Fellaini (on his way) out? | Duncan Castles: Fellaini agrees new two year deal
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Having him as a plan B is holding the club back. Just get rid of the idea that we need a plan B and get players that fits plan A.
Our plan A is crap which is why we even need to resort to shit tactics to change our game up.
I won’t be heartbroken to see Fellaini leave, but the criticism of him is somewhat unfair, in my opinion. He’s a quality player, albeit with clear limitations. He’s never been well received here, in part due to his price and the Manager who bought him. In a way, his acquisition epitomizes the worst of the post-Ferguson era. That said, he never gave up. He worked hard for the team, won the trust of both LVG and Jose, and scored a few big goals. He’s clearly a useful player to have in the squad.
I suspect that Jose was eager to keep Fellaini, not just because he finds him to be a useful option, but also because he wants to strengthen the squad elsewhere. There’s only so much money available to spend. Jose knew he had to replace Carrick. A second midfielder may not have been in his plans. I’m sure he would have been very happy to keep Fellaini for at least another season, while focusing on other targets / priorities this summer. He could then be moved on, with the club getting a fee, next summer.
All that said, I’m absolutely fine with Fellaini leaving. He will need to be replaced, though. I’m sure we all hope for a more cultured player - one with more in his locker than Fellaini has.
I suspect that Jose was eager to keep Fellaini, not just because he finds him to be a useful option, but also because he wants to strengthen the squad elsewhere. There’s only so much money available to spend. Jose knew he had to replace Carrick. A second midfielder may not have been in his plans. I’m sure he would have been very happy to keep Fellaini for at least another season, while focusing on other targets / priorities this summer. He could then be moved on, with the club getting a fee, next summer.
All that said, I’m absolutely fine with Fellaini leaving. He will need to be replaced, though. I’m sure we all hope for a more cultured player - one with more in his locker than Fellaini has.
His statements aside, nothing against him, he was useful if you use him properly, my issue with him is what he offers to rest of the team and thats easy lazy way out. Whats worse, those who are using him as lazy way out are not able to switch on off dependable of Afro`s presence on the pitch. So many times you see them hoof towards him for X minutes and its so deep ingrained in them that they not stopping doing it even when he gets subbed. Mata could take his position and they would still do the same bloody thing.
He is clearly a useful player but never should be an option for our club. He needs to be played as a second striker or in an advanved role, with a club favouring a direct approach due to lack of quality in midfield or creativity. The fact that our fans feel he could contribute to our team by occasionally adopting "that approach" is an indication of
1) How far standards have dropped
2) Unawareness of the football fabric our club was founded on and reason for our worldwide appeal
3) a lack of football knowledge in general
He is NOT good enough to be playing as a midfielder especially against a decent team. I would absolutely jump for joy if i see Fellani in the opposition lineup cos i know my midfield would dominate and run circles due to his lack of mobility and to put 2 tall centrebacks to combat his supposedly aerial threat. His physicality is not very useful in modern football which favours pace, technique and i would like to see our fans to reiterate their opinion of him in December if he plays for another team. All too common during the days of Alan Smith, Jonny Evans, Cleverely and Kieran Richardson.
1) How far standards have dropped
2) Unawareness of the football fabric our club was founded on and reason for our worldwide appeal
3) a lack of football knowledge in general
He is NOT good enough to be playing as a midfielder especially against a decent team. I would absolutely jump for joy if i see Fellani in the opposition lineup cos i know my midfield would dominate and run circles due to his lack of mobility and to put 2 tall centrebacks to combat his supposedly aerial threat. His physicality is not very useful in modern football which favours pace, technique and i would like to see our fans to reiterate their opinion of him in December if he plays for another team. All too common during the days of Alan Smith, Jonny Evans, Cleverely and Kieran Richardson.
In this current Mourinho era, if you forget his time before Mourinho's reign and take him face-value, he's actually quite a useful player from the bench in certain situations. He's scored some goals, lifted the team. But will never be a starter.
The problem is, he will always be the posterboy for the worst periods in my lifetime, the Moyes/LVG era.
The problem is, he will always be the posterboy for the worst periods in my lifetime, the Moyes/LVG era.
We're so fortunate that we've got you here to educate us then.
ps. It's Fellaini not Fellani
Wanted him to stay midseason. Then realised the manager was going to continue playing him in European knock out ties. That's not a plan B, that's a hinderance. We're doing Jose a favour
Football fabric? Lack of football knowledge? I've missed a few days. Is Fellaini going for his coaching badges? Supposed aerial threat? Seems like that's his most favorable trait. Maybe I have a lack of football knowledge in general but our last 3 managers and Roberto Martinez all seem to rate him. There have been a number of games where his physicality has produced the winning goal.
That i do not dare to claim but its obvious some fans do not understand football, tactics and what this club is all about... But this is a Manchester United forum and we have to be real fans and put on our red tinted specs.
It's tiresome to keep repeating but its obvious Fellaini splits opinions. It reminisce of how a group of fans are insistent that Rooney was past it yet the fanboys were kicking up a storm about his ability as a striker and transition to midfield etc. We all know how it turned up for Everton and his pending transfer to MLS.
Fast forward to June 30th.
Cant just do a 1:1 comparison here imo. Rooney was declining - Fellaini has probably played his best football while being at our club over the last two years. He's not exactly dragging us down anymore.
You're not making sense here mate, i've said from the start and several times since that those are his goals/assists from being brought on to play as a target man/plan B in games United are chasing. So the stats are not discounting anything, i never said this is all his goals/assists from playing high up the pitch over his entire United career.
You need to think about what you have said and are saying. You can't start a game as a plan B, there may have been one or two but i cannot remember Mourinho or Van Gaal ever starting Fellaini as a target man. He's certainly never started a game basically sitting in the box like he he been used in games we are chasing.
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It really isn't. During the Rooney's debate, its quite obvious that Rooney was physically shot. The decline was apparent during Moyes' and LVG's era, yet there will always be a group of fans who will be on a witchhunt for those who criticises the players and would only realise the obvious once the said players departed. The same for Fellaini and nobody can question his commitment but him doing his best was similar to Alan Smith's commitment during his midfield tenure. It really isn't good enough. His presence or lack of is a handicap to his fellow midfielders who lack options and passing channels due to his limitations. It is really tiring to keep repeating when our failings are so obvious.
That says a lot about us and him doesn’t it. He’s playing probably the best he can, and he still isn’t good enough to start for us despite us having a shit squad relative to the standards we should be held against.
The sooner we rid of him, the better for us.
It really is tiresome to debate with someone who only understand his own arguments and phrases it this way when I basically just pointed out that their situations are not the same. I'm not even pro Fellaini - Just arguing that Rooney was on the decline, where as Fellaini has been performing better and better.
I wont be crying salty tears if Fellaini leaves, as it will bring something new to the table - but it sounds like he's a first choice or something here. He's not. He's a squad option, and as a squad option he is an okay player. You can't have 25 Zidane's (And yes, I do realize you haven't asked for this)
He knows Jose wants him that's what giving him the option to make condition and want a pay rise IMO. Can't wait to see him leave we deserve much much better CM don't we?
Wish this thread would only be bumped with confirmation he has left, then I can open that bottle of champagne I have been saving for a special occasion. The announcement coming at 4pm tomorrow with the sun shining would be perfection and I would forgive him for the hours I have had to endure him 'play football'..
Many time's under SAF we would spend the last stages of the game lumping the ball into the box in search of an equaliser/winner. Many other teams also did/do this. I personally think there's nothing wrong with this & to boot Fellaini comes into his own when adopting these tactics. I will be sad to see him go. If a condition of him staying is more starts & higher wages then it's probably right we let him go.
No.. that is not what i recall. I have to admit that the last few years of Ferguson's weren't exactly the best football, but we utilised the width a lot more than the long ball. Even when we played the occasional long ball down the middle, it was to Rooney or RVP to take it down in their stride, rather than what Fellaini is doing. The Fellaini's tactic is so lazy and amplifies all our shortcomings which must be address this summer.
In all the times we got a last minute winner when Ferguson was manager, I don't recall us aimlessly hoofing the ball up front to a big man. We had a lot more about us than that.
We might have played the odd direct ball when chasing games under Ferguson, but not to the extent it's been done with Fellaini in recent years. Ferguson's teams were more about upping the tempo, bringing on extra attackers and stretching teams with width to create openings and break them down.
Ferguson never did and never would have resorted to playing strictly long ball tactics to one tall player and abandoning all other forms of attack.
Hope he stays as a squad option. He's grown on me. Plus it would infuriate those who unfairly view him as a marker of Moyes' tenure. Plus Mourinho sees value in him. Win win.
If not here, hope he does well wherever he goes.
If not here, hope he does well wherever he goes.
If he can shave his hair off, it'll be like a new signing for us.
Likes: Dedication, in-game commitment and grit. Last minute goals.
Do I not like that: Having a worldy against us for Everton costing us the title under SAF.
I will never and have never forgiven the feck for that. Very useful player if played up front like for Belgium or in specific circumstances when we need a threat in the box.
Do I not like that: Having a worldy against us for Everton costing us the title under SAF.
I will never and have never forgiven the feck for that. Very useful player if played up front like for Belgium or in specific circumstances when we need a threat in the box.
Has he really scored many late goals in his time at United?
This thread should be locked until he goes 
I dont understand the hate on Fellaini, is he first XI quality? Of course not, but he is a good squad player, now saying this just as a squad player we shouldn’t bother if he leaves or stays, if he stays fine if he goes then we will bring someone who will do the job. Personally I prefer him to leave and bring a promising youngster, such as Golovin or Ruben Neves.
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Across the course of the 5 years we have been lumbered with him I would bet on his net contribution to the side is in the negative rather than the positive.
He has also put in some of the most lazy and careless performances of any player to have ever put on the shirt.
You cant really compare Smith to Fellaini, Smith wasnt very good in midfield, but he had a level of drive and desire that Fellaini just doesn't have.
I cannot wait until Fellaini leaves and we can all stop debating and talking about him.
Atrocious signing.
Should never have been signed, and any utd fan who praised any of his performances need to have a look at themselves.
Awful player - good riddance
Atrocious signing.
Should never have been signed, and any utd fan who praised any of his performances need to have a look at themselves.
Awful player - good riddance
Every time I open this thread I hope to see something concrete about his departure. It's torture!
Not ever for me. Harsh - maybe. But he's never been good enough to put a utd shirt on and never will be.Not even in the heat of the moment
And I hear Jose is still hoping he signs a contract and stays with us. Beggers belief
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