Key thing in bold. I'm not sure why some people on here are so keen to bring his reputation into disrepute in every possible circumstance.
27
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 31
- Goals
- 7
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Key thing in bold. I'm not sure why some people on here are so keen to bring his reputation into disrepute in every possible circumstance.
I thought he was really good yesterday, he can look awkward on the ball at times but his one-touch quick passing yesterday I though was great. He worked the ball quick playing some nice 1-2s and was able to work space which he drove into a few times. Keep this up and he can be a very good option.
He was shouting at him and it was a dribble that fell from his mouth.
Not the first player ever to shout at somebody he's suspecting of diving, is he ?
You actually think he spat/drooled on him on purpose?
Well it was hardly Rijkaard V Voller but he's taking a needless risk, he got away with the kick in the box, get on with the game rather than stop playing to shout/spit in the strikers face.
He was shouting at Aguero to get up because he felt that he had dived, nothing more, nothing less. We would all rather he got on with the game but there is no way he 'took a needless risk'. Harsh to say the least.
Fellaini was subbed on against Everton and we were dominated after he came on, and no surprise we were playing a diamond in that game. It is down to tactics more than simply replacing one player with another.
Fellaini has played extremely well in the last few games, but anyone tying to suggest that we are better in the past two games simply because of him alone instead of us changing our tactics is simply wrong.
I honestly think him 'looking awkward' is a major factor in some fans not being able to see his quality. He has a strange running style which makes him look like he's lumbering around even though he's actually covering an enormous amount of ground and his proportions (and sheer size) make him look a bit ungainly with the ball at his feet, regardless of what he's doing with it. Refs seem to get taken in by it as well, he gets called up on a lot of stuff smaller players can get away with simply because of his size/strength.
Looks as though he did spit at him.
I still think a fully fit Herrera should be ahead of him in the perking order.
I think the football we played in the QPR game and the 1st half against Leicester was streets ahead of the style with Fellaini in the last two and a half games. He's a good plan B to have but I don't think we're getting the best out of our other players if long balls to him are our gameplan for the off.
As I said in the other thread, I don't think any other player in our squad could have done what Fellaini did in the last two games. Tactics are obviously a factor as well, but Fellaini's individual role against Chelsea and City was (in my opinion) highly effective and unique to him.
Too right
But it clearly isn't!
I don't really see why there has to be a debate of Fellaini vs Ander pn a general basis.
They are obviously completely different players, with completely different skill sets, and who will probably both play a role. Having two such different players for one of the mid positions can be a great strength for us going forward.
They are obviously completely different players, with completely different skill sets, and who will probably both play a role. Having two such different players for one of the mid positions can be a great strength for us going forward.
I'd argue that the relative lack of thrust coming from midfield has a lot more to do with Di Maria being shifted out to the wings than Fellaini starting over Herrera, as well as the fact that we were playing against City and Chelsea rather than QPR and Leicester. I don't think Fellaini is 'better' than Herrera or anything, but if the latter had been in the team over Fellaini against Chelsea and City I think we'd have lost both games comfortably.
This is the new Carrick vs Hargreaves debate
All we need is one of the Chief's rants and we're golden
All we need is one of the Chief's rants and we're golden
The biggest issue I have with Herrera and Blind is they are lightweight. The midfield needs a physical presence. Ideally we need a combo of Felliani and Herrera.....
This. I prefer Herrera's style and overall personality, but Fellaini has been hugely effective. I believe we won the midfield battle against the two best midfields in the league, and Fellaini was largely responsible for that. A few times he had the beating of Yaya and Fernando. Two very physically imposing players. Herrera wouldn't have shied away, but I don't believe he would have won any physical battles with Yaya or Fernando.
I think a midfield diamond of Blind, Fellaini, Herrera and Di Maria gives us a bit of everything.
People using the QPR game as an example need to look at that in context. Yes Herrera was good and we played through them but realistically, against Matic or Fernando/Fernandinho Herrera wouldn't have had it all his own way.
In those two games, we played a complete different formation to the one we're playing now, so I personally think that's a unfair judgement. I mean, we didn't exactly play brilliantly with a midfield of Herrera, Mata and Blind against West Brom until Fellaini come on and changed the game for us. Also, as for long balls, we played the same amount of long balls against Leicester (75) without Fellaini on the pitch, than we did against City (75) with Fellaini on the pitch. Same goes for QPR (69) without Fellaini and Chelsea (68) with Fellaini, so I think this changing our game plan talk is just a myth, in my opinion. Yes, at times we do look for Fellaini in the box, but I don't think our gameplan has changed. We've used the same philosophy we've been using since the start of the season, i.e split centre backs, playing from the back, etc. That hasn't changed since Marouane has come into the team.
You've also got to realise that we've just played arguably the two best teams in the league, and were arguably the better team in both games, with Fellaini in midfield. Against the 'lesser' teams, I'm hoping that we can continue that and start putting a run of wins together.
Last edited:
This thread gets really annoying. Fellaini has been pretty good the last few games. Sure, he won't be the best option for some games but he just proved that he can fill in well and match up with he right opposition.
And he doesn't look as bad with the ball as most think. Reading some comments on here you would think he was Andy Carroll. His technique is actually good for a big man.
And he doesn't look as bad with the ball as most think. Reading some comments on here you would think he was Andy Carroll. His technique is actually good for a big man.
Herrera is no pushover. If anything he gets pretty overzealous in the tackles, pushing and shoving.
Yeah, I know, I need to renew my subscription of 442 and buy the latest release of FM.
Meet me in 2 weeks, then I'll show you..
Flying into tackles is not the same thing as being strong on the ball. Herrera does get out-muscled fairly easily. The PL is refereed differently to La Liga and it will take him a little while to get used to the more physical battles. He'll probably also need to put on a bit of muscle. I'm sure he'll get there though.
Do you have a link to the full passing stats?
I'd imagine that we had far more passes in both the QPR and Leicester games so obviously you'll have more crosses and long balls included.
I suspect if we were to look at % of passes that were long balls of our total passes then you'd see a large increase since Fellaini has come in.
It's all fun and games now that he got away with it. But you won't be laughing if he costs us a game doing something stupid next time will you?
He's laughing at your presumption of guilt based on feck all evidence (I presume)
He didn't spat, he just drooled a little bit.
And who can blame him ? Did you see how close he was from that sexy beast of Aguero ?
QPR: Total: 847, Long: 69. Leicester: Total: 475, Long: 67. For our 3 most recent games it has gone:
City: 473 - 74
Chelsea: 476-68
West Brom: 624 - 77
So QPR yes we had more passes but the Leicester match was basically the same as City and Chelsea.
Interesting stuff thanks, I think it's possible to explain the Leicester game as in the 2nd half we had very little control of the game at all. We were literally clearing the ball with every touch.
Since Fellaini has really only played two matches this season (full ones) it's hard to get a fully accurate picture. It'd be worth revisiting later on in the season. I am fairly sure it is merely a perception though. I mean, sure we might play a few more (it's natural as he is a target) but not enough for people to start calling us a hoofball team.
He's been very good recently, and he's a useful player to have for some games, but the Aguero penalty incident sums up why he'll never be a top player here for me. He does tremendously well to see off the danger and then makes a ridiculous tackle which should have been a penalty. He's just incredibly stupid at times and I think he lacks the game intelligence required. The annoying thing is he does have all the tools, despite the criticism, he's actually rather good technically, he can tackle, he's strong, and he's mobile, in theory he could be a tremendous DM, but positionally he's poor and he regularly lets runners go, and as much as I've liked him recently, I don't think he's the sort of attacking CM that should be playing regularly for a top side. I certainly don't want him sold but I also don't want to see him starting every week, but then according to Moyes he was never signed to play every week.
Yeah, I think that's fair. I always thought he was a better player than we saw last season and think we're seeing much closer to what Moyes hoped he would produce in these last two or three games. There are fundamental flaws in his game which are a worry, though and you've summed them up very well. A decent option to have, though, and maybe a season or two with the benefit of Van Gaal's apparently stellar coaching can help iron out these flaws? He's still only 26 after all.
Are people really comparing QPR and Leicester to City and Chelsea?
I'm maybe misinterpreting but last season he wasn't bad technically or physically, he was bad positionally and very naive tactically which is exactly Fellaini is good in almost everything except the use of his brain, even in the last three game he is regularly pressing too high or too far from is zone.
I don't think that he stupid so despite his 26 years old, he may still be able to fix his tactical deficit but until then he won't be the ideal option.
It would help paint a better picture if Chelsea and City didn't play like cowards.
Am I the only one who didnt think that was a penalty?
There was contact, no doubt, but sufficient to cause Aguero to go down like that? He could have very easily carried on playing, but he was looking for the first opportunity to go down. If it was any player other than Fellaini, I doubt there would be half as much attention on the "incident".
I suspect that if it were another player, there would be far fewer folk on here so adamant that it was a penalty.
Same with the so-called spitting... the only footage seems to be about 2-3 frames showing some saliva coming from Fellaini's mouth. I have yet to see a proper replay of it in real-time. When watching it live, it was obvious to me that he was simply shouting at Aguero - but someone or other managed to slow it down to find one frame where you can see saliva, and suddenly all the rag-tops are all over it. Sad.
Do you not think that some of that instruction may come from LVG?
Same with the accusations about him getting into the box too much... do you think that is really Fellaini's decision, or the manager telling him to get into the box and utilise his aerial strength?
- Status