Same and when the goal went in at 1-1, I just thought Wayne you daft tit - now go and make up for it. Last year I'd have been oh were we go again another ugly game. This game wasn't ugly, we played some good combination football and looked a footballing side... still alot of work to do, but we're moving in the right direction.
Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances
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Same and when the goal went in at 1-1, I just thought Wayne you daft tit - now go and make up for it. Last year I'd have been oh were we go again another ugly game. This game wasn't ugly, we played some good combination football and looked a footballing side... still alot of work to do, but we're moving in the right direction.
Good debut. It's his first match from the start and didn't disappoint despite the Champions League pressure.
Moyesy took him in off in the 2nd which is propably sign he wants him in strength against City.
Moyesy took him in off in the 2nd which is propably sign he wants him in strength against City.
Like it has been said people need to remember that it was his first game as a starter for us and he is still finding his place in the team but I thought he did quite well. Some good moments and some bad moments as expected and I really don't get this immense negativity from some posters on here, do you want him to be a failure just so you can say "toldcha"? I really don't get this attitude.
How many central midfielders do you think are readily available who will instantly take us up a level in European competition? Who gives a feck about the fee?
Slowed our play down. He is decent but no world beater.
But if you can afford it...and you have no player who can offer you lot that....then isn't it ok?
It was refreshing to have a presence in there. Fellaini will do well here, he just gets on with it. His short passing is crisp, his more elaborate passes were erratic but that could have been down to nerves.
We had three months to get something done and lets be honest we all know that Fellaini was the last resort. Well the fee is important of course its important. It's not like we signed him on a free is it. First time in years we spend money on a centre midfielder and we go and spend it on mediocrity. (Imho) A lot of people on this forum rate him, some because of blind faith and some who genuinely think he's quite good.
The fee is not important. What's important is that Moyes got his man and that man improves our team.
I'm convinced you people criticising his passing are letting three or four passes (out of 84) cloud your judgement. He's clearly able to be the main go-to man for the defence which frees up Carrick to be more adventurous overall and there were plenty of really incisive, clever, sharp passes in behind their midfield to start off the attacks. I'd say he did it more often than Cleverley does in an average game...which is why I found it a bit bizarre that Townsend kept mentioning his presence, winning the ball back and whatever else. I'm finding it a little bemusing that the same thing's being repeated on here.
And Ekeke's bizarre agendas for/against individuals never gets old.
And Ekeke's bizarre agendas for/against individuals never gets old.
But what does he offer us that we didn't have. A physical presence? That's it really.
Now the important thing is what he brings to the team. If you think he brings nothing then fine, but that's all the matters in the long run.
Ander Herrera?
In fairness to Fellaini he was solid but not spectacular and he did a lot of the dirty work very well. He'll need to develop his long and short passing but its early days and if given time who knows he could get to the level Fletch was at between 2008 and 2010. As a physical presence in midfield he's already stepped into the breach and if he can add a few more strings to his bow he could potentially become that driving presence in midfield we've lacked since we lost Fletch to illness. £27.5 million? Not yet but if he can start putting in performances of the like Fletcher did in the 2009/10 Champions League ties against Milan he'll be worth every penny.
Fully understand Motes desire to get the big man into our side. Once he settles as also improves due to maturing talent and playing with better players, I think he could become world class. What clear is that the Everton Fellaini is no way close to the eventula player he will become.
Very very happy with us signing him.
Very very happy with us signing him.
I think he brings a physical presence but that's it really. Time will tell my friend!
That's a lot sometimes, especially if you are missing it and it hinders your attack if they are worried about a lightweight midfield? Also he can play a bit?
He brought a lot more than just physical presence. He played plenty of passes that might have looked mundane but bypassed Leverkusen's midfield and started off our attacks
Well for those of us who realise the qualities that the player has and don't have unreasonable expectations as to what he offers, he is and will prove to be a good signing. I doubt many are happy with us signing him based on pure faith, I'd be surprised if there are very many United fans, especially on here, who aren't very familiar with Fellaini already. Also, at £27m (which we almost certainly haven't paid all of, at least yet) he really isn't that expensive in today's market. He also isn't the most expensive midfielder we've ever signed, given that Veron cost more.
If people can't see he's actually a tidy footballer and not just a massive lump used to bully the opposition, that's their own issue in my opinion. Luckily he'll be given time by those more aware and more knowledgeable to gradually convince those people that they are wrong.
He looked good in the first but faded rather badly in the second. We, as a whole, looked sloppy in the second and didn't press with the same intensity as we did in the first.
Microphone Head is looking good, but there's more to come.
Microphone Head is looking good, but there's more to come.
Aye, he was an upgrade on Cleverley who IMO plays it way too safe. The stat was 73 out of 84 btw, which is good but not great. It allowed Carrick to operate slightly further up the pitch.
He did however miss some of his more adventurous passes, but overall I felt he contributed to our game even if we did play some slow stuff at times.
His presence also allowed the shackles to come off a bit with our attacking players.
I think people should just forget about what we paid for him and all that other crap that went on in the summer now and just ask themselves whether or not we look like a more solid outfit with him on the pitch. Its a simple yes or no answer. To me, from what I've seen of him so far it's a definite yes and that's all I care about for now. I think as well that as time goes by and he gets his feet properly under the table that he'll offer us more and will become a vital cog in the wheel for us as the season pans out.
I swear some of you have pre-conceived notions about some players and it doesn't change even if the player performs well throughout the match.
Squawka Football @Squawka
87% pass accuracy is pretty good considering that was his first start.
20m
Fellaini Watch: 87% pass accuracy, 4 interceptions, 72/83 passes completed, 66% headed duel success, 1 tackle won, 4 clearances & 1 key pass87% pass accuracy is pretty good considering that was his first start.
That's what I meant by the three or four passes. They looked really poor and forced because it's just not his game, but I think some people came in with some preconceptions about him and are using those three or four passes as vindication of those views. I think he was just playing up to the crowd and trying to be a bit more ambitious than we need (or want) him to be, as long as he's pinging those passes into Rooney's feet on a regular basis then he's doing his job - and it's a job none of our midfielders besides Carrick have done regularly for years.
Exactly, see Madrid spending a similar amount on an even less proven Illaramendi and Bayern spending considerably more on, the albeit extremely talented, Javi Martinez.
His best moment was the first time pass into van Persie in the first half, that allowed him to turn and shoot.
I'd quite like to see some more of those passes. It was one of the few times he actually sped up our attacking rythm and kickstarted an attack, as we see from Carrick time and time again when on form.
This! Rooney and Valencia, most notably IMO.
Not really. He might slow things down a tad but that's to be expected considering he's huge. Don't get me wrong I believe he should start but thats purely down to the lack of options we have there. I just don't think he's the midfielder we need to improve us sufficiently, to take us to the next level in Europe where we have struggled in the middle of the park regularly even going back to Bilbao a few years ago. I feel its our ball retention that was killing us in Europe and that players like Thiago, Fabregas, Modric were the type we needed. His physicality will be of no use against the Barcas, Madrids and Munichs as they will just pass us to death. Against the opposition in the league he will make us more solid especially away from home but at home against the weaker teams, the games when we have 60% possession anyway I don't see what he would offer.
Do we have a first half versus second half breakdown?
He seemed to be far less effective in the second half.
Quietly effective. He won't get us on the edge of our seats too often, but he'll allow others around him to go forward without fear of leaving us exposed, which is what he's there for really. He'll do.
They are super players and there is always a place for them in any squad, but that's not to say Fellaini can't bring us something. I think he makes our best XI better, and that's ok by me.
Which is totally okay in my book. Just look at Dortmund for example who play a very adventurous passing game and often end up with less then 80% passing success but watching them attack is pretty exciting because they risk a lot going forward. They make up for the risky passing through their pressing and winning the ball back really fast.
I also don't get why people keep on the one hand complaining about our "Zombie passing" and on the other hand a player playing a more risky pass is also not to the liking of many on here but I ask myself what they actually want to see?
We've surely got to forget the price we payed for him at some point? It was a ridiculous amount but that happens sometimes. We overpayed for Carrick too, that's not an issue now is it? You can't expect Fellaini to start playing like a 28m pound player when he was never that to begin with, time to get over it.
I expect more from him, not a good game by any means. Granted it's his first proper game, I'm not sure if I want him to start against City.
I agree with that, I just think the improvement is miniscule.
Surely the physicality and solidity of the Schweinsteiger-Martinez midfield has shown how offering a presence can be a very effective tool against a side like Barcelona? Likewise with Brazil's combative midfield getting the better of Spain?
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