Fellaini

Status
Not open for further replies.
bosnian_red said:
Why the feck are we talking about Bebe and Gervinho?

Back on topic though, I just don't see him fitting into a team like United at all, in any way, like Berbatov didn't. I think Everton's his level, but even now that Martinez is there I don't think he'd be as good under him. I do think we need both a destroyer type player and a playmaker type, or just an all round midfielder like Vidal, but Fellaini is none of those. Why do people think he'd add so much steel to our midfield? He's not a work horse type player like Luis Gustavo or Khedira who does loads of work defensively which is their best quality, but neither is he a playmaker.He doesn't get stuck in, unless you like players throwing elbows around the pitch and being a thug getting stuck in.

There's a huge difference between that, and doing strong tackles to win the ball. Throughout his time at Everton, he's always looked better when he was played as a center forward. He's excellent at bringing down long balls, or flicking them on, because he is big and strong and positions himself well for that. Why the feck would we ever want a player like that though? He'd be more suited for Stoke then for United. He's a decent passer at best, doesn't have much passing range, and wouldn't really help our problems at keeping the ball under pressure. Cleverley is much better then him technically, and keeping the ball under pressure. Both him and Anderson have more range then Fellaini, and if Anderson ever managed to stay fit over the course of a season then he'd easily be starting next to Carrick in our midfield all the time. Anderson like the one we saw around November time last season before his first injury, is the sort of Anderson we all hoped he could become, and a much better player then Fellaini can be. He's just too injury prone.

Now if you ask me if I'd take him for cover, then sure, why not, but he's worth nothing more then 15 million, which is still a lot for cover. I would not want him as a starter though, simply because I don't think a Fellaini-Carrick partnership would be better then a Carrick-Cleverley partnership has been, in terms of quality on the ball, creating chances and keeping possession. If we're going for a 4-2-3-1 in big games like against Madrid away last season, Jones next to Carrick is arguably as good defensively as Fellaini has been when played there.
Basically, never liked the guy, he's a dirty thug who just isn't suited for United in any way. And he's not that great defensively, which is why a lot of people really want him.
Click to expand...

It's probably one of the reasons why Moyes hasn't gone in for him earlier...suitable for Everton, but maybe not within this united team and the way it plays...
 
I don't agree with bosnians post at all, specifically where it says Fellaini is better played as a centre forward/attacking mid then as a defensive mid. He's an excellent defensive mid with decent ability on the ball. It's that latter quality that leads people to say "he's a target man whose not great at much but flick ons, laying it off and such". Both the player and his manager (who is now our manager) believe his best position is as a dm, which is good enough for me.

Carrick, brilliant as he is, is 32 and our only competent dm. We've seen what happens when cleverley and ando play alongside one another, we need cover in this area. I would also rather not buy the player to replace Carrick and immediately thrust him into starting 30+ games, it makes more sense to have to player settled in by that point. Having Fellaini compete for a spot this season, and become a mainstay in our midfield come 2014/2015 sounds good to me.

Given the amount everton paid for him, we're simply not signing him for 15m or thereabouts. If we were willing to spunk 30+ on Lucas moura I can't see how spending in the low 20s for a cm which we so desperately need is bad business. Remember lads, we have no budget...
 
I'll admit that there are a few that I'd take over Fellaini, but I'd still take him. People are making him out as if he's absolutely shit which is ridiculous. PL proven, tall and strong, bags of technique and can score goals.

I'd be happy if we signed him to be honest.
 
Bebe said:
I don't agree with bosnians post at all, specifically where it says Fellaini is better played as a centre forward/attacking mid then as a defensive mid. He's an excellent defensive mid with decent ability on the ball. It's that latter quality that leads people to say "he's a target man whose not great at much but flick ons, laying it off and such". Both the player and his manager (who is now our manager) believe his best position is as a dm, which is good enough for me.

Carrick, brilliant as he is, is 32 and our only competent dm. We've seen what happens when cleverley and ando play alongside one another, we need cover in this area. I would also rather not buy the player to replace Carrick and immediately thrust him into starting 30+ games, it makes more sense to have to player settled in by that point. Having Fellaini compete for a spot this season, and become a mainstay in our midfield come 2014/2015 sounds good to me.

Given the amount everton paid for him, we're simply not signing him for 15m or thereabouts. If we were willing to spunk 30+ on Lucas moura I can't see how spending in the low 20s for a cm which we so desperately need is bad business. Remember lads, we have no budget...
Click to expand...

We all know thats bollocks though to be fair.
 
If he was to be our only midfield signing I wouldn't be too impressed, but if partnered with a Fabregas in the middle, I think that he would be a good move for us. He does have his faults and he isn't everyone's cup of tea but he has proven that he is capable of performing in the Premier League, and he would offer us something different. You need that variety in there from a squad point of view.

He can play in a deeper role and he is capable of playing further forward, and he would add physicality to a midfield that lacks just that. If we signed him he would be played in a deeper role for the majority. I don't think that there is any doubt about that. Carrick is our only real holding midfielder and although he has played the majority of his football over the past couple of years off the front, he is more than capable of playing there. Again, it's his favoured position. We need players competing for places and it could only be a good move for me looking at the bigger picture.
 
I reckon if Moyes had any intention to go for him in the first place, it would have been sealed already and he can bring the player along on our pre-season tour, knowing fully well he has a release clause. So it's safe to say we aren't in for him anyway. I mean, why wait till now?
 
We better brace ourselves for the prospect of Fellaini wearing the glorious red shirt, perhaps even with the collar turned up.

I'm not a fan of Fellaini, but he would undeniably provide some depth in midfield. Yes, it's a massive drop from Fabregas (let's be realistic, boys, we're not going to land Cesc) to Fellaini (very realistic, but I hope we don't have to pay 24m for him) but unless we're asking Moyes to bag the treble this season I don't know that we need more than Fellaini right now to lift the prem trophy -- which should be our only realistic goal for 13/14.

That said, I'm still one of those deluded posters who hold out hope we can land Bale or Ronaldo. If it comes to pass we can land either we'll all probably look back and not have that big of a problem with having procured Fellaini. My one reservation about going in for a top name midfielder, or merely Fellaini, is that we'd basically be saying we've given up hope on Cleverley. That may be the right thing to do, but for me it would be a shame. He had some outstanding performances early last season but just ran out of gas midway through the season, so it's fair to question whether he's got what it takes to be a dominant force in the English prem.
 
Ruud10 said:
We better brace ourselves for the prospect of Fellaini wearing the glorious red shirt, perhaps even with the collar turned up.

I'm not a fan of Fellaini, but he would undeniably provide some depth in midfield. Yes, it's a massive drop from Fabregas (let's be realistic, boys, we're not going to land Cesc) to Fellaini (very realistic, but I hope we don't have to pay 24m for him) but unless we're asking Moyes to bag the treble this season I don't know that we need more than Fellaini right now to lift the prem trophy -- which should be our only realistic goal for 13/14.

That said, I'm still one of those deluded posters who hold out hope we can land Bale or Ronaldo. If it comes to pass we can land either we'll all probably look back and not have that big of a problem with having procured Fellaini. My one reservation about going in for a top name midfielder, or merely Fellaini, is that we'd basically be saying we've given up hope on Cleverley. That may be the right thing to do, but for me it would be a shame. He had some outstanding performances early last season but just ran out of gas midway through the season, so it's fair to question whether he's got what it takes to be a dominant force in the English prem.
Click to expand...


It wouldn't mean we've given up on Cleverley, it would just mean he'd have stiffer competition in midfield...which is how it should be.

Long term, I see Cleverley having a Nicky Butt-type career with us. Not spectacular, but solid. A good player to have in the squad if one of the others gets injured or is out of form.
 
This is entirely baffling. Are there even any indications about Moyes wanting to buy him at all, other than the obvious links between him and his old club/player?
 
Speaking to a City supporting friend this afternoon and he said that Fellani has 'completely dominated' Yaya Toure in a couple of games. Most people on here usually moan that we don't have a midfielder to counter Yaya and his ilk.

Lets get the lanky shit signed.
 
Ruud10 said:
We better brace ourselves for the prospect of Fellaini wearing the glorious red shirt, perhaps even with the collar turned up.

I'm not a fan of Fellaini, but he would undeniably provide some depth in midfield. Yes, it's a massive drop from Fabregas (let's be realistic, boys, we're not going to land Cesc) to Fellaini (very realistic, but I hope we don't have to pay 24m for him) but unless we're asking Moyes to bag the treble this season I don't know that we need more than Fellaini right now to lift the prem trophy -- which should be our only realistic goal for 13/14.

That said, I'm still one of those deluded posters who hold out hope we can land Bale or Ronaldo. If it comes to pass we can land either we'll all probably look back and not have that big of a problem with having procured Fellaini. My one reservation about going in for a top name midfielder, or merely Fellaini, is that we'd basically be saying we've given up hope on Cleverley. That may be the right thing to do, but for me it would be a shame. He had some outstanding performances early last season but just ran out of gas midway through the season, so it's fair to question whether he's got what it takes to be a dominant force in the English prem.
Click to expand...

I don't think we've given up on Cleverley, by signing Fellaini or other midfielder. As we know, Carrick is 32 and has played 50+ games every season with us in the last 5 years or so. As we can see with Alonso (32) and Xavi (33), there will be a noticeable drop of performance for central midfielder at that age, playing that much in a season; whether through injury, or body need rested. For the long season, we need at least 3 consistently good central midfielders. As for now, we only have one in Carrick, plus Cleverley, Jones, Giggs, and Anderson to fill in the side.

Adding a CM at Fellaini's age (25) to Carrick (32), is actually a better platform for Cleverley (24) as less pressure for him to be fast tracked.
 
Ruud10 said:
We better brace ourselves for the prospect of Fellaini wearing the glorious red shirt, perhaps even with the collar turned up.

I'm not a fan of Fellaini, but he would undeniably provide some depth in midfield. Yes, it's a massive drop from Fabregas (let's be realistic, boys, we're not going to land Cesc) to Fellaini (very realistic, but I hope we don't have to pay 24m for him) but unless we're asking Moyes to bag the treble this season I don't know that we need more than Fellaini right now to lift the prem trophy -- which should be our only realistic goal for 13/14.

That said, I'm still one of those deluded posters who hold out hope we can land Bale or Ronaldo. If it comes to pass we can land either we'll all probably look back and not have that big of a problem with having procured Fellaini. My one reservation about going in for a top name midfielder, or merely Fellaini, is that we'd basically be saying we've given up hope on Cleverley. That may be the right thing to do, but for me it would be a shame. He had some outstanding performances early last season but just ran out of gas midway through the season, so it's fair to question whether he's got what it takes to be a dominant force in the English prem.
Click to expand...

1. I don't think Fellaini is a fallback option if we fail to land Cesc, they're too different for that to make sense. It seems like all the papers have been briefed that we're after two midfielders. I suspect that we're looking to sign Cesc + A.N. Other. Fellaini may be a fallback option for this second midfielder but I doubt he's first choice for the role as we would probably have moved for him already if he was.

2. I don't think we'd have given up on Cleverley, it's more that his role in the squad would now be a fairer representation of his ability. He isn't good enough to be 1st choice for us but he is good enough to be a squad player, exactly the role he'd now have.
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
Speaking to a City supporting friend this afternoon and he said that Fellani has 'completely dominated' Yaya Toure in a couple of games. Most people on here usually moan that we don't have a midfielder to counter Yaya and his ilk.

Lets get the lanky shit signed.
Click to expand...

Did he? Though i seem to remember that Everton lot under Moyes seem to get good results against City
 
May as well sign De Jong. Probably cost £20m less and do a similar "covering" job.
 
KM said:
Any midfielder will do.
Click to expand...

Whilst I wouldn't go that far! I do get the sentiment. Whilst I don't rate Fellaini that highly, he would improve our team and would be our 2nd best midfielder automatically.
 
FlawlessThaw said:
Whilst I wouldn't go that far! I do get the sentiment. Whilst I don't rate Fellaini that highly, he would improve our team and would be our 2nd best midfielder automatically.
Click to expand...

I agree with that.
 
FlawlessThaw said:
Whilst I wouldn't go that far! I do get the sentiment. Whilst I don't rate Fellaini that highly, he would improve our team and would be our 2nd best midfielder automatically.
Click to expand...

Not sure if his character profile matching United standards but Moyes knows him well, so this is indeed a possibility... unsatisfying one.
 
Van Piorsing said:
Not sure if his character profile matching United standards but Moyes knows him well, so this is indeed a possibility... unsatisfying one.
Click to expand...

Agree there is a slightly unsatisfying feeling to this. Albeit less than when we signed Young for £18m personally. But like with Sunny Jim, there almost feels like an inevitability over this signing so I am trying to get used to it and almost see the positives to it.

If we sign another midfielder as well, it isn't too bad.
 
The reaction here is reaching miracle levels of stupid. From this thread you'd think we were about to sign Leon Osman.

Fellaini will surprise a lot of people if he moves to us, he's always been an absolute headache to play against and I think having a dirty cnut who gets stuck in (with some very underrated passing and technique btw) will do our depleted midfield a world of good.
 
Youtube is obviously frowned upon, but just watched this comp of him from last season:



Not that he's the next Iniesta or anything, but he's a lot more skilled than I thought. I didn't watch any Everton matches outside when we played them last season, so I was surprised by how much more to his game there is than being a battering ram. Scored against Arsenal, City and us as well.
 
The Neviller said:
Do people really actually believe this? Come on.
Click to expand...
Do You actually believe that we can compete with other clubs by throwing statements about pursuing best players and dragging things to the very sad end ?

We still have chance of signing absolute best player on the market, at the moment but club's activity must be way more confident. In other words - Try Harder.
 
forevrared said:
Youtube is obviously frowned upon, but just watched this comp of him from last season:



Not that he's the next Iniesta or anything, but he's a lot more skilled than I thought. I didn't watch any Everton matches outside when we played them last season, so I was surprised by how much more to his game there is than being a battering ram. Scored against Arsenal, City and us as well.
Click to expand...

If we do sign him, he will surprise a lot of people with his quality.

However, I still hope if we do, then he isn't the only acquisition for central midfield. My issues with him are more related to style than quality.
 
Fellaini is a transfer to United away from being rated a very good player..

He isnt the bet we could get, nor exactly the type of player we need but he'd be a good option for europe and in tough league games. I personally wouldnt mind getting him at all if we get a more accomplished attacking CM to play alongside carrick too. I dont think fellaini would come to be a squad payer but thats another issue.

edit- too slow typing with 1 hand, amol got there 1st.
 
Van Piorsing said:
Do You actually believe that we can compete with other clubs by throwing statements about pursuing best players and dragging things to the very sad end ?

We still have chance of signing absolute best player on the market, at the moment but club's activity must be way more confident. In other words - Try Harder.
Click to expand...

That isn't even the same thing, so I've no clue what you're getting at.

When have we ever, as a club, gone in with bids we hope to have rejected as a PR stunt. That's the assertion being made, and it's a ludicrous idea. If we've bid for Fabregas it's because we want to sign him and think we have a chance.

I've yet to see anyone adequately explain how making these type of bids appeases anyone. What does a "PR bid" achieve? How does failing to sign a player show any kind of strength? How does not signing Player B make up for not signing Player A? How does failing to sign a player through not bidding enough money show that we have money to spend?

Seriously, think about it rationally.
 
The Neviller said:
That isn't even the same thing, so I've no clue what you're getting at.

When have we ever, as a club, gone in with bids we hope to have rejected as a PR stunt. That's the assertion being made, and it's a ludicrous idea. If we've bid for Fabregas it's because we want to sign him and think we have a chance.

I've yet to see anyone adequately explain how making these type of bids appeases anyone. What does a "PR bid" achieve? How does failing to sign a player show any kind of strength? How does not signing Player B make up for not signing Player A? How does failing to sign a player through not bidding enough money show that we have money to spend?

Seriously, think about it rationally.
Click to expand...

This is the transfer forum- rationality's a foreign concept to most of the people in here.
 
The Neviller said:
That isn't even the same thing, so I've no clue what you're getting at.

When have we ever, as a club, gone in with bids we hope to have rejected as a PR stunt. That's the assertion being made, and it's a ludicrous idea. If we've bid for Fabregas it's because we want to sign him and think we have a chance.

I've yet to see anyone adequately explain how making these type of bids appeases anyone. What does a "PR bid" achieve? How does failing to sign a player show any kind of strength? How does not signing Player B make up for not signing Player A? How does failing to sign a player through not bidding enough money show that we have money to spend?

Seriously, think about it rationally.
Click to expand...
The thing I am thinking is having squad that will compete and defend the title... not to mention it would be nice from time to time scoop the European trophy.

Apparently, few other clubs think it's better idea to make haste in the transfer market and secure deals before other clubs get involved. Moyes didn't even try to seriously approach Alcantara. He admitted, he never said about any interest so don't give me this cheap bullshit about thinking about it rationally because missing opportunities and not even trying is what's not rational.
 
Van Piorsing said:
The thing I am thinking is having squad that will compete and defend the title... not to mention it would be nice from time to time scoop the European trophy.

Apparently, few other clubs think it's better idea to make haste in the transfer market and secure deals before other clubs get involved. Moyes didn't even try to seriously approach Alcantara. He admitted, he never said about any interest so don't give me this cheap bullshit about thinking about it rationally because missing opportunities and not even trying is what's not rational.
Click to expand...

You're not even talking about the same thing that I was, so I've zero clue why you quoted and responded to my original post.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.