[Walrus]

He was onside.

Aside from his head, which is a part of the body he can score with and therefore off

If he was offisde (which he wasnt) then it was his foot which was closest.

Again, the attacker gets the benefit of the doubt and it was a close call. Any other player and you would say it was onside, but because it is Fellaini you will say he was off. Blah blah blah, same old crap.

 

[Cheesy]

Obviously you can think what you want. I just find the level of vitriol and abuse that he gets in relation to other players completely embarrassing. Like when he was booed during pre-season (and then scored a goal), there are a lot of fans so set in their opinion that they will stick their heads in the sand and ignore anything that challenges it.

Everyone has players that they "arent a big fan of", but if you call yourself a Manchester United supporter then you (not necessarily you personally) should be getting behind the team, not looking for the slightest reason to have a go at Fellaini and demand him dropped/sold.

Fine, although I'm not sure in what world saying you feel someone was decent but still showed some of his major weaknesses is abuse in any way whatsoever.

All of the "formatting is necessary" stuff strikes me as you being someone who's making it his business to go around and correct us bad fans for being wrong about a player who's had a decent month or so for us.

 

[Brwned]

I don't think he was offside (it looked like it was only his arms offside) but that's a blatant foul which he was lucky to get away with. Both he and the team deserved a bit of luck though. Wilshere shoud've been sent off for his feeble headbutt on Fellaini and Rooney should've been one on one if not for a poor offside, so it evens out in that sense.

 

[Striker10]

Ekeke sorry but he was onside but why are you bothered? I'm more bothered about the one the linesman got wrong. The one where we were onside by a mile. It all evens itself out ..I guess

 

[Crashoutcassius]

He isn't suited at all to playing in a 2 man midfield but hopefully when everyone is fit he won't have to. We still saw a lot of his good attributes today, but agree that playing him in 2 man mf with arsenal throwing everyone forward isn't going to make him look v good.

Still, with confidence high his passing is so much better and he would have lost today without his aerial game, he gave us our only outlet until our goal, which is why we won the game

 

[Walrus]

Fine, although I'm not sure in what world saying you feel someone was decent but still showed some of his major weaknesses is abuse in any way whatsoever.

All of the "formatting is necessary" stuff strikes me as you being someone who's making it his business to go around and correct us bad fans for being wrong about a player who's had a decent month or so for us.

To be honest, I didnt actually think we should have signed him when we did - or rather, we should have signed someone else in addition to him.

@Shyftyy in the matchday thread summed up how I feel on it quite well - I feel compelled to defend Fellaini just because so many fans have it in for him. I am aware that I now look like the Mad Winger of the Fellaini thread, but I have never actually regarded him as being a key player for us, simply that he deserves a lot more credit than most fans are prepared to give him.

In the last month, the only player you can make a case for being more deserving of Player of the Month than Fellaini is De Gea in my opinion, but whilst folk herald De Gea as the prodigal son of Schmeichel and VDS, Fellaini still seems to divide opinion in a way that has been highlighted in this (and plenty of other) threads.

The formatting comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, also.



edit: I agree that he is better in a 3-man midfield although I could see him playing in a 2-man midfield alongside Herrera as well.

 

[Maroo]

It was fantastic to see him break up Arsenal attacks and nick the ball time and again. I think that was the big attribute missing in him last year.

 

[Amethyst]

Looking much more like the man who would irritate us beyond belief with his heading and break ups of play when he played for Everton. Great to see him back to his best.

 

[Devil may care]

It's ironic that his fanboys are as guilty as the "haters" in their overpraise of him. He improved in the second half and his pass to release Di Maria was weighted perfectly. I still don't think he should ever be a starter for Manchester United and I hate watching him lumbering around in our shirt, that's my right.

 

[kouroux]

Looking much more like the man who would irritate us beyond belief with his heading and break ups of play when he played for Everton. Great to see him back to his best.

I hated him so much, he was soooooooo annoying.

 

[Shamwow]

It's ironic that his fanboys are as guilty as the "haters" in their overpraise of him. He improved in the second half and his pass to release Di Maria was weighted perfectly. I still don't think he should ever be a starter for Manchester United and I hate watching him lumbering around in our shirt, that's my right.

muricah!

 

[Cheesy]

To be honest, I didnt actually think we should have signed him when we did - or rather, we should have signed someone else in addition to him.

@Shyftyy in the matchday thread summed up how I feel on it quite well - I feel compelled to defend Fellaini just because so many fans have it in for him. I am aware that I now look like the Mad Winger of the Fellaini thread, but I have never actually regarded him as being a key player for us, simply that he deserves a lot more credit than most fans are prepared to give him.

In the last month, the only player you can make a case for being more deserving of Player of the Month than Fellaini is De Gea in my opinion, but whilst folk herald De Gea as the prodigal son of Schmeichel and VDS, Fellaini still seems to divide opinion in a way that has been highlighted in this (and plenty of other) threads.

The formatting comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, also.



edit: I agree that he is better in a 3-man midfield although I could see him playing in a 2-man midfield alongside Herrera as well.

The problem with this though is that by targeting supposed agenda-driven posters, most of whom just don't really rate Fellaini, you end up becoming an agenda-driven one yourself. I mean, being honest, how many of your posts in your thread are just you targeting people who are giving him any form of criticism? I don't want to seem like a dick to you, but it seems tiresome. Attack the post itself, and not the poster if you're going to be really critical. Don't want to seem too preachy or anything though.

The difference between De Gea and Fellaini is that while Fellaini's had a month or so of decent matches, De Gea's consistently been one of our best players for a good couple of years now and has established himself as one of the best GK's around.

Not to mention that being one of our better players this month is hardly an endorsement, is it? Our defence has been weak for the most part, while very few of our attackers have consistently been excellent, with Di Maria not at his best and RVP looking average. I'd say Shaw has more of a POTM case than Fellaini, though, since he's been very impressive and consistent.

 

[Amethyst]

I hated him so much, he was soooooooo annoying.

And now he's our annoying afro-man.

 

[Rowem]

I was really pissed off with him in the first half but second half he was very good - I can't remember him doing anything wrong really after HT..

 

[Devil may care]

muricah!

Eh?

 

[Amethyst]

It's ironic that his fanboys are as guilty as the "haters" in their overpraise of him. He improved in the second half and his pass to release Di Maria was weighted perfectly. I still don't think he should ever be a starter for Manchester United and I hate watching him lumbering around in our shirt, that's my right.

 

[Raoul]

Lost in all of this is that Fellaini has reinvigorated himself under LvG - who now has an extra weapon to deploy for games that require more physical matchups in midfield.

 

[Devil may care]

I don't see how that's funny, some of the posts on here are like little nazi's running around demanding everyone group think with their opinion.

 

[DevilRed]

Played well today but I really don't like our approach play when is in the team. We seem to be content on hoofing it to his chest for him to bring it down and play a simple pass out wide. Whilst it CAN be effective, its not what we are about.

On the other hand, he provides us with a physical presence in midfield and seems to be improving in his covering of our back four. His workrate is also improving by the match. Not to mention we haven't conceded on set pieces since he has been inserted in the lineup (then again nor has he scored from one).

A bit of a conundrum and not sure whether we want him in our lineup at the expense of say someone like Herrera or Mata. Regardless, he seems to be quite effective in the big matches we have played.

 

[Get In Scholesy]

Good performance from him today solid throughout midfield. Hope he goes on from here. Really need some depth in the middle of the park.

 

[Kostur]

Played well today but I really don't like our approach play when is in the team. We seem to be content on hoofing it to his chest for him to bring it down and play a simple pass out wide. Whilst it CAN be effective, its not what we are about.

On the other hand, he provides us with a physical presence in midfield and seems to be improving in his covering of our back four. His workrate is also improving by the match. Not to mention we haven't conceded on set pieces since he has been inserted in the lineup (then again nor has he scored from one).

A bit of a conundrum and not sure whether we want him in our lineup at the expense of say someone like Herrera or Mata. Regardless, he seems to be quite effective in the big matches we have played.

It's that fecking 352. In this system it's the back three that play the ball from the back and are meant to play it nicely, etc. Problem is when they shit themselves and are afraid to pass it on the ground and then they hoof it.

 

[Walrus]

The problem with this though is that by targeting supposed agenda-driven posters, most of whom just don't really rate Fellaini, you end up becoming an agenda-driven one yourself. I mean, being honest, how many of your posts in your thread are just you targeting people who are giving him any form of criticism? I don't want to seem like a dick to you, but it seems tiresome. Attack the post itself, and not the poster if you're going to be really critical. Don't want to seem too preachy or anything though.

I understand the point you are making - the issue on this particular topic is that I find a lot of folk fairly blind to reason. "Attack the post, not the poster" only goes so far when people will pretty much just make things up (for example, Ekeke's insistence that he was offside in the buildup to the first goal).

This is another good example of people just being unreasonable about it;

I hate watching him lumbering around in our shirt, that's my right.

It can get hard to remain constructive and objective when faced by this sort of crap.

The difference between De Gea and Fellaini is that while Fellaini's had a month or so of decent matches, De Gea's consistently been one of our best players for a good couple of years now and has established himself as one of the best GK's around.

I love De Gea and put him as my MotM today, and maybe my memory of this period is wrong, but when he joined the club he had a tough first season - much like Fellaini. Also much like Fellaini, De Gea's performances improved substantially after that first season. Unlike Fellaini however, as soon as De Gea started putting in those good performances, he became a fan favourite. It feels like Fellaini needs to single handedly win us the league before he will be considered worthy of being on our paylist by some fans.

Not to mention that being one of our better players this month is hardly an endorsement, is it? Our defence has been weak for the most part, while very few of our attackers have consistently been excellent, with Di Maria not at his best and RVP looking average. I'd say Shaw has more of a POTM case than Fellaini, though, since he's been very impressive and consistent.

Exactly, we have been stricken by injuries and even though we have started winning matches, the performances have often been sub par. RVP has been useless, ADM before today has been poor for several games (even today he missed a 1-on-1 which could have cost us two points if Arsenal made their late pressure count), Rooney has been average until today, Mata has been on near-RVP levels of uselessness until last week...the list goes on.

Fellaini has come into the midfield and has generally performed well in comparison to other players. He is easily above average (in terms of performance), and I would say that he, Shaw, Blind and DDG have been the standout players for over a month - out of those four though, Shaw, Blind and DDG have had a lot of praise whilst Fellaini is still a divisive issue. That to me says it all.

 

[legball]

Because Ander wasn't creating and scoring goals for fun and being one of the best midfielders in the premier league when he was playing?

And why can't both of them play together? Ander was injured and so he was out of the team and Fellaini has given a good account of himself ever since, both of them can play in a midfield 3. Fellaini deserves to keep getting picked. It's not rocket science.

 

[DevilRed]

It's that fecking 352. In this system it's the back three that play the ball from the back and are meant to play it nicely, etc. Problem is when they shit themselves and are afraid to pass it on the ground and then they hoof it.

Probably right with that assessment. Especially in the big games where marking is tight and space is rare. I don't blame our young defenders for hoofing it up at times.

Hopefully we go back to a more effective back four where we actually play our best football.

Its good to have an option like Fellaini around though. He puts himself about especially in the big matches.

 

[Snow]

He can be solid and effective and he's done well this season but I don't like him in the team. A penalty waiting to happen.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

It feels like Fellaini needs to single handedly win us the league before he will be considered worthy of being on our paylist by some fans.

...and don't forget the fee - which is still brought up by some and probably will till the crack o' doom.

I think it's fairly obvious that many were seriously disappointed when Fellaini turned out to be our only signing last season - and they took it out on him then as they still do now.

And some have gone so far in declaring him useless that it's impossible to back down from their position. I'd add, also, that a significant amount of our fans were adamant Fellaini would be shown the door by Louis (because clearly, Louis of all people will have no use for a hoof ball merchant like Fellaini) and that lot probably find it a bit hard to swallow that the same Louis actually gave the big fecker a fair chance - and that the big fecker took his chance well.

 

[Walrus]

I really want to see us play a good old 4-3-3. Fellaini alongside Herrera and Blind/Carrick would be a good combination I think.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Didnt start too good. He was pretty good in the second half though and got us a bit of control in the midfield as the match progressed. Has been in good form but it's a shame that Herrera can't play.

The only thing that irks me is the tendency to go long with Fellaini in the team. There were periods in the match
(Esp in the first 35-40 mins) when a ball to his head was our sole out ball and we didn't bother passing the ball or counter-attacking even. Not blaming him for it and the team is more to blame but the long ball option shouldn't be overused.

 

[Amethyst]

I don't see how that's funny, some of the posts on here are like little nazi's running around demanding everyone group think with their opinion.

"It's my right". Don't be so dramatic about it, no one's telling you what to think.

 

[Walrus]

...and don't forget the fee - which is still brought up by some and probably will till the crack o' doom.

I think it's fairly obvious that many were seriously disappointed when Fellaini turned out to be our only signing last season - and they took it out on him then as they still do now.

And some have gone so far in declaring him useless that it's impossible to back down from their position. I'd add, also, that a significant amount of our fans were adamant Fellaini would be shown the door by Louis (because clearly, Louis of all people will have no use for a hoof ball merchant like Fellaini) and that lot probably find it a bit hard to swallow that the same Louis actually gave the big fecker a fair chance - and that the big fecker took his chance well.

This is fair and I was certainly of the mind that we needed another CM as well as Fellaini. There are various mitigating circumstances for last season, and possible explanations as to why he didnt perform; he was carrying a wrist injury for the first half of the season, he had no pre-season with us, and the entire team was playing shite anyway.
Then from the fans point of view, he was too expensive, he was (and still is) a "Moyes man", and he wasnt the Fabregas/Kroos/Vidal/Thiago signing that we were all craving for.

None of the above was his fault, but its easy to see why he wasnt exactly a fan favourite last year. Still to be booing him during preseason this time round was one of the lowest moments I have ever witnessed as a United fan.


I dont agree with the long ball criticisms either. In situations like today, we werent playing it long "for Fellaini" - we were playing it long because we were being pressed in our own half and needed to clear the bloody ball. If Fellaini wasnt playing, and we did the exact same thing, it would be acceptable, but with Fellaini on the pitch it means we must have become Stoke.

Same applies vs City - we were down to 10 men and under a lot of pressure. We arent Barcelona and our CBs have obviously been struggling at playing the ball out from the back, its not a deliberate tactic of "hoof it to Fellaini".

Fellaini showed today that he can still be involved in fast paced counterattacking football, with his pass for the winning goal. He is a good aerial presence in the opposition box, but the stats show that we arent playing more long balls or crosses with him in the team, compared to without him.

 

[izzydiggler]

He was very effective today but plays in a style most fans don't want to see...I think ultimately whilst we're rebuilding he's of use but will become surplus very quickly when (hopefully) we start to play a more attacking/better style of football.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

People keep asking why Herrera's not playing, well, it's because Fellaini's putting in performances like this. Yes, he's not as creative as Herrera, but you'd think we'd have enough creativity in the team already, with Van Persie, Rooney, Di Maria, etc.

Fellaini's in the team to be a nuisance in both boxes, and yet again, that's what he did today.

He was actually key to both our goals too. The pass to Di Maria for the second was great, in my opinion.

Glad he's continuing to silence his critics. Long may it continue.

 

[Devil may care]

"It's my right". Don't be so dramatic about it, no one's telling you what to think.

I wasn't being dramatic, the wording of some of the posts in here are that basically if you don't agree he's a good player then you are just biased, I was simply expressing my right to an opinion, I wasn't the slightest bit worked up. This whole thread is ridiculous no matter which side of the fence you sit on though. At least I'll be honest enough to give him credit for the second half and admit I just hate the type of player he is, others coat their agenda with condescension and attempts at sitting on a high horse.

 

[Walrus]

I wasn't being dramatic, the wording of some of the posts in here are that basically if you don't agree he's a good player then you are just biased, I was simply expressing my right to an opinion, I wasn't the slightest bit worked up. This whole thread is ridiculous no matter which side of the fence you sit on though. At least I'll be honest enough to give him credit for the second half and admit I just hate the type of player he is, others coat their agenda with condescension and attempts at sitting on a high horse.

What "type of player" is Fellaini, in your opinion?

 

[Litch]

His performances are like night and day now compared to last season. So many goals this season he's had some influence. I'm not saying he's a Rolls Royce midfielder but his ability on the ball is underestimated. The ball out for the second was perfect. What I like about it is he has 'a set of balls' and adds so steel whether legal or illegally. More of the same please....

 

[Devil may care]

What "type of player" is Fellaini, in your opinion?

A cumbersome, lumbering, mobility lacking type of player that sees our team hit endless high balls for knock-ons like we are Stoke, our football at the start of the season was the most exciting it's been in years, since he came in we've went back to functional and at times downright ugly. If we must have a powerhouse CM then make it one who has a much better ground game than him, like Strootman or Schniederlin.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

I dont agree with the long ball criticisms either. In situations like today, we werent playing it long "for Fellaini" - we were playing it long because we were being pressed in our own half and needed to clear the bloody ball. If Fellaini wasnt playing, and we did the exact same thing, it would be acceptable, but with Fellaini on the pitch it means we must have become Stoke.

Indeed - it's a bizarre way to look at things. Last season it was Moyes being the mastermind behind the hoofing (which was the only reason he went for Fellaini) - this season it turns out it's Fellaini himself who incredibly enough makes the far more sophisticated Van Gaal opt for the dinosaur tactic. Do people think Fellaini comes up with the gameplan for us?

It's precisely as you say: It's to a large extent panic hoofing because we're not secure enough to make the passing game work as intended - not some sort of tactical approach in itself. And even if it were a tactical approach it would surely be Van Gaal's approach - and not Fellaini's.

 

[KeninDC]

Put in a solid shift helping on defense. Passing accuracy was 85%. Overall made some valuable contributions. See no reason why he should lose his place in the first XI after today's performance. Would help if we had a MF beside him more comfortable driving the ball forward at his feet.

 

[limerickcitykid]

A cumbersome, lumbering, mobility lacking type of player that sees our team hit endless high balls for knock-ons like we are Stoke, our football at the start of the season was the most exciting it's been in years, since he came in we've went back to functional and at times downright ugly. If we must have a powerhouse CM then make it one who has a much better ground game than him, like Strootman or Schniederlin.

So that is all because of Fellaini and nothing to do with the fact we have played against 3 sides in Chelsea, City and Arsenal who have just been way better than us and not allowed us to get a hold of it on the ground?

Several people have posted before that we actually haven't played more long balls since he has come in anyway.

 

[The White Pele]

Was involved in both goals today and didn't shy away from the task when things were shit for the first hour.