Their physical presence, their defensive play and their ability to stand up to Barcelona's pressing game were the key to their success against Barcelona's midfield and we already know Carrick-Fellaini will offer both of the former. Carrick has shown in the past 12 months he's more than capable of the latter, we just need to see whether Fellaini can play at that kind of pace and withstand that kind of pressure. I suspect he can. Not sure Martinez has any more drive or ability to beat a man than Fellaini to be honest.
Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances
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Their physical presence, their defensive play and their ability to stand up to Barcelona's pressing game were the key to their success against Barcelona's midfield and we already know Carrick-Fellaini will offer both of the former. Carrick has shown in the past 12 months he's more than capable of the latter, we just need to see whether Fellaini can play at that kind of pace and withstand that kind of pressure. I suspect he can. Not sure Martinez has any more drive or ability to beat a man than Fellaini to be honest.
I think you see what you want to see though Steven. Without a doubt you are being ridiculously harsh on his first half performance. He gave the ball away a handful of times in his first start against a decent side. Most of those balls were attempted slide rules and are a type of pass that will have a lower than most percentage. The official stats show that he misplaced 10 out of 58 passes and I think a few of them were contested headers so he wasn't as bad as you are making out.
That said though I think people like me are perhaps seeing things too positively so it swings in roundabouts. I thought Kagawa was poor and others think he was great. Perspective makes such a difference.
That said though I think people like me are perhaps seeing things too positively so it swings in roundabouts. I thought Kagawa was poor and others think he was great. Perspective makes such a difference.
Not sure if serious.
Martinez is no worse at running with the ball now either. Even half fit against Chelsea Martinez looked more comfortable taking the ball forward at his feet than Fellaini does. Not saying that Fellaini is incapable of filling a similar role for us as Martinez does at Bayern but Martinez has obviously benefited from coaching in the Spanish style that Fellaini visibly hasn't.
Very pleased with his performance tonight. Yes, he had few misplaced passes, but he had few passes between the lines for van Persie and Rooney I didn't expect from him, especially considering it's his first game for us. I expect him to start against City.
2/2 tackles.
4 interceptions.
4/4 clearances.
3/3 headed clearances.
4/6 aerial challenges.
Pretty solid stats.
Carricks:
2/3 tackles.
3 interceptions.
1/1 clearances.
0 headed clearances.
1/1 aerial challenges.
It's clear he has taken on a lot of the defensive duties which should free up Carricks passing (87/96. 91%).
4 interceptions.
4/4 clearances.
3/3 headed clearances.
4/6 aerial challenges.
Pretty solid stats.
Carricks:
2/3 tackles.
3 interceptions.
1/1 clearances.
0 headed clearances.
1/1 aerial challenges.
It's clear he has taken on a lot of the defensive duties which should free up Carricks passing (87/96. 91%).
Firstly I wasn't asking you, smart arse
You've provided 2 instances in a 90+ minute game of football. The bender chance isn't really getting in behind. That was just one of the things that can happen in a game of football. It wasn't any kind of miscommunication or any balance issues- their player was just a bit brighter at that moment. Mistakes will always happen. We've seen far far worse. I think we were two slow first half but two silly goals conceded. It wouldn't be us without utter stupidity at times.Very harsh assessment. Think most people looked forward to seeing the platform that Fellaini and Carrick would give our forward players and that was evident tonight. No coincidence that we saw so much from Valencia and Rooney particularly. We looked really comfortable in midfield, Carrick had more time and space, sure the big man was sloppy in possession a couple of times but I'm hugely optimistic for the future of that partnership and have no doubt that it will enable us to be competitive whoever we find ourselves up against. You've written off the third placed team in the Bundesliga in a very cursory fashion there too. I'm struggling to remember the last time we had so much grip on midfield against comparable opponents in Europe.
Indeed, the Belgian's are really found lacking when it comes to comfort in possession and dribbling.
Compared to the Spanish everyone is.
Not sure what your point is honestly. Usually you present your arguments better.
Basic facts of the matter are that Fellaini is still a player in development. He was good tonight, not great, but there's room for him to grow and improve and maybe get to the level that Fletch was at when he stomped all over Milan's midfield in the last 16 of the 2009/10 Champions League.
Hm. I disagree personally. But let's say for the sake of argument that you're right. It's still improvement, isn't it? So, what's the problem? The fee? Unless you believe that his fee means we won't buy anyone else ever again I don't see the relevance. We overpaid for him, sure, as we have overpaid for domestic talents before. It's not his fault, for one - and in all likelihood no fatal strain on our resources either.
To me he is a clear improvement. He offers something none of our other options can. He does something for the overall balance of the team, more than anything. I think we'll see this very clearly as the season progresses. Our offensive players will benefit greatly from having a solid partnership in the middle - they did so tonight (Rooney and Valencia) and will continue to do so.
It's not perfection by any means, and I doubt anyone here will deny there are better players out there, who would've been even better acquisitions. But using this fact as some kind of argument against Fellaini is unreasonable.
I thought he looked great in his first United start. Imposed himself on the game, was an outlet for the defenders and spread the ball around. He made a couple of mistakes, but it happens.
I'm feeling very optimistic about the Fellaini-Carrick midfield combination.
I'm feeling very optimistic about the Fellaini-Carrick midfield combination.
Thought he was really good for the first half hour or so and didn't notice him as much after that. The extent to which his physicality can help us in the midfield area was already evident tonight.
You've got to be kidding. He's looking a much better midfielder than Anderson, Cleverley and current Giggs. We actually looked solid in midfield for once.
In fact lem8sh, if you can't recognise his good work already then I'd just give up if I were you. You and the guy that said he passed the ball aimlessly for 45 mins. Does he expect a killer pass every time? Some of his first time passes to our front men cut them apart.
We overpaid for him but now that he's here why not judge him on what he brings to the team? I bet this will go on all season.
We went through the same thing with Carrick where people were underrating him for close to two seasons because:
A.) He wasn't Roy Keane
B.) People didn't fee he was worth 18 million
While its too early to judge Fellaini, what we can say is today he added a calmness to the midfield and helped halve the work load for Carrick which inturn helped give some freedom to our forwards.
We went through the same thing with Carrick where people were underrating him for close to two seasons because:
A.) He wasn't Roy Keane
B.) People didn't fee he was worth 18 million
While its too early to judge Fellaini, what we can say is today he added a calmness to the midfield and helped halve the work load for Carrick which inturn helped give some freedom to our forwards.
I recognise what he is good at I have already mentioned what I think he is good at, keep looking you will find it. Don't give up.
He looked alright. Clear improvement from Cleverly/Anderson at least.
I thought we looked notably better with him in the side. Although he did give it away a few times when under a bit of pressure, i was generally impressed with his passing which was crisp and neat. I think Carrick and Rooney inparticular will benefit hugely from his inclusion. Carrick can share the defensive burden, and Rooney can play a bit higher up the pitch.
He was good without being anything special. Clear improvement over the shit we've been dealing with for years though, and the effect of his added presence in midfield was visible throughout. We looked much more solid and secure all game, not being run through constantly like usual and even though we conceded twice, I thought we looked safe defensively. One thing I noticed was he always covered Evra's position when Evra bombed forward, which was very good because other wise we would have been cut open time and time again. Still think we need to sign another midfielder, a playmaker type now to replace Carrick as he is 32 now.
I think we looked more solid in the middle with him and carrick. Passing was neat and tidy without being anything special. And he gave us some strength and presence.
87% pass completion rate tonight, and some people are still moaning that he can't pass! 
87% pass completion rate tonight, and some people are still moaning that he can't pass!
It was mainly safe passing but I don't have a problem with that. We don't need him to split defences open, that's not his job. We have RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Valencia and Nani for that.
Keep the ball, make interceptions, stop players waltzing through our midfield and then I'm happy. People might think that's a simplistic job description for someone who cost £27 million but I don't care about the price as long as he solidifies our midfield.
One massive improvement was that he always went looking for the ball off the centre backs and that allowed us to retail possession. Who would have thought but Fellaini actually stops us playing the long ball.
Great first start.
87% pass completion rate tonight, and some people are still moaning that he can't pass!
Well that's hysterical what's the next joke? HahahahaThere's very little creative or difficult passes made by him unless he's trying something unnecessarily difficult like pinging it 40 yards onto RVP's toe. Which just isn't happening.
The balance between a tough pass and a simple pass and when to try it just isn't there. Doubt it ever will be.
Thought he was brilliant. I missed the match live due to the time difference with Asia, so I had to watch it on replay. Came on the caf and thought I would find Kagawa and Fellaini's performances being celebrated. Instead it is criticism I find. Unbelievable.
Fellaini was solid, and his distribution was better than Cleverley or Anderson in the past year. His defending was impeccable in my opinion, and on occasions his usefulness against the size of Leverkusen was noticeable.
Kagawa was turning, taking risks and going at opponents, but I guess that belongs in a different thread.
Fellaini was solid, and his distribution was better than Cleverley or Anderson in the past year. His defending was impeccable in my opinion, and on occasions his usefulness against the size of Leverkusen was noticeable.
Kagawa was turning, taking risks and going at opponents, but I guess that belongs in a different thread.
I'll add this, that Cleverley looked sharp when he came on. Competition for places can only benefit Anderson and Cleverley as well.
this. plus he is always going to be a threat from set pieces. that should help him get a few goals for us.
another thing is that suddenly we look like a gigantic side when i was watching at the team line up pictures. plus carrick who was sitting we had 7 6 footers in our starting 11 last night!
It's a big team now, and Evra, Rooney and Valencia are all great athletes who play bigger than their size.
The spine of the team in Vidic/Rio - Carrick/Fellaini - Rooney/RVP is physical, nasty, experienced and technically sound. De Gea is the weak link, but I no longer get nervous watching De Gea handle corners notwithstanding Leverkusen's second goal today.
The spine of the team in Vidic/Rio - Carrick/Fellaini - Rooney/RVP is physical, nasty, experienced and technically sound. De Gea is the weak link, but I no longer get nervous watching De Gea handle corners notwithstanding Leverkusen's second goal today.
Funniest stuff on CAf in years are your assessments of Fellaini. Comedy gold.
There's very little creative or difficult passes made by him unless he's trying something unnecessarily difficult like pinging it 40 yards onto RVP's toe. Which just isn't happening.
The balance between a tough pass and a simple pass and when to try it just isn't there. Doubt it ever will be.
He as goals in him, Fletcher didn't. Besides, at Everton he was never going to outshine what Fletcher did for us in midfield.
I haven't watched the match so can't comment on his performance but I'm amazed to read some posters judging too quickly the changes he can/cannot bring to the club.
Decent performance from him last night. Seemed to make a fair few interceptions and pinched the ball from the opposition quite a bit too. His passing wasn't overly adventurous but I suppose if its one of his limitations it's best that he focused on keeping it simple. I've not liked that Carrick has played almost completely as a DM this season, staying back and not really starting our attacks and passing through teams like he normally does, I think that is Carrick's best attribute and Fellaini allowed him to do that more last night which is nice. He seemed to play a lot more cleanly than I've previously seen from him, not giving away numerous niggly fouls which is something I think he's conscious of. Ran out of steam it seemed at the end, wasnt impacting the game like he was initially. He will be useful for us in some games. Promising performance from him.
Happy with his performance and a definite upgrade on Cleverley or Andrson.
Good solid performance. I think a lot of people ( including the chap in the match day thread) expect a top top midfielder because of how much we paid. It's clear we overpaid so I don't see the sense in going on and on about the fee. He's a good addition to the team so let's not keep expecting the world from him unfairly. I was happy with his performance last night.
We looked visibly solid last night. I'm not sure if that was due to the opposition or Fellaini's inclusion. He's in the team to do the simple things. Win the ball, and pass it onto more productive/talented players, which I thought he did very well last night. We now need Kagawa and our wingers to come into form, and we'll be a better side with Fellaini's inclusion.
I actually think he's a very shrewd purchase.
With United now having two defensive minded midfielders, the more attack minded players will have more freedom to do their business. It should also mean Evra and Rafael will have less to worry about defensively when attacking down the flanks. Fellaini's purchase will also mean we can play with two wingers or Kagawa in a free role without being overrun in midfield, and allow Rooney to play more upfield.
With United now having two defensive minded midfielders, the more attack minded players will have more freedom to do their business. It should also mean Evra and Rafael will have less to worry about defensively when attacking down the flanks. Fellaini's purchase will also mean we can play with two wingers or Kagawa in a free role without being overrun in midfield, and allow Rooney to play more upfield.
this. plus he is always going to be a threat from set pieces. that should help him get a few goals for us.
another thing is that suddenly we look like a gigantic side when i was watching at the team line up pictures. plus carrick who was sitting we had 7 6 footers in our starting 11 last night!
Valencia's attempt at crouching there is just awful.
Personally thought he had an OK game, not amazing but not as bad as some have made out. He's looked a little off the pace ( can I say maybe even a little nervy which could be understandable). Once he's settled in fully I actually think he has a couple more gears he can go up to.
Quite
He definitely seems to be playing it safe, and within himself. Understandable he would want to settle in first and do the simple things.
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