Jaap Stam has questioned his former club Manchester United’s use of Donny van de Beek and hopes that Everton will be able to deploy the Dutchman more effectively.
Van de Beek joined Everton on transfer deadline day in a loan move until the end of the season after the Blues had previously tried to obtain his services on the final day of last summer’s window.
The 24-year-old is ineligible to play against Brentford in this Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Goodison Park having turned out as a substitute for United against Aston Villa in the previous round but he could make his debut in the crucial Premier League clash at Newcastle United next Tuesday.
Stam, who was Van de Beek’s coach at Yong Ajax – the Amsterdam giants’ ‘reserve’ team who play in the second tier of Dutch football, played 127 games for United, but doesn’t think they did enough to play to his former protégé’s strengths.
He told De Telegraaf : “Donny has qualities that fit in perfectly with Ajax and the Eredivisie, but he could not adapt to United’s style of play.
“I hope he will be able to get minutes under his belt at Everton and that his qualities will be used properly.
“United would certainly not have performed less effectively if they had fielded two holding midfielders, allowing Van de Beek to play higher up the pitch and be of importance in the build-up of attacks, along with Scott McTominay and behind Bruno Fernandes.”
While Van de Beek only netted one goal in both of his two seasons with the Reds Devils so far, he was prolific over his last three campaigns at Ajax, hitting double figures in all of them.
New Everton manager Frank Lampard, who pushed hard to bring him in, even before he was officially announced, was the leading goalscoring midfielder in Premier League history during his own career, netting double figures in all competitions on no fewer than a dozen occasions in England and he even broke the 20-goal barrier in five straight seasons between 2005/06-2009/10.
Having such a mentor at Everton can hopefully bring the best out of Van de Beek.
Stam said: “Luck plays its part but Donny always shows a great work ethic, runs many miles a game and is comfortable on the ball.
“He can be influential in switching play and has the capacity to succeed as a box-to-box player but he was never able to operate in that position (at United).”
