Read on Twitter
A Donny thread: (rts appreciated)
Player profile:
Age - 23 (18/04/97)
Height - 183cm (6ft)
Weight - 75kg (11.8 stone/165 lb)
Nationality - Netherlands
Age - 23 (18/04/97)
Height - 183cm (6ft)
Weight - 75kg (11.8 stone/165 lb)
Nationality - Netherlands
Vdb is an integral part of the Ajax side, who in the 17/18 and 18/19 season was operating as an attacking midfielder.
Since then frankie de jong has left, leaving a gap in central midfield which vdb has comfortably filled with ease.
His versatility is something to be valued.
Since then frankie de jong has left, leaving a gap in central midfield which vdb has comfortably filled with ease.
His versatility is something to be valued.
To show even further how versatile he is, here’s his match ratings across the 3 midfield positions:
DM: 7.54
CM: 7.36
AM: 7.26
You’d think that his best rated position would be AM as that’s where he’s played the most in his career but nope, DM takes it
-•Swiss Army knife•-
DM: 7.54
CM: 7.36
AM: 7.26
You’d think that his best rated position would be AM as that’s where he’s played the most in his career but nope, DM takes it
-•Swiss Army knife•-
For someone who’s only been 23 for 3 months, his intellect on the pitch is genuinely incredible.
Although he can dribble when called upon he tends to get into space via his off the ball movement. he finds pockets of space and exploits them in a way not many midfielders do.
Although he can dribble when called upon he tends to get into space via his off the ball movement. he finds pockets of space and exploits them in a way not many midfielders do.
This video does an incredible job highlighting his intelligence of the beautiful game and although I’m unfamiliar with his work, follow @itsCheaq cause he must be great at what he does:
Jesse lingard (35), Andrea pereira (46) and Bruno Fernandes (62) have touched the ball in the opposition box a total of 143 times.
Vdb ....... 175...... central mid.....
^ if this doesn’t highlight to you how intelligent donnys movement is off the ball then Idk what will.
Vdb ....... 175...... central mid.....
^ if this doesn’t highlight to you how intelligent donnys movement is off the ball then Idk what will.
Now that we know he can get into dangerous areas to receive a pass, how does he do when it comes to finishing one?
Since 18/19 he has attempted 127 shots in all comps, let’s break them down.
- 56 on target (27 goals)
- 38 off target (6 hit woodwork)
- 33 blocked
So of those 56 shots on target he has a 48% success rate.
- 56 on target (27 goals)
- 38 off target (6 hit woodwork)
- 33 blocked
So of those 56 shots on target he has a 48% success rate.
It also comes to no surprise, given his incredible awareness, that nearly all his goals come from inside the penalty box.
It’s also worth noting that he’s comfortable with his weak foot, scoring over 10 goals in his career with his left.
It’s also worth noting that he’s comfortable with his weak foot, scoring over 10 goals in his career with his left.
As a midfielder he attempts short quick passes to break past a defensive block, creating 58 chances this season. something man united have struggled with often in the 19/20 season.
Out of the average 42.7 passes that he attempts per game, 41.2 of these passes are indeed short.
Out of the average 42.7 passes that he attempts per game, 41.2 of these passes are indeed short.
As a result of his style of passing there’s no surprise that he has an 81% pass accuracy, significantly higher than Bruno’s 70%.
He averages 2 key passes per game and since 18/19 he has achieved 24 assists, despite the eredivisie ending the 19/20 season early.
Bad quality Ik
He averages 2 key passes per game and since 18/19 he has achieved 24 assists, despite the eredivisie ending the 19/20 season early.
Bad quality Ik
According to the football terrace, When it comes to crossing van de beek has a staggering 60% cross accuracy, which is ridiculous.
To understand why that’s the case you have to look at his crosses, many of them are short low drilled crosses across/into the 6 yard box:
To understand why that’s the case you have to look at his crosses, many of them are short low drilled crosses across/into the 6 yard box:
As you can see he can operate width quite nicely which will be particularly useful when we have greenwood who likes to play more centrally at times. Ole will love that type of cross btw lol.
Now on to the defensive part of his game....
From moving to a box to box his tackles p90 in the league have raised from 1.9 to 2.2 which is actually more than Rodri.
Since 18/19 he has attempted an amazing 187 tackles in all comps, winning 139 of them.
-74% success rate-
From moving to a box to box his tackles p90 in the league have raised from 1.9 to 2.2 which is actually more than Rodri.
Since 18/19 he has attempted an amazing 187 tackles in all comps, winning 139 of them.
-74% success rate-
that percentage would rank him 2nd amongst the united team, behind one of the best tacklers in Europe (awb) so there’s no shame there.
surprisingly his interceptions have actually gone down from 1 p90 to 0.8 p90. But nevertheless 5 recoveries, 0.8 interceptions and 2 tackles all p90 for a box to box midfielder is pretty damn good.
In comparison pogba has 1.19 tackles p90 and 0.4 interceptions (dk recovery)
In comparison pogba has 1.19 tackles p90 and 0.4 interceptions (dk recovery)
Although it’s shown that he’s put in his best rated performances in DM that’s not how I believe he’d be used in the United squad as he hasn’t played in that role overly much:
That leaves two roles in the midfield:
Box to box central midfielder:
If used in this role he would play similarly to pogba, passing into that final phase of play, linking the defence to attack with nice through balls.
When advanced up the pitch he can then do what he does best in and around the penalty box
If used in this role he would play similarly to pogba, passing into that final phase of play, linking the defence to attack with nice through balls.
When advanced up the pitch he can then do what he does best in and around the penalty box
attacking midfielder:
If Bruno needs a rest (which we saw end of last season) vdb can also play there to a very high standard offering a different type of creativity with his off the ball movement. With pogba, martial, rashford and greenwood to link up with.... it’ll be deadly
If Bruno needs a rest (which we saw end of last season) vdb can also play there to a very high standard offering a different type of creativity with his off the ball movement. With pogba, martial, rashford and greenwood to link up with.... it’ll be deadly
Conclusion:
Donny van de beek is a fairly rare midfielder to get at his age and quality, people don’t compare him to muller for no reason.
His off the ball intelligence can offer our midfield a lot more space to create chances into, but most importantly. He offers depth.
Donny van de beek is a fairly rare midfielder to get at his age and quality, people don’t compare him to muller for no reason.
His off the ball intelligence can offer our midfield a lot more space to create chances into, but most importantly. He offers depth.
Now at 23 years of age and only €40m euros (£35m) we could be getting an excellent signing who I can only describe as a Swiss Army knife.....
Woodward & co, get it done
(Likes, rts and follows appreciated)
-end of thread-
Woodward & co, get it done
(Likes, rts and follows appreciated)
-end of thread-
first ever thread that I’ve made so sorry if I’ve left something out, made a spelling mistake or got a statistic wrong, all stats were gotten from:
whoscored
Fbref
Opta
The football Terrance YouTube channel
whoscored
Fbref
Opta
The football Terrance YouTube channel
