[Man of Leisure]

Can't convince people like you I'm afraid.

Aye, it'd take a lot more than a nice goal to forget everything I've seen from him this past year. Bar 45 minutes today and a bit of a preseason game, he has been absolutely woeful wearing a United shirt. But fair fecks to him, it was a nice goal.

Saying he was "useless" other than the goal is a ridiculous view.

Let me clarify. I meant he's useless in the sense that he's not what we need. We need a physical, box-to-box midfielder who's able to break up play and runs around causing havoc. While scoring goals is obviously nice, there's no shortage of strikers or attacking midfielders with more quality than Fellaini on the team. I didn't think he did much otherwise than score today, but apparently as some have pointed out, stats say otherwise. Felt like there were stretches in the second half where he barely touched the ball. Hope he proves me wrong, but I have serious doubts he will.

 

[2mufc0]

Glad he scored yesterday, he's a decent guy and tries his best, he doesn't deserve the stick he gets from his own fans. He may not be United quality but still wears the red shirt and we should back him.

 

[Cnaiür urs Skiötha]

He is not the new Zidane but people who have been calling him a "bad footballer" do not have a clue.
He might not be the kind of player we need the most to fix our problems but to say he is useless is pure nonesense (and has always been - also before his goal yesterday).

 

[Nighteyes]

I'd honestly start him ahead of Mata as a #10 against Chelsea. If there's an ever a time to do it's now. Mata's in terrible form and Fellaini is probably as confident as he's ever been for us. Chelsea have a very physical team as well.

 

[Ixion]

His goal was very good, the rest of his performance was decent at best but actually make a contribution like that consistantly and people will get off his back.

 

[ivaldo]

So this week its Fellaini getting the praise and Jones getting the flack, I wonder what next week has in store for the fickle cafe.

 

[Parma Dewol]

Good to see him get a goal and a solid performance under his belt. His first season was a complete right-off, everything about it was woeful, and to be sarcastically cheered by your own fans must be the worst feeling.

I'm more than willing to give him a chance. Heck, who knows, he may even end up being the box-to-box midfielder we've been looking for.

 

[TheGame]

So this week its Fellaini getting the praise and Jones getting the flack, I wonder what next week has in store for the fickle cafe.

Anderson will get the praise and Phelan will get the flack.

 

[sincher]

One of the few United players that looks really up for a battle...

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Spoiler: GOAT

That's just classless. And from official twitter page...

 

[Eric'sCollar]

We are a fickle bunch but fair play to him, he deserves praise for this performance and he is getting it.

 

[::sonny::]

 

[Adebesi]

Its a bit fickle I guess. But on the other hand, if someone you dont rate that highly plays well, what are you supposed to do? Deny he has played well? You can only comment on the performances you see. Likewise, what if the players you do rate and do want to see in our team play like fannies? Do you just say they were good anyway? Or just not say anything? Or say, fair dos, I have always argued Mata is our best #10 but he was turd last night. Is that fickle?

But yes, people have been very quick to write Fellaini off and very unwilling to consider the possibility that he could settle into a good player for us.

Will be interesting to see if he can keep this up and whether LVG sees him as a viable option for a regular place.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I should dig up those posts I made saying he'll come good for us, I knew they'd come in handy some day. Once he plays crap I'll dig up the ones where I said he's shit. Win win.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Maybe we should start Fellaini as nr. 10 vs Chelsea just to make chaos in Chelsea's defense and go for every header possible.

 

[2mufc0]

Maybe we should start Fellaini as nr. 10 vs Chelsea just to make chaos in Chelsea's defense and go for every header possible.

Agree with this.

 

[Crackers]

Maybe we should start Fellaini as nr. 10 vs Chelsea just to make chaos in Chelsea's defense and go for every header possible.

That doesn't seem like a bad idea. Swap between fast counter attack and bombardment of crosses. Might as well give it a shot considering we've got the players for it.

 

[Adebesi]

On the evidence of last night it wouldnt be a bad idea. But Id still go with Mata. Hopefully he has a point to prove against Mourinho.

 

[2mufc0]

That doesn't seem like a bad idea. Swap between fast counter attack and bombardment of crosses. Might as well give it a shot considering we've got the players for it.

Most of all the goals we have conceded are when teams have countered us. I'm pretty sure Jose will set his team up to play on the counter against us, lumping the ball up to Fellaini with Di Maria and Falcao running off the headers wouldn't be such a bad tactic.

 

[Escobar]

Why would we play him as a no. 10? He obviously doesnt have the talent and I dont want to see us lumpl the ball towards him for 90 mins. Let's create something through our passing game rather rely on him winning headers

 

[Eric'sCollar]

He could earn a spot in midfield over Herrera but can't see him playing over Mata.

Mata is nailed on to score in my opinion.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

That doesn't seem like a bad idea. Swap between fast counter attack and bombardment of crosses. Might as well give it a shot considering we've got the players for it.

He looked good yesterday in that sense, WBA didnt know how to contain him for a while in the 2nd half. It's just that he was a CM so he couldnt have been so much in the attack.
With him as a nr. 10 and lets say Blind and Herrera behin him, or Carrick, he'll get more freedom to just run havoc out there.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

For me Fellaini behind Falcao seems far more likely to give the likes of Cahill, Terry and Matic problems than Mata. I think Mata would get bullied, whereas a fit and on form Fellaini is one of most imposing players in the league.

 

[Yorkeontop]

Its helps to have the likes of Di Maria,Januzaj and Mata out there. They make up for what the big guy lacks.

 

[ivaldo]

Anderson will get the praise and Phelan will get the flack.

Awesome, looking forward to that one.

I'm getting in early with - "I've always backed Anderson and I'm glad he's finally proving me right"

 

[Rood]

Wait until he has a great game. Not just a great goal?

He had a very good game all round, not just the goal.

 

[Ekeke]

He had a very good game all round, not just the goal.

I dont think you'd be saying that if he didnt score

 

[Kostur]

So this week its Fellaini getting the praise and Jones getting the flack, I wonder what next week has in store for the fickle cafe.

Might be because Jones played like shit and Fellaini played well and got us a point, while Jones did the opposite.

 

[Adam-Utd]

He did fine yesterday. He looked really up for it, and I think LVG chatting to him through the first half really made him feel important. I think it show's an arm around the back is sometimes better than a punch in the face.

He came on and set the tempo right away with winning the ball and playing Di Maria behind the defense.

His goal was fantastic, and was unlucky not to get on the end of a few other crosses.

Sure he made a few of his trademark clumsy passes and tackles, but IMO it's no coincidence we bossed that second half when he came on. Herrera was obviously not 100%, so it was the right choice to make.

I am pleased for the guy, he will never dictate a game like Scholes or Pirlo, but he can be a thorn.

 

[ivaldo]

Might be because Jones played like shit and Fellaini played well and got us a point, while Jones did the opposite.

And of course we all know you only judge a player based on their last 45 minutes of football...

 

[Shamwow]

I dont think you'd be saying that if he didnt score

He did play well overall, not just the goal. As soon as he came on he made a difference in my opinion. I think the first thing he did was steal the ball from West Brom and play a nice pass through to Di Maria on the wing. His one and two touch passing looked pretty good too.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

He did play well overall, not just the goal. As soon as he came on he made a difference in my opinion. I think the first thing he did was steal the ball from West Brom and play a nice pass through to Di Maria on the wing. His one and two touch passing looked pretty good too.

He's always been underrated in that regard. He's by no means a brilliant passer but he's very neat and tidy and has a good eye for those 10-20 yard through balls to find players in space between the lines.

 

[Ole90+3]

Why would we play him as a no. 10? He obviously doesnt have the talent and I dont want to see us lumpl the ball towards him for 90 mins. Let's create something through our passing game rather rely on him winning headers

Like last night, we won't always be able to use our fancy, technical players to create goals the way we would all love to. Fellaini is a great, yet very expensive, option to have. While he is at the club, we should use him the best way possible, which is exactly how he was told to play last night. Make sure he is up top when we're in possession of the ball, backing into defenders, and just being a general nuisance. In the last 10 minutes we probably looked at our most dangerous, playing lobbed balls down the middle into Fellaini and Falcao. It's very scruffy, but it's also incredibly difficult to defend when playing against such big strong lads.

I think this is the way to play against Chelsea, who will look to sit deep and prevent any penetration through the defence. Believe it or not, I think Fellaini is the answer to this type of defence. I've said this many times, but Fellaini's first touch when controlling the ball on his chest, and to a lesser extend, on his head, is quite simply, sublime. You could hit the ball from any angle, with any amount of power on it, as long as it is in the vicinity of his chest, he is almost guaranteed to bring it down perfectly. This could be a nightmare for Terry and Cahill to deal with.

Fellaini is probably the best player in the world at what he does. Almost unplayable when he is up for it, and he will truly be up for it on Sunday.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I wonder if Van Gaal will now be looking to start Fellaini against Chelsea, as he talked about having a physical balance in our team. Maybe he sees a midfield three of Blind, Herrera and Mata too lightweight for Chelsea. If he does start, he'll certainly cause them problems if we get it into the box. He can be a nightmare for any team on his day.

I also just want to say, yesterday, Fellaini wasn't playing as a number 10, he was playing exactly the same position as Herrera - a box to box centre midfielder, with I guess more licence to get into the box.

 

[Kostur]

And of course we all know you only judge a player based on their last 45 minutes of football...

No, it's panifully obvious that people are referring to last match and judge those players on their last performance. Check this thread 3-4 pages back and you'll see several people claiming Fellaini is shit.

 

[Rood]

I dont think you'd be saying that if he didnt score

Of course I would - he had a great half all round; did some good defensive work with tackles, clearances, interceptions - passing was decent enough and topped it off with a stunning goal. His introduction literally changed the game as we were dire in the first half.

and contrary to popular belief, it is not the first time he has played well for us either.

 

[Adebesi]

If Ronaldo's legs can be insured for £90m we should take out a policy for Fellaini's chest for at least £40m.

If he lost that chest we'd be in big trouble.

 

[ivaldo]

No, it's panifully obvious that people are referring to last match and judge those players on their last performance. Check this thread 3-4 pages back and you'll see several people claiming Fellaini is shit.

Players don't go from amazing to shite and vice versa after one game which seems to be the fundemental notion here.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

He did very good when he came on and it was great to see. For me, Fellaini is a decent player but unfortunately hasn't fitted in here and Moyes made the big mistake of playing him in a two man midfield last season which was destined to fail. Hopefully van Gaal can find a role for him so we can get the best out of him.

 

[moses]

Might be because Jones played like shit and Fellaini played well and got us a point, while Jones did the opposite.

No, these days you make your mind up about a player, often before seeing him play, and then stick to that opinion no matter what. Judging footballers on playing football is old hat.