I have atleast seen him on the ball and in the oppositions box having a couple of scoring chances. I have seen him dueling to retrieve the ball, I have seen him pressuring the opposition and being a handfull at times. But no yes he made a mistake, lets have his head on a stake and prance around with it on the streets of Manchester. Maybay the gods will see it as peace offering and make all the bad things happening to us go away.
Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances
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I have atleast seen him on the ball and in the oppositions box having a couple of scoring chances. I have seen him dueling to retrieve the ball, I have seen him pressuring the opposition and being a handfull at times. But no yes he made a mistake, lets have his head on a stake and prance around with it on the streets of Manchester. Maybay the gods will see it as peace offering and make all the bad things happening to us go away.
At one point he tried to tackle Yaya Toure on the halfway line with the single worst attempt at a challenge I've think I've ever seen. It involved him starting from a very good position, facing Toure, blocking his access to the huge space in our half the pitch, to suddenly doing some kind of shit turbo pirouette, which not only failed to get the ball but also somehow propelled him 5 yards past Toure into their half of the pitch, both freeing Toure to waltz forward easily, and rendering Fellaini completely incapable of recovering. Which was fine 'cos he didn't bother anyway.
He also played like that kid at school who always wants to play up front but isn't good enough, so you play him somewhere else, usually at fullback or something, but he always ends up in the box for every attack anyway. Usually 'cos he's a selfish cnut and his dad's the coach.
He also played like that kid at school who always wants to play up front but isn't good enough, so you play him somewhere else, usually at fullback or something, but he always ends up in the box for every attack anyway. Usually 'cos he's a selfish cnut and his dad's the coach.
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I didn't understand why he was so far forward and even wide at times. And no one was telling him to come back either.
I much prefer him playing from deep bringing the ball forward rather than taking himself without the ball. Too much tinkering with roles from what I can see.
I much prefer him playing from deep bringing the ball forward rather than taking himself without the ball. Too much tinkering with roles from what I can see.
Do you honestly believe I have gathered this opinion on him just from his time here at United?
He thinks he's Steven Gerard, apparently. No discipline, tactical or otherwise.
He's doing his best but he'll never get the same levels of support as homegrown United lads. Cleverley is getting ripped to shreds as well, even worse then Fellaini. He's trying his best too. Trying your best isn't enough to make it at United, and if we are to have squad players of that quality, I'd rather they're United lads who supported the club their whole lives and have given us good moments over the years (like Fletcher). As it is though, we'll probably sell Fletcher or make him retire, or sell Cleverley because we'll have too many squad players there next season, because we wasted money on somebody who might be better, but not by enough to warrant the signing.
That tackle was a tragicomedy in itself. How on Earth a player who plays for Machester United and gets paid 100 grand in week can do that is really absurd.
About the bolded part, it is really true. Him being Moyes' buddy is the only reason why he was signed. Can someone imagine any of Real, Barca, BVB, Bayern. Chelsea, City, Liverpool or Arsenal signing him. I don't think that even Spurs would have gone as low. It is the equivalent of a prince marrying a peasent woman in middle age.
My main concern is how it was acceptable to his manager, his captain and other significants.
Quite obviously a failed tactic, serious fail.
That elbow was out of order, however he is not the only player guilty of such acts. He had it in his game for as long as I have seen him play at Standard Luik, it has already greatly diminished in his game since then. When the game is going bad it can get on his nerves and then he may end up doing stupid things, Rooney is/was just like that.
Besides I dare even say he didn't do it deliberatly. He plays hard and he uses his arms in duels that is true, however the guy is freaking big and Zabaeta is head is on the same height as fellaini his elbow. When another smaller player does this, it is a elbow in the stomach to try and push him away, with Fellaini it becomes an elbow in the face it looks really bad. Doesn't mean he intended to elbow Zabaleta in the face, people that think really don't have a clue. He is caught in the heat of the moment and he tries to bump of Zabaleta to keep hold off the ball, he uses his elbow for that which is wrong but it is because he his big that it ends up in zabaletas face, which doesn't make it alright, he should have had a red there. But it doesn't mean he wanted to hurt Zabaleta and was an act of violence, if you see it that way, it is totally wrong.
Arsenal really wanted to sign him in the summer, so did Chelsea in the previous season. None of them wanted to pay anything what we paid for him however. It has been a stupid move from the club the way they handled his transfer. he could have been part of team on pre-season and we'd have pay £7m less if we really wanted him, but we panicked bought him because our entire summer was planned as shit.
However not going to blame Fellaini for that, not his fault.
Hyperbolic, OTT reactions to a good player who gives us an option we didn't have previously, is trying hard and is ultimately being used badly.
He really does seem quite stupid on the pitch. He has the opposite of a football brain. He just sort of does things, and then doesn't do things, and sort of wanders around. Like a devolved proto-human. There doesn't seem to be a coherence or intelligence to anything he does.
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Also, it's hilarious that there is a witch-hunt over the elbow (which, if you actually look, it was more like he pushed Zabaleta in the head with his elbow than an outright swing) while players like Rafael, who try and break their opponents legs three times a year are lauded for "having a bit of passion".
I don't think we were looking for the foul machine option previously. N'Zonzi is a better player.
Not really....Rafael is a tit when he wants to be...
And if you are gonna say passion, you have to go full Tim Sherwood on it.
"Guts, Character, spirit innit?!!"
Arsenal never wanted to sign him. It was just media bullshit like how we wanted to sign Garay, Strootman, Gaitan, Falcao, Cavani etc. There weren't even strong rumours like it was for Alcantara.
Can someone really imagine Wenger going for Fellaini? If yes, why. It doesn't make sense in any possible way.
When did Chelsea tried to sign him? Why they didn't? When 23m price was a problem for Chelsea? Oh wait, they never were interested for him.
I know that you like Fellaini because he is Belgian, but similarily to his manager, he isn't and will never be near United quality.
There is absolutely no excusing his elbow. Cowardly and disgusting action from a truly stupid football player.There was one point where City switched the play from their left to Toure who was breaking from the middle... All our midfielders were over too the right, though Fellaini was the closest too Toure, so should have been the one to make the effort to get across to him.
Instead, he opted just stand there and watch, meanwhile Michael Carrick had to sprint (yes, Carrick sprinted!) past Fellaini in order to make the tackle on Toure... it was farcical.
Instead, he opted just stand there and watch, meanwhile Michael Carrick had to sprint (yes, Carrick sprinted!) past Fellaini in order to make the tackle on Toure... it was farcical.
Ah look, it's plainly obvious he has something to his game. He was the centre-piece of an over-performing Everton team. He has proven difficult to deal with for opposition teams time and time again. He's not Zidane; but anyone expecting him to be is an idiot. He is a good option to have in the squad and has performed far better in the last few matches than a lot of other members of the team.
I'm not excusing it; just saying that Fellaini is being scapegoated here for a team performance that was, overall, diabolical. And many a United player has done far, far worse in their time.
I can agree with that, everyone was shite. But as I said above a player the majority never wanted here in the first place will always receive the bulk of the abuse.
I don't care where they come from as soon as they put on the red shirt they are my players and they deserve my support. The only thing I want to see is that they apply themselves. I don't agree with Cleverley doing his best, if that is his best than he shouldn't even be playing in the PL. What makes you say we'll retire or sell Fletcher, the guy was kept on at the club with one of the worst conditions you could have in professional sports. Why would the team do that if they were to sell or retire him as soon as he gets better againn. He isn't playing because he needs time to adept to this kind of level again, he has been out for over a year, if there is any player I accept some bad form from it is him and so does the coach I think.
Cleverley and definitley Carrick (who has been absent from the firing line but deserves to be there more than most) are another case for me.
Cleverley and Carrick are established players who have been amongst the weakest performers from day one Moyes took charge. Fellaini he has some excuses, he is adepting to the new level, the new club and team mates, it is harder than usual because the team is really struggling which makes it harder to really fit in and hit form again, he has been injurred for a long time, he has had surgery etc and he needs so time to get into his best form. He has also been unlucky on a few occassions that he did not score, I'am sure if he did he'd be held on a higher perch than has been the case lately. No Fellaini needs time and he needs support. If any players deserve some stick it are the established ones that somehow refuse to perform on the levels they performed under Fergie.
I understand people being upset about the situation and I also understand Fellaini is an easy target, but it doesn't make it right making him a scapegoat for every bad result and performance. I also understand people find he doesn't deserve his price tag, and they are right he doesn't deserve that price tag, yet he isn't responsible for it, it has been the club and the people in charge who are responsible for that and if you want to direct your anger at someone direct it at them.
Not really....Rafael is a tit when he wants to be...
And if you are gonna say passion, you have to go full Tim Sherwood on it.
"Guts, Character, spirit innit?!!"
Rafael is a often petulant tit who has cost us games in the past - yet people say he is material for the next captain of the club.
Fellaini is a petulant tit who has played 1/4 of a season marred by injury, with a load of shit surrounding him in midfield - and people think he should be castrated.
He's trying his best; he's not "peasant quality" like some here have said and I completely disagree with the notion that he stuck out as a poor performer tonight. There were a hell of a lot of players far worse than him.
THIS !
Wait, Moyes is utilising Fellaini poorly now?
This isn't about wanting to buy him/not wanting to buy him or whether he has been/can be/will be a good player for us... well not for me anyway. It is simply about today's performance... and today he was totally, indefensibly terrible... particularly in that first half, which was abject in almost every single way.
It wasn't "as bad as everyone else" - it was miles worse.
It wasn't "as bad as everyone else" - it was miles worse.
Fair enough; I think that's silly though! He's here now so we might as well get behind him and get as much out of him as we can. He was clearly trying pretty hard tonight, lots of running and tracking down, lots of tackling - I'm sure the TV networks in the US were going mad about his "hustle"! It didn't really come off on the night, but I find it pointless for the fans to get on the back of a player who is obviously trying their best. Criticize the ones who seem like the don't care; God knows there are plenty of them at the moment
.Agreed. He's a dirty bastard too, shouldn't be anywhere near a United shirt.
Non no the guy is right there is double standards over this. His elbow was bad but you got to take into account the fact Fellaini is big and his elbows are on the same height as players heads (like zabaleta). If Fellaini uses his arms he ends up hitting them in the head although he doesn't intend to. he has always had this problem. Doesn't excuse the elbow but it isn't the same as a murder tackle nor is it a clear act of violence, it is not like he saw Zabaleta coming and thought, I don't like this guy I'll elbow him in the head and make that clear to him. It is sort of an accident because Fellaini his arms are all over the place and his kinda a clumsy lump with them.
There is no excuse for Rafael for to go with his two feet into a tackle for a ball he can't possiblly get while near the corner flag. Ofcourse it is passion but it is dangerous and stupid and he should have had a red for it. Its no more passion and being caught in the moment that what Fellaini did tonight. With Fellaini its just his using his elbow with some force to shield off Zabaleta but it goes into his head because the guy is a giant who's arms are on the same height as small peoples heads (like zabaletas). Its a fault and it looks ugly and he shouldn't have done it, but I find it more excusable than what rafael has done.
Yet rafael is a passionable boy who is captain material and we don't even brake a sweat over it, just a ohhh what did you do there rafa boy and lucky you didn't get a card for that during the match thread. While some on here would like to have Fellaini is head on a stake for what happend today. It is completley double standard and it is becoming a bit ridiculous.
Trust me, I've been directing it at them (mainly Moyes) since the day he took over
Personally, I've never been a fan of Fellaini, so I'll have a biased view on him. Always found him a dirty player who liked throwing elbows and just never really liked watching him so never wanted him at United. I appreciate that he's clearly trying, and has done well against lesser sides, to the point where he's shown he can be a useful player. He'll never be considered a success or a good signing because he just isn't really a good signing. Whatever way you put it, we had plenty of squad member quality players in midfield last summer. We needed genuine quality, not another squad player. All he'll be is one squad player replacing another who will leave this summer. He might be slightly better, he might give his all, but he should still be a squad player at most.
I'm not blaming any result on him though. You can't ever blame a result on one player. You can on the manager though.
Also, I mentioned Fletcher because one player will inevitably leave this summer from midfield, as we'll probably bring 2 in. That is 1 player from Fellaini, Fletcher, Carrick and Cleverley. Apparently Cleverley is set to be offered a new contract for whatever reason, and he does offer us something different (well he used to, now its just nothing like the others). The other 3 are all pretty defensive type midfielders. Fellaini we just bought, so he's not going anywhere. Carrick was our most important player last season, is our best passer of the ball, and can fill in at center back, so I doubt he'll go anywhere. That leaves Fletcher, who most likely won't ever get back to his prior level, has been out for the best part of 2 years, and will play a bit part role at most next year probably. There's no room for sentiment in football especially for Moyes at the moment, because his job is on the line. If it were me I'd keep Fletch but I doubt Moyes will, and if someone were to leave, I think it might just be him sadly.
DDG was great.
Rafael was caught out defensively multiple times.
Jones was invisible.
Rio. Christ. Not in the good way, like a few years ago when we were announcing him as our lord and saviour. "Christ", the exasperated sigh.
Evra. Jesus. Same thing.
Mata. Gave the ball away seven times in promising position (from when I started counting). Awful, abject, dire, listless. Can't fecking cross either.
Cleverley. Did alright, in fairness. Got hauled off then
.Carrick. One of the worst performances from a United player in recent memory.
Rooney. What would we do without him. That slide tackle in midfield was the standout thing tonight. Christ.
.Welbeck. Deer on ice.
Kagawa. Completely changed the game; all those saying Kagawa would waltz into the team and save the day were completely and totally vindicated once again. Oh wait, no, another uninspiring performance from a player whose fandom is in no way deserved based on his performances since coming to OT. Another one of those "gets better with time on the sidelines" players.
Please explain how he was in any way standout as a poor performer within this team.
He wasn't. They played shit. The blame doesn't fall squarely on Fellaini's shoulders, and saying he was far worse than the shower of shit that was displayed tonight is completely and totally ludicrous.
Christ, I mean at least Fellaini has an excuse for playing shit; his first Manchester derby, his first season here, marred by injury, surrounded by shit and being played out left. The conclusion you have come to is completely and totally ridiculous.
This; and people don't seem to realise that a two-footed lunge the likes that Rafael throws in once a month is far more likely to end a career than a petulant swing of a fecking elbow. I had two games for Ireland at under-17 level before some prick came in and stopped that with a two-footed stomp that forced seven operations on my knee. I'd far rather be facing an elbow into the head than that any day of the week.
It's all thuggery and just because you don't like a player doesn't mean you should treat them differently.
People here are scapegoating Fellaini just as they did with Fletcher a few seasons ago. It's ridiculous and childish and, christ, it even makes me thankful that David fecking Moyes is running the club rather than these oafs.
If you think Rafael isn't prone to the odd petulant, potentially leg-breaking tackle once in a while then there's no point in talking to you before the red-tinted specs get welded off.
That really should have been red.Edit: I like the ONE guy clapping in the background.
The one part of that post I do agree with is "clumsy lump"
There were alot of articles about it for months in 2012 and 2013 that Chelsea wanted him and that Arsenal wanted him has even been confirmed by Fellaini himself who declared to ESPN that he didn't want to join Arsenal because he preffered a move to Manchester United. (http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/252465.html). Don't be an idiot spouting things like could you ever imagine Wenger going fellaini, he went for him and he went for far worse players aswell in his time at Arsenal. Wenger is hardly the symbol of making smart transfer deals. if you refer to the fact Arsenal would never be looking for a physical player like Fellaini, well they signed Flamini as that type of player because they couldn't get Fellaini.
I also said none of them wanted to pay £27.5m for him while we ended up doing that because we messed up in the summer, if we wanted him we could have signed him for £7m less months before that, but we had the worst managed transfer summer in the history of transfer summers and we ended up losing out on everybody and panicked and signed Fellaini for a ridiculous fee. It is bad I agree, however doesn't mean the guy is useless and also doesn't mean no other teams were interested in him or wouldn't even go near him.
You people sorta make the connection in your head that United is doing worse now after signing Fellaini hence why Fellaini and every possible thing he does wrong or isn't ideal about him must be the cause of all the problems we are having at United right now. While actually it is the other way around and Fellaini is struggling and underperforming because he is playing football under less than ideal circumstances at a club that has like a million problems going on since SAF left. If things stabilise and he gets time and support he'll come good and he'll prove he isn't a useless player. However if you label him like that from the start and will take any stone you can throw at him, then how can he come good ?
I don't give a flying feck about that elbow but I preferred Lurch when he sat in the middle of the pitch doing nothing but pass the ball 6-8 yards. He would genuinely have been better tonight if he got electrocuted every time he left the centre circle. Complete buffoon of a man.
A voice of reason amidst the big steaming pile of shite-talk that pollutes this thread. Good post.
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