Marouane Fellaini | 2013/14 Performances

[Loublaze]

Both of you are funny, does it matter of it's 3 or 1 assist, you don't need to many stats to agree that he has had a shit season

LOL too right!

 

[Gannicus]

Again, some posters showing how much they know about the player on his time at Everton

Fukkin hell. Fellaini was never United quality when he played for Everton but for a few games where he was undefendable in an advanced position. And in those two matches he was anal rapist. Was he competent and did he stand out for Everton? Yes, of course. But Fellaini was the kind of midfielder anyone on earth except for Moyes thought belonged at Old Trafford even as a squad player? Not a chance.

Could he do a job for another club as a target man for the knockdown ball? Absolutely, but nobody here wants to see United become that kind of club, an upscale Sam Allardyce club. What red mancs want to see are midfielders who can open up defenses with their feet, not with their elbows and the studs if their boots.

Fellaini apologists can go fukk off.

 

[kouroux]

That's the problem, he did it at Everton, and tbh not consistently enough. Less scrutiny, less expectation. He could afford to go missing for parts of a season. Not at Utd. This is a huge step up and he has not justified it. Alright doesn't cut it.

At Utd and in a position where he'll be scrutinized than any other player. I don't think he's been nearly as good (annoying) as he was at Everton but I never really rated highly anyway.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I never thought he would be this bad. I think the general feeling on the caf was that the price was bonkers but the player would at least be better than what we've got. Instead, he's been at that level of performance where you begin to feel bad for a player. I really hope he gains some confidence quickly and it turns that it was a lack of it that was making him look a lot worse than he potentially can be.

 

[Drummer]

I never thought he would be this bad. I think the general feeling on the caf was that the price was bonkers but the player would at least be better than what we've got. Instead, he's been at that level of performance where you begin to feel bad for a player. I really hope he gains some confidence quickly and it turns that it was a lack of it that was making him look a lot worse than he potentially can be.

I don't agree with your much but you have pinpointed one of the most important things that had blighted his time at the club. He has never looked confident.

His performances have consistantly be compared to DM and as such has heaped even more pressure on him to fit in. With a confident coach like LVG he will play better and could even thrive. He is coming to the peak of his career so however good he is going to be at least the club can exploit it.

People are all to quick here to write people off. Saying that he is not united quality is a bit of a fallacy point. How many united subs or back up players are "man united quality"?. Fellani could get into a very important squad player. Nobody has 25 world class players in a squad, some people could do well to remember that before mouthing off about Fellani!

 

[MarcRed96]

He's had a very disappointing season, I can't recall many games where he has looked like a United player. In hindsight (hell, even at the time), signing him for £27.5 million was utterly ridiculous. I think he's struggling to cope with the pressure that's came with his price tag and that's resulted in him having a really poor individual season for us. He lacks confidence and, whilst he's had a few injuries this season which can't have helped, his form just hasn't improved.

Hopefully he'll do better next season. He was a good player at Everton and I think it's a bit early to completely write him off. But he's needs to improve quickly if he wants to stay here, that much is certain. If he continues to play like this next season he'll be gone.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

This season has been a car crash and it stands to reason that Fellaini would suffer more than anyone else when it comes to psychological consequences of the disasterous season under Moyes. So much pressure and scrutiny on every performance, along with him being perceived as the onfield embodiment of a a manager who is woefully out of his depth. That has to mess with your head. Thrown in the the learning curve that any player has at a new club and the first time in his career he has had a seriously injury affected campaign. Is it any wonder he didn't do himself justice?

We'll all get a better idea of what he can do for United watching him in the WC. I'm looking forward to seeing him playing with a bit more freedom and self-belief as part of a team that is playing decent football. With the added bonus of watching him play in a different position to the one he played in his final season at Everton (which so many people assume is the only position he can play)

 

[Brophs]

It'd be quite funny* if LVG came in and actually really rated him. Plenty, including myself, are assuming he's not going to fancy the big lump.

*Desperately upsetting

 

[goldenstatesplash]

This season has been a car crash and it stands to reason that Fellaini would suffer more than anyone else when it comes to psychological consequences of the disasterous season under Moyes. So much pressure and scrutiny on every performance, along with him being perceived as the onfield embodiment of a a manager who is woefully out of his depth. That has to mess with your head. Thrown in the the learning curve that any player has at a new club and the first time in his career he has had a seriously injury affected campaign. Is it any wonder he didn't do himself justice?

I'm also looking forward to seeing him play for Belgium and I hope he really gets a boost from the tournament and comes back buoyant. He can definitely have an impact in the deeper role if we are looking to mix it up and move forward away from the two static players.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It'd be quite funny* if LVG came in and actually really rated him. Plenty, including myself, are assuming he's not going to fancy the big lump.

*Desperately upsetting

If LVG rates him, it can only be because he's a better player than most of ye think so that's all good with me.

 

[Brophs]

If LVG rates him, it can only be because he's a better player than most of ye think so that's all good with me.

Or that LVG also has him figured wrong?

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Thing about Fellaini, he's definitely better then he's showing now - he just needs confidence. It's whether if/when he gets that confidence he'll then be good enough for us.

I think we'll see an improvement from him (if he's not sold - which I doubt) but I don't reckon it'll be enough.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Or that LVG also has him figured wrong?

I can accept that Moyes might have him completely wrong and the fans have got it right but if another manager also rates him, especially a manager with such high footballing ideas as Van Gaal? Sorry but in that case it's professional football managers one, caftards nil.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

This season has been a car crash and it stands to reason that Fellaini would suffer more than anyone else when it comes to psychological consequences of the disasterous season under Moyes. So much pressure and scrutiny on every performance, along with him being perceived as the onfield embodiment of a a manager who is woefully out of his depth. That has to mess with your head. Thrown in the the learning curve that any player has at a new club and the first time in his career he has had a seriously injury affected campaign. Is it any wonder he didn't do himself justice?

We'll all get a better idea of what he can do for United watching him in the WC. I'm looking forward to seeing him playing with a bit more freedom and self-belief as part of a team that is playing decent football. With the added bonus of watching him play in a different position to the one he played in his final season at Everton (which so many people assume is the only position he can play)

Good point.

While it wouldn't be correct to discount his performances this season, his signing sort of signaled the first bump of Moyes' sting i.e failure in his first transfer window, and from then on in it just got worse and worse, and along with the team getting more and more dysfunctional, Fellaini became a symbol of everything that was wrong with David Moyes, Manchester United manager. He became the one that represented the Everton in Moyes and hence United, and the price tag couldn't have helped.

Now of course, it could well prove that Fellaini is indeed an idea for Manchester United from a manager for whom Everton was the right level and it's possibly the case of the player too. But I'd like to see him outside all this baggage. How much is it that and how much is it actually Fellaini? This will provide a hint at least. And he might enjoy himself too. He's looked miserable playing for us.

 

[KeninDC]

Not sure a tournament where someone plays six games in a system that may be different from his club tells us much. Perhaps Fellani will get a confidence boost from playing well-but that may or may not translate into better form for United.

 

[Shamwow]

Not sure a tournament where someone plays six games in a system that may be different from his club tells us much. Perhaps Fellani will get a confidence boost from playing well-but that may or may not translate into better form for United.

The confidence will be worth a lot in my opinion and besides anything else a good performance at the World Cup will increase his transfer value if we do decide to get rid.

 

[Sam]

I love this train of thought that a bit of confidence is going to radically improve all of the deficiencies in Fellaini's game. He's suddenly going to be mobile, quick on the turn, fast, become a good tackler, become great at marking, improve his passing etc etc etc

 

[Litch]

Not sure a tournament where someone plays six games in a system that may be different from his club tells us much. Perhaps Fellani will get a confidence boost from playing well-but that may or may not translate into better form for United.

Isn't that the same as pretty much any player that we'll be assessing in the world club?

 

[Shamwow]

I love this train of thought that a bit of confidence is going to radically improve all of the deficiencies in Fellaini's game. He's suddenly going to be mobile, quick on the turn, fast, become a good tackler, become great at marking, improve his passing etc etc etc

No one said that.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I love this train of thought that a bit of confidence is going to radically improve all of the deficiencies in Fellaini's game. He's suddenly going to be mobile, quick on the turn, fast, become a good tackler, become great at marking, improve his passing etc etc etc

Yes. Full marks on comprehension.

 

[KeninDC]

Isn't that the same as pretty much any player that we'll be assessing in the world club?

I'm not 100 percent convinced that WC performance helps predict a player's performance in the next 2-3 seasons, particularly when a club buys a player whose WC performance is much better than his usual club form and then expects that level of performance to continue. I don't think we'd make a decision on a player largely based on this year's WC.

 

[bobbyf]

He's had a very disappointing season, I can't recall many games where he has looked like a United player. In hindsight (hell, even at the time), signing him for £27.5 million was utterly ridiculous. I think he's struggling to cope with the pressure that's came with his price tag and that's resulted in him having a really poor individual season for us. He lacks confidence and, whilst he's had a few injuries this season which can't have helped, his form just hasn't improved.

Hopefully he'll do better next season. He was a good player at Everton and I think it's a bit early to completely write him off. But he's needs to improve quickly if he wants to stay here, that much is certain. If he continues to play like this next season he'll be gone.

But the whole price tag thing is just an excuse for his poor performances. He knew this move would be big after what Everton bought him for. What did he expect? He just seems very lazy and ineffective, and a liability at times.

It's not too early to write him off. Lacking confidence or not, he hasn't looked like a Utd player cos he will never fit into our style of play or be effective enough. Never wanted him at the club from the start for this very reason so there's no point even keeping him.

I love this train of thought that a bit of confidence is going to radically improve all of the deficiencies in Fellaini's game. He's suddenly going to be mobile, quick on the turn, fast, become a good tackler, become great at marking, improve his passing etc etc etc

Absolutely right. People who think he will improve don't seem to realise that his best will never be good or effective enough for our team. What have they seen in him at Everton that we haven't to justify this? It's quite simple - he was never good enough in the first place and has always been the wrong signing.

 

[Brophs]

I can accept that Moyes might have him completely wrong and the fans have got it right but if another manager also rates him, especially a manager with such high footballing ideas as Van Gaal? Sorry but in that case it's professional football managers one, caftards nil.

I don't doubt that managers - anyone involved in football really - knows much more than the average forum poster, much as we like to kid ourselves. But managers get this wrong too. Whether it be LVG, Moyes, Fergie or Phil Brown, they've all dropped major bollocks when it comes to buying/assessing players. The sheer fact of LVG rating him wouldn't be enough to dissuade me from what I've seen with my own eyes.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I love this train of thought that a bit of confidence is going to radically improve all of the deficiencies in Fellaini's game. He's suddenly going to be mobile, quick on the turn, fast, become a good tackler, become great at marking, improve his passing etc etc etc

Have you played football?

Surely you can relate to the way that every element of your game improves when you're playing with confidence and it all goes to shite when you're off your game?

feck it, never mind playing football you just need to watch a good bit to see the massive difference a bit of self-belief makes. Think back to Evra's first six months at United, for example. Loads more examples where that came from.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Have you played football?

Surely you can relate to the way that every element of your game improves when you're playing with confidence and it all goes to shite when you're off your game?

feck it, never mind playing football you just need to watch a good bit to see the massive difference a bit of self-belief makes. Think back to Evra's first six months at United, for example. Loads more examples where that came from.

Forlan.

 

[goldenstatesplash]

I love this train of thought that a bit of confidence is going to radically improve all of the deficiencies in Fellaini's game. He's suddenly going to be mobile, quick on the turn, fast, become a good tackler, become great at marking, improve his passing etc etc etc

Nope, no agenda in this thread at all.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

How does he look when he plays midfield for Belgium?

 

[Varun]

How does he look when he plays midfield for Belgium?

Lanky and a clusterfeck of a hairstyle as usual.

 

[Shamwow]

Have you played football?

Surely you can relate to the way that every element of your game improves when you're playing with confidence and it all goes to shite when you're off your game?

feck it, never mind playing football you just need to watch a good bit to see the massive difference a bit of self-belief makes. Think back to Evra's first six months at United, for example. Loads more examples where that came from.

Not to mention the lack of belief this season in the entire team has been noticeable.

 

[dirkey]

Nope, no agenda in this thread at all.

I'm intrigued as to this comment. You highlight the bit about tackling - do you feel Fellaini has been a great tackler with United? I don't, for his size I don't think he imposes himself on the game at all. Just interested as to your feelings, you imply that it's a ludicrous comment for someone to mention his tackling improving, as if it's already top notch.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He's definitely not imposed himself enough, physically. Apart from those stupid elbows.

In his occasional good performance, though, his tackling stats are right up there with anyone else. He doesn't make loads of crunching sliding tackles but he gets about and puts his foot in a lot.

 

[dirkey]

He's definitely not imposed himself enough, physically. Apart from those stupid elbows.

In his occasional good performance, though, his tackling stats are right up there with anyone else. He doesn't make loads of crunching sliding tackles but he gets about and puts his foot in a lot.

Does that make him a great tackler though? Basically, in as poor a United side as we've seen in years, that lacks genuine bite, in his odd decent performance (both against poor teams) he has been up there with the others in terms of tackling? I don't think it does. I think it basically makes him a pretty average tackler in fact. And that's where United are heading now "Oh, he's ok at this, because he does as well as some of these other lads who are ok at tackling". Personally I want someone in there with some bite, someone who can actually tackle. Ince, Keane, Butt. Ferocity. Not Fellaini, average tackling and plenty of elbows.

 

[OutOfTowner]

I don't know if it's just me but I would imagine that Fellaini is useful as a different tactical option. I realise that he's not the creative maestro most want him to be but I reckon if he performs to his best, he could be useful as either a game-closer who can see games out, making it difficult for opponents to make use of space. He could also be a tall long-range target should we be chasing a game in the last five minutes. If we are finding it difficult to break teams down through the middle, we can launch long crosses to Fellaini who can either go for goal himself or set others up. It's not pretty but it could be effective.

 

[dirkey]

I don't know if it's just me but I would imagine that Fellaini is useful as a different tactical option. I realise that he's not the creative maestro most want him to be but I reckon if he performs to his best, he could be useful as either a game-closer who can see games out, making it difficult for opponents to make use of space. He could also be a tall long-range target should we be chasing a game in the last five minutes. If we are finding it difficult to break teams down through the middle, we can launch long crosses to Fellaini who can either go for goal himself or set others up. It's not pretty but it could be effective.

I've seen this type of thing mentioned before. Sure, we could use him as a squad player, and a change of tactic player. But for 27 million ... that's too much in my book. We should sell him now while we can get about half our money back.

I hope I'm wrong, and Louis sees something in him. But I can't see his value going anywhere but down whilst he sits on the bench.

 

[OutOfTowner]

I've seen this type of thing mentioned before. Sure, we could use him as a squad player, and a change of tactic player. But for 27 million ... that's too much in my book. We should sell him now while we can get about half our money back.

I hope I'm wrong, and Louis sees something in him. But I can't see his value going anywhere but down whilst he sits on the bench.

And people keep mentioning the price tag. We had to pay it as it was what was demanded by Everton but I'm sure we would not have paid that much for him if we hadn't have left it late. But if we managed to get four years out of him and he served a lot of use as a squad player, getting a good few last-minute game winning goals or assists which led us to a few titles would his price tag still be an issue?

 

[dirkey]

And people keep mentioning the price tag. We had to pay it as it was what was demanded by Everton but I'm sure we would not have paid that much for him if we hadn't have left it late. But if we managed to get four years out of him and he served a lot of use as a squad player, getting a good few last-minute game winning goals or assists which led us to a few titles would his price tag still be an issue?

No, it wouldn't. If he did that. I don't see him doing it. What I have seen from him thus far is a lazy, arrogant player, strolling around the pitch when he should be out there trying to fight and prove his worth. Elbowing people repeatedly, claiming he's not done it. Terrible in front of goal when he's got the chances, useless with the ball. All in all, I don't see him doing it. I think it'd be much wiser to get rid of him now for whatever we can get.

If he stays and becomes the greatest player in the world, the price tag will be worth it too. I don't see that happening either.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Does that make him a great tackler though? Basically, in as poor a United side as we've seen in years, that lacks genuine bite, in his odd decent performance (both against poor teams) he has been up there with the others in terms of tackling? I don't think it does. I think it basically makes him a pretty average tackler in fact. And that's where United are heading now "Oh, he's ok at this, because he does as well as some of these other lads who are ok at tackling". Personally I want someone in there with some bite, someone who can actually tackle. Ince, Keane, Butt. Ferocity. Not Fellaini, average tackling and plenty of elbows.

What you want is neither here nor there tbh. I was just responding to the implication that making tackles isn't something he's any good at. Being good at winning the ball back from the opposition involves more than just legging round the pitch putting reducers on people.

His stats are decent objectively, by the way, not just compared to our current midfielders. In the season where he played exclusively as a CM for Everton his stats were up there with the best in the league. I don't think he'll ever go through people for fun but those long legs can do a very good job at nicking the ball off the opposition when he's on top of his game.

Obviously it would be nice to have a proper hard man in midfield again (and some pace, please god some pace) but that's irrelevant to whether or not Fellaini is competent when it comes to tackling people. We haven't seen enough of it this season (like we haven't seen enough of any good stuff, from anyone) but he's clearly got it in his locker.

 

[dirkey]

What you want is neither her nor there. I was just responding to the implication that making tackles isn't something he's any good at. Being good at winning the ball back from the opposition involves more than just legging round the pitch putting reducers on people. His stats are decent, objectively, not just compared to our current midfielders. In the season where he played exclusively as a CM his stats were up there with the best in the league. I don't think he'll ever go through people for fun but those long legs can do a very good job at nicking the ball off the opposition when he's on top of his game.

Obviously it would be nice to have a proper hard man in midfield again (and some pace, please god some pace) but that's irrelevant to whether or not Fellaini is competent when it comes to tackling people. We haven't seen enough of it this season (like we haven't seen enough of any good stuff, from anyone) but he's clearly got it in his locker.

I don't believe it's irrelevant. The point I was initially responding to mentioned him as a great tackler. What you're describing is not a great tackler. Where do you get these stats, out of interest? I always like a good stats site so would love to look at them.

As I said, we were discussing great tacklers, and I don't see him as one. I really would be surprised if his tackling stats are that far up there with the best in the league, because I haven't seen that from him in his time at United.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I don't believe it's irrelevant. The point I was initially responding to mentioned him as a great tackler. What you're describing is not a great tackler. Where do you get these stats, out of interest? I always like a good stats site so would love to look at them.

As I said, we were discussing great tacklers, and I don't see him as one. I really would be surprised if his tackling stats are that far up there with the best in the league, because I haven't seen that from him in his time at United.

I don't think anyone called him a "great" tackler, to be fair. I don't know where the stats came from they were posted by @SilentWitness (I think) when he was still an Everton player, long before we were linked to him or Moyes (happier times!)

 

[dirkey]

I don't think anyone called him a "great" tackler, to be fair. I don't know where the stats came from they were posted by @SilentWitness (I think) when he was still an Everton player, long before we were linked to him or Moyes (happier times!)

You are right! My bad. The initial comment mentioned "good tackler". It was me and my fish memory that changed it to them having said great.