He looked a completely different player to before his injury. He was doing all the stuff he looked too scared to do previously.
I think we've become so shite during his absence that he no longer feels he's surrounded by superior players.
That's the problem with us guys and why the team has been allowed to go to the dogs. While every team constantly strengthen itself bringing top quality players to sort any issues and remove the weak links, we're happy when players improve a bit, they occasionally play well and are able to do the job. No wonder why, while others have the likes of Sanchez, Iniesta, Messi and Xavi we are lumped with Fellaini, Valencia, Young and Cleverley.
Not the best example, considering three of those players came through Barca's academy, and weren't signed.
As for us, we've signed Mata this season, and RvP last season. Those are both tip-top, marquee names who've improved the team. There will surely be more to follow in the summer.
Finally, we're the reigning Champions, have won 5 of the last 7 titles, and reached 3 of the last 6 Champions League finals. So our transfer policy can't have been that bad.
Our struggles this season are, by and large, down to a difficult transitional period.
Not the best example, considering three of those players came through Barca's academy, and weren't signed.
As for us, we've signed Mata this season, and RvP last season. Those are both tip-top, marquee names who've improved the team. There will surely be more to follow in the summer.
Finally, we're the reigning Champions, have won 5 of the last 7 titles, and reached 3 of the last 6 Champions League finals. So our transfer policy can't have been that bad.
Our struggles this season are, by and large, down to a difficult transitional period.
Apart from the fact that he wasnt box to box.He was excellent yesterday. It's been some time since I saw a United midfielder put in such a box to box performance so it was pleasing indeed. He might have had few sloppy passes and ran out of gas early but that's understandable considering his time out. His attitude and how he went about being a menace in the opposition box was encouraging.
It was one of the first times he seemed to not have been asked to 'do a Carrick'. He's looked absolutely terrible hanging back and trying to control the game or acting as some kind of defensive midfielder. He's a lot better when he is involved further up the pitch as we saw at Everton time and time again.The signing of Mata has definitely taken some pressure off him. Also, the fact that our season basically is over in the league helps.
Physically he looked more imposing but more importantly, I think the more dynamic setup of our team, with Januzaj, Rooney and Mata always being available for Carrick to pick out and help us keep possession, allows him more opportunities to get in and around the box - in other words, there's actually a reasonably sensible role for him in the squad, provided we try to play this way more often.
I thought he was great yesterday, a playmaker next to him and we are set.
Think he was ok yesterday but nothing spectacular. You can see why Moyes is looking at Kroos and Gundogon though, because Fellani certainly not going to be a player who's going to help our front 4 break down organised defences. His passing is not quick, incisive or creative enough.
To be fair im not sure that was what he was bought for.Think he was ok yesterday but nothing spectacular. You can see why Moyes is looking at Kroos and Gundogon though, because Fellani certainly not going to be a player who's going to help our front 4 break down organised defences. His passing is not quick, incisive or creative enough.
Given how we seem to be going after carvalho, I have a feeling moyes has a few regrets over getting fellaini. He can be a decent squad player as he showed yesterday but we still need 2 new midfielders in the summer, a defensive one like carvalho and then a gundogan/kroos.To be fair im not sure that was what he was bought for.
Think he was ok yesterday but nothing spectacular. You can see why Moyes is looking at Kroos and Gundogon though, because Fellani certainly not going to be a player who's going to help our front 4 break down organised defences. His passing is not quick, incisive or creative enough.
He looked decent because he was hardly playing against a midfield allowing him to play much further up the pitch than would be the case against a decent team/midfield.
Eh?nice to see us actually having a midfield for once. Plenty of times when we go away to teams near the bottom of the table and get dominated in midfield the last couple years.
Encouraging!
Eh?
We were champions last year, and only lost on goal difference the season prior to that. Our away record this season has mostly been fine.
There's no doubt our midfield should have been overhauled. However, we really can't pin everything on our midfield for our issues in allowing teams to stroll through the centre. This season our 2 most experienced defenders have had shockers (Rio, Vidic). They've generally played very deep - giving opposition too much space and freedom between our defence and midfield.Think you're being a bit disingenuous there, Sults.
There's been loads of examples, this season and last, of central midfielders from teams much lower down the league being able to stroll through the centre of the pitch at their leisure.
There's no doubt our midfield should have been overhauled. However, we really can't pin everything on our midfield for our issues in allowing teams to stroll through the centre. This season our 2 most experienced defenders have had shockers (Rio, Vidic). They've generally played very deep - giving opposition too much space and freedom between our defence and midfield.
Onto yesterday, besides Fulham, I've not seen a team play as deep as Palace did yesterday, allowing Fellaini to play a lot more forward, and with freedom than would normally be the case.
Just wanted to find out everyone's opinions of how they would use Fellaini.
Palace set out or were pushed into an 8-1-1 formation. Only job Vidic had was to take care of high balls into the box from free kicks, and corners.That's a good point about our inability to play a high line causing us problems. Mind you, we had Vidic in the team yesterday, so that issue won't have gone away. I also think you're a little harsh on Palace. They're on a good run at the moment and were definitely a lot more willing to have a go than Fulham.
It worked yesterday, and Palace really struggled with him, a sharper Fellaini would have likely scored. I was impressed with his intelligence, sitting when required and going forward as Mata or Rooney dropped, against a better side he will need to bust a gut to get back as you pointed out but he's not yet fit and our main problem has been breaking down resolute teams, he gave them an extra problem. Januzaj staying wide also added to Palace woes as they weren't able to squeeze play, Rafael will also add to it and as a systems first run it looks like it could work.This was covered a great deal in the match thread but I don't think his role yesterday was a real box-to-box one. When we were out of possession he sat deep and basically acted as a destroyer, but when we won the ball back Rooney or Mata generally dropped into midfield to receive the ball whilst Fellaini headed straight for the box rather than contributing hugely to the build-up as you'd expect from a box-to-box player. And then at the same time, when we lost the ball Fellaini wasn't busting a gut to come back and defend, but he didn't need to, firstly because Palace weren't particularly dangerous and secondly because one of Rooney or Mata were usually slightly deeper when our attacks broke down, in addition to Carrick sitting deeper still.
I think he played well and his role was key to our improved ability to play through the middle when our opponents are defending deep. His presence in and around the box was a distraction for the defence and opened up more space for Rooney and Mata to work in. Interested to see how he he's employed going forward.
