Donny van de Beek was back in the No.10 role he made his name in for Manchester United but as Liverpool grew stronger Van de Beek became weaker in Bangkok.
Bar one prompt pass that Amad was cynically denied latching onto (and that was overhit), Van de Beek's 45 minutes in Bangkok were forgettable. He was surrounded by reserves and rookies though he falls into the former category himself and is currently befitting the status.
Van de Beek should be more authoritative with the ball. He was surrounded by three 20-year-olds and backed up by two 19-year-olds and teenagers Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal looked far more at ease. Their competitive experience amounts to a combined 16 minutes.
Also read: Murtough and Arnold embarking on their own tour
There has been little fanfare about Van de Beek since his managerial compatriot strode onto the Carrington training pitch. Richard Arnold and John Murtough have also embarked on a European tour to sign Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen is on the way, two players who are a direct threat to Van de Beek.
Van de Beek can play deep, as Erik ten Hag noted in Melbourne: "He can do both, I know that from the past. But his best position is his capabilities in the box of the opponent, so playing short behind the striker [is his best role].
"He has a really good smell for being in the right position." Van de Beek did not get a sniff against Liverpool.
It is apposite Van de Beek's only memorable performance for United was in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last half as manager. Van de Beek's entrance at Vicarage Road was sardonically cheered by supporters who used him as a cause celebre as they gradually turned against Solskjaer. Van de Beek scored quickly against Watford and sprung Cristiano Ronaldo for a one-on-one at 2-1. Ben Foster's shoulder deflected the ball wide. Watford won 4-1.
Van de Beek last started a meaningful Premier League match for United on December 6 2020 and was hooked at the pause with a dominant West Ham 1-0 up. His loan spell at Everton this year was restricted to seven appearances through injury and he barely contributed to their survival.
"What we did see of Van de Beek was very positive. Sadly just didn't see enough of it," an Evertonian said.
That Van de Beek asked to join Everton in the summer should have alarmed United. His agent at the time - since replaced by De Jong's representative Ali Dursun - sensed Van de Beek's face did not fit under Solskjaer. Seeking to drop down to the apparent comfort zone of Everton was not the mentality of a proper United player, though.
Van de Beek could be more distant from the starting XI at the end of this summer transfer window than he was last year. Eriksen's flexibility appeals to Ten Hag but his selection hierarchy would already suggest Van de Beek is not as suitable in central midfield as Scott McTominay and Fred, never mind De Jong.
Bruno Fernandes performed nearer his optimum during the first-half against Liverpool and while he may not be as aligned with Ten Hag's approach as Van de Beek, he has cut it in the Premier League for two years. Fernandes remains the vice-captain, an early indication he will stride out of the tunnel and onto the pitch against Brighton three weeks on Sunday. Eriksen is also Premier League proven.
It did not take long for stats obsessives to quote Van de Beek's numbers under Ten Hag: 34 goals and 29 assists from 111 appearances, most of them in a competition United intended to send Amad to on loan for a season. There is ample evidence why Van de Beek was behind Jack Grealish and James Maddison on United's playmaker shortlist two years ago.
Van de Beek could get itchy feet again in August. He has not been selected in any of Louis van Gaal's five Netherlands squads and there is only one more get-together before the World Cup starts in November. He has a more decisive manager to deal with and Ten Hag has reiterated the need for a large squad in a surreal season where the World Cup final is staged eight days before the Boxing Day fixtures.
United's pre-season opposition is not the most testing and performing against a team who have just signed Nani is not going to elevate anyone in the pecking order. Yet if Van de Beek is to feel wanted at United enough to stay beyond August, the next three weeks are a critical time for him.
Even if he is still a reserve.
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