[Ole90+3]

You just dont open up teams with Fellaini as a 10. Moyes tried it so often and it just doesnt work. He doesnt have the ability, as simple as that. He either brings physical domincance into our team or else I dont really see him being used often

I'm sorry, but that is utter bollocks. It seems the only recollection you have of his performances are those in a red shirt.

You don't need intricate, quick passes to open up a teams defence. Fellaini would almost certainly disrupt the shape of any defence as most defenders aren't used to dealing with such a player.

 

[Ole90+3]

Everton's team was build around him. Hoof the ball from every position to his chest. He did well there but he won't do as good here. Actually, he might, if we start playing like Everton did. It will result on a midtable finish though, regardless of Fellaini's goals and assists.

He may play some role here in games when we can't break teams by playing fluid football, but those games will be rare. Just because he hoofed the ball good for them, won't make him a good player here when completely different qualities are required.

I don't think that it is a myth at all. I've watched Everton (obviously not every game) and all I can remember is that they wingbacks (Baines and Coleman) crossed the ball to Fellaini as often as possible.



Yep, I completely think that what he offers doesn't justify him having a place on the team and spending the wages for him. He was better than Herrera on the last game but don't forget that Herrera was playing despite having an injury. Herrera has been far superior than Fellaini on this season, despite that he is on a new team and a new league.

I hope that LGV gets the best from him, but ultimatelly I think that his best isn't even in the level of minimum requirement to play for us. When we sign Strootman, I think that his time will be over.

Hilarious amount of presumption. There has been no evidence at all so far this season to show that our inability to break down teams will be a rare occasion.

Strootman hasn't played a game in 7 months. There is a chance that he will not come back with the same tenacity that he had pre-injury. His ligament injury may also be a recurrent one. So many factors surrounding this potential transfer which effect the possibility of it happening, non more than the fact he is currently at a very good club with a good team (probably not the best time to be bigging up Roma).

 

[finneh]

He's always going to be effective in and around the opposition area. I said when we signed him that no-one really took a second look at him as a central midfielder, it was only when teams saw his contributions higher up the pitch that he was lauded as a £20m+ player. We need to use him exactly how he's most effective: bringing him on when we are struggling and allow him to win the ball and cause problems in the final third.

 

[Escobar]

I'm sorry, but that is utter bollocks. It seems the only recollection you have of his performances are those in a red shirt.

You don't need intricate, quick passes to open up a teams defence. Fellaini would almost certainly disrupt the shape of any defence as most defenders aren't used to dealing with such a player.

But not against Chelsea. Have you seen their back 4? Another reason why not: I dont like that particular style and I dont want to rely on a player like Fellaini. It didnt work last season either, why would we play a tactic that might worked 20 years ago or for some midtable physical PL team?

 

[JPRouve]

But not against Chelsea. Have you seen their back 4? Another reason why not: I dont like that particular style and I dont want to rely on a player like Fellaini. It didnt work last season either, why would we play a tactic that might worked 20 years ago or for some midtable physical PL team?

Exactly, why would we play purposely with 10 player + a target man, when we want to create a great team, Fellaini is not a big team material.
The goal he scored monday shows nothing, it's typically the kind of goal he can score but after that he is close to useless, which is a shame because he is good technically, good physically but positionally and defensively he is bad and a big liability.

 

[Rood]

Exactly, why would we play purposely with 10 player + a target man, when we want to create a great team, Fellaini is not a big team material.
The goal he scored monday shows nothing, it's typically the kind of goal he can score but after that he is close to useless, which is a shame because he is good technically, good physically but positionally and defensively he is bad and a big liability.

Rubbish - he had a very good game on Monday all round, not just because of his goal. His passing was good and he did some vital midfield defensive work to win the ball several times.

He was not playing target man either so I have no idea why people keep talking about him as if we are going to start banging long balls up to him. He was playing in midfield and I wouldnt be suprised to see him start there on Sunday either.

 

[JPRouve]

Rubbish - he had a very good game on Monday all round, not just because of his goal. His passing was good and he did some vital midfield defensive work to win the ball several times.

He was not playing target man either so I have no idea why people keep talking about him as if we are going to start banging long balls up to him. He was playing in midfield and I wouldnt be suprised to see him start there on Sunday either.

I didn't judge his monday game, but his overall game throughout several seasons, he played well offensively monday but actively participate to our midfield disorganization (which was probably due to Van Gaal instructions).

 

[Ole90+3]

But not against Chelsea. Have you seen their back 4? Another reason why not: I dont like that particular style and I dont want to rely on a player like Fellaini. It didnt work last season either, why would we play a tactic that might worked 20 years ago or for some midtable physical PL team?

It's not a tactic. Fellaini may be a tactic for Everton but not for United. United should have enough class throughout the rest of the field to carry on with their usual style of play.

In my opinion, no weight can be held in last year's performances considering his injury problems and the fact our manager was absolutely clueless. He played as an anchor to the back 4 most of the time for Christ's sake. The guy is a forward.

Fellaini would cause problems to Terry and Cahill, of that I am very sure. Going by Mata's recent performances, there is no reason he should start over Fellaini, or signs to show he would offer more than Fellaini.

 

[Nighteyes]

But not against Chelsea. Have you seen their back 4? Another reason why not: I dont like that particular style and I dont want to rely on a player like Fellaini. It didnt work last season either, why would we play a tactic that might worked 20 years ago or for some midtable physical PL team?

The style we want to play is not working. Mata has done nothing, Rooney is suspended and Januzaj is rusty.

Fellaini is probably feeling as well he's ever done at United. This is the ideal game to play him and his defensive ineptitude will not cost us with him playing as an AM. We've paid 27m for him, might as well use him while we have him.

 

[JPRouve]

I would like to see that at least once:

Falcao Fellaini
----Januzaj
Di Maria--Herrera
------Blind

 

[Sassy Colin]

Wow, this thread over the last few days.

He scored his first goal for us in over a year and suddenly he's the answer to all our problems to some people?

Give over.

 

[devilish]

In 7 games Mata had 2 goals and 1 assist and yet we want to replace him with the big lump who has just scored his first Manchester United goal.

 

[lem8sh]

Every dog has his day

 

[Buchan]

Ignore the snobs. Anyone who thinks Fellaini offers nothing to us cannot have played the game and, in the nicest possible way, hasn't a clue what they are talking about.

Yes, he has his limitations (apart from Messi and Ronaldo, who hasn't?) but his strengths will be needed tomorrow. We cannot face a Chelsea side with Blind, Herrera & Mata as the "three" in midfield. Not to mention the aerial threat Chelsea pose at set-pieces. It'd be suicide.

Many are forgetting the excellent performances he regularly put in for Everton and Belgium as a midfielder, and also the good form he showed for us in spring of last season. He's not the oracle, nor turn out to be our Keane/Robson/Edwards, but he's damn effective and will give the opposition something to think about. It'll likely be a war of attrition tomorrow and we need people willing to put their bodies on the line for us. I like Mata but I don't think tomorrow's game will be played to his strengths, despite the fact he'll be itching to prove a point to Mourinho.

I think it's a no-brainer and Fellaini has to start tomorrow.

 

[lem8sh]

So who here thinks he should be starting ahead of Mata?

Insane people.

 

[lem8sh]

Ignore the snobs. Anyone who thinks Fellaini offers nothing to us cannot have played the game and in the nicest possible way, hasn't a clue what they are talking about.

Yes, he has his limitations (apart from Messi and Ronaldo, who hasn't?) but his strengths will be needed tomorrow. We cannot face a Chelsea side with Blind, Herrera & Mata as the "three" in midfield. Not to mention the aerial threat Chelsea pose at set-pieces. It'd be suicide.

Many are forgetting the excellent performances regularly put in for Everton and Belgium as a midfielder, and also the good form he showed for us in Spring of last season. He's not the oracle, nor turn out to be our Keane/Robson/Edwards, but he's damn effective and will give the opposition something to think about. It'll likely be a war of attrition tomorrow and we need people willing to put their bodies on the line for us. I like Mata but I don't think tomorrow's game will be played to his strengths, despite the fact he'll be itching to prove a point to Mourinho.

I think it's a no-brainer and Fellaini has to start tomorrow.

What strengths in particular? Excellent performances for Everton/Belgium as a midfielder, what games are these? Good form last spring, against whom? As for being effective, I agree he can be but not as a midfielder.

 

[Buchan]

Insane people.

How so? I'd be wary of starting Mata tomorrow for several factors, including:

• His form had dipped recently and he's on the periphery of games a lot more
• His lack of pace. Yes, Fellaini's not quick neither but he has other traits suited to tomorrow's game. If Mata starts (as will van Persie), our two most forward players will have the collective pace of a banged-up Morris Minor
• Tomorrow's game will be very physical and we know that Mata doesn't thrive in that environment
• Starting him will likely mean we're quite small across the pitch, particularly in midfield
• Mourinho and his team know him quite well. I think they'd have a tactical plan to nullify him which they'd implement with ease

I like Mata, I really do, but I'm a firm believer in choosing XIs and systems suited to combating the opposition. I think starting Mata tomorrow has more negatives than positives, and it would be a mistake.

Result > sentimentality.

 

[lem8sh]

How so? I'd be wary of starting Mata tomorrow for several factors, including:

• His form had dipped recently and he's on the periphery of games a lot more
• His lack of pace. Yes, Fellaini's not quick neither but he has other traits suited to tomorrow's game. If Mata starts (as will van Persie), our two most forward players will have the collective pace of a banged-up Morris Minor
• Tomorrow's game will be very physical and we know that Mata doesn't thrive in that environment
• Starting him will likely mean we're quite small across the pitch, particularly in midfield
• Mourinho and his team know him quite well. I think they'd have a tactical plan to nullify him which they'd implement with ease

I like Mata, I really do, but I'm a firm believer in choosing XIs and systems suited to combating the opposition. I think starting Mata tomorrow has more negatives than positives, and it would be a mistake.

Result > sentimentality.

You make a very valid argument. At home I'd just rather play Juan because I feel they are there to be got at but I totally see where you're coming from.

 

[Buchan]

I'd be more inclined to start Fellaini and explore the possibility of introducing Mata/Januzaj around the 70 minute mark when the game opens up more.

Starting Mata from the beginning, against an energetic and physically-imposing Chelsea side, is flirting with the possibility of him being suffocated out of the game alá how he was on Monday night.

 

[Carl]

I'd definitely start Fellaini in the #10 for this with Blind and Herrera in behind him. If we play our normal game Chelsea will kill us on the counter.

 

[Sunny Jim]

1 goal, 1 decent half of football and hes a starter now?? Wow

 

[togg]

the one main thing he offers is agression. Yeah sometimes he oversteps the mark with bookings and fouls, but aggression is certainly one thing United lack at the moment.

 

[ZDwyr]

1 goal, 1 decent half of football and hes a starter now?? Wow

It's a bit of a kneejerk reaction (and I'm a Fellaini fan). But I can see the logic in the argument for him starting. However I would probably be slightly in favour of having him come off the bench again rather than start.

 

[Buchan]

We need someone to harass Fabregas from the outset and someone who'll overpower him in 50/50 duels. Fellaini isn't going to be our creative force, but defensively, as well as being an aerial threat in attack, he's an asset.

I can't believe folk are actually willing to go into tomorrow's game without the physical power and aggression that Fellaini will undoubtedly bring. It's not just because it's Fellaini either; if we had another player with those attributes (hence why we clamoured for Matic and Carvalho, for two), I'd be all for including them in the starting XI, too.

 

[Buchan]

It's a bit of a kneejerk reaction (and I'm a Fellaini fan). But I can see the logic in the argument for him starting. However I would probably be slightly in favour of having him come off the bench again rather than start.

Can't say I agree. I think it's best to unleash Januzaj or Mata around the 70 minute mark when the game is open rather than bring on Fellaini then (should we be in a position whereby we need a goal).

 

[ZDwyr]

Can't say I agree. I think it's best to unleash Januzaj or Mata around the 70 minute mark when the game is open rather than bring on Fellaini then (should we be in a position whereby we need a goal).

I see what you are saying. I just don't think he has turned a corner yet with his form and if he was to start and struggle then we'd be back at square one with him and he'd not be useful to have out there. Mata when playing poor can keep the ball well, and better than Fellaini can.

 

[Joga Bonito]

We do need a bit of physicality in the middle of the pitch esp against a powerful team like Chelsea. You can see the likes of Terry, Ivanovic, Matic, Costa just steam-rolling us in the physicality stakes and just playing us off the park physically. Don't rate Fellaini at all and a huge fan of Mata but in tomorrow's game we need to start with Fellaini ahead of Mata or RVP.

There were times last season when even the 'physical man-mountain' Fellaini was just a meek passenger in certain games, having just about no impact whatsoever, but hey at least he has the raw physical tools to do something. It's not going to be a physical scrap against a West-Ham or a Stoke and Chelsea can play good football mixed with physicality but having Fellaini there can give us a bit of bite (hopefully, not that he showed that last season though).

 

[JPRouve]

I'd definitely start Fellaini in the #10 for this with Blind and Herrera in behind him. If we play our normal game Chelsea will kill us on the counter.

With Fellaini in #10 we will lose a lot of pace, i prefer to see him upfront, there we can exploits some of his qualities without his huges weakness.

 

[Kazi]

With Fellaini in #10 we will lose a lot of pace, i prefer to see him upfront, there we can exploits some of his qualities without his huges weakness.

Yeah, up front alongside Falcao with Di Maria in the hole. That'd be a dynamic front three and would cause Chelsea a lot of problems.

 

[LR7]

Fellaini is still poor defensively, still lets his man run off him and he doesn't read the game well despite a decent 45 minutes on Monday.

 

[Carl]

With Fellaini in #10 we will lose a lot of pace, i prefer to see him upfront, there we can exploits some of his qualities without his huges weakness.

Lose pace? How so? Mata's pretty slow.

 

[Ash_G]

He scored a good goal and made an impact which is for me his best role for us.

If he plays a/m then I just think we'll lose a lot from the build up, we may get more in the box but not sure we'll create the same openings we could.

Playing deeper as well I think he causes problems again with the build up play. He's just too far up the pitch before the move has started. I think we could definitely have created more against West Brom towards the end had he stayed deeper and made a run forward once we were in a good position. What he did though and what he tends to do and really what a lot of our midfielders/fullbacks have been guilty of in recent years is just push so far up that the opposition just has to close down the deeper midfielder to stifle us.

So many times you see the only pass out is to someone having to run back towards our goal which immediately puts us on the back foot and reduces the passing options. It's not just Fellaini but I think he's particularly guilty at it.

Plus still gives too many silly fouls and Chelsea will punish us big time with some set pieces in good areas i reckon.

 

[JPRouve]

Lose pace? How so? Mata's pretty slow.

Januzaj instead of Mata, and the problem with Fellaini is not is speed per se, but the fact that it takes him a little more time to do everything (control, turn, pass) and he is good at creating chances for himself (very good runs behind the defenders) but he isn't good at creating chances for others.

Falcao--Fellaini
----Januzaj
Di maria-Herrera
-----Blind

 

[Nighteyes]

Mata has been poor in the #10 role and comes up short physically.
Fellaini is confident and coming off the back of his best performance for us.
Playing at #10 ensures that Fellaini's defensive issues are not exploited.
Chelsea have a very physical team through the middle.

Combine all that and I'd like to see Fellaini start tomorrow.

 

[Sied]

Fellaini is still poor defensively, still lets his man run off him and he doesn't read the game well despite a decent 45 minutes on Monday.

Agree. Some folks are definitely getting carried away after Fellaini's decent 45mins. Decent is the right word too. He hardly set the world alight.

We were very dominant possession-wise in the second half vs West Brom and he had very little defensive work to do. I've seen some posters saying he should be in the box to box role to add some physicality, but that's no good when he can't get close to his man. I'd definitely still choose Herrera over him in a box to box role. As I've said in the match day thread I'd give Mata one last chance to prove himself in the #10 role before Rooney returns. Especially as it's against his old club. That leaves Fellaini on the bench for me, but hopefully he can do a job as an impact sub again.

 

[Sam]

Starting Fellaini against Chelsea would be hilarious. Yes, he caused problems against West Brom, basically because they shit themselves every time we lumped it towards him, and overall he did well. But Chelsea have far to much physical strength and height in their team for that to really hurt them. They would also embarrass Fellaini with their ability on the ball compared to him.

Tbh if we're already resorting to the 'lump it to the big man' tactics after spending £150 million on new players, then I'd be pretty pissed off, and disillusioned.

 

[ZDwyr]

Starting Fellaini against Chelsea would be hilarious. Yes, he caused problems against West Brom, basically because they shit themselves every time we lumped it towards him, and overall he did well. But Chelsea have far to much physical strength and height in their team for that to really hurt them. They would also embarrass Fellaini with their ability on the ball compared to him.

Tbh if we're already resorting to the 'lump it to the big man' tactics after spending £150 million on new players, then I'd be pretty pissed off, and disillusioned.

It doesn't have to be hoofing it to him or whatever though. He's more than capable of taking a pass along the ground with his back to goal and laying it off to someone in an intricate fashion. He's better technically than people give him credit for.

 

[Nighteyes]

Tbh if we're already resorting to the 'lump it to the big man' tactics after spending £150 million on new players, then I'd be pretty pissed off, and disillusioned.

If that means we win the game then I'm all for it.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Seems to me we're far from ready to play our "normal" game against a side of Chelsea's current calibre. Trying to outplay 'em through possession football looks pretty much like suicide to me. So, if I were LVG I'd try something slightly different. I don't know if Fellaini is strictly speaking necessary for this "slightly different" approach - but IF (I say if) we were to field him in an advanced midfield role of sorts, what people normally fret about when it comes to him wouldn't be a worry. If he gets assigned more or less his offensive Everton role of old - basically being tasked with giving them hell in any way he can - with Blind and Herrera in deeper roles behind him, he wouldn't be a liability in terms of positioning and whatnot.

And, yes - he would be an asset on set pieces. LVG isn't a stranger to opting for the ugly option if he has to, unlike what some people who fantasize about champagne football seem to think. I just hope he - LVG - sets out to win this match no matter what the cost, rather than insisting on the philosophy. That can wait - I think a win here could mean the world to these players, whether it's pretty or ugly matters feck all under the circumstances.

 

[Sam]

If that means we win the game then I'm all for it.

I really don't see Fellaini causing Chelsea many problems at all. They have the physicality to deal with his aerial presence, and they'll eat him up on the ground.