The Devil's DNA Profile picture
Jun 7 4 tweets 2 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
Had mentioned this when #MUFC got Donny van De Beek. Didn't make much sense given Bruno (& at the time Pogba) were in team. VDB was never a deep playmaker or transition defending DM & Bruno simply being super fit & super good made it tougher. Another case of poor tactical fitment Image
VDB's best role is as an AM/SS who utilize his great off-the-ball movement to get into good spaces. Paired with playmakers who can feed him & attackers who can move to generate space for him, he can score or provide good final balls (cutbacks, lay-offs, short through balls).
We never played that style of AM given Bruno was a playmaker largely. There was a time when Martial & Cavani were unfit where I felt VDB could have been played as CF ahead of Bruno with the pair & Rashford exchanging places but Rashford at CF + Bruno at AM was simple a sure bet.
It feels like another move where the opportunity to grab a good player for decent fee was made available to #MUFC, player was recommended by ex-United & we just went for it without much thought to tactical fitment. Hope VDB finds a new club that can give him the role he deserves.

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More from @TheDevilsDNA

Jun 8
[#MUFC 22/23 Season Player Ratings - MEGA THREAD]

As the dust settles on a decently successful season consdering it was Erik Ten Hag's 1st year, I'm going to rate every regular squad member in this big thread along with their data (individual pizza charts for most). Let's go!
1/ Image
David de Gea: 3/10

Let's be clear. It was a really poor season from DDG. When compared to the standards of other UCL clubs, he's quite far off & the reality is that it's been this way for a while. DDG ranks very poorly for sweeping, claiming & distribution stats while his
2/ Image
shot-stopping was below avg. The random last-ditch saves just don't make up for the inferior overall package. Even in terms of intangibles, his poor passing puts pressure on the team, forces us to lose the ball & invites pressure + his big-game errors are damning.
Weak link.
3/ Image
Read 42 tweets
Jun 8
There was a time (when Dean Henderson returned from loan) where I felt he could be started over DDG & grow into a starter-level no. 1 in 2 years time. It feels like that train has passed. Many things have happened. #MUFC taking 25-30m fee & investing in a top GK seems best route.
Goes to show how complicated youth player dev & integration is. Had felt there was a window when Garner could have also been re-integrated to push Scott & Fred as backups. Obv some youth players like Chong were just not good enough. But the ones who were - could have done better.
Even players who made it like Rashford & McTominay - we didn't do them any favours in development. Rashford just paved his way through via talent & effort but his tactical role confusion exists till today. Scott was a B2B 8 played all over the place & is a no-nothing player now.
Read 5 tweets
May 2
[NEW ARTICLE]

It seems odd that after having 4 good CBs, #MUFC might still buy in that position in near future. While not as urgent as critical XI gaps, my guess is that ETH would like 1 RCB & 1 LCB in ~2 years. I scout the best youngsters for both roles

thedevilsdna.com/?p=273840
Wrote this in parts over almost a month. Ditched my usual stats-based approach to go heavily on footage-based (aka eye test) analysis. Scored ~25 CBs & then dived further into 7 of them. Hope the depth isn't a turn-off & is informative. Feedback, likes & RTs are all appreciated.
Read 4 tweets
May 1
1. Osimhen
2. Ramos

3. Tammy
4. Højlund

Would be my priority order.

Issues with rest:
Kane - Age, wage, fee, profile
David - Ceiling, profile
Vlahovic - Ceiling, traits
Gimenez - Ceiling, traits
Kolo Muani - Traits, fee
Sesko - RBL-bound

In given list. There are other 9s obv
Just to clarify the words used
Profile - Fitment (in terms of where they play, how they move & how they fit with what we have)
Ceiling - Potential in terms of room to grow & height they can reach
Traits - Attributes they may lack that we badly need

Think fee, age, wage are obv.
Also on the CFs not given, I'd be open to Toney, Brobbey, Thuram, Openda, Watkins, Daka either as starter or backup, depending on price & availablity.
Read 5 tweets
Apr 12
[Why #MUFC need a build up 8 & not an advanced 8 - THREAD]

Based on the numerous reports linking us to advanced 8s like Bellingham, many have theorized that ETH might be going for a 4-3-3 similar to his 2nd Ajax team with Gravenberch & Berghuis advanced. My thoughts on this:
1/ ImageImage
Firstly, let's understand how that Ajax team setup in possession. The back 4 were all build up players. The FBs inverted & CBs stepped up into DM areas as the DM held centrally like an anchor man. On paper, this was a 4-3-3, but as we have often seen, this changed to a
2/ Image
2-3-5 or 3-2-5 in possession. The 8s advanced to occupy each half space forming a clear front 5. The 4 defenders handled most of the build up & their amazing progression ensured that they would find the front 5 easily during build up & progression phases.
3/ Image
Read 15 tweets
Feb 5
[NEW ARTICLE]

It's no secret that David de Gea isn't suited to Erik Ten Hag's style of play. #MUFC need a top GK to become a title challenger. In this piece, I explain the stats considered, create a shortlist from 22/23 data & score the top 3 targets

thedevilsdna.com/?p=273815
Also, adding an excerpt from the article. This is, in a nutshell, why #MUFC need a new GK.
Read 4 tweets

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