[ZDwyr]

He does everything better than Cleverley except perhaps run and long-range passing. He offers more than Cleverley and I'd rather see him go first before Fellaini. At least Fellaini can change a game by coming off the bench.

EDIT: by "run" I mean speed over short distances. He is probably better at covering distance than Tom too.

 

[Roboc7]

I was in the pro-Fellaini camp last year when we signed him. Obviously he has a poor season (who didnt?) but look at the circumstances;

1) last minute signing. Season had already begun and if memory serves he was carrying an injury. Remember Berbatov? He also struggled to fit straight in having been bought in similar circumstances. He has had a limited preseason due to the World Cup, but enough to make a difference.

2) rumour was that Fellaini was carrying an injury for a fair bit of last season (wrist, I think?)

3) again, the entire team had a collective 'mare last season


Fellaini may still be sold and he still has a lot to prove, but those writing him off after last season are likely the same people writing the entire squad off before the season has even begun.

He showed what he is capable of against Valencia. Only 20 odd minutes but he was our best player and changed the game when he came on (and won it for us). Playing in a new system, with a good player like Herrera next to him, I reckon he could well come good this year.

If you think the above is so outlandish I invite you to consider Ashley Young - most of us (myself included) wanted him straight out the door this summer. LVG found a role for him in the new system however, and he has looked like a different player.

He had a good 20 minute cameo in a friendly and was pretty much gifted a goal by a defensive mistake, fair play to him he did well but it’s jumping the gun a bit to start getting carried away with his performance, just as it is to start saying how good Young looks as a wing back. Hopefully you are right but going on their past form and abilities (not just from last season) Young and Fellaini are both likely to disappoint next season.

No doubt he can be better than last season but he is still a very limited cm who is at his best when he can use his aerial abilities and is playing in an advanced position. Still don’t really see how he fits in to the team or style of play and his biggest contribution is likely to be as a target man brought on to make things happen at the end of games.

 

[Someone]

I don't understand what you expect from him with a 2nd chance. He hasn't got the quality required.

His little cameo against valencia reminded me how useful he could be.

Last season nothing went right for him, his passing was terrible, his challenges were all mistimed, he clearly was low on the confidence, he was the only signing we've made, the pressure was tremendous on him and the entire team.

I just feel that van gaal can turn him into a very good squad player for us, let's see what confidence and good coaching can do to him.

 

[ravelston]

He displayed more "quality" in 20 minutes than Cleverley had in the entire tour. That's not knocking Cleverley - he just provides a useful benchmark.

 

[Jagga7]

He does everything better than Cleverley except perhaps run and long-range passing. He offers more than Cleverley and I'd rather see him go first before Fellaini. At least Fellaini can change a game by coming off the bench.

EDIT: by "run" I mean speed over short distances. He is probably better at covering distance than Tom too.

Cleverly is a better passer and is more athletic. That instantly makes him a better midfielder. People always say Fellani's a play B, someone who can change the game. We basically payed 27 mill for a tall guy we can lump the ball forward to.
Cleverly is English, homegrown and on a lower wage. I would choose Clevz over Fellani all day long.

 

[ZDwyr]

Cleverly is a better passer and is more athletic. That instantly makes him a better midfielder. People always say Fellani's a play B, someone who can change the game. We basically payed 27 mill for a tall guy we can lump the ball forward to.
Cleverly is English, homegrown and on a lower wage. I would choose Clevz over Fellani all day long.

I think Fellaini is the better passer. His passing is nothing flashy but it is usually simple, quick and forwards. He keeps the game ticking and tries to be positive. Cleverley is safe, negative and doesn't provide any physical presence. The English/homegrown thing really means zilch to me if you are an inferior player. Especially when we have many other English players in the squad.

 

[Jagga7]

I think Fellaini is the better passer. His passing is nothing flashy but it is usually simple, quick and forwards. He keeps the game ticking and tries to be positive. Cleverley is safe, negative and doesn't provide any physical presence. The English/homegrown thing really means zilch to me if you are an inferior player. Especially when we have many other English players in the squad.

You're being ridiculous now.

 

[Someone]

Cleverly is a better passer and is more athletic. That instantly makes him a better midfielder. People always say Fellani's a play B, someone who can change the game. We basically payed 27 mill for a tall guy we can lump the ball forward to.
Cleverly is English, homegrown and on a lower wage. I would choose Clevz over Fellani all day long.

Cleverly has been here for years and apart from few games 3 years ago he has been completely average, he isn't a good passer at all, has no vision and provides absolutely nothing. The only positive thing about him is that he's homegrown.

 

[ZDwyr]

You're being ridiculous now.

I provided an opinion as to why I think that. It isn't like I didn't back the statement up. I don't think it is ridiculous at all.

 

[Jagga7]

I provided an opinion as to why I think that. It isn't like I didn't back the statement up. I don't think it is ridiculous at all.

Fair enough. I guess in time one of us will be proved right.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Cleverley is more suited to our system as counts as a homegrown player. While I'd probably agree Fellaini is the superior player, it's relative to Manchester United.

 

[Hed Zitin]

Respect for him after the faux cheers.

It can't be about money because he'd still be paid his wages from us and Napoli on loan anyway if he left.

 

[Judge Red]

One day the midfield pairing of Fellaini and Cleverley will rule the world. Mark my words.

 

[PlayerOne]

Cleverley is more suited to our system as counts as a homegrown player. While I'd probably agree Fellaini is the superior player, it's relative to Manchester United.

Agreed. Cleverley can still improve his game under LVG, I don't see Fellaini changing his game much.

 

[Freak]

He was very good when he came on, on Tuesday. That too with all the ironic cheers he was receiving. You can sense he really wants to fight for his place here. Whether that alone is enough we have to wait and see.

 

[Walrus]

Fellaini has been underrated since he got here. Fans have had it in for him since day one - the Moyes saga has certainly not helped him either.

There was more than one occasion when we played Everton and Fellaini bullied Carrick and our other midfielders off the park. He did this against others as well.

In my opinion Fellaini is a better and more expansive passer than Cleverley, he is just as athletic, but obviously offers far more physically. If LVG takes a chance with him, Fellaini may surprise a few people this year.

 

[ravelston]

Agreed. Cleverley can still improve his game under LVG, I don't see Fellaini changing his game much.

People have been saying that Cleverley can improve his game since he came back from loan. The bottom line is that, apart from the 3 games when he was an effective foil for an Anderson in brilliant form, he has slowly regressed. Year on year his play has become less and less effective. I'm not confident that LvG can reverse a trend that was already well established under SAF.

 

[Shark]

You're being ridiculous now.

That wasn't a ridiculous statement at all, unless you just base your opinions on watching no football at all and presume that the big lanky guy with the afro is a shit footballer and passer.

Cleverly is hardly a good passer at all, aside from when he keeps it ridiculously simple.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Cleverley's shown himself to be far more capable of being a creative/expansive passer of the ball than Fellaini. I mean, feck it, he showed this in the last game they played together.

 

[Shark]

Cleverley's shown himself to be far more capable of being a creative/expansive passer of the ball than Fellaini. I mean, feck it, he showed this in the last game they played together.

Those two descriptions and Tom Cleverly don't really fit well with me. I think that his passing is anything but creative or expansive.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Those two descriptions and Tom Cleverly don't really fit well with me. I think that his passing is anything but creative or expansive.

More so than Fellaini, that's for sure. He was pinging some lovely long passes around towards the end of the game against Valencia.

Also, has Fellaini got a pass like this in his locker?



I suspect not.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

FWIW, I don't think Fellaini needs to be expansive or creative with his passing. That's not the sort of thing we need or expect from him. If he can get about the place, win the ball back a lot (without conceding stupid fouls!) dominate in the air and pass the ball consistently and accurately over short distances then he could be a really useful player.

 

[ravi2]

More so than Fellaini, that's for sure. He was pinging some lovely long passes around towards the end of the game against Valencia.

Also, has Fellaini got a pass like this in his locker?



I suspect not.

Pogue, I feel same about Fellaini apologists as I do about the Moyes apologists.
Bless them, their hearts are in the right place but they are terribly misguided.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Does he have the tactical awareness to play in a holding role? I'm unsure he does. His abilities make him best suited to an all action box-to-box midfield role I think. Ah I really don't know with Fellaini, find myself repeating myself a lot on the subject.

 

[Shark]

More so than Fellaini, that's for sure. He was pinging some lovely long passes around towards the end of the game against Valencia.

Also, has Fellaini got a pass like this in his locker?




I suspect not.

That was a good assist, Fellaini probably doesn't have one of those in his locker, but how often has Cleverly done that? his average game consists of low distance, safe passes and very few defense splitting ones. When he does attempt the risky ones, they're often misplaced and we lose possession, sometimes in dangerous areas. One Youtube video and a pre-season friendly doesn't really change much.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

That was a good assist, Fellaini probably doesn't have one of those in his locker, but how often has Cleverly done that? his average game consists of low distance, safe passes and very few defense splitting ones. When he does attempt the risky ones, they're often misplaced and we lose possession, sometimes in dangerous areas. One Youtube video and a pre-season friendly doesn't really change much.

They're just the only really concrete examples I can show you or remind you of. The rest is just my opinion from watching him for our reserves, Watford and during his earlier, more promising, outings for United.

I do agree he's stagnated a wee bit and this has made him really cautious and conservative. Especially last year (when he seemed to have a brief that was mainly focussed on defending) but I don't think it's accurate to stereotype him as only being capable of playing the sort of inhibited safety first football he resorts to when he's not on form.

 

[Oneunited26]

Pogue, I feel same about Fellaini apologists as I do about the Moyes apologists.
Bless them, their hearts are in the right place but they are terribly misguided.

Some idiotic fans boo him now we have fans say he has unbelievable potential, or I was always pro fellaini. No matter if fans booed him, cheered him, reality is? He is just not good enough, which can be said for most of our midfield

 

[Rossa]

More so than Fellaini, that's for sure. He was pinging some lovely long passes around towards the end of the game against Valencia.

Also, has Fellaini got a pass like this in his locker?



I suspect not.

That Walcott fella is kinda quick, isn't he?

I too think that Cleverley may be the better, more expansive passer than Fellaini, but Fellaini has more physical presence on the pitch, no doubt. Right now, neither offers enough to be starters.

 

[ottosec]

He needs to stay if we don't sign another midfielder.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

That Walcott fella is kinda quick, isn't he?

I too think that Cleverley may be the better, more expansive passer than Fellaini, but Fellaini has more physical presence on the pitch, no doubt. Right now, neither offers enough to be starters.

Aye, he's rapid.

No longer the fastest player at Arsenal though.

EDIT: feck it, shouldn't have included a link. Would be a good guessing game. Anyone willing to guess without clicking the link first?

 

[bishblaize]

More so than Fellaini, that's for sure. He was pinging some lovely long passes around towards the end of the game against Valencia.

Also, has Fellaini got a pass like this in his locker?



I suspect not.

The curse of being England's next big thing.

I'm rather glad the focus is on Sterling and Sturridge. Now they can take a world of shit off the tabloids after every England game.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

He needs to stay if we don't sign another midfielder.

He absolutely does.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Aye, he's rapid.

No longer the fastest player at Arsenal though.

EDIT: feck it, shouldn't have included a link. Would be a good guessing game. Anyone willing to guess without clicking the link first?

Ryo Myaichi?

 

[Rood]

FWIW, I don't think Fellaini needs to be expansive or creative with his passing. That's not the sort of thing we need or expect from him. If he can get about the place, win the ball back a lot (without conceding stupid fouls!) dominate in the air and pass the ball consistently and accurately over short distances then he could be a really useful player.

Totally agree and I think he can play that role given the chance.

 

[Blue always red]

That was a good assist, Fellaini probably doesn't have one of those in his locker, but how often has Cleverly done that? his average game consists of low distance, safe passes and very few defense splitting ones. When he does attempt the risky ones, they're often misplaced and we lose possession, sometimes in dangerous areas. One Youtube video and a pre-season friendly doesn't really change much.

When Michael Carrick played next to Scholes in his prime who was expected to spray the ball about? It definitely wasn't Carrick. When did Carrick start being recognised for the player he is? When Scholes stepped away and let Carrick start dictating games and spraying passes galore. If I have a 4 inch dick and a man next to me has a 10 inch dick, who should be the pornstar? Under both SAF and Moyes, Cleverley was never, ever, ever, ever expected to be the one who played the risky passes.

 

[Blue always red]

FWIW, I don't think Fellaini needs to be expansive or creative with his passing. That's not the sort of thing we need or expect from him. If he can get about the place, win the ball back a lot (without conceding stupid fouls!) dominate in the air and pass the ball consistently and accurately over short distances then he could be a really useful player.

The problem is, even in his first 2 seasons at Everton where he played much deeper he didn't put himself about and control the tempo of the game. He doesn't do it for Belgium either. He needs a player who is capable of controlling a game which allows him to get up and support the attacks. The goal he scored for us against Valencia was a prime example of it. The ball was being carried out by the back line where you would expect your midfielders to come and take it off them. Fellaini stepped up anticipating a ball in and it worked. The problem with this lies in the fact if we lose the ball he won't come charging back to help out in defence.

I honestly think if we need a goal in the last 5-10 minutes of a game, you screw the likes of Kagawa/Zaha/Nani and co, and you throw Fellaini up and ping balls up to him because even if he doesn't have a single touch in the entire time he was on the pitch, he'll still cause havoc in their box, kinda like Schmeichel in the '99 final.

 

[Gannicus]

Apart from the possibility of losing out on a massive transfer fee from Barcelona, I see no harm in keeping Fellaini on the squad IF we cannot land a proper defensive central midfielder. We can't strip the club of its midfielders until we've secured reinforcements.

Fellaini was never right for United, but he can be a useful tool when we're forced late in games to go longball.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Apart from the possibility of losing out on a massive transfer fee from Barcelona, I see no harm in keeping Fellaini on the squad IF we cannot land a proper defensive central midfielder. We can't strip the club of its midfielders until we've secured reinforcements.

Fellaini was never right for United, but he can be a useful tool when we're forced late in games to go longball.

no pun intended i guess

 

[montpelier]

I'd give Clev the edge on Fellaini re passing, mobility and first touch. And after doing that would conclude that there's no hope for Fellaini, really.

 

[Rossa]

Aye, he's rapid.

No longer the fastest player at Arsenal though.

EDIT: feck it, shouldn't have included a link. Would be a good guessing game. Anyone willing to guess without clicking the link first?

You shouldn't have

Never even heard of the lad that was faster. He obviously must be rapid as hell, but there was no quote given as to his time. Do you know if United have ever published 40m sprints? 4.42 is blistering though!