Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
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It's a bit unfair to say signing Fellaini was a monumental mistake, the real problem was not signing anyone else. I really can't understand how anyone who watched Fellaini play for Everton thought he was going to solve our problems, seemed clear to me he'd be a decent player and no more. I think most people here accepted he was never going to be top class at the time too.
I don't think we're ever going to see the best of Fellaini here as we won't (or at least shouldn't) play him in what I think is his best position. Both Moyes and Fellaini think he's at his best in cm though and I've certainly seen him play better in that position than he has at any point for us. If he starts playing as well as we know he can in cm then he'll definitely be worth his place in the squad. He's incapable of being any more than a squad player though.
I don't think we're ever going to see the best of Fellaini here as we won't (or at least shouldn't) play him in what I think is his best position. Both Moyes and Fellaini think he's at his best in cm though and I've certainly seen him play better in that position than he has at any point for us. If he starts playing as well as we know he can in cm then he'll definitely be worth his place in the squad. He's incapable of being any more than a squad player though.
Fellaini was a terrible signing for numerous reasons. A shocking signing for Moyes because it is hard to have much confidence in him signing quality players in order to strengthen the team when he wastes £27.5m on a player who is clearly below the standard of the current set of midfield players. You only have to look at United's results when Fellaini starts W1 D4 L2 to see what a disaster he has been. We simply cannot afford to use him as he costs us points. The best thing Moyes could do is sell Fellaini this summer.
Such is the aura surrounding Fellaini.
What you said makes little sense, it's as if you Evra and Vidic were gonna turn into the players you mentioned. If anything, what you said is reason enough to give Fellaini more time, he has been bad but who knows, he could become a very useful player once fit and fully settled.
time to time people
I don't know why I bother, but I'll put some highlight on your, ehm, argument or whatever this is: those two losses you've mentioned are Everton ( let's blame him for scoring 0 goals at Old Trafford and Valencia sleeping letting Oviedo score, let's not mention that he was probably the best player on the pitch that day ), Manchester City ( naturally it's Fellaini's fault that everybody bar Rooney played like shit this match ).
Matches we've drawn with him in the league: SOTON ( they scored from a set piece as soon as we subbed him off but that's probably his fault as well ), Cardiff, Shakthar away ( in which he was subbed off in 65th minute and he's done titanic running job in midfield three that day ), Sociedad away ( in which he got red card in 90th minute ). We've won Leverkusen home with him starting.
If you want to single him out as the reason for our record this season and bend your arguments this way, you should probably sell your computer in the summer and stop posting. If I bothered using argumentation of yours, I could say that thanks to subbing him in for 5-20 minutes, we've won against Arsenal, CP or Fulham we've won those matches. Would make as much sense.
I prefer not see him play actually, not even the sight of him on the bench and above all I hate his hair.
I would attribute much blame to him personally over the results in the matches he played and we weren't bad against Everton, but I just don't see what he adds in a good enough level.
Some people are saying he was never the solution to our problems, but our midfielder weaknesses don't all start and end with not having that one ball holding, creative player. We can use some power and pace there as well, obviously complemented with a good enough technical ability. You're either part of the solution or part of the problem, and I fear that in the next 2-3 years he'll be part of the problem.
Some people are saying he was never the solution to our problems, but our midfielder weaknesses don't all start and end with not having that one ball holding, creative player. We can use some power and pace there as well, obviously complemented with a good enough technical ability. You're either part of the solution or part of the problem, and I fear that in the next 2-3 years he'll be part of the problem.
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I feel sorry for him. He came to a big club with a big fee and he is simply not suited to our game. Once he signed we moved him from his most effective role (ie just behind the striker) and dropped him deep were in 'theory' he should be playing in his natural role. Hes also the easiest target of those resisting the Evertonisation of Manchester United. No one can be 100% sure that someone like Round or that relic (that Jimmy something) Moyes brought are doing a bad job. However Fellaini's performances are there to be seen and evaluated by everyone.
Actually I can't see any top side relying on someone like Fellaini.
Actually I can't see any top side relying on someone like Fellaini.
Another good post.
Very true point about him being the most easily assessible of the Evertonisation of United.
Evertonisation doesn't sound so bad anymore given how Martinez has them playing.
Has a player ever been judged as quickly as Fellaini has at United? He's barely had a chance to settle in the team and he's being written of as a flop, a waste off money, in fact he was written off by some before he kicked a ball for us.
It's fair to say that he hasn't transformed our midfield in the way that we hoped, but how many thought we only needed one player in that area? Fellaini was never the answer, however he may be a part of the solution if he's given the backing and support from the fans.
We need another two players in midfield that much is obvious, it's a problem area that needed addressing. We all know this yet criticise Fellaini for not being the type off player we where crying out for, a Fabregas or Thiago or any other creative player.
So far he's played ok, which isn't good enough. And rightly so, has been criticised like any other player, however he has been the scapegoat this season when players around him have played much worse.
Moyes went with a player he knew and trusted, and payed big bucks for it, should Fellaini be judged on his price tag? No, however I do think it's having an adverse effect his performance, especially as he is being reminded about every time he kicks the ball.
It's fair to say that he hasn't transformed our midfield in the way that we hoped, but how many thought we only needed one player in that area? Fellaini was never the answer, however he may be a part of the solution if he's given the backing and support from the fans.
We need another two players in midfield that much is obvious, it's a problem area that needed addressing. We all know this yet criticise Fellaini for not being the type off player we where crying out for, a Fabregas or Thiago or any other creative player.
So far he's played ok, which isn't good enough. And rightly so, has been criticised like any other player, however he has been the scapegoat this season when players around him have played much worse.
Moyes went with a player he knew and trusted, and payed big bucks for it, should Fellaini be judged on his price tag? No, however I do think it's having an adverse effect his performance, especially as he is being reminded about every time he kicks the ball.
I was all for Fellaini during the summer based on the fact that if Moyes has seen him at close hand for so many years and really wanted him then he must have something to offer as a destroyer. He hasn't looked bad in a midfield 3 but in a midfied 2 he has been about as effective as liam miller or the djemba twins...Right now Fellaini looks like he could rival andy carroll as the premier league greatest all time big money flop...has he been injured or just not good enough to even make the bench in recent games?
Have we ever made a signing so many people were against months before it happened simply because they didn't think the player was good enough?
It's all very good talking about patience and giving time. But sometimes you just don't need it in order to see it's not right for the team.
It's all very good talking about patience and giving time. But sometimes you just don't need it in order to see it's not right for the team.
that is it really, there were many who didnt want him in the first place and most of them refuse to acknowledge that he is slowly settling in and getting better - unfortunately injury has halted that progress.
He has played well for us in a couple of games and showed definite improvement from his early appearances - but some fans refuse to see it and keep banging out the same bollocks, thankfully many are recognising it and if you look at the MOTM thread for the last game he played, he got many mentions:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/motm-vs-everton-h.380225/
Let's actually blame him for that goal.
Watch his defending that allows Romelo fecking Lukaku, of all people, to turn, inside the box, with five minutes on the clock in a must-win game. Valencia didn't track his runner, but fecking hell, Lukaku sliced the ball off his foot! How could Valencia predict that? If he had hammered it into the roof of the net, what then? Was that a good piece of defending from Fellaini, you think?
The spine of a shrimp, that man's got.
And the City match? Don't get me started on that one. Our whole team was shit, true, but that doesn't excuse walking through a derby match without even the minimum amount of effort put in. That was shameful from him. (And others, sure)
Fact is this whole signing has been a catastrophe from his first kick of the ball.
How could Valenica predict it? Probably the same way Oviedo predicted it?!
You have to be really fecking blinkered or just plain thick to blame him for that goal - you are the exact example of the ones who are not able to discuss this fairly and just make up shit to slag him off.
It still baffles that Moyes sanctioned this deal, was he desperate or did he seriously think he is worth £28m?
Got to agree with Rood. I'm not Fellaini's fan by any means but it's crazy you can blame him for the Everton goal yet not blame Valencia. It was mostly Valencia's fault, I can't believe any one can think otherwise.
This and more. Except for the Everton goal, that's a bit harsh.
But where's the effort? Not many United players have annoyed me with lack of effort and work rate. Of the top of my head I can only think of Sheringham, until Fellaini came along, he really takes the bisquit.
Why can't he run?
Why can't he track?
Why can't he win headers, giant freak that he is?
Why can't he get his ass into the box and be sort of useful for a change?
I know we're supposed to give new players time to bed in and what not, but I see absolutely nothing to suggest he can be of any use to Man United.
Let's pretend for a second we bought him directly from Belgium for £10m, he's never been at Everton. We'd all be thinking WTF is this, is this guy even a footballer, what a waste of money. At £10m! Seriously.
Good thing we didn't pay £10m...
Merry Christmas.
He just need that hand operated on quickly. IMO he currently plays like something is holding him back from full exertion
To me he plays like the midfielders he plays alongside aren't very good.
Forget mostly. It was STRICTLY Valencia's fault and by that, Moyes fault for playing him there in the first place.
Berbatov?
Yea, let's not forget that it was Giggsy's pass that fecked us up in the first place. You could as well ask questions about our Cbs not being able to intercept the pass.
Fact is that his signing is judged on the fee we paid for him rather than his actual performances. People would complain about him doing anything really.
Of course, him too. But Berbatov and Sheringham had flair "to get away" with it. Almost.
I know what you mean
Outside of the money (over)paid, he was one of the types of players we've needed in the center of the park - a player that can be physical and hard to play against in the middle. For whatever reason though so far he has been very reserved. He doesn't need to start throwing elbows around or making stupid fouls - the latter he already does but, just need to get a lot more active/aggressive. He just needs to have the belief in himself that is good enough to play here and when that happens, I think he'll end up being a very good player for us for years. Only way that happens is he plays and for now gets the backing of the fans.
Phil Jones can play that role when/if needed. I'll reserve judgement on Fellaini until he actually gets a couple of seasons under his belt but I genuinely struggle to see, based on his performances at Everton, what he could offer that we didn't already have at the club, waiting to be utilised.
It's quite common for players coming into the United first team to shit themselves a bit. They try so hard not to make mistakes that it impacts the quality of their performance and in essence their presence becomes somewhat pointless.
We've seen it closely with Kagawa and Cleverley this season. Fellaini has been very safe in his play minus a few unnecessary fouls. Was it his debut where he hit a shot first time? Had that gone in, the weight would've been lifted off his shoulders and he'd play with a bit more freedom.
Already said it in this thread but he needs that moment of his own to really break out. He's never been top drawer but he's certainly a much better player than he's shown and it's a mystery as to why he's been so low key and below par.
We've seen it closely with Kagawa and Cleverley this season. Fellaini has been very safe in his play minus a few unnecessary fouls. Was it his debut where he hit a shot first time? Had that gone in, the weight would've been lifted off his shoulders and he'd play with a bit more freedom.
Already said it in this thread but he needs that moment of his own to really break out. He's never been top drawer but he's certainly a much better player than he's shown and it's a mystery as to why he's been so low key and below par.
The only thing he amazed me so far is his hair.
This is true. I've never been a huge fan of Jones in the middle, but he's played that role better than Fellaini has up to now, despite his attacking flaws.
Yea so let's waste Jones potential of being a very best CB just to play him in CM.
While we're at it, just move Rooney down to CM as well because he's better passer than Cleverley, Anderson, Jones or Fellaini.
While we're at it, just move Rooney down to CM as well because he's better passer than Cleverley, Anderson, Jones or Fellaini.
Spot on.
What's your point? Drop Jones and force Fellaini into the team?
No, work on Jones' development in the CB because Vidić and Rio are ageing and stop pretending that 'there's no problem' because we can keep moving other players out of their positions and thus hampering their development. It's cool that Jones can do things that Fellaini can do, problem is, the former is not a natural midfielder and we want to shape him into our long-term CB cover for Rio/Vidić.
Maybe he needs to get rid of that mop on his head for people to take him seriously.
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