patrickmuf:
You're spot on with the bolded, that guy takes up positions I find interesting but our midfielders hardly ever make those passes for fear of losing the ball (Fred tries it but his passes aren't always accurate)...

I watched VDB playing with De Jong, Ziyech, Blind and others at Ajax and he did not look timid. That Ajax team was renowned for their crisp passing and movement, something we collectively lack as a team.

dubylhover:


It was very frustrating to watch,at least Fred has the idea of The pass, just that he lacks the ability to give it..if we had a carrick type of player in that matic role,vdb would be eating good,those vertical passes easily takes out 2 or more midfieders out of the game.

patrickmuf:
That is why we have coaches to help improve players, their positional play as well as passing...

We all watched VDB at Ajax and didn't notice this deficiency or maybe we just didn't pay enough attention but then, for a club as big as ours to go after a player, I don't want to believe they didn't see something that excited them...It is imperative he comes good because if he fails, it will be a case of one too many failures here...

We have signed so many players who were doing well before joining us. If this trend continues, most players will be skeptical when the idea of joining Manchester United pops up.

patrickmuf:
That is why we have coaches to help improve players, their positional play as well as passing...

We all watched VDB at Ajax and didn't notice this deficiency or maybe we just didn't pay enough attention but then, for a club as big as ours to go after a player, I don't want to believe they didn't see something that excited them...It is imperative he comes good because if he fails, it will be a case of one too many failures here...

We have signed so many players who were doing well before joining us. If this trend continues, most players will be skeptical when the idea of joining Manchester United pops up.

codedguy1:


Another point to note is that after these players left us a good number of them got their groove back.

Leyqute:


The only real addition to the team this season was Cavani.

Trevor012:

Name some of them?

KingAlabi:

He behaves like he is the striker most times

As an AM in this united system, you are the creative link, hold ball and make a pass not just make " make e no spoil for my leg" pass Everytime

That stuff can be annoying to watch especially as united does play that kind of ball.

afrodoc2:


I believe had an debate here with Kagawa

eph12:

You would have said something different if Martial was in form this season, limiting Cavani to scraps and VDB managed to dislodge Fred from the first team

codedguy1:


Another point to note is that after these players left us a good number of them got their groove back.

patrickmuf:
Doc, before a player is signed, I want to believe a detailed analysis of his game was done by those in charge and he was deemed a possible good fit for the team...

I remember your debate with Kagawa sha

afrodoc2:


He is an intelligent player but he is so different from Bruno that if we use him as a sub or alternative for Bruno our play would likely go to pieces, not because he is not decent but because our play right now is based on Bruno's skillset.

Bruno is a player who goes out to seek the ball and can hold it turn and pass long or short. For example Bruno averages about 3 long balls a game for us, VDB for his career has averaged just under 1 long ball a game. He is not the one to pass long for Rashy or Martial's runs INSTEAD he wants to make the runs so that McFred can find him with long balls.

afrodoc2:


He is an intelligent player but he is so different from Bruno that if we use him as a sub or alternative for Bruno our play would likely go to pieces, not because he is not decent but because our play right now is based on Bruno's skillset.

Bruno is a player who goes out to seek the ball and can hold it turn and pass long or short. For example Bruno averages about 3 long balls a game for us, VDB for his career has averaged just under 1 long ball a game. He is not the one to pass long for Rashy or Martial's runs INSTEAD he wants to make the runs so that McFred can find him with long balls.

patrickmuf:
I think most times he positions himself in a way that a quick vertical pass can release him to turn and look for the forwards but the pass doesn't come and when it goes through, he immediately releases the ball back to Fred/Matic...I think this has to do more with lack of confidence in his ability to turn and find his strikers...I'd like to see him going towards the ball and using his quick passing to move the ball forward but that will mean playing with a CM that's good with touch and move football...He'd have worked well with Herrera...

In all, I hope Ole and the others find a way to best utilize him. Maybe, when Bruno is not on the pitch we need to change our pattern of play...

LostMyZeal:



Mehn...you literally live in this thread.
Omo how dyu manage to do that shii

Are you an employer of Labour?
Like you got peeps werking for you or

afrodoc2:


He should not be waiting for those vertical passes all the time. After all somehow the ball gets to Bruno from this same McFred and he makes things happen from there. The problem is with VDB IMO. He should spend less time making runs into the box waiting for vertical passes and more time helping to build up play for others and make those vertical passes himself.

As a 10 he should be creating for Cavani, Rashy, Martial NOT expecting McFred to create for him. Bruno and Pogba pick and choose when to make those runs, he should too.

Let us even forget the lack of McFred vertical passes for a second. What does he do when he gets the ball? He passes it to the nearest man whether it be Fred, AWB, Maguire or DDG. He does not turn and look to see if Rashy or Cavani are making good runs so HE can make vertical passes for them to score. Do you know how many runs by our forwards he has wasted because he refused to turn and look forward with the ball?

He wants McFred to make vertical passes to him, the same vertical passes he refuses to give Cavani and co.

timay:


Lol, I now see why Madrid didn't go far VDB when they wanted to buy him before. He's definitely a false AM. I mean since I've been watching most renowned AM in the world since the day I've been watching this game, I've never seen anyone play that role in that manner that VDB wants to play the role. It's total bullshit.

Even Bruno makes runs for passes sometimes too, but he doesn't stay up front and make runs all day expecting passes. He knows he has to drop to collect ball and make things happen for his front three

I also now see the reason why the Netherlands coaches often opt to play Wijnaldum as the AM instead of VDB in most of their serious games.

patrickmuf:
It's the very reason I said the coaches should work with him to improve his play...If me and you can see it, then the coaches too must have noticed it...I don't want to believe he doesn't have it in him to receive the ball from Fred/Matic and look to find our strikers...He might not be as good as Bruno in that regard but definitely should not be that bad...

afrodoc2:


It will take time cos you can't correct a habit of 10years in 5 months, and i don't think he himself trusts is own long passing ability. His fast interplay is nice but he needs to mix it up and hold the ball land make defence splitting passes as well.

Botfuss:
Any technically sound player would flop under ole.

Botfuss:
Any technically sound player would flop under ole.

timay:
Imagine we bought an AM midfielder to be a creative hub for the team, instead, the team is expected to create for him and give him fine through balls and defense splitting passes, meanwhile that is suppose to be the Job of the said player in the first place. Omo, this one done pass ment o

Botfuss:
Any technically sound player would flop under ole.