Fellaini

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Liam147 said:
I'd like to see the stats. Then I'd like to see him make these tackles. Whenever I think of Fellaini I can't help but think of his game against us.

When I compared him to Giroud, I was speaking strictly in the sense that they're both target men. Giroud less so.

I also could not disagree more with you saying he'd be an upgrade on Cleverley to partner Carrick. I don't know when he fell out of favour with the caf. He was near-worshipped when he was injured. He brings so much tempo and directness to our play. Could you even remotely imagine Fellaini laying off intricate passes and sprinting into space to receive the ball?

I really hope Arsenal do get him, and I really hope he does play in midfield. Time will tell, but I'd feel pretty confident that he'd be an absolute failure.
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The stats from previous seasons are in the thread somewhere, I didn't post them so not sure where abouts they are - it was SilentWitness IIRC

The ones from this season when he's made the most tackles despite playing as a striker are just on whoscored, so you can check them out now if you go onto the Everton team page. He makes tackles all the time, obviously even more so when he's in midfield. His physicality and closing down/ballwinning ability is exactly what he brings to the middle.

I never worshipped Cleverley, but regardless I'm not trying to slag Cleverley off by saying Fellaini is currently a better player - I think it's a fair comment.

He does play in midfield so of he went to Arsenal, Chelsea or us that is where he'll end up. He's spent one and a bit seasons playing as an AM, the rest of the time he was a proper centre midfielder which is where most Everton fans think he is best suited, where Moyes thinks he is best suited and where Fellaini thinks he is best suited.
 
Theon said:
He's spent one and a bit seasons playing as an AM, the rest of the time he was a proper centre midfielder which is where most Everton fans think he is best suited, where Moyes thinks he is best suited and where Fellaini thinks he is best suited.
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It will be fun to see the scales fall from their eyes in that case.
 
Tom Cleverly had a disappointing season at United, enjoying far less playing time than he would have hoped for. Fellaini on the other hand enjoyed a regular starting berth (interrupted only by suspensions) for Everton and proved he can play at the highest level with goals against Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City. Both players are of a similar age, Cleverly at 23 being just two years younger than his Belgian counterpart. Whilst the two players are very different in their style of play and preferred roles on the pitch, Fellaini would probably be seen as a replacement for Cleverley within the United team. Michael Carrick is now too central to the way United play for him to be the one to give way (at least in the short-term) for any new signings.

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At first glance, Cleverley ‘wins’ 8 of the 18 performance indicators analysed and Fellaini ‘wins’ 5. Three of the five that go to Fellaini are in the goal-scoring and shooting area, which I guess is expected given the type of player he is and that Moyes’ asked him to play high up the pitch for Everton.
The stats appear to back up what we probably already knew, Cleverley is a combative midfielder who breaks up play and makes quick incisive passes to start United attacks (he outscores Fellaini on tackle success, ground 50-50 wins, lost possession, number of passes, defensive errors, pass success and attack zone pass accuracy), for me it is clear he is a better defensive midfielder than the Belgian and is stronger in the passing part of his game.
Fellaini on the other hand has an outstanding win % for aerial duels (at 6 ft 4 inches, compared to Cleverley’s 5 ft 9 in, I guess this is hardly surprising!), with 60% of his aerial duels won. He also significantly outscores Cleverley on the goal scoring elements of the game.
The key here is the way in which Moyes wishes to operate at United. If Carrick plays, you accept that he isn’t going to be a goal scorer within the United team, it is vital therefore that others contribute to the goal scoring effort from the midfield areas. To date, Tom Cleverley hasn’t demonstrated his goal scoring pedigree or an indication that this will be part of his game in the future (less than one shot per game for the season makes it very difficult to be prolific). If Moyes wishes to go for three central midfielders in a five man midfield, then I can see a role for Cleverley in the same team as Carrick, but as a two-man central midfield partnership I would see Fellaini as the better option. Having said that, in a five man midfield, you could imagine a central three of Carrick, Fellaini and Cleverley operating well.
Conclusion – Fellaini definitely offers something different to the United team. His aerial strength and ability to score goals from the central midfield areas is not something United currently have at their disposal. Personally, I think a more technically gifted and creative midfielder than Fellaini is required at United, but I can also see some advantages in adding Fellaini to the Old Trafford team.
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Is David Moyes right to raid Everton for his former players? Stats comparison
 
Consider this Theon.

Everyone thinks Fellaini's best position is in midfield. Moyes, however, plays him off the striker, and Darron Gibson in midfield. Why not just sign a forward, and play Fellaini in his position as opposed to Darron Gibson.
 
Moyes loves Fellaini because he's second-rate manager who's used to working with second-rate players.
 
Liam147 said:
Consider this Theon.

Everyone thinks Fellaini's best position is in midfield. Moyes, however, plays him off the striker, and Darron Gibson in midfield. Why not just sign a forward, and play Fellaini in his position as opposed to Darron Gibson.
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Because Everton have no money?

They tried to buy a decent striker in Jelavic but feck knows what went wrong with him this season, then obviously Anichbe keeps getting injured.

What am I supposed to be considering anyway? Are you suggesting that Moyes is lying when he says Fellaini's best position is in midfield?
 
Theon said:
Because Everton have no money?

They tried to buy a decent striker in Jelavic but feck knows what went wrong with him this season, then obviously Anichbe keeps getting injured.

What am I supposed to be considering anyway? Are you suggesting that Moyes is lying when he says Fellaini's best position is in midfield?
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Worded slightly wrong. "Wouldn't you sign a forward..."

If I had to prioritise an area of the pitch, it'd probably be midfield. Rather than put my best midfielder as a forward, I'd get a forward. Or accommodate someone else. Can't Mirallas play there?
 
Liam147 said:
Worded slightly wrong. "Wouldn't you sign a forward..."

If I had to prioritise an area of the pitch, it'd probably be midfield. Rather than put my best midfielder as a forward, I'd get a forward. Or accommodate someone else. Can't Mirallas play there?
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Say that to Ferguson!
 
Kid Cunto said:
Is David Moyes right to raid Everton for his former players? Stats comparison
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Good post.

Fellaini have three things that makes him very valuable for us. Most importantly he offers a aerial ability that would give us plenty of goal scoring chances on set pieces and corners, his height will also help us defensly the same way. If we struggle and have problems to brake down some strong defense this would be a very good asset to have to change our oppositions set up.

Secondly. He is strong with a good stamina. We need this kind of player after Fletch departure. Someone who can combat and just give us extra power when other parts of our games doesn't work.

Third. He's a proven PL player who already lives up in the north west and Moyes knows him inside out. That means we will know what we buy and that we dont have to fear sudden surprises like a new Hardgreaves or Ando. Both great players but lack of fitness made their long term contribution a fraction of what we expected.

In a choice between Strootman and Fellaini I go for someone who's proven and known, we need immidiate improvement in our midfield. In the talent pool we already have plenty of players.
 
I'm not really sure on those stats, not much use when they are comparing Cleverley as a CM with Fellaini as a striker.. Not a fair comparison for any of the stats. Obviously the shooting ones and minutes per goal are weighted against Clev

Whereas for Fellaini the passing stats are unfair because he's playing upfront so will obviously see less of the ball and get tackled more. Same with the tackle stats - Fellaini is playing upfront so tackling centre backs whereas Clev is being challenged by other CM's, which is presumably easier
 
7even said:
Good post.

Fellaini have three things that makes him very valuable for us. Most importantly he offers a aerial ability that would give us plenty of goal scoring chances on set pieces and corners, his height will also help us defensly the same way. If we struggle and have problems to brake down some strong defense this would be a very good asset to have to change our oppositions set up.

Secondly. He is strong with a good stamina. We need this kind of player after Fletch departure. Someone who can combat and just give us extra power when other parts of our games doesn't work.

Third. He's a proven PL player who already lives up in the north west and Moyes knows him inside out. That means we will know what we buy and that we dont have to fear sudden surprises like a new Hardgreaves or Ando. Both great players but lack of fitness made their long term contribution a fraction of what we expected.

In a choice between Strootman and Fellaini I go for someone who's proven and known, we need immidiate improvement in our midfield. In the talent pool we already have plenty of players.
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This is the most persuasive argument I've seen for signing him throughout the weeks of speculation.

Still don't want him.
 
I would sleep better at night if Arsenal sign Sirfoulsalot. I don't want to spend the next three months fearing that Moyes might sign him.

Peterstorey is dead on his quality. Would be useless in European games with his constant fouling.

Arsenal, please sign him.
 
Pexbo said:
The issue for me is:

As cover for Carrick he might offer a bit of protection but he is vastly inferior to Carrick when it comes to controlling the game with his passing, Fellaini's best creative work is from an attacking position with the ball coming onto him, from deep he's got a limited game.

Working next to Carrick, I just don't feel it would be a good partnership. We need to be looking for mobility and technical players who can compliment our attackers and get involved with the likes of RVP and Kagawa. van Persie can already do the hold up play Fellaini excels at around the box. I just don't see what he can bring to us.
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I agree, if the main role for him is to be a ball winner who plays square of Carrick I just don't see any point, Carrick has always worked best with a CM who offers a link between him and the forwards, and if we mainly just wanted a ball winner then surely there are cheaper options like Wanyama or McCarthy for that role.
 
Some of the posts in this thread are laughable. The idea that Fellaini cannot pass the ball or has no control, is ridiculous. If anything, playing further up the pitch he has far MORE of a requirement to play under pressure. In a deeper CM role he would have more time on the ball, and would be surrounded by better players meaning the impetus is NOT always going to be on him to be our playmaker.

The fact that he has been played higher up this season is clouding a lot of people's judgement. If you are able to cast your mind back to previous seasons you will see Fellaini being a key player for Everton as a CM.

The more I have thought about this transfer the more it makes sense to me. Fellaini would be a good partner alongside Carrick, but could also provide cover FOR Carrick if the latter got injured, and I can't think of many players who could fill both of those roles. He would add some strength and steel to our midfield which has been sorely missing, and has shown by the amount of times we have gotten bullied by the likes of Toure, Dembele and Fellaini himself. We saw how Ferguson played Jones in a man marking role in midfield a couple of times, Fellaini is a far superior player for that sort of role, but is also able to play further up, or has the stamina to play box-to-box.

He would in fact fit perfectly. We can send him forward if we are desperately seeking a goal, he offers a goal threat and attacking presence unlike any of our current midfielders, but can also play a defensive role when needed.

I would prefer Fellaini to Strootman as the former is PL proven at a relatively big club. He shines in the big games and is a consistent performer. Strootman is an unknown quantity, and we have seen players before who have excelled In the Dutch league and then struggled in the PL.

The only real disadvantage of Fellaini is his tendency to throw elbows out and foul. Can't say much about this other than hopefully playing for a better team with better players he would become less frustrated and may mature a bit in the same way we have seen others (such as Rooney and Ronaldo) do so, and eliminate that from his game.
 
I'm not too bothered with his passing game. Some people seem to think that because Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson and Kagawa are neat short passers, then our whole game is built on that. Or that all our midfielders need to be of the same ilk. I think what we migth get in Fellaini is someone to create some sort of balance. We have had Fletch playing that role, and he is a decent passer but not a great one. Jones has also been filling in nicely, and neither he is a great passer.

Depending on the formation we'll be going for next year I could see Fellaini doing quite well with us. Not my nr. 1 priority, but I do think he'll strengthen us.
 
Liam147 said:
Consider this Theon.

Everyone thinks Fellaini's best position is in midfield. Moyes, however, plays him off the striker, and Darron Gibson in midfield. Why not just sign a forward, and play Fellaini in his position as opposed to Darron Gibson.
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It's clearly because he hasn't got the money to buy a player to play that role as well as Fellaini. Good managers need to cut their cloth to suit, especially where they have limited resources. Fellaini has fine a good job playing of the striker, and Gibson has done alright in the middle - so it's worked to a greater or lesser extent.

I obviously have no idea whether we're in for him or not, but it seems obvious that if we are he'd be used primarily in his favoured position.
 
Well 78% of people say Fellaini is what Arsenal need, on goal.com. And only one of them was me :D Congratulations peterstorey on your new £22 million midfielder
 
I wanted us to sign him, but I wouldn't mind to see Peterstorey's reaction if arsenal were to unveil him as their major signing this summer.
 
Fellaini to Arsenal is even less likely than Fabregas to Man Utd, which I priced up at 100/1.
 
would be hilarous if Fellaini ends up at Arsenal and we sign Thaigo, Strootman and keep Rooney :)
 
CnutOfAllCnuts said:
He'll probably go on and be a roaring success at Arsenal then. Pete's wrong on most things, especially when it comes to football.
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Yeah, he's pretty much never right when it comes to football.
 
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