25 Jan 2021 05:04:44
Another great result and we seem to have great momentum on our side. We are in a great position to win something if we can keep getting the results we need. It's still a long way to go but we sure look to be on the right path at the moment.

Good to see VDB get a game although I am not sure if he is really happy. His performances so far are good but he doesn't seem to be playing with the same freedom like Bruno does. Does he feel undervalued at the club? He isn't freely expressing himself on the pitch at this moment of time - just keeping it simple and playing a few beautiful flicks and one touch football at times. There is definitely more to him than that and I hope he doesn't get frustrated and looks for a move away due to lack of game time and we cannot afford to lose a quality player like him.

1.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 08:09:53
Not looking for an argument, but he did nothing yesterday to suggest he should be picked. He just didn’t get involved enough, I know there’s a lot of love for him on here but I’m not sure why.

2.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 08:44:25
VdB didn't do much but valuable minutes as we approach the Europa and the run in.

He did a job but needs to show improvement.

3.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 09:29:21
He was shocking yesterday. at one point we created a counter attack down our right hand side and he got put through on the wing and he stopped the ball and passed it back 25 yards. I couldn't believe what i was watching it was bizarre.

4.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 09:55:54
Donny is an interesting player. Coming from the Ajax academy he is all about keeping the ball and possession football. He is a very patient footballer waiting for the best moment to play the killer ball.

However, that is at odds with how we set up. We generally tend to play without the ball then look to play quick transitions once we win the ball back. Use our pace and hit teams before they can get into shape.

So in some respects Donny offers us something we don't have in our squad. However, that can be a curse if he or the rest of the team can't adapt.

Donny will need to learn to play the dangerous pass as quickly as possible more often than not. However, he does have the skill set to offer us someone who can keep the ball and help control the tempo better against sides we can't hit quickly on the counter.

5.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 10:17:09
I was disappointing with Donny's performance.
Although he needs more game time, he should also grab opportunities whenever it comes.

6.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 10:45:52
Shappy, have to disagree there mate. We don't play quick transitions. We hoof the ball long when the option is there.

When we do have possession we are probably one of the slowest in the league getting the ball forward at times.

The counter attack is something we do very well. But if when we receive the ball in open play, generally it's slow and methodical, players taking 3 and 4 touches when 1 or 2 will do.

7.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 10:46:14
In many ways his playing style is the polar opposite to bruno, doesn't take many risks, retains posession, does most of his best work off the ball.

Hard to just jump into a game against liverpool and expect him to hit the ground running.

Might have to settle for fa cup and europa league starts for the rest of the season because fitness permitting, bruno and pogba will be starting most if not all the 19 remaining league games in this form.

8.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 10:48:53
I'll add to that, i thought Donny done ok, he's neat and tidy, can play himself out of trouble very easily. I would rather see him in the team than both Fred and McTominay. The lad needs games and he's an intelligent footballer.

I don't ever think there's a need for two defensive midfielders in the same team.

Our two goals last night were long balls over the top. Not a lot Donny can do when the tactics are to launch it over his head.

9.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 11:10:41
The game passed donny again, he was on the fringes and nothing more.
He his a young lad, come from a different league and different style and will need time to adapt by the looks of it, like a lot of others he seems to be struggling with the pace of the epl .
Another good win yesterday and other step in the right direction.

10.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 11:22:05
Mumbles, he doesn't have the energy to replace Fred or Scott, that's not his game. I expected a lot more of him yesterday, hopefully he is first pick for the Europa and can get a run of games.

11.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 11:33:22
I thought Van De Beek was neat and tidy without doing anything that puts him closer to starting. He's very different to Pogba, Bruno etc in that he seems to value keeping the ball over trying a pass which is high risk / high reward.

His movement off the ball and one touch play is excellent but right now I think he is still adapting to us and the squad are still adapting to him as he takes up very different positions to most players at the club.

For me, he is the type of player we have been missing in midfield (one who actually values possession), McT and Fred are there to provide energy and ball winning attributes, Pogba, Bruno, Mata etc are there for creativity. We haven't had anyone who can keep the ball moving quickly for a while and even though it wasn't flashy, his pass to Rashfor before his fantastic pass for Greenwood makes that clear. If that ball drops to McT, Fred or Matic they would likely not see Rashford and knock it to the CB to clear.

I'd compare his situation to Thiago at Liverpool in a way. Both provide different options in midfield for the squad but because they are different types of players, the team is still trying to find the right balance when they play. This isn't to say either are not good signings.

12.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 11:45:01
I'm with AJH here.

I thought Donny was very poor. He looked scared and it made me think perhaps that's the reason he's not getting much game time, because he's not yet got to grips with the physicality of English football.

He wants to play neat little touches with lots of space around him. when he was up agains Fabinho and he turned back it made me think his confidence is shot.

I've backed him to start after his displays earlier in the season but after yesterday I'm wondering if he has the mentality when it gets to crunch time, and maybe Ole was already of that mindset hence his limited game time.

13.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 12:00:15
You don't have to play him in the same role as Fred or McTominay. I thought McTominay was the worst player on the pitch by a mile yesterday for us.

One of Fred or McTominay or Matic and VdB plays in the others place. The amount of times both Fred and McTominay give the ball away each game is quite high.

Donny isn't the messiah but he's a very good footballer.

14.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 12:08:38
sim01975, that's the way we have been playing under Ole by not utilizing width on the counter. How many times we have seen that players get into great positions on the flanks but don't put in a cross. Many a times the players have space to run into on the flanks and they don't, either they come inside or pass backwards or sideways to other players so nothing new there.

15.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 12:33:28
Thiago oooses class everytime you lay your eyes on him. Wonderful player. Donny has a long way to go to impact the game the way he does.

{Ed025's Note - im a big fan of his DB...but he was poor yesterday mate..

16.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 12:47:47
Ed025, I quite enjoyed Thiago's performance yesterday. Particularly him deciding not to take one in the face for his team when Bruno hit the freekick.

Roy Keane would have stuck his head up, opened his mouth and bit the ball in half, spit out a chunk of leather and tell the freekick taker to f**k off.

{Ed025's Note - i dont doubt that for one minute shappy mate..

17.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 12:49:01
Thiago has played 8 games for Liverpool lost 4 drawn 3 won 1.
They were better without him i'd say.

18.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 13:01:50
He is certainly impacted the games in a big way Ken, not sure it is quite the way Dodgy is meaning though.

Donny has to take his chances when he gets them and so far he has not done that, he provides nothing except keeping the ball and passing sideways or backwards, even when he has sprinted down the right wing and got in a great position. I don't doubt he is a lot better than that but at the moment he is just a slightly better version of Tom Cleverley, a run of games would help i am sure but we can't afford to carry a player like that in big games so he is going to need to step up in the chances he gets.

19.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 13:22:23
If you just listened to the commentary, you would be led to beleive that Thiago is from another planet and we're lucky to watch him play football.

He's a quality footballer but the constant praise from everyone when he passes the ball 5 yards is tedious.

He blazes a volley over the bar and Jenus still managed to gush over him.

Liverpool were such a well oiled machine, very rarely changed personal. Now they're having to pieces around, the well oiled machine is struggling.

20.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 13:23:35
Quick thoughts on VDB are that the position Ferandes plays is not the right one for me for him although i think he did okay yesterday. Ideally you would play both VDB and Fernandes in a midfield 3 with a HM behind them. I do wonder whether this is OGS thoughts going forward should Pogba leave.

21.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 13:40:53
Ken
I said something similar the other week, thiago is a fantastic footballer, has played great for Liverpool but I don't think there as good with him in the team.
A lot goes through him and they are retaining the ball a lot more in cm but its at the expense of getting the ball into the front 3 and fullbacks at the right time .

22.) 25 Jan 2021
25 Jan 2021 16:26:35
Agree jred.
He is a great player but he needs to adapt to their style. Not there yet imo.