Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances

[sglowrider]

This is the problem. He isn't a holding midfielder. So if we're going to play a player out of position, I'd rather play Kagawa - granted he might not have much in the way of defensive instinct, but then neither does Fellaini. At least Kagawa can pass well, a trait that in itself can be defensive, in that it keeps possession. At this point, Fellaini is looking like a disastrous buy.

I am starting to get images of old United.. expensive flops! Birttles, Webb, Brazil comes to mind.

 

[Siorac]

That moment when Nani had the ball in front of the box, with acres of space on his right... and Fellaini was just ambling along like some handicapped snail. By the time he realized he should try to get there the defenders could of course block his shot.

It summed him up, really. Lacks intelligence and seemingly can't be bothered either.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

It summed him up, really. Lacks intelligence and seemingly can't be bothered either.

I'm no fan of the signing but I think that's a bit harsh and an overreaction. He just looks very, very nervous to me.

 

[Feed Me]

He's not awful, he's just very 'meh' for a player at a club like United. Our midfield needs more than mediocre players, and it's worrying that Moyes felt that Fellaini would be enough to improve our midfield in any significant way. I mean, he must have been thinking that if he sanctioned the £27m transfer fee.

It's all semantics.

The club splashed out £27.5m on a player that even rank amateurs on the Caf raised very valid questions about. It's worrying that we've spent such money on a player who seems totally ill-equipped to play the role we need him to play. I keep saying it, but his best form came as a more advanced player for Everton; he hadn't played consistently deeper for a long old while. I'm amazed that people had faith that he could come in and play effectively as a number 4 or 8 - nothing in the way he's been deployed by Everton over the last two years gave me that impression.

Let's face facts here - Moyes didn't really even want him. That's why we left it until the last moment, when we realised we'd monumentally fecked up in the transfer window, having already passed up the opportunity to buy him £4m cheaper.

I said it on transfer deadline day, but it's worth repeating - we should have kept our money in the bank and signed no one. We'd be a better team with Evans and Smalling and CB, and Jones in midfield alongside Carrick.

 

[Feed Me]

I'm no fan of the signing but I think that's a bit harsh and an overreaction. He just looks very, very nervous to me.

He looks like a timid boy, which is strange given that he was partial to brutally head butting Ryan Shawcross and generally raping us when he was at Everton.

 

[Salfordlad70]

Being tackled by Fellaini is like being caressed with a natural yogurt...

 

[Chesterlestreet]

It's all semantics.

The club splashed out £27.5m on a player that even rank amateurs on the Caf raised very valid questions about. It's worrying that we've spent such money on a player who seems totally ill-equipped to play the role we need him to play. I keep saying it, but his best form came as a more advanced player for Everton; he hadn't played consistently deeper for a long old while. I'm amazed that people had faith that he could come in and play effectively as a number 4 or 8 - nothing in the way he's been deployed by Everton over the last two years gave me that impression.

Let's face facts here - Moyes didn't really even want him. That's why we left it until the last moment, when we realised we'd monumentally fecked up in the transfer window, having already passed up the opportunity to buy him £4m cheaper.

I said it on transfer deadline day, but it's worth repeating - we should have kept our money in the bank and signed no one. We'd be a better team with Evans and Smalling and CB, and Jones in midfield alongside Carrick.

Something went wrong there, obviously. But I don't think Fellaini was simply a last-minute panic buy. If Moyes didn't really want him I think he would've done exactly what you suggest he should have: Kept the money. We had an interest in Fellaini all along - but it's evident he wasn't meant to be our only midfield signing.

He was very poor yesterday, looked completely lost at times. But let's not forget that apart from Leverkusen he has drastically underperformed so far. What we saw yesterday isn't his level. He may still turn out a useful alternative.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Something went wrong there, obviously. But I don't think Fellaini was simply a last-minute panic buy. If Moyes didn't really want him I think he would've done exactly what you suggest he should have: Kept the money. We had an interest in Fellaini all along - but it's evident he wasn't meant to be our only midfield signing.

He was very poor yesterday, looked completely lost at times. But let's not forget that apart from Leverkusen he has drastically underperformed so far. What we saw yesterday isn't his level. He may still turn out a useful alternative.

This. 100%.

 

[Feed Me]

Something went wrong there, obviously. But I don't think Fellaini was simply a last-minute panic buy. If Moyes didn't really want him I think he would've done exactly what you suggest he should have: Kept the money. We had an interest in Fellaini all along - but it's evident he wasn't meant to be our only midfield signing.

He was very poor yesterday, looked completely lost at times. But let's not forget that apart from Leverkusen he has drastically underperformed so far. What we saw yesterday isn't his level. He may still turn out a useful alternative.

Given the amount we spent, he should be so much more.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Given the amount we spent, he should be so much more.

Should but we have what we have now. Yes, it wasn't great business but we can't whine about it. We have to get on with it.

 

[Feed Me]

Should but we have what we have now. Yes, it wasn't great business but we can't whine about it. We have to get on with it.

This is the Caf, of course we can whine about it. And whine I will. We had one fecking brief this summer, and it was to sort out the midfield. We've been mindbogglingly shit at resolving this issue for years now, and it's really starting to grate on me.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Given the amount we spent, he should be so much more.

Yes - but at some point we need to get over that. He isn't a world class players, that's just the way it is. But he can offer something useful still. The money is gone now - and we're not paupers. Moyes will undoubtedly buy another midfielder sooner rather than later (perhaps even in January) - and this other bloke will very likely be more in line with people's expectations. Fellaini will then become what I believe he was intended as all along: A valuable option - not the main dish.

 

[Feed Me]

Yes - but at some point we need to get over that. He isn't a world class players, that's just the way it is. But he can offer something useful still. The money is gone now - and we're not paupers. Moyes will undoubtedly buy another midfielder sooner rather than later (perhaps even in January) - and this other bloke will very likely be more in line with people's expectations. Fellaini will then become what I believe he was intended as all along: A valuable option - not the main dish.

What can he offer though?

He really came to prominence as a number 10. At Everton, he had two central midfielders behind him. We're expecting him to play a completely different role here, one that he seems incapable of.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

This is the Caf, of course we can whine about it. And whine I will. We had one fecking brief this summer, and it was to sort out the midfield. We've been mindbogglingly shit at resolving this issue for years now, and it's really starting to grate on me.

Yes it was a poor window but that's life. We have had it so good in the EPL era, usually getting our own way. This time we stuffed it, shit happens. You have to take the good with the bad.

You should feel lucky that you support United and not some league 2 club who can't pay the electricity bill let alone invest in their squad.

 

[Feed Me]

Yes it was a poor window but that's life. We have had it so good in the EPL era, usually getting our own way. This time we stuffed it, shit happens. You have to take the good with the bad.

You should feel lucky that you support United and not some league 2 club who can't pay the electricity bill let alone invest in their squad.

You're going off on a tangent now.

I know full well how lucky we are as United fans. That doesn't give the club a free pass to be thoroughly incompetent when it comes to sorting the midfield out.

We should have kept our money in the bank until a proper player became available. Jones is a better midfielder than Fellaini.

 

[Bojan11]

Who watches Belgium on a regular basis?

Can they tell me how he gets in their team and does he actually play well in CM for them? Or do they play him in a three?

 

[Chesterlestreet]

What can he offer though?

He really came to prominence as a number 10. At Everton, he had two central midfielders behind him. We're expecting him to play a completely different role here, one that he seems incapable of.

This has been done to death, surely. If you don't think he adds anything positive at all - well, fair enough, that's your opinion. Consider this, though, as a worst case scenario of sorts: He is a midfielder of some description. Before he came along we had three of those. And of those three, one was Ando. The fact is that unless you think Giggs and Jones are viable options in the middle we needed bodies, nevermind world class players.

Fellaini is a decent player. The fee was not decent. That's about it.

 

[Feed Me]

This has been done to death, surely. If you don't think he adds anything positive at all - well, fair enough, that's your opinion. Consider this, though, as a worst case scenario of sorts: He is a midfielder of some description. Before he came along we had three of those. And of those three, one was Ando. The fact is that unless you think Giggs and Jones are viable options in the middle we needed bodies, nevermind world class players.

Fellaini is a decent player. The fee was not decent. That's about it.

I'm not trying to have a pop, but the sum total of your explanation of what Fellaini might offer is, "he is a midfielder of some description", who is a "decent player".

Fact is, Jones is a better holding midfielder than Fellaini. Cleverley is a better box to box player than Fellaini. And Rooney, Kagawa and Welbeck are all better number 10s.

We've pissed an astonishing amount of money up the wall for a player whose only discernible quality is his ability to add a body to the squad. You or I could do that!

 

[Rood]

I can't say I watched Everton a lot but every time I did, Felliani spent most of his time in the opponents final third. He was a 10. Not to mention, when we signed him everyone was moaning that he shouldn't replace Rooney, so I'm not sure why you guys think he played this same position for Everton.

Because he did - it is a fact. Yes he did go upfront many times for Everton (usually because their strikers were injured) but he is a midfielder, whether he is naturally a defensive midfielder or better in a more attacking role is up for debate.

He also plays regularly in midfield for Belgium (and is picked ahead of Dembele who many on here seem to rate higher for some reason) who walked a difficult group and go to the WC as a seeded team. So the idea that he is some kind of Peter Crouch with an afro who is playing out of position for us is complete bollocks.

 

[Lawman]

He has not a great start but its early days. In my opinion he will do better in a 3 and I think/hope that's where we a going.

 

[Feed Me]

Because he did - it is a fact. Yes he did go upfront many times for Everton (usually because their strikers were injured) but he is a midfielder, whether he is naturally a defensive midfielder or better in a more attacking role is up for debate.

He also plays regularly in midfield for Belgium (and is picked ahead of Dembele who many on here seem to rate higher for some reason) who walked a difficult group and go to the WC as a seeded team. So the idea that he is some kind of Peter Crouch with an afro who is playing out of position for us is complete bollocks.

Say what you want, but Fellaini spent the best part of two years playing in advance of two central midfielders for Everton. This is the position he excelled in, and where he really shot to prominence. He doesn't have the skill set to defend and build from deep.

 

[Rood]

Say what you want, but Fellaini spent the best part of two years playing in advance of two central midfielders for Everton. This is the position he excelled in, and where he really shot to prominence. He doesn't have the skill set to defend and build from deep.

He has played there when required but he wasnt playing there much last season - they had Anichebe or Jelavic upfront with Mirallas, Osman and Piennar behind and Fellaini and Gibson in midfield.

Plus just look at his regular position for Belgium (click Tactical Formation and Average Position):
http://espnfc.com/uk/en/gamecast/334772/gamecast.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739

Im sick of hearing ignorant twats saying he is not a midfielder.

 

[#07]

Because he did - it is a fact. Yes he did go upfront many times for Everton (usually because their strikers were injured) but he is a midfielder, whether he is naturally a defensive midfielder or better in a more attacking role is up for debate.

He also plays regularly in midfield for Belgium (and is picked ahead of Dembele who many on here seem to rate higher for some reason) who walked a difficult group and go to the WC as a seeded team. So the idea that he is some kind of Peter Crouch with an afro who is playing out of position for us is complete bollocks.

But he's not picked ahead of Dembele per se, Witsel and Defour are. It is Witsel and Defour who have the most responsibility in Belgium's midfield three, Fellaini does play in centre midfield but the defensive work of Witsel and the running of Defour compensate for the weaknesses in his game e.g. lack of mobility and technical finesse.

Fellaini is a solid Premier League midfield player but not a £27.5 million centre midfielder and that was obvious even this season for Everton. Most notably in the Norwich match that Everton should have won but ended up drawing, Fellaini was getting lost regularly by the Norwich midfielders. Although he was throwing his weight about Fellaini's best moments that day came when he attacked and that's the point. He's not this Roy Keane player he himself said he wants to be. Fellaini's at his best when he has little defensive responsibility and can operate close to or around the opposition penalty area, as long as Wayne Rooney is around that isn't a role he'll be playing at Old Trafford. Nor is he significantly better for the team's cohesiveness than Cleverley to warrant starting in the heart of midfield.

We shouldn't have bought Fellaini.

 

[Feed Me]

He has played there when required but he wasnt playing there much last season - they had Anichebe or Jelavic upfront with Mirallas, Osman and Piennar behind and Fellaini and Gibson in midfield.

Plus just look at his regular position for Belgium (click Tactical Formation and Average Position):
http://espnfc.com/uk/en/gamecast/334772/gamecast.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739

Im sick of hearing ignorant twats saying he is not a midfielder.

There's a certain irony in that statement.

Fellaini seldom played in a midfield two at Everton last season or the season before. I recall doing some detailed research into this last season, and Everton played a double pivot, with Fellaini playing more advanced ahead of them.

 

[LR7]

I'm usually one of Fellaini's biggest critics, and whilst he didn't play particularly well, he wasn't the main problem and shouldn't have been subbed off yesterday.

Given that we didn't have Cleverley or Anderson on the bench, subbing Fellaini off just caused problems, which Moyes was then forced to use the last substitution to try to fix by moving Jones to midfield.

We we had more balance with Fellaini on the pitch. Given that the substations meant people moving all over the place, that balance was gone after he came off, with Jones and Giggs seeming unsure of where they were meant to be and as a result not adding much in midfield. It's a shame because Jones played a good game at the back.

Fellaini's biggest issues yesterday seemed to be his inability to play a first time pass, he often has to take a touch, which slows things down and also means he gets closed down easily too. A lot of Fellaini's passes yesterday were behind the player he was passing to, so they ended up having to check back to get the ball. His speed of thought and range of passing are extremely limited and because he's so slow people can run past him with ease.

Despite all that though I still don't think he was the main problem, and the midfield looked worse once he was subbed off.

 

[Feed Me]

I'm usually one of Fellaini's biggest critics, and whilst he didn't play particularly well, he wasn't the main problem and shouldn't have been subbed off yesterday.

Given that we didn't have Cleverley or Anderson on the bench, subbing Fellaini off just caused problems, which Moyes was then forced to use the last substitution to try to fix by moving Jones to midfield.

We we had more balance with Fellaini on the pitch. Given that the substations meant people moving all over the place, that balance was gone after he came off, with Jones and Giggs seeming unsure of where they were meant to be and as a result not adding much in midfield. It's a shame because Jones played a good game at the back.

Fellaini's biggest issues yesterday seemed to be his inability to play a first time pass, he often has to take a touch, which slows things down and also means he gets closed down easily too. A lot of Fellaini's passes yesterday were behind the player he was passing to, so they ended up having to check back to get the ball. His speed of thought and range of passing are extremely limited and because he's so slow people can run past him with ease.

Despite all that though I still don't think he was the main problem, and the midfield looked worse once he was subbed off.

The midfield only looked worse when Fellaini went off because we subbed the wrong players on. Fellaini was rightly hooked - he was utterly hopeless against Southampton's pressing, and he was easily sidestepped more times than I wish to remember. Smalling for Fellaini, with Smalling going in alongside Evans and Jones holding with Carrick would've done the trick. Rooney should also have been replaced by Welbeck or Kagawa. That would have led to a more cohesive team.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Say what you want, but Fellaini spent the best part of two years playing in advance of two central midfielders for Everton. This is the position he excelled in, and where he really shot to prominence. He doesn't have the skill set to defend and build from deep.

Is this a joke? Saying he can't defend and build from deep? His problem is that he has 0 creativity in the offense but defensively he is sound and had a great display defensively in terms of build-up as well.

He completed the same amount of passes as Carrick with the same passing percentage as Carrick. He had most interceptions in our entire team, more tackles than Carrick, Evans and Jones, same amount of clearances as Carrick, most blocked shots, same amount of fouls as Carrick, 2nd most shots bar RVP, joint most successful dribbles, dispossessed one more time than Carrick.

I am not saying he had a great game, I don't think Fellaini can ever have a great game in a box-to-box midfield position. But to slate his defensive skills is ridiculous, as those are clearly there and the stats back that point up in every single way possible.

Fellaini is terrible in a 2 man midfield and he is suffering like our entire team because Moyes is too scared to accept that 4-4-2 doesn't even work with Rooney and RVP even against the worse sides in the EPL. He has been overall bad the first matches though, but I think to slate him after our last game is unfounded criticism.

If you thought Fellaini had the range of passing and creativity to do anything else than what he did last night then that just shows you hadn't watched enough of him before.

 

[fatboy]

He had one or two good seasons in midfield too. He's not world class, but definitely better than what he's showing right now. He didn't have a pre-season with us, and we paid more than we should, but that was our own doing. I think he'll get better once he settles in.

 

[#07]

The midfield only looked worse when Fellaini went off because we subbed the wrong players on. Fellaini was rightly hooked - he was utterly hopeless against Southampton's pressing, and he was easily sidestepped more times than I wish to remember. Smalling for Fellaini, with Smalling going in alongside Evans and Jones holding with Carrick would've done the trick. Rooney should also have been replaced by Welbeck or Kagawa. That would have led to a more cohesive team.

This.

Even now I cannot accept or understand the decision to sub Nani. Giggs' introduction just threw the cat amongst the pigeons and after that we were scrambling to reorganise and put Giggs somewhere that didn't leave us overexposed, moving him centrally just made things worse. I'm surprised nobody asked Moyes why he hooked Nani after a good game, but his treatment of Nani, Kagawa, Hernandez et al. generally strikes me as odd. Its as if he's decided they're not David Moyes players already and is looking for reasons to lock them out.

What Fellaini showed, again, yesterday was why he was the wrong player for Man Utd to sign this summer. The fact that Phil Jones alongside Carrick looks a preferable option to a guy we signed for £27.5 million shows the ridiculousness of the transfer. He's not a number 8 for a two man midfield, and for the money we spent buying Fellaini we could've got someone who is. Maybe not someone who is truly world class but certainly someone who could outplay Victor Wanyama. Our summer transfer window was abysmal and Fellaini is the exclamation mark on it.

 

[Feed Me]

Is this a joke? Saying he can't defend and build from deep? His problem is that he has 0 creativity in the offense but defensively he is sound and had a great display defensively in terms of build-up as well.

He completed the same amount of passes as Carrick with the same passing percentage as Carrick. He had most interceptions in our entire team, more tackles than Carrick, Evans and Jones, same amount of clearances as Carrick, most blocked shots, same amount of fouls as Carrick, 2nd most shots bar RVP, joint most successful dribbles, dispossessed one more time than Carrick.

I am not saying he had a great game, I don't think Fellaini can ever have a great game in a box-to-box midfield position. But to slate his defensive skills is ridiculous, as those are clearly there and the stats back that point up in every single way possible.

Fellaini is terrible in a 2 man midfield and he is suffering like our entire team because Moyes is too scared to accept that 4-4-2 doesn't even work with Rooney and RVP even against the worse sides in the EPL. He has been overall bad the first matches though, but I think to slate him after our last game is unfounded criticism.

If you thought Fellaini had the range of passing and creativity to do anything else than what he did last night then that just shows you hadn't watched enough of him before.

That Fellaini posted the same sort of passing statistics as Carrick says more about how poor we were at controlling the game. To put yesterday's performance into context, Carrick completed over 100 passes away at Sunderland. Against Southampton, he completed less than 50. The pairing of Carrick and Fellaini simply does not work. It's too immobile and too susceptible to conceding possession under pressure. Even without referring to the match statistics, it was clear as day that we had no rhythm, because our midfield couldn't get a foothold in the game. The one thing I would say about Fellaini is that he was noticeably more panicked than Carrick when pressed, and that he maybe managed to successfully bungle a few passes to team mates in such situations shouldn't mask how poor he was.

Again, the defensive stats you post need to be furnished with some context. For all his decent tangible work (interceptions, tackles), there were far too many instances of him being waltzed past. These stats sites on the web aren't so good at telling us how many times a player was beaten by a dribble.

For what it's worth, I agree with the first bolded point - we're approaching things all wrong at the moment. If we are to insist on 4-4-2, then it must be Cleverley alongside Carrick when fit. It'd help if we told Rooney to play 10 yards deeper too.

On the final bolded point, I never thought Fellaini was a good passer of the ball. I knew he was an extremely limited player, with very little demonstrable quality in the position we desperately need quality. We should never have signed him.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

I'm not trying to have a pop, but the sum total of your explanation of what Fellaini might offer is, "he is a midfielder of some description", who is a "decent player".

Fact is, Jones is a better holding midfielder than Fellaini. Cleverley is a better box to box player than Fellaini. And Rooney, Kagawa and Welbeck are all better number 10s.

We've pissed an astonishing amount of money up the wall for a player whose only discernible quality is his ability to add a body to the squad. You or I could do that!

Come now - you're twistin' it all out of shape: I clearly said this in the "worst case scenario" context. He is a decent player - by which I mean decent by our standards, not "too average for United". Not great but more than good enough to play a part for us. He is capable of far better displays than the one yesterday, of that I am certain.

 

[Kevin]

Hawly... He is not very good...

 

[LR7]

The midfield only looked worse when Fellaini went off because we subbed the wrong players on. Fellaini was rightly hooked - he was utterly hopeless against Southampton's pressing, and he was easily sidestepped more times than I wish to remember. Smalling for Fellaini, with Smalling going in alongside Evans and Jones holding with Carrick would've done the trick. Rooney should also have been replaced by Welbeck or Kagawa. That would have led to a more cohesive team.

I'm no fan of Fellaini but there were no CMs on the bench. No Anderson or Cleverley which meant whoever came on for Fellaini was not adept at playing in a midfield two and the balance of the team would be affected.

I agree that Kagawa should have come on for Rooney but that should have been the first substitution. Rooney's first touch was disgusting and Kagawa would have added an extra body to support the midfield (certainly wouldn't have played as high up as Rooney did).

Fellaini was poor and didn't have a good game but given the sheer lack of midfield options he shouldn't have been taken off because it created an imbalance that it needed the last substitution to fix, and given that one of the only things he is good at is defending set pieces, he wasn't on the pitch for the goal we conceded when there's a chance he might have been useful.

Nani and Fellaini should have both stayed on imo.

 

[LR7]

Hawly... He is not very good...

Didn't you spend the entire summer telling everybody that he was a midfield maestro?

 

[Feed Me]

Come now - you're twistin' it all out of shape: I clearly said this in the "worst case scenario" context. He is a decent player - by which I mean decent by our standards, not "too average for United". Not great but more than good enough to play a part for us. He is capable of far better displays than the one yesterday, of that I am certain.

I just think that in an era when pressing is in vogue (and more sides will be coming to OT with that mindset now the Fergie-factor has gone), Fellaini's a bit redundant. I'll say it until I'm blue in the face - he's a different kettle of fish when played as the most advanced midfielder (though still not what we should be looking at), but totally inadequate as a deep lying midfielder.

Cleverley-Carrick is a vastly superior combination, and the one that I hope we look to develop as the season wears on.

 

[Annahnomoss]

That Fellaini posted the same sort of passing statistics as Carrick says more about how poor we were at controlling the game. To put yesterday's performance into context, Carrick completed over 100 passes away at Sunderland. Against Southampton, he completed less than 50. The pairing of Carrick and Fellaini simply does not work. It's too immobile and too susceptible to conceding possession under pressure. Even without referring to the match statistics, it was clear as day that we had no rhythm, because our midfield couldn't get a foothold in the game. The one thing I would say about Fellaini is that he was noticeably more panicked than Carrick when pressed, and that he maybe managed to successfully bungle a few passes to team mates in such situations shouldn't mask how poor he was.

Again, the defensive stats you post need to be furnished with some context. For all his decent tangible work (interceptions, tackles), there were far too many instances of him being waltzed past. These stats sites on the web aren't so good at telling us how many times a player was beaten by a dribble.

For what it's worth, I agree with the first bolded point - we're approaching things all wrong at the moment. If we are to insist on 4-4-2, then it must be Cleverley alongside Carrick when fit. It'd help if we told Rooney to play 10 yards deeper too.

On the final bolded point, I never thought Fellaini was a good passer of the ball. I knew he was an extremely limited player, with very little demonstrable quality in the position we desperately need quality. We should never have signed him.

Actually these stats also shows how many times someone was dribbled past and Carrick is usually the one who gets dribbled past the most in our team. Fellaini however is easy to by-pass but one also has to realize not many people go through Fellaini, it is very rare to see someone just slide through him in his proximity. That happens much more with Carrick.

To beat Fellaini most people decide to take a long route around him, which also fills a defensive job as it delays the opponents counter-attack and diverts it to the sides.

I don't think it is fair to judge him on how he was doing under that sort of pressure and especially not compared to Carrick who may be one of the worlds best at it. How many midfielders in the world can line up in a 4-4-2 and dominate the opponents 3 man midfield? Even Barcelona in their prime chose to play Busquets even if they had the 2 best central midfielders in the world in Iniesta and Xavi. They knew not even Xavi/Iniesta would dominate all 3 man midfields.

I agree with you that he was poor in these instances, but I don't think he should ever be put in those situations either. Moyes should be the one to be questioned because playing Rooney and RVP fills no offensive purpose and puts our midfield in a terrible situation.

 

[Feed Me]

I'm no fan of Fellaini but there were no CMs on the bench. No Anderson or Cleverley which meant whoever came on for Fellaini was not adept at playing in a midfield two and the balance of the team would be affected.

I agree that Kagawa should have come on for Rooney but that should have been the first substitution. Rooney's first touch was disgusting and Kagawa would have added an extra body to support the midfield (certainly wouldn't have played as high up as Rooney did).

Fellaini was poor and didn't have a good game but given the sheer lack of midfield options he shouldn't have been taken off because it created an imbalance that it needed the last substitution to fix, and given that one of the only things he is good at is defending set pieces, he wasn't on the pitch for the goal we conceded when there's a chance he might have been useful.

Nani and Fellaini should have both stayed on imo.

Like I said, Jones could've easily moved into midfield alongside Carrick. I don't even like Jones in midfield, but I've never been left feeling as hopelessly disappointed by him as I have been with Fellaini.

 

[Rood]

We shouldn't have bought Fellaini.

You are enntitled to that opinion, I dont actually agree with it but my main point was that he is a midfielder whereas there are still some who seem to dispute that.

There's a certain irony in that statement.

Fellaini seldom played in a midfield two at Everton last season or the season before. I recall doing some detailed research into this last season, and Everton played a double pivot, with Fellaini playing more advanced ahead of them.

Fellaini playing more advanced ahead of who? He played often in a 2 last season - mostly when Anichebe was fit and upfront

And what about Belgium? you seem to completely ignore that

 

[#07]

Like I said, Jones could've easily moved into midfield alongside Carrick. I don't even like Jones in midfield, but I've never been left feeling as hopelessly disappointed by him as I have been with Fellaini.

Depressing as it is to admit/accept, Jones played better in midfield in the Liverpool League Cup game than Fellaini has all season.

 

[Feed Me]

Actually these stats also shows how many times someone was dribbled past and Carrick is usually the one who gets dribbled past the most in our team. Fellaini however is easy to by-pass but one also has to realize not many people go through Fellaini, it is very rare to see someone just slide through him in his proximity. That happens much more with Carrick.

To beat Fellaini most people decide to take a long route around him, which also fills a defensive job as it delays the opponents counter-attack and diverts it to the sides.

I don't think it is fair to judge him on how he was doing under that sort of pressure and especially not compared to Carrick who may be one of the worlds best at it. How many midfielders in the world can line up in a 4-4-2 and dominate the opponents 3 man midfield? Even Barcelona in their prime chose to play Busquets even if they had the 2 best central midfielders in the world in Iniesta and Xavi. They knew not even Xavi/Iniesta would dominate all 3 man midfields.

I agree with you that he was poor in these instances, but I don't think he should ever be put in those situations either. Moyes should be the one to be questioned because playing Rooney and RVP fills no offensive purpose and puts our midfield in a terrible situation.

Carrick's quite easy to bypass when someone isolates him one on one because mobility and quickness on the turn aren't really great qualities of his. That said, Carrick has frequently recorded high numbers in terms of interceptions because of his excellent positional sense. He also seldom allows opposition players to run off him - he's extremely underrated when it comes to tracking runners.

I agree with your last point. The balance of the side is all wrong at the moment. If we are to play Carrick and Fellaini as a midfield pair, then we need to play a bona-fide number 10; someone to link midfield and attack. Part of the problem for Fellaini in a 4-4-2 is that he doesn't have an easy option to move the ball forward (Rooney and RvP are too far away), so he ends up being pressured into risky sideways and backwards passes. Having a number 10 is great for giving the midfielders an easy outball, in the same way that having a holding midfielder is great for giving centre halves an easy option.