Status
Not open for further replies.
At some point you have to engage with the reality of what your eyes tell you when it comes to Donny.
 
After singing Eriksen and FDJ we won't need him at all even for squad role. Hope we play Hannibal next game, I think ETH has seen enough.
 
He is completely out of his depth at United, and in the Premier League in general.

Everytime he plays, he just looks so underwhelming and poor.
 
It's pretty incredible that he looks a fraction of the player our youngsters do. That must be hard to achieve during preseason where there is no pressure at all and you're under your favoured manager. But if there's someone that can do it, it's Donny.

I still don't even understand what his best position is supposed to be. His blend of "qualities" doesn't look suited to anything at this level.
 
Volksie316 said:
He is completely out of his depth at United, and in the Premier League in general.

Everytime he plays, he just looks so underwhelming and poor.
Click to expand...

Have to agree.
He does make some very good runs in and around the penalty area, but he needs to be far more effective when not in those positions.
He needs to move to a club that will play him further forward I think.
 
Its going to be an extremely unpopular opinion right now, but I still think he can turn it around under ETH. The manager trusts him clearly.
 
Highfather_24 said:
Its going to be an extremely unpopular opinion right now, but I still think he can turn it around under ETH. The manager trusts him clearly.
Click to expand...
Does he? He just brought in Eriksen, after we already have bruno. They literally play in the same positions. And we're still pushing for Frenkie.

What does turn it around even mean for the most avid VdB fan in a United shirt? He's never going to start over Bruno/Frenkie if we sign him. He doesn't get in ahead of Eriksen. He doesn't get in ahead of Fred either. So in the 2 positions he plays in... There are 4 players ahead of him. There is no potential for him being a starter at United, there isn't even the potential of him being the first sub/meaningful competition. So is VdB turning it around just going to mean he has a few decent games in the league Cup/Europa League and that's it?

If Ten Hag liked him for Manchester United, he wouldn't have gone after Eriksen (and Frenkie). Maybe just one, definitely not both.
 
bosnian_red said:
Does he? He just brought in Eriksen, after we already have bruno. They literally play in the same positions. And we're still pushing for Frenkie.

What does turn it around even mean for the most avid VdB fan in a United shirt? He's never going to start over Bruno/Frenkie if we sign him. He doesn't get in ahead of Eriksen. He doesn't get in ahead of Fred either. So in the 2 positions he plays in... There are 4 players ahead of him. There is no potential for him being a starter at United, there isn't even the potential of him being the first sub/meaningful competition. So is VdB turning it around just going to mean he has a few decent games in the league Cup/Europa League and that's it?

If Ten Hag liked him for Manchester United, he wouldn't have gone after Eriksen (and Frenkie). Maybe just one, definitely not both.
Click to expand...

Well I'm basing it on these comments and the fact that ETH has always praised Donny's ability, and he clearly rates him.

Even if we get FDJ, we will have 6 senior midfielders for 3 positions. We will have a lot of games this season, and I do see VdB playing a role. A much more significant role compared to what he had under Ole, but I dont think he will be a regular starter. Possibly 25-30 appearances. We will have 5 subs this season as well.
 
Highfather_24 said:
Its going to be an extremely unpopular opinion right now, but I still think he can turn it around under ETH. The manager trusts him clearly.
Click to expand...
..by having him sat on the bench alongside the kids in the last two pre-season friendlies.
 
FrankDrebin said:
..by having him sat on the bench alongside the kids in the last two pre-season friendlies.
Click to expand...

I can say the same thing for Malacia as well. I dont see him as a starter every match, but he will play an important role as a squad player.
 
De Jong and Van de Beek shared a connection at Ajax. Van de Beek was always playing really high (like a forward), but that was beneficial to De Jong who likes space to operate. Van de Beek isn't a ball winner, playmaker, passer, tackler, dribbler or running horse. In fact there's a lot he can't do what you'd generally expect from a midfielder.
However he's indeed a system player. An Ajax-system-player. Van de Beek is really good in making quick decisions in tight areas around the penalty area.
A bit like Thomas Müller, though of course worse. Some players just need specific conditions to excel.

Tadic was just a good player at Southampton. When Ajax bought him he became world class.
I don't think Tadic could have achieved so much success at any other club, where his lack of pace wouldn't have been a factor.
Few clubs play the style that Ajax does. On the other hand I believe there are some players at European topclubs who'd fail at Ajax.
 
khoazany said:
After singing Eriksen and FDJ we won't need him at all even for squad role. Hope we play Hannibal next game, I think ETH has seen enough.
Click to expand...
I think EtH has seen more of Donny than any United fan, don't you think. He will have a clear idea of how Donny needs to be used. Pre season will have no real effect on that.
 
#07 said:
My opinion on Van de Beek has evolved over time. At the moment I just think he's not a midfielder.

His career best football came playing as a #10 off a false #9. All the things he truly excels at: Runs off the ball, finding space in the box etc. Those are attributes of forwards not midfielders.

I feel like he's at the wrong club, in the wrong country, in the wrong system. I think he'd be at his best in Serie A, where a lot of teams play 3-5-2 and he could be one of a front two working off another forward.
Click to expand...
The thing is, with VDB's style an deficiencies, he needs to play for a really dominant team and he's not good enough for the top clubs in Serie A either.

He's made for Holland or Belgium.
 
RodyTur10 said:
De Jong and Van de Beek shared a connection at Ajax. Van de Beek was always playing really high (like a forward), but that was beneficial to De Jong who likes space to operate. Van de Beek isn't a ball winner, playmaker, passer, tackler, dribbler or running horse. In fact there's a lot he can't do what you'd generally expect from a midfielder.
However he's indeed a system player. An Ajax-system-player. Van de Beek is really good in making quick decisions in tight areas around the penalty area.
A bit like Thomas Müller, though of course worse. Some players just need specific conditions to excel.

Tadic was just a good player at Southampton. When Ajax bought him he became world class.
I don't think Tadic could have achieved so much success at any other club, where his lack of pace wouldn't have been a factor.
Few clubs play the style that Ajax does. On the other hand I believe there are some players at European topclubs who'd fail at Ajax.
Click to expand...
I think ETH is the sort of manager that if you give him a brick he'll find a role in his set up and make the brick look good.
At man utd he'll have option and variety and at best I see ETH being on marginally used.
And when you consider we have young players who seem like they have more about them I expect that this young players would over take him as well.
 
He is like an empty crisp packet blowing around in the wind.....fecking useless!
 
Seen two halves now with Donny vd Beek and he‘s been playing very deep, always trying to get in behind or finding pockets of space. I don‘t think the youngsters are attuned to him yet.

Ten Hag is clearly trying something with him, and persisting.The second game was better than the first, where he was invisible.

To early to write him off. It‘s like blaming a striker for not getting service.
 
Yeah I would actually sell. He’s going to lose more value this season than we should accept. He’s still a saleable asset at this point. Recoup some cash and let him find a level or league that suits him. It’s a Hail Mary to think he’s going to turn into a great player/regular under ETH. It’s not happening. There are too many better players in front of him.
 
He's such a mediocre footballer. His passing range is non existent and mostly side ways. In terms of physicality he is feeble. Doesn't have much pace. Can't really defend.

Even watching highlights of Ajax he always came across as a second striker type player whose best work came in the opponents box with his buildup play being generic and nothing to speak of. I wouldn't be confident of him excelling in that role at the PL level but if we are going to give him a shot it should be there.
 
VDB does seem a tough player to fit into a system. With his main asset being off the ball runs, he seems to be one of those limited type players who needs a very specific (free) role / formation in order to look good. Otherwise, with his lack of defensive or ball playing ability, he'll look quite average - as he has both here and at Everton.

If he was going to salvage his United career, then it was obviously with the arrival of Ten Hag. But he really needed a strong showing in pre-season. And with the departure of Pogba, and no new midfield signings on the tour, it seemed a good opportunity. However he's not started either game, and has made very little impact when coming on. So he's doing little to press his claim. With few other senior CM options on tour, he might well start against either Palace or Villa. If he does, he's really going to have to up his game and put in the kind of performance he desperately needs. Especially after the quality addition of Eriksen.
 
Bertie Wooster said:
VDB does seem a tough player to fit into a system. With his main asset being off the ball runs, he seems to be one of those limited type players who needs a very specific (free) role / formation in order to look good. Otherwise, with his lack of defensive or ball playing ability, he'll look quite average - as he has both here and at Everton.

If he was going to salvage his United career, then it was obviously with the arrival of Ten Hag. But he really needed a strong showing in pre-season. And with the departure of Pogba, and no new midfield signings on the tour, it seemed a good opportunity. However he's not started either game, and has made very little impact when coming on. So he's doing little to press his claim. With few other senior CM options on tour, he might well start against either Palace or Villa. If he does, he's really going to have to up his game and put in the kind of performance he desperately needs. Especially after the quality addition of Eriksen.
Click to expand...
I'm trying to think of a top player or even a very good one (at the highest level) whose only standout ability was movement? People joked about Lampard but outside of movement and goals he was a very good footballer just didn't fare in comparisons to Scholes etc. Muller maybe but his goalsforing / end product has always been terrific.
 
Not seen any of him pre-season. I think the ETH loves him because of Ajax and will turn him into that player again were overly hopeful comments though.

For me he was just a good player at Ajax that we should never have signed in the first place. Thoght he was overhyped performance wise for them, did well in CL buzzing about involvement wise, pressing and winnign the ball..but for me he is so much an Akax product rather than an individual talent.He is versatile, has good technique....it all seems coached into him though rather than stand out abilities naturally.

When we signed him we were heavily lined with Grealish. I was not enthusiastic about him as a signing at all, said then he is just a squad player and got slaughtered, still dont see him as anything other than that under Ten Hag. Considering how many holes there have been in our first eleven for some time now nd that we have had a big squad for years though, its mad how man squad signings rather than true first eleven signing we have made, we have so far at least this summer so far too. Last season was the first in a while we made first eleven signings....the problem was we needed to make twice as many as we did and we still need to make two in central midfield in my opinion and for thatreason, even with all the outgoings, VDB is an asset with transfer value worth cashing in on
 
I’m just starting to believe that all of VDB, De Ligt and even De Jong were initially slightly overrated - and the actual great asset for Ajax was possibly Ten Hag.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
He's such a mediocre footballer. His passing range is non existent and mostly side ways. In terms of physicality he is feeble. Doesn't have much pace. Can't really defend.

Even watching highlights of Ajax he always came across as a second striker type player whose best work came in the opponents box with his buildup play being generic and nothing to speak of. I wouldn't be confident of him excelling in that role at the PL level but if we are going to give him a shot it should be there.
Click to expand...
He’s Tom Cleverley
 
He is half the player that ETH had 2 years ago in Ajax. For 2 years now he has barely played and probably he has no confidence. I don't think that he will play an integral role this year, and I can see him getting sold in January or in the next summer. Hopefully, I m wrong and he returns in form.
 
You can't judge much from pre-season games. Generally youth players look better than senior players during pre-season as the senior players are trying to conserve energy and avoid injuries while the youth players are using it as an opportunity to impress.
 
So Ole’s reluctance to play him now seems justified. I feel ETH will be able to channel his strengths as an impact sub to either create chances or hold on to possession . I don’t think he has a future as a first team regular
 
Highfather_24 said:
Well I'm basing it on these comments and the fact that ETH has always praised Donny's ability, and he clearly rates him.

Even if we get FDJ, we will have 6 senior midfielders for 3 positions. We will have a lot of games this season, and I do see VdB playing a role. A much more significant role compared to what he had under Ole, but I dont think he will be a regular starter. Possibly 25-30 appearances. We will have 5 subs this season as well.
Click to expand...

I think the lad certainly has abilities, he does find pockets of space, and makes very intelligent runs, can see a pass, similar to Mata, but he hasn't fitted in at United at all. ETH knows what VDB is about, and if United start playing in a similar way to Ajax then he could slot in, but like other posters have said, there are a number of players in his path at the moment.
 
He should be used as a carrot to get Antony for a semi-affordable price. Then get Tielemans in his place. People are down on Tielemans but I think he’d be great in a possession system - he’s exceptional at progressive passing from deep. He’s also good at finding pockets on the half turn - looking at the positions Mctominay has been picking up I think he’d be really good there.
 
Mickeza said:
He should be used as a carrot to get Antony for a semi-affordable price. Then get Tielemans in his place. People are down on Tielemans but I think he’d be great in a possession system - he’s exceptional at progressive passing from deep. He’s also good at finding pockets on the half turn - looking at the positions Mctominay has been picking up I think he’d be really good there.
Click to expand...
Ajax have Berghuis and Klaassen for his position.

I actually need to offer Klaassen an apology. I've always said VDB was a slightly better version of him. I was wrong. Klaassen is useless on the ball too, but he scores more often and is way more combative in midfield.
 
VanDeBank said:
Ajax have Berghuis and Klaassen for his position.

I actually need to offer Klaassen an apology. I've always said VDB was a slightly better version of him. I was wrong. Klaassen is useless on the ball too, but he scores more often and is way more combative in midfield.
Click to expand...
Didn’t Donny used to score in the Dutch league - bit unfair to judge him against a player at a far lower standard. He can play deeper - he started playing deeper in his last season didn’t he? So could replace Gravenbech.
 
Mickeza said:
Didn’t Donny used to score in the Dutch league - bit unfair to judge him against a player at a far lower standard. He can play deeper - he started playing deeper in his last season didn’t he? So could replace Gravenbech.
Click to expand...
Klaassen scored a few more goals playing in the Dutch league, so it's not really unfair.
Ajax re-signing Donny is just wishful thinking.

Blind was actually half decent. Ajax will aim for better than VDB in the pivot and they're not going anywhere near his original fee (like was the case for Blind)

I'm not Gravenberch's biggest fan, but he's 3 times the talent Donny was.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.