Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances

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Clumsy, nervous and a little reckless both on and off the ball in the first half, but the intent was there. Second half was hugely improved in every aspect. Went from like a 5.5/10 to a 8/10 performance. Hope he builds on this.
 
They played the combination stuff well. Well weighted combination. Carrick wasn't bad either but less good.
 
Eric'sCollar said:
Good performance. Nothing you can't get out of the reserve team though. In saying that, he did grow in confidence and is starting to find that physicality he lacked when he first arrived.

All in all, a decent performance.
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Are you implying that Fellaini has the impact and performance levels of a reserve team player?

If so, don't talk shite.
 
Always thought that injury break would do him good. Out of the limelight...taking a step back and relieved of expectations based on a pretty unenthusiastic reaction from United fans when he was signed..plus the stigma of the fee etc. He's kind of started again...and the Mata signing has taken a bit of pressure off to. I think he's going to be a very useful signing for United over the next few seasons...
 
FineYoungCasual said:
This. A sensible account of his match against West Brom. If he puts in a perforance against Scouse of City I'll be impressed - that is, afterall the standard we're looking for, is it not?
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Perhaps, but maybe this is more the game he was signed to star in. He was the best midfielder on the pitch in a scrappy away tie, in a game where we would have a lot of the ball and would probably have lots of joy down the wings. Games vs City or pool don't really fit that bill
 
Are not some of you going a bit OTT? Considering the standard of the opponent today and that another team might not have been so wasteful.
 
togg said:
Always thought that injury break would do him good. Out of the limelight...taking a step back and relieved of expectations based on a pretty unenthusiastic reaction from United fans when he was signed..plus the stigma of the fee etc. He's kind of started again...and the Mata signing has taken a bit of pressure off to. I think he's going to be a very useful signing for United over the next few seasons...
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absolutely. plenty on here don't want the stigma of the fee to go away though - guess they are afraid to look silly if he plays well
 
Nick 0208 Ldn said:
Are not some of you going a bit OTT? Considering the standard of the opponent today and that another team might not have been so wasteful.
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I think it's just a counter reaction to all the muppets calling him shit earlier on in the season before he had even played a handful of matches for us. He was decent today and looks settled. He'll only get better now.
 
bosnian_red said:
Clumsy, nervous and a little reckless both on and off the ball in the first half, but the intent was there. Second half was hugely improved in every aspect. Went from like a 5.5/10 to a 8/10 performance. Hope he builds on this.
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He was one of our better players in the 1st half and didn't improve that much in the second - though he did slightly. No way the first half was a 5.5 IMO.

He had a good game throughout today.
 
Theon said:
He was one of our better players in the 1st half and didn't improve that much in the second - though he did slightly. No way the first half was a 5.5 IMO.

He had a good game throughout today.
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Don't think he was one of our best, wasn't one of our worst either. First half was a bit meh all around for me and he was right in line with that. He showed the intent but his passing and tackling just seemed clumsy. Didn't give it away a lot or anything, just like not firm, sharp passes. Second half he had good, form passing, not bouncing it or under hitting it to players, or slightly behind them. He was clearly a lot more confident and wasn't giving away silly fouls like at times in the first half.
 
I still don't rate him, neither does Mata... he needs a hair cut.
 
It's mad what a bit of confidence can do to an individual. Although I felt Fellaini's passing was good all game (finding forward passes, looking calm on the ball) once we got that second goal, Fellaini was pulling out all kinds of turns and skills.

If someone has got or can create a GIF of the piece of skill Fellaini done when he passed it to Mata on the far side of the pitch i'll be greatly appreciative .
 
Posters on here were clearly writing him off too soon, and the fact that he'd been carrying on injury makes it even more silly. I'd hope that we bring in a better CM in the summer, but Fellaini will still be a very valuable squad player for us. He's clearly our best option next to Carrick.
 
Nick 0208 Ldn said:
It's not far off, i don't think any of the front six deserved to be rated higher than 6/10 based on the first half.
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Not sure what he did wrong, besides a couple of fouls. There was some nonsense spouted by the usual suspects that he was giving the ball away, when in fact he wasn't, and he provided a solid enough base defensively. His passing was also often forward again which was encouraging. I would give him a 7/10.

In the second half the whole team attacked better and he shows more flair on the ball, so I agree with the increase to 8/10 there.
 
2 successive good performance from him, which is a good thing. if he keeps on playing like this, then the fans would be pleased. i know he cost us 27 million and for that kind of money you would expect a gundogan or a martinez which he is not, but i can accept him if he keeps on producing these kind of display for the team. we still need midfield reinforcements in the summer but fellaini could still turn out to be a very good squad member.

and i'll have him alongside carrick for our remaining matches this season.
 
Easily our best player today i thought - we have missed a fully fit Fellaini this season.
 
Fellaini stats vs West Brom:

Tackles - 4

Interceptions - 5

Touches - 98

Passes - 71 (90%)

Key Passes - 2

Shots (On Target) - 3 (0)
 
Played really well him and Smalling were our standout players today.
 
Looked good. Seemed to have build up on his last performance.

I think his distribution is quite underrated. He looks quite comfortable playing good forward passes to players stationed upfield.
 
Is it just me that finds him compelling to watch? Like him or not, he's an interesting player. And I've said it before, but his passing going forward is criminally understated. No nonsense, no 50-yard Kodak passes out the wingers, he tends to get it and simply pass it to the man in front of him, which is nice to see.
 
Utd heap said:
Easily our best player today i thought - we have missed a fully fit Fellaini this season.
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Not sure about the "easily" - Rafael and Rooney were also immense. Still, when you lead the team in defensive interventions (tackles+interceptions+clearances) and in passes attempted and completed, as well as providing a dominating aerial presence in mid field, I suppose you have a shout to be considered the best. Now if he only had last year's Carrick along side him or, God forbid, Pogba (I suppose that should be SAF forbid) ...
 
Kag said:
Is it just me that finds him compelling to watch? Like him or not, he's an interesting player. And I've said it before, but his passing going forward is criminally understated. No nonsense, no 50-yard Kodak passes out the wingers, he tends to get it and simply pass it to the man in front of him, which is nice to see.
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Gattuso used to be like that. However he was a much better DM then fellaini
 
He was lucky not to see red when he nearly hacked yacobs tigh. By his standards he did well. There again hes not United XI level let alone a 27m level midfielder
 
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His roulette and reverse flick nutmegging their LB to put Rafael through should dispel any rumours that he is technically deficient. The 3rd goal was arguably as much down to him and Kagawa moving us up QUICKLY through the middle as it was Rooney and Welbeck.

As others have said, his distribution is under-rated. He plays neat passes forward, but moves into a receivable position, thus advancing the play and more importantly easing the pressure on the player receiving the ball to find a way out.
 
devilish said:
Gattuso used to be like that. However he was a much better DM then fellaini
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I'd hardly call Fellaini a DM, though. Gattuso, from what I remember, played in a 3-man midfield in front of the back four, where his job was to, first and foremost, break up play and distribute it forward. Fellaini, on the other hand, plays more the box to box role for us. Two complete different jobs.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
I'd hardly call Fellaini a DM, though. Gattuso, from what I remember, played in a 3-man midfield in front of the back four, where his job was to, first and foremost, break up play and distribute it forward. Fellaini, on the other hand, plays more the box to box role for us. Two complete different jobs.
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Im referring to your playing it simple comment. Gattuso used to do that and many at redcafe used to laugh at him. That despite him being one of the finest DMs of his generation.

Returning to fellaini i honestly dont know what he is. Hes not a particularly great passer of the ball. Hed not particularly technically gifted. Hes not great defensively. It seem hes got average written all over him

Hes best utilised as no 10 with smallish clubs like everton. Fortunately thats not our way how to play football
 
I thought he was good. Those saying the can't pass probably didn't watch him closely. He was pretty incisive. It was Carrick who wasn't great today IMO.
 
Some people won't give him a chance either way. That was a solid midfield performance and the only question mark is can he do it if selected every week?

It's no use being against the player if the manager is going to drop him after decent performances. He struggled to settle through injury originally and since returning he's looked sharp, fit and mobile. Overpriced or not I think he fills the void well enough for now. Some obviously remain skeptical because of agendas (i.e. they never wanted him, just look at the money or can't accept he struggled to settle in).

I recall a certain Sunny Jim 'hoping' he was 5th choice by next summer. I'd be annoyed if he and Carrick didn't start and finish the majority of games left this season. There might be a lack of spark in there to really take the game to the other team, but they're the best two we have. Carrick's passing has gone unnoticed today, he was more willing to play the quick and crisp 5 yarders to the man next to him rather than whacking it into feet in congested areas. Those passes brought out West Brom players who occasionally pressed, which allowed Fellaini Mata and Rooney to occupy the space between the lines and it worked, particularly in the second half.

My only gripe will be if Moyes undoes it all against Liverpool next week by reverting to his tried and FAILED big-game formula.
 
NM said:
I thought he was good. Those saying the can't pass probably didn't watch him closely. He was pretty incisive. It was Carrick who wasn't great today IMO.
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He keeps it simple which is fine for a dm. Unfortunately hes not a dm
 
devilish said:
He keeps it simple which is fine for a dm. Unfortunately hes not a dm
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He didn't always keep it simple. Also his role seems to change depending on how we were playing. Previously, he was getting forward in the box all the time. Today, he stayed in and helped control midfield. We can use him as needed.
 
I didn't think he was amazing by any stretch but you'd be harsh to complain about his performance. I still think his immobility is a problem but he did very little wrong today.
 
devilish said:
Im referring to your playing it simple comment. Gattuso used to do that and many at redcafe used to laugh at him. That despite him being one of the finest DMs of his generation.

Returning to fellaini i honestly dont know what he is. Hes not a particularly great passer of the ball. Hed not particularly technically gifted. Hes not great defensively. It seem hes got average written all over him

Hes best utilised as no 10 with smallish clubs like everton. Fortunately thats not our way how to play football
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It wasn't me that said that, however Gattuso, from what I remember, was brilliant at breaking up play.

As for Fellaini, I don't want to go over the top because no disrespect to West Brom and Palace, but they're not the best of sides. That said, these were the kind of sides we were struggling or losing against earlier on in the season. Coincidence or not, we've looked a better side with him in the team since he's been back, in my opinion. He must be doing something right.
 
Really heartening performance that. There is still more to come too I think.

I agree with whoever said that next season we should pair him with a new classy creative player.
 
NM said:
He didn't always keep it simple. Also his role seems to change depending on how we were playing. Previously, he was getting forward in the box all the time. Today, he stayed in and helped control midfield. We can use him as needed.
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He likes keeping it simple which is ideal since hes not a great passer of the ball. I dont want to sound like the gringe. What i said echoes what kendall said about him a couple of months back. In my opinion he did better then he did in the past but theres nothing that suggest hes a top player.

Also he was lucky to get away with that nasty tackle on yacob
 
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