Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances

[Mister Ed]

Yeah you don't...

None of those came from Everton mind you. It is different buying a player in the Belgian or Dutch competition than from a PL team. Démbélé came from Fullham and Tottenham had to pay his release clause of £15m, if we had acted smart with Fellaini we could have also signed him for his release clause a month earlier for £21.5M. Its a bit more, but Fellaini is considered a bigger player than Démbélé and Everton is no Fullham.

If you want to compare, compare apples to apples and pears to pears.

De Bruyne made his transfer from Chelsea (and hardly playing there) to Wolfburg for £18m

Benteke was a nobody when Villa bought him from Genk, Lukaku was unproven and very raw when Chelsea snapped him up at Anderlecht. I have seen plenty of these players in the Belgian competition and I never thought they were going to make it the way they did and I thought at the time those clubs overpaid. But they took a gamble on them and it paid off. Those transfers are not comparable to Fellaini at all.

If you want to sign Benteke today you'll also pay upwards of £20, same with Lukaku.

Another example is Kompany, he cost City £6m, but now you would have to pay the world to get him.

None of those players when they made their move from Genk or Anderlecht to the PL were established internationals aswell. If you want to judge the transfer of fellaini judge it in the right way, his transfer price makes alot more sense then. Not that he is worth £27.5m, but £21.5m would have made sense for him (probably a bit too much, but comparable to for example the £18m that was paid for De Bruyne).

 

[Comsmit]

Bayern will waltz past him, and when they don't it's because they got caught in his hair on the way past. The only way out being for him to elbow you very hard in the face.

 

[Kostur]

Bayern will waltz past him, and when they don't it's because they got caught in his hair on the way past. The only way out being for him to elbow you very hard in the face.

They waltzed past Barcelona's midfield just to smash them 7-0 over two legs so it's not really surprising that they will waltz past him, is it ?

 

[DFreshKing]

Another solid game. Had more good performances than bad since his come back from injury. I think he should concentrate on sitting and breaking up play until his confidence improves, still positioning himself allover at times. Our midfiled has looked much better in both games Carrick has been CB.

 

[Blue always red]

Just watching City then and IMO Fellaini is a mix between Fernandinho and Yaya, but worse than both of them. He needs someone mobile next to him or else our midfield just gets bypassed by anything between our lines.

 

[simonhch]

He's awful. Every time he has a decent(ish) game against a lesser team, people hail his performance. Then we play a good team and he looks horribly unlike a Manchester United quality player. And as it will be against Bayern. He'll probably do something ugly and cynical to top it off too.

 

[bosnian_red]

Just watching City then and IMO Fellaini is a mix between Fernandinho and Yaya, but worse than both of them. He needs someone mobile next to him or else our midfield just gets bypassed by anything between our lines.

In what way is he similar to them? He's not quick, he's not mobile, he's not particularly talented on the ball or great defensively like Fernandinho or very good going forward and can't run with the ball like either Toure or Fernandinho. He's an average player but nothing more for me, not at a top 4 level.

 

[Eugenius]

Just watching City then and IMO Fellaini is a mix between Fernandinho and Yaya, but worse than both of them. He needs someone mobile next to him or else our midfield just gets bypassed by anything between our lines.

He's what Fernandinho would be, trying to play like Yaya. Languid, undisciplined without the quality to back it up.

I'm not sure what sort of tactical brief he's been given. He normally ends up roaming somewhere upfield where he's not got enough quality, nor is able to drop a shoulder to be effective when he gets the ball into his feet in those tighter spaces. Which means that we're a bit more vulnerable on the break and we lack someone who take the ball off the defence and provide passing options in that deep midfield area. One of the reasons we struggled to build attacks with any speed.

He wasn't bad today but 6.5/10 performances against these types of opposition means nothing.

 

[Red Shorts]

He's awful. Every time he has a decent(ish) game against a lesser team, people hail his performance. Then we play a good team and he looks horribly unlike a Manchester United quality player. And as it will be against Bayern. He'll probably do something ugly and cynical to top it off too.

People hailed his performances because they were good, composed performances in the middle, something we have been deprived of all season. The only other CM I can think of this season whose performance actually stuck in my memory in a good way was Giggs against Olympiakos. For some reason, Fellaini's confidence looked low like all the players at the start, and he didn't play as smoothly as he has done in the past games. Ok, so he has performed in the big games (although we know he is capable of doing so as he showed for Everton against the likes of Arsenal, City, Chelsea and ourselves), but we find ourselves struggling against lesser opposition on certain days, and he has more often than not given us composure against these sorts of teams this season. If we get one or two top quality CMs this summer who push (metaphorically) Fellaini to the bench, then I still expect to see him as an option to come off the bench and change the system if something is failing, or play against the smaller teams and give the other CMs some rest.

His performance against City was woeful, granted, but I thought he was decent against Liverpool, yet most judgement was coming from those fans who will never be won over by him, no matter what positive things he does for us now.

 

[Blue always red]

He's what Fernandinho would be, trying to play like Yaya. Languid, undisciplined without the quality to back it up.

I'm not sure what sort of tactical brief he's been given. He normally ends up roaming somewhere upfield where he's not got enough quality, nor is able to drop a shoulder to be effective when he gets the ball into his feet in those tighter spaces. Which means that we're a bit more vulnerable on the break and we lack someone who take the ball off the defence and provide passing options in that deep midfield area. One of the reasons we struggled to build attacks with any speed.

He wasn't bad today but 6.5/10 performances against these types of opposition means nothing.

Spot on. We're especially weak in the middle when someone runs at us on the counter.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

He wasn't bad, he did his job well enough but the same story really, I saw absolutely nothing that suggests he can be a good player for United unfortunately.

 

[PSingh]

Spot on. We're especially weak in the middle when someone runs at us on the counter.

It's very worrying. Any side with pace can seriously hurt us on the break. I think the defence dropping so deep doesn't help, the gap between defence and midfield is huge.

 

[Sam]

Watching him play actually makes me angry. He has the mobility of a 90 year old after a hip replacement. I genuinely think its worse having him as a United player, then it is having Moyes as United manager.

Bayern will probably just stand there pointing and laughing at him, before waltzing past him every time.

 

[Kostur]

Watching him play actually makes me angry. He has the mobility of a 90 year old after a hip replacement. I genuinely think its worse having him as a United player, then it is having Moyes as United manager.

Bayern will probably just stand there pointing and laughing at him, before waltzing past him every time.

Yea we all know you hate him, you've said it here about 90 times here already.

Bayern last season ( when they were considerably 'worse' team ) walked past and embarrassed midfield that was considered the best in the world back then. I'm seriously wondering what are people trying to achieve here coming and telling us that Bayern will 'waltz past him'. What are we supposed to be, surprised at that ? They'd 'waltz past' any fecking midfield on the planet right now. But yea, Fellaini is shit because Bayern will laugh at him.

 

[SiRed]

I like Fellaini and am egging him on to do well. Just to stick 2 fingers up at the doubters. His game is lacking in certain areas but when we get some proper midfield players in, he will not be needed to do the jobs he is currently being asked to do and he can concentrate on his own game.
Sometimes people need to look at the bigger picture.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Is there anyone on here who actually wanted the club to sign him?

It's ok to admit it, the opinion was pretty much split but just want to see the current opinion of those who were really behind the signing.

I remember his admirers being really excited.

 

[Varun]

I like Fellaini and am egging him on to do well. Just to stick 2 fingers up at the doubters. His game is lacking in certain areas but when we get some proper midfield players in, he will not be needed to do the jobs he is currently being asked to do and he can concentrate on his own game.
Sometimes people need to look at the bigger picture.

What do you think is his ideal role and what kind of player do you think is required next to him?

 

[Freak]

I like Fellaini and am egging him on to do well. Just to stick 2 fingers up at the doubters. His game is lacking in certain areas but when we get some proper midfield players in, he will not be needed to do the jobs he is currently being asked to do and he can concentrate on his own game.
Sometimes people need to look at the bigger picture.

When we get some proper midfield players in, he won't be in the starting lineup most of the time.

 

[Keenst]

It's very worrying. Any side with pace can seriously hurt us on the break. I think the defence dropping so deep doesn't help, the gap between defence and midfield is huge.

It was like that last year too. Can't believe the issue hasn't been addressed.

 

[dev1l]

Wenger would have liked having him at arsenal apparently..
http://www.theweek.co.uk/football/p...ane-fellaini-arsenal-arsene-wenger-says-‘yes’

 

[kouroux]

What do you think is his ideal role and what kind of player do you think is required next to him?

You didn't ask me the question but I'll answer it, his best position is best behind the scorer, knocking long balls with his head. It's where he was the most effective for Everton even if he showed he could also play as a proper CM, playing in a more advanced role reduces him chasing the ball and therefore all the fouls and FKs he concedes as a consequence.
He cannot play this role at Utd as there are much better players than him playing behind the striker and essentially his purchase was absolutely pointless. I want him to do well but I just don't see him ever becoming top class and that's what we need in midfield.

 

[Varun]

You didn't ask me the question but I'll answer it, his best position is best behind the scorer, knocking long balls with his head. It's where he was the most effective for Everton even if he showed he could also play as a proper CM, playing in a more advanced role reduces him chasing the ball and therefore all the fouls and FKs he concedes as a consequence.
He cannot play this role at Utd as there are much better players than him playing behind the striker and essentially his purchase was absolutely pointless. I want him to do well but I just don't see him ever becoming top class and that's what we need in midfield.

The issue I have with him is that I dont see him ever excelling as a bo to box mid or a pure holding mid. He lacks the agility and the awareness to play the 1st role and simply put isnt good enough defensively at all to be the one that screens the back 4. Essentially, I see him as a squad player that can perform both roles to a decent level but that's it, I dont see him as a starter for a club that has serious ambitions specially in Europe.

 

[Siorac]

Wenger would have liked having him at arsenal apparently..
http://www.theweek.co.uk/football/premier-league/50306/marouane-fellaini-arsenal-arsene-wenger-says-‘yes’

He's talking about him as a target man and a potential centre-forward in that article.

 

[BennyBlanco]

The anti-fellaini agenda on here is really starting to depress me, I may not have rated some United purchases/players in the past but I've been openminded enough to accept and acknowledge decent performances from those in question despite my longterm concerns lingering so it's rather sad when others on here aren't even able to do even that.
Fellaini yesterday had a mediocre first half, grew into the game and by the end you would say he had a decent outing, yet you come on here and read the usual "shocking display" "not good enough" "won't ever take us forward" etc etc
Could you lot just remain fair minded enough to actually consider the reality that since his return from his lay off, he's been a steady performer and had a few very good outings for us, in particular the West Brom and Palace games spring to mind, meaning hes had more decent outings than disapointing.

Was he worth 27million? no, his fee was vastly inflated due to our desperation at the time, but coming on here and seeing the same people just slate him over and over regardless of his performance is really boring to witness and frankly, pathetic.

 

[dev1l]

He's talking about him as a target man and a potential centre-forward in that article.

True. I read somewhere else that long term both fergie and moyes saw fellaini. s best position in midfield,however they acknowledged that he still needs to adjust his game to play there. I see him as works in progress

 

[SiRed]

What do you think is his ideal role and what kind of player do you think is required next to him?

Well he is hardly a world class 1 and 2 touch player. He isnt at all creative and he doesnt posses any sort of finese. What he does bring to the team is an engine - I have no stats to back it up but he seems to be up and down the pitch more so than our other midfielders. He is a nasty bugger to which i like in a player. He keeps the ball well which is something that is being ignored by most. He will get goals eventually.
I think if we can get someone next to him that is capable of linking the midfield to attack with a bit of pace (speed of thought, not running) and allow Fellaini to just shield the defence and take away the reponsibility of doing the work of 2 midfielders on his own then we will see the best of him.

Fellaini's biggest problem is that in a summer that promised the likes of Fabregas, Thiago, Gundogan and so on - we ended up with a more low key signing.
If Fergie had bought him the summer before with Kagawa and RVP then the majority of people moaning about him now wouldnt be saying anything.

Dont get me wrong - i no he isnt a world beater, but he is an awful lot better than some people are willing to give him credit for.

 

[Varun]

Well he is hardly a world class 1 and 2 touch player. He isnt at all creative and he doesnt posses any sort of finese. What he does bring to the team is an engine - I have no stats to back it up but he seems to be up and down the pitch more so than our other midfielders. He is a nasty bugger to which i like in a player. He keeps the ball well which is something that is being ignored by most. He will get goals eventually.
I think if we can get someone next to him that is capable of linking the midfield to attack with a bit of pace (speed of thought, not running) and allow Fellaini to just shield the defence and take away the reponsibility of doing the work of 2 midfielders on his own then we will see the best of him.

Fellaini's biggest problem is that in a summer that promised the likes of Fabregas, Thiago, Gundogan and so on - we ended up with a more low key signing.
If Fergie had bought him the summer before with Kagawa and RVP then the majority of people moaning about him now wouldnt be saying anything.

Dont get me wrong - i no he isnt a world beater, but he is an awful lot better than some people are willing to give him credit for.

So you see him as the defending mid with a more creative player alongside him? You think he has the defensive qualities needed for the job? I certainly dont see it, he'l need to improve massively.

 

[SiRed]

So you see him as the defending mid with a more creative player alongside him? You think he has the defensive qualities needed for the job? I certainly dont see it, he'l need to improve massively.

He certainly needs to improve but he has the attributes of which to build a baseline.
He hasnt played the role often at Everton so he certainly needs to adapt.

I see both sides of the Fellaini arguement - i just dont feel people should write him off just yet. He is a better player than Cleverley. He is currently more use to us than Carrick (due to Carricks form) Fitter than Fletcher. He is the best of a shockingly bad bunch.

 

[Varun]

He certainly needs to improve but he has the attributes of which to build a baseline.
He hasnt played the role often at Everton so he certainly needs to adapt.

I see both sides of the Fellaini arguement - i just dont feel people should write him off just yet. He is a better player than Cleverley. He is currently more use to us than Carrick (due to Carricks form) Fitter than Fletcher. He is the best of a shockingly bad bunch.

Oh yes, I dont think he's shit. He's a very useful player to have because he can perform 2 roles in midfield as per requirement. What I dont see is him becoming top notch in either role. thus, a very good squad player to have but hopefully not a long term starter unless he steps up a notch.

 

[SiRed]

Oh yes, I dont think he's shit. He's a very useful player to have because he can perform 2 roles in midfield as per requirement. What I dont see is him becoming top notch in either role. thus, a very good squad player to have but hopefully not a long term starter unless he steps up a notch.

I think im with you on this

 

[Randall Flagg]

The anti-fellaini agenda on here is really starting to depress me, I may not have rated some United purchases/players in the past but I've been openminded enough to accept and acknowledge decent performances from those in question despite my longterm concerns lingering so it's rather sad when others on here aren't even able to do even that.
Fellaini yesterday had a mediocre first half, grew into the game and by the end you would say he had a decent outing, yet you come on here and read the usual "shocking display" "not good enough" "won't ever take us forward" etc etc
Could you lot just remain fair minded enough to actually consider the reality that since his return from his lay off, he's been a steady performer and had a few very good outings for us, in particular the West Brom and Palace games spring to mind, meaning hes had more decent outings than disapointing.

Was he worth 27million? no, his fee was vastly inflated due to our desperation at the time, but coming on here and seeing the same people just slate him over and over regardless of his performance is really boring to witness and frankly, pathetic.

Good post, I agree with every word

 

[Wumminator]

The anti-fellaini agenda on here is really starting to depress me, I may not have rated some United purchases/players in the past but I've been openminded enough to accept and acknowledge decent performances from those in question despite my longterm concerns lingering so it's rather sad when others on here aren't even able to do even that.
Fellaini yesterday had a mediocre first half, grew into the game and by the end you would say he had a decent outing, yet you come on here and read the usual "shocking display" "not good enough" "won't ever take us forward" etc etc
Could you lot just remain fair minded enough to actually consider the reality that since his return from his lay off, he's been a steady performer and had a few very good outings for us, in particular the West Brom and Palace games spring to mind, meaning hes had more decent outings than disapointing.

Was he worth 27million? no, his fee was vastly inflated due to our desperation at the time, but coming on here and seeing the same people just slate him over and over regardless of his performance is really boring to witness and frankly, pathetic.

Some people will never accept him. It's the way it is. I think he's really coming into his own.

 

[LR7]

He's quite indisciplined positionally. Rooney plays with more positional discipline when we drop him into midfield. Fellaini seems to think he can neglect his position and get forward/wide all the time, leaving Carrick or Fletcher isolated when the opposition break or counter.

 

[Red Shorts]

The anti-fellaini agenda on here is really starting to depress me, I may not have rated some United purchases/players in the past but I've been openminded enough to accept and acknowledge decent performances from those in question despite my longterm concerns lingering so it's rather sad when others on here aren't even able to do even that.
Fellaini yesterday had a mediocre first half, grew into the game and by the end you would say he had a decent outing, yet you come on here and read the usual "shocking display" "not good enough" "won't ever take us forward" etc etc
Could you lot just remain fair minded enough to actually consider the reality that since his return from his lay off, he's been a steady performer and had a few very good outings for us, in particular the West Brom and Palace games spring to mind, meaning hes had more decent outings than disapointing.

Was he worth 27million? no, his fee was vastly inflated due to our desperation at the time, but coming on here and seeing the same people just slate him over and over regardless of his performance is really boring to witness and frankly, pathetic.

I feel like making this comment every time as well, but sadly it falls upon deaf ears. You will always get the likes of Sam coming in with his brilliant descriptions, and saying he will never be good enough, and you will hear it every week because they have nothing better to do. It's getting to the point where even if he did have a good game against a top club, those same people will come in with some sort of excuse as to why he did well like "the other team didn't show up", or they will continue to say he will never be a United player. It's quite frank;y embarrassing and will never cease to stop.

 

[Blasphemy]

I feel like making this comment every time as well, but sadly it falls upon deaf ears. You will always get the likes of Sam coming in with his brilliant descriptions, and saying he will never be good enough, and you will hear it every week because they have nothing better to do. It's getting to the point where even if he did have a good game against a top club, those same people will come in with some sort of excuse as to why he did well like "the other team didn't show up", or they will continue to say he will never be a United player. It's quite frank;y embarrassing and will never cease to stop.

You'll hear it every week because he's actually legitimately nowhere near good enough, not because of some agenda nonsense.

 

[WR]

It was the same thing with Berbatov. The transfer free has crushed him & will linger over him during his entire time here.

 

[NK86]

I feel like making this comment every time as well, but sadly it falls upon deaf ears. You will always get the likes of Sam coming in with his brilliant descriptions, and saying he will never be good enough, and you will hear it every week because they have nothing better to do. It's getting to the point where even if he did have a good game against a top club, those same people will come in with some sort of excuse as to why he did well like "the other team didn't show up", or they will continue to say he will never be a United player. It's quite frank;y embarrassing and will never cease to stop.

In the 3 big games I remember seeing him play, he was average in one while awful in the other two.

 

[Red Shorts]

You'll hear it every week because he's actually legitimately nowhere near good enough, not because of some agenda nonsense.

No, it's an agenda and you've actually just proved it in your comments in the other thread.

 

[Wumminator]

In the 3 big games I remember seeing him play, he was average in one while awful in the other two.

Whose been good in those three games would you say?

 

[Blasphemy]

It was the same thing with Berbatov. The transfer free has crushed him & will linger over him during his entire time here.

It's not remotely similar at all. Why do people find it hard to understand that Fellaini would still be a bad buy for £10m nevermind close to £30m, Berbatov was overpriced but he still added plenty to our squad (even if we should probably have kept Tevez instead).