Has Man Utd signed Van de Beek to sit on the bench?

by



[ad_1]

Publication date: Monday, August 31, 2020 11:30

27 goals and 24 assists in the last two seasons; the scourge of Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League: Donny van de Beek has been explored by the biggest clubs in Europe, and Manchester United appear to have won the race. £ 40 million is more than a fair price for a very good footballer, but has he been booked to sit on the bench?

We cannot have both: try United for not doing any business and then rip them apart when they undoubtedly get good deals above the line. Van de Beek is an excellent signing; Ed Woodward deserves credit. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to add “quality” to his team. This is it.

But there is a question of tactics: of form and balance of the team. Solskjaer now has a very welcome pick headache.

Frank de Boer once recalled how Dennis Bergkamp regarded Van de Beek as a special talent from a young age: “Dennis started talking enthusiastically about a talent on his youth team. He was a boy who reminded Dennis of himself at that age. That was the signal for me to keep an eye on that guy. That was Donny. “

If Van de Beek approaches the heights of Bergkamp in the Premier League, a treat awaits us, but it also adds weight to the arguments of those wondering why United have signed such a player.

Van de Beek’s position have changed in the last two seasons. Used predominantly as number 10 in 2018/19, more recently it has been used as part of a three in midfield, sometimes as the deepest member of that trio. And while this role, and his success in it, appears to have been a successful audition for United, the Ajax coach’s reluctance to leave him without a defensive-minded partner in midfield for him. great games suggests that a substitute will be required in the Premier League.

The hypothetical and fanciful scenario for Solskjaer would be to play Van de Beek, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in midfield, either as three interchangeable or with one of them a little more advanced. But particularly when facing tougher opponents, Erik ten Hag has been reluctant to leave Van de Beek overloaded by Ajax, often moving central defender Lisandro Martinez up the field to play alongside him. Unsurprisingly, that was the case against Chelsea and Valencia in the Champions League, but also, more worryingly for United fans, against RKC Waalwijk, PEC Zwolle and SC Heerenveen in the Eredivisie.

When Pogba returned from injury, even with a defensive shield, questions were asked as to whether he and Fernandes could play on the same team. Against smaller sides it has been shown to work brilliantly; against title contenders and Champions League-quality opponents still under discussion. Throw in another attacking-minded midfielder in place of Nemanja Matic, Fred, or Scott McTominay and what was a sensible and potentially lengthy debate about midfield balance turns into a quick, one-sided barrage and forced submission for the dreamers. United would play beautiful football, but they would concede a lot of goals.

Solskjaer will know very well. It’s not dumb. He has recognized that good teams get great through competition for places and players are forced to improve due to pressure from their teammates. Clubs don’t usually win titles with a great team and little else. Liverpool is an outlier. To fight for the big prizes, United need to look at what Bayern Munich has and what Chelsea are creating: incredible strength in depth that means the best players can have a break without a significant drop in team performance. . Something that Solskjaer was unable to bestow on players like Fernandes and Pogba in the grueling final weeks of last season.

Van de Beek has not been signed to fit directly into the United team: he will have to fight and prove himself worth his position ahead of another very talented footballer, whoever he is. This is not a transfer misstep, but a step towards a United return. equipment preferable to equipment constantly on the brink of exhaustion.

Will ford is on twitter



[ad_2]