He was never special. That fantastic Ajax team fit him like a glove, although he was probably one of the worst players on the pitch. De Ligt, de Jong, Tadic, Ziyech... were all a level above him.
Donny Van De Beek | he stays!
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He was never special. That fantastic Ajax team fit him like a glove, although he was probably one of the worst players on the pitch. De Ligt, de Jong, Tadic, Ziyech... were all a level above him.
I regreted it the moment i typed it
All good bud, gave me a good chuckle today. Gracias.I regreted it the moment i typed it
Hardly a massive criticism that some of the best players in Europe at that time were better than him. Don't think VdB is half as bad as people are making out here. He's a fairly competent player but he just doesn't suit our style of play and was never going to usurp Bruno getting into the team. He was then played deeper in midfield and that went about as well as you'd expect for a player who's best role is as a second striker.
The funny thing is that I definitely think there's teams out there where he would look great again. It'd have to be a team where their forwards are looking for quick inter-linking play because he's so good at that stuff and his off the ball running is also excellent. Reckon a team like Brighton or Ange's Spurs would really suit him or maybe a Sarri team or Atalanta. The Everton loan was a shocking one for him and just didn't play to any of his strengths.
Will never work out why we signed him? Was bought for an area we didn't need and a style we didn't play. Good player but not surprised he's been a flop.
We had a pretty underwhelming summer window and he was available for a reasonable fee so we gave it a go, we shouldn't have.
It was pretty clear why we signed him I thought. Bruno had no backup and was viewed as a big goal threat (hybrid 9/10) type player and VdB could bring that with his movement too. Martial was our starting CF and he's not a traditional number 9 - VdB would drift from #10 to the box when Martial dropped left Dele Alli style.
In theory it should all work but in practice Donny seemingly has nothing to offer other than intangible things like movement.
Ah no, it was a ridiculous signing. We had holes all over the first team, especially on the right wing and midfield and Solskjaer spends a huge amount of his budget on back up for the most injury resistant player in the world.
Solksjaers decision making at the negotiating table left a lot to be desired. Some absolute shockers during a time when we really needed massive upgrades. The fact Ten Hag came in and immediately solved the DM problem we'd had for years was a genuine surprise, when in reality it shouldnt be. A top manager does that.
He only cost £35m + add ons which it's likely we never paid. He was unlucky and somewhat naïve - we were a very direct counter attacking team and he was an excellent player in a very specific possession based system. To think he would have been at Real if it weren't for covid, I really hope he rediscovers some form at Sociedad.
Yep, he was the alternative to Grealish. We were pretty stocked in midfield but probably hoped he could also do a job at 8.
So Sky are saying the deal is likely to be a loan with an obligation to buy and all parties want to get it done.
As long it’s obligation it’s good. Just need to get him out so we will have to bring someone else in.
This is easier said in hindsight. I agree that we had massive holes elsewhere, but back up for Bruno was also a huge concern at the time. Plus, lots of folk thought that Van de Beek might be able to play alongside him as more of a box-to-box option.
There was some method to his signing. The biggest issue, and it’s one that isn’t always obvious until the player arrives, is that he didn’t have the stones to make an impact at a club of this size.
Yeah the versatility probably played into it too. I saw arguments from folks that he played #8 (or was it a DM / DLP type role) for Ajax.
Every manager has blindspots and the DM spot was Ole's. He was somehow convinced in the idea of two complete mids that could do everything (Pogba + McT or Pogba + Fred or maybe even Bellingham + Pogba)
He couldn't even hack it with his old boss at the helm. Terrible player.
Always though it was a concern that Ajax fans said his strongest asset is off the ball before we signed him.
We had Pogba at the time who's best role is always as the most attacking midfielder in a 3.
Our midfield targets should have been with the aim of upgrading Fred/Mctominay/Matic, not providing cover for Bruno who's never injured anyway.
I genuinely can’t remember any good moments from him. I think he scored a tap in on his debut maybe? But other than that possibly the most forgettable Utd player I’ve seen. At least Fred for all his faults was capable of the sublime and mental. Not sure how it all went so badly for him as he seemed highly rated. Hopefully he finds his feet somewhere else.
How do you think about Mount then?
He had far more blind spots than just at DM. As a player, faultless but the manager set us back years.
Yeah, off the ball movement has to be the most vague and uninspiring attribute a new signing can have.
Not a big fan but we will see.
I don't think DvB was a Solksjaer's signing, he barely played him, seemed fairly obvious to me that Ole didn't want him
Yeh he was so bad that Real Madrid wanted to sign him
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2020...eal-madrid-ajax-manchester-united-quotes-2020
It's not like Real Madrid doesn't sign duds of their own, we just saved them from this one.Yeh he was so bad that Real Madrid wanted to sign him
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2020...eal-madrid-ajax-manchester-united-quotes-2020
In truth, United are the noble heroes of European football, saving teams all over from duds since Fergie left.
Fred, Sanchez, Maguire, Ronaldo Reloaded are all part of a bunch City must be eternally grateful to us for (by the Ronaldo one I was convinced they just love to set us up by pretending to be in a bidding war, and then walking away in 'defeat').
Yeh he was so bad that Real Madrid wanted to sign him
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2020...eal-madrid-ajax-manchester-united-quotes-2020
I watched probably 90% of his Ajax games before the move to us and I was desperate for us not to throw away the money on him. He's honestly not good enough for a top club.
How is this Real Sociedad loan coming about? Hope he leaves soon so we can get Amrabat
Slow is the answer
There was that time he got within 4 metres of another player just as they took a shot to score a goal.
Slow as DVDB trying to escape a challenge...
Rumor says Real Sociedad are getting Arsen Zakharyan for 12M € + pluses today. This could or could not end the VdB signing for Real Sociedad, but clearly makes it (even) more difficult as Real Sociedad would have less need for VdB and would have less money.
Perhaps they would center efforts on a left fullback.
Perhaps they would center efforts on a left fullback.
Sad trumpet noises playing.
I agree he was the most one dimensional of all the emerging talent in that Ajax side. Give and go and got into good positions with his movement. Offered nothing else outside of this evident with his career since moving.
Can't see any point in a loan to buy deal.
They'll find out he's no good and won't buy him.
They'll find out he's no good and won't buy him.
They will pay his salary though, presumably. And he’ll prove his fitness. He’ll be good at a lower level of competition. If he goes back to the Eredivisie for example, I expect he’ll be more than fine.
He’s at his best as a #10 who can score goals in and around the box with his movement and link up play. That’s also why Ole bought him as he was talking about wanting a midfielder who can add goals. Problem for him is that we got Bruno, who became undroppable and hardly ever misses games while Van de Beek is useless anywhere else.
I expected him to have more of a role when Ten Hag arrived and seemed to settle on a system that needs two hybrid #8/#10 types and I’m even more surprised he wants him sold now when he could use him as a back up for Mount it the odd game Bruno rests. I guess Ten Hag realized his confidence is completely shot and he needs to find it in a much lower profile club.
Don't count on it
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