Fellaini

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A few years ago Carrick went through the same treatment Young is getting now. I wouldn't bet against Young turning it round.

edit: Oops. I mean, yeah, feck Young. He's Everton-level just like Fellaini.
 
To be fair I don't think I'd be at all enraged with the signing. Just not overly excited either. He'll cost us in excess of 20 million as well...money that surely could be better spent elsewhere? Just my opinion.
 
Rowem said:
A few years ago Carrick went through the same treatment Young is getting now.

I wouldn't be against Young turning it round.
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Carrick looked like a brilliant signing in his first season. He went through a rough patch a couple of years later but it was never in doubt that he was a good enough midfielder to play for United.

Young is a squad player. That's all he's ever going to be unless we drop our level by a significant margin. He's not a terrible player but at £16m and £80k+ a week wages we should have expected more.
 
Rowem said:
A few years ago Carrick went through the same treatment Young is getting now.

I wouldn't be against Young turning it round.
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Young is a decent player who had a poor season. He's a squad player for me. Which is why I see no point in letting Nani go unless we have a proper replacement.
 
Sarni said:
What is he particularly good at? He's great in the air, he has a good shot and decent dribbling, he's very strong physically. What he's not really great at is defending and passing (short passes he's fine with, he doesn't have much creativity though). Is he good enough to play for a top club? Yes, he probably is. Is he what United need right now? Absolutely not.
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:lol: what is he good at, other then being heading, jumping, shooting, dribbling, and strength?
 
Name a better midfielder you'd get wih 20m?
 
He's not really a midfielder is he? He's played far more advanced than that...

Not sure what that has to do with what I said anyway...
 
londonredmaniac said:
He's not really a midfielder is he? He's played far more advanced than that...

Not sure what that has to do with what I said anyway...
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Did you read the interview?

He was played out of position last year because he was needed, he prefers being a defensive midfielder.
 
Chabon said:
You could start by naming actual midfielders.
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You think he's an attacking midfielder? He's not, he's a midfielder, and is exactly the type of player we need.
 
jakec said:
Name a better midfielder you'd get wih 20m?
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In a nutshell I think the game has evolved to a point where combative defensive midfielders aren't useful. I'd much rather have somebody who will intercept and then has the ability to carry the ball up the pitch. Hell, I'd rather have Strootman and from what I've seen of him I don't particularly rate him!
 
jakec said:
Did you read the interview?

He was played out of position last year because he was needed, he prefers being a defensive midfielder.
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He may very well prefer the position Jake. Whether that is where he is most effective is highly debatable. I get what you're saying...he can look very impressive at times...but for me, when I watch Everton, he's impressed me further advanced on the pitch.
 
I honestly would have preferred Dembele at like £15m last season but there's no way well get him now for under £20m. ESP with Levy involved. There's that Strootman bloke - though I've not seen enough of him to offer a personal opinion. Then there's that Wanyama bloke who could be a decent box to box / cover for Carrick option.

The only player I'd take a punt on & who I've seen a fair bit of is Ander Herrera. Not sure what his release clause is though plus he hasn't had a great season. (Who in that Bilbao team has though).

I've never been a huge fan of Fellaini but if we sign him, I'd support him & hope he proves me wrong.
 
Sarni said:
What is he particularly good at? He's great in the air, he has a good shot and decent dribbling, he's very strong physically. What he's not really great at is defending and passing (short passes he's fine with, he doesn't have much creativity though). Is he good enough to play for a top club? Yes, he probably is. Is he what United need right now? Absolutely not.
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SilentWitness said:
'Marouane Fellaini was also second in the league for successful tackles with 84, and won the ball 190 times in midfield, by far the most in the top flight.'

84 out of 99, with a 85% successful tackle rate.

'Marouane Fellaini won more tackles, ground duels, aerial duels and made more passes than anyone else at the club'

You might say "oh well that is at Everton though, not a top club." Okay, well we have finished consistently in the top 8 in the time that he has been here and you can only perform to the best of your abilities and to be the best at the club you are at. He has been the best here in that aspect and is proven in the League so could play for a club at a higher level definitely.
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....

When he was playing in midfield.
 
jakec said:
:lol: what is he good at, other then being heading, jumping, shooting, dribbling, and strength?
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:confused:

His main strengths are what make him a good attacking midfielder, a #10 where he has mostly played and succeeded at Everton this season. We're not looking for a #10 or at least shouldn't be, particularly for a physical one.
 
jakec said:
Name a better midfielder you'd get wih 20m?
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Thiago apparently, or moutinho (a bit more then 20), the bender twins, strootman once he develops would maybe be better, etc.
I've never rated him too highly as a midfielder. He's Everton level and his best performances come from being a target man for them because he's big and strong and good at heading the ball. His very static in his play and his passing isn't anything special. I think it'd be a step backwards for us to be honest, getting a player like him, instead of getting one who's better on the ball. Ideally we could get gundogan, but since that's almost impossible we should look to find a player of similar ilk to him, not go for a thug like fellaini who's defending consists of elbowing and fouling the opposition.
 
SilentWitness said:
....

When he was playing in midfield.
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I wasn't aware of that. I don't really have a counter argument to that because I always got the feeling he was a bit clumsy in defence, commiting way too many fouls and not positioning himself well enough. I was always more impressed with him in an advanced role. Stats work against my observation here though, it seems.
 
bosnian_red said:
Thiago apparently, or maybe moutinho (a bit more then 20), strootman once he develops would maybe be better, etc.
I've never rated him too highly as a midfielder. He's Everton level and his best performances come from being a target man for them because he's big and strong and good at heading the ball. His very static in his play and his passing isn't anything special. I think it'd be a step backwards for us to be honest, getting a player like him, instead of getting one who's better on the ball. Ideally we could get gundogan, but since that's almost impossible we should look to find a player of similar ilk to him, not go for a thug like fellaini who's defending consists of elbowing and fouling the opposition.
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Sort of where I m at...though I think he's slightly better than he's given credit for sometimes.
 
Hasnt Fellaini been playing better at Everton than Carrick did at Spurs? That didnt work out bad for us at all, did it?
 
jakec said:
He's exactly the type of player we need.
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Is he though? The caf seems to have an obsession with having a powerful midfielder, which is understanble given the only "powerful" player we have is an injury-prone and inconsistent Anderson. Fellaini brings power, but not when running with the ball but in tackling and shielding players. As others have mentioned; Strootman, Moutinho, Ander Herrera and Gundogan are all better at carrying the ball than him.
 
I thought carrick was brilliant at spurs tbf.

I think Fellaini could work...I'm just not entirely convinced...especially playing deep.
 
londonredmaniac said:
Sort of where I m at...though I think he's slightly better than he's given credit for sometimes.
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I think he's a good player and I'm probably doing him an injustice by my description, but I don't think he'd be a step forwards for what we aspire to be, and I sure as he'll don't want to see us resort to lumping the ball forwards to him to knock down. I'd much rather go down the route of players with better technical, like every other top club has, rather then going for big strong midfielders who aren't afraid to take out other players. He just doesn't come across as a Manchester United type player.
 
Strootman, Wanyama, Fellaini and Thiago are the players a lot of people are talking about, you could also go a bit left field and look at players like Romulo, Benat and Verratti.

Strootman has had two good seasons with PSV and will probably stay for at least another.
Wanyama has hinted that he may look to move to England this Summer
Fellaini was hinting that he might look to move with Moyes
And Thiago is mostly hype.
 
bosnian_red said:
I think he's a good player and I'm probably doing him an injustice by my description, but I don't think he'd be a step forwards for what we aspire to be, and I sure as he'll don't want to see us resort to lumping the ball forwards to him to knock down. I'd much rather go down the route of players with better technical, like every other top club has, rather then going for big strong midfielders who aren't afraid to take out other players. He just doesn't come across as a Manchester United type player.
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If he's going to be bought to play that particular role, no thanks! However, i am pretty certain that he'll not be playing that role here, if we were to get him.
 
londonredmaniac said:
I thought carrick was brilliant at spurs tbf.

I think Fellaini could work...I'm just not entirely convinced...especially playing deep.
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I also share the concern that Fellaini looks best in the final third holding the ball up and bringing others into the game. Maybe I am wrong, if we sign him I hope I am, but he doesn't 'feel' like the man to partner Carrick. Why can't a new Ince or Keane appear, eh?
 
MDFC Manager said:
If he's going to be bought to play that particular role, no thanks! However, i am pretty certain that he'll not be playing that role here, if we were to get him.
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What role will he be playing then, given that he appears to either be a destroyer or a target man?
 
Who cares how good he can defend. We have Carrick for that. He offers a REAL goal threat from the middle.
 
Rowem said:
We'll sign him, the hipsters and transfer muppets will be enraged, peterstorey and Liverpool fans will declare him an awful signing. It'll be the start of the decline for United.

He'll come here and be a very solid player. The "not United quality" claims will slowly evolve into "Good squad player but not world class", and after that slowly evolve into claims of "He's actually one of the best CMs in the league". He'll score some important goals and play with some passion and he'll become a fans' favourite.
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What is it with the caf and posters being hipsters? Who are these hipsters you speak of, and what does one have to do to be referred to as a hipster?
 
I'd like us to sign him, we'd be unstoppable at corners.
 
There's no doubt he's good enough to play for us in a midfield two. His passing, tackling, creativity are all good enough. The only problem is how his signing might affect our football and whether Moyes would be tempted to just stick him up top and lump passes to him
 
Thick Numpty said:
What is it with the caf and posters being hipsters? Who are these hipsters you speak of, and what does one have to do to be referred to as a hipster?
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I'm half-way through writing my new book, Football Hipsters, which details this in full and should answer these questions in full. When it's published I'll sell you a copy at mates rates.
 
Before this season he looked half the player. Now he looks good as a hard to handle player behind the striker. The problem with playing him in central midfield is that hes not very mobile, so he's very unlikely to get into the same positions that he has done this season from a deeper role. And definitely not without leaving huge gaps for the opposition, which would be a disaster for someone playing DM.

Maybe Duncan Ferguson was a £15 million value striker at his best. Maybe. Maybe Tiote was a £10 million value midfielder at his best. Maybe.

But does that mean we should spend £25 million on Fellaini because he could play both roles? No. No maybes.
 
akash02 said:
There's no doubt he's good enough to play for us in a midfield two. His passing, tackling, creativity are all good enough. The only problem is how his signing might affect our football and whether Moyes would be tempted to just stick him up top and lump passes to him
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I find this theory puzzling. Moyes is no fool, he's obviously aware of the quality he has at his disposal, compared to his limited options at Everton. Why on earth would he adapt a hoof ball tactic?
 
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