Hes struggled in that defensive position previously for us but Joses tactics are suiting him perfectly. The midfield is that much more congested which limits the space he has to cover himself, as soon as he can get himself close quarters with the attacking midifelder his strength and reach is always going to make him favourite.
27
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 47
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 9
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
I actually voted him MoTM he was so good today. One of the things I've noticed him start doing is his little turn thing where he has it and actually takes a second rather than instantly pass it, uses his body and turns to space and then releases.
Looking good I'm happy with him starting at the moment.
Looking good I'm happy with him starting at the moment.
Good post. Was noticeable last night how compact we looked to get in the middle. Seemed quite happy for their full backs to have the ball.
Fellaini has done well and was very good at breaking things up last night.
So surprised by him. Hope he continues in this disciplined fashion. Fella now seems like a very good option as our DM all of a sudden. Didn't think he had it in him, but I guess that's the Mou effect.
Having two behemoths in him and Pogba in a midfield two is rather wonderful.
Having two behemoths in him and Pogba in a midfield two is rather wonderful.
No he hasn't. He's been a lot better than Cack, for example. He just gets a lot of undeserved criticism.
Happy for the lad, even when things were going pear for him last year he never let his head drop. I like seeing a player with so much commitment to the cause get over a tough spell and earn his place in the starting 11 on merit. Reminds me of Fletcher
Looking very solid. As with a couple of other players he's looking rejuvenated under the new gaffer.
Excellent last night. One thing I have noticed the last few weeks is that he looks sharper and fitness wise looks better than I have ever seen from him. Long may it continue.
Playing brilliantly at the moment and fair play to him. I've always said I didn't mind him as a player but not in a #10 or as a striker. He came to Everton has a more defensive midfielder and he himself has always said that is what his position his. Maybe Jose showing trust in him is really helping us see the best in him.
He showed some nice touches too to get past a man. Amazing what a confidence boost can do to players.
The midfield with him and Pogba looked bloody good to me overall and showed some potential.
He showed some nice touches too to get past a man. Amazing what a confidence boost can do to players.
The midfield with him and Pogba looked bloody good to me overall and showed some potential.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
More howlers like Leicester imminent.
Still uncomfortable seeing his name on the team sheet.
More howlers like Leicester imminent.
Still uncomfortable seeing his name on the team sheet.
He's remembered for that run of matches at the end of the season, where he was very good. Course of the entire season, not very good at all..
Not really.
People just think it's undeserved because they have a large hard on for exactly that player, for no obvious reason whatsoever. For a period it looked like some lost their anal beads inside at just the notion of someone having a go at Anderson.
The gap between what Fellaini is doing now and what Fellaini has been doing for the last 3 seasons is huge. Going for a "this is what we've been trying to tell you for 3 seasons now" is pointless.
Pogba alongside Fellaini or Schneiderlin is by far our best option at midfield.
It's funny how people don't realise a lot of these bad performances by players are due to the manager. If you thought Marouane looked uncomfortable as a CDM under LVG, it's probably because he wasn't comfortable using LVG's instructions in the role. The stuff like "pass it back/side ways, keep possession at all costs", etc. Mourinho isn't afraid to let the opposition have the ball because he's so confident in the way his team is set up defensively. Fellaini benefits from this.
It's funny how people don't realise a lot of these bad performances by players are due to the manager. If you thought Marouane looked uncomfortable as a CDM under LVG, it's probably because he wasn't comfortable using LVG's instructions in the role. The stuff like "pass it back/side ways, keep possession at all costs", etc. Mourinho isn't afraid to let the opposition have the ball because he's so confident in the way his team is set up defensively. Fellaini benefits from this.
Nail. On. Head.
Same here. 2 games is too small of a sample to be convinced but I'm willing and massively hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
There we go, 12 hours respite before the irrational haters come back out of the woodwork.
He has a long way to go before anyone starts saying "I told you so".
He has had runs of three or four games in the past where he hasnt been complete dog shit, so lets just wait and see.
He has had runs of three or four games in the past where he hasnt been complete dog shit, so lets just wait and see.
Did anyone though?
Er, no. It isn't pointless because I was here when I was bloody laughed at when everyone said Tom fecking cleverly should be starting over Fellaini because he is a much better player. Not because he was playing better but because he just had better quality.
Then I had to hear for two years that Fellaini is likely the worst player in the league and should play for a championship side. Go back and read this thread. You are making it sound as if he was criticized for playing poorly but that was not the case. He was criticized and called out for his quality as a player, his potential to every come good and his skill set on the ball.
A player doesn't suddenly develop the ability to play good passes and win the ball back. All of us who defended him argued that he had these qualities while many others said he was only good at being a big physical lump.
So don't try and make this a "hey if he's performing well we praise him and if he's not we criticize" because it certainly wasn't like that and in this case it's best (for those that doubted his quality and unfairly ridiculed him -- not sure if you were one of them) to admit that they were simply wrong.
Changed my mind. I think he can be perfect for the kind of team Jose is building. Definitely worth keeping. Brilliant having a midfield that can utterly dominate the game physically.
He also was very good earlier in the season where he helped us win multiple games.
I'm still surprised that people presumed he would be on his way out of the door. Mourinho, an arch-pragmatist, was always likely going to love a player with the attributes of Fellaini. Him in Unit Mode and Pogba in Beast Mode looks a seriously powerful midfield, which we have not had since Keane left and even he was no match for these two.
My only question is whether Pogba and Fellaini are to be successful long term as a two or whether they would be best served as a three with somebody else, e.g. Carrick, Schneiderlein or even Herrera, holding.
My only question is whether Pogba and Fellaini are to be successful long term as a two or whether they would be best served as a three with somebody else, e.g. Carrick, Schneiderlein or even Herrera, holding.
Come on now.
Keane went toe to toe with Vieira (a similar physical specimen) and usually won.
Don't think it warrants losing a 10 to push fellaini more forward. Perhaps in games we want to close out, but attacking wise it's working fine.
Not a fan of Fellaini but he's started this season excellent. Hope he continues the form.
I said this last season (and it really irked some people), but Fellaini does appear to be part of the spine of our team.
He will most likely play most of our EPL games and domestic Cup games.
In Europe though, I'm not sure.
As someone stated in another post, I think Fellaini follows orders to the letter, which is why managers seem to keep picking him.
It's also obvious that he consistently tries his best and no matter what the situation, he never lets his head drop.
He will most likely play most of our EPL games and domestic Cup games.
In Europe though, I'm not sure.
As someone stated in another post, I think Fellaini follows orders to the letter, which is why managers seem to keep picking him.
It's also obvious that he consistently tries his best and no matter what the situation, he never lets his head drop.
I'm not saying he's unprofessional or anything.
He's a big fella and he likes to throw his weight around, if he can tone down the elbows and remain focused on his job then we can use that.
I think yesterday's performance shows he can do it.
So was everyone else but Fellaini was the scapegoat. Most people here know feck all about football, but pretend like they know everything. People who say that they made a mistake in wanting to sell Fellaini and do a turn around based on his actual performances are the normal people. You made a mistake, Fellaini is good, deal with it. No need to say to someone "let's not pretend you are some football guru please". He was right, suck it up.
I thought he was quite good. I am hoping that Mourinho is able to get the best out of players like this and make good with what we have. We can look to upgrade in future transfer windows but we can't do it all at once.
He's been de-elbowed...
You have to hand it to him, he has done fantastically well and is currently one of our best performing players.
Maybe some of the fans have forgotten how good Keano was, a true midfield general.Keane no match for Fellaini in any mode!!
I have read it all now.
I would love Fellaini to have been sold before the season, but how on earth is his average rating on here 6.00? I have him at 7.7. He's been great when he's played thus far.
Was also an excellent footballer as well as a midfield beast. Comparing Fellaini with him in any way is unfair on Fellaini.
He may not be the first choice ball winning/screening midfielder by the end of the season, but it's starting to look like it's going to take a heck of a of an effort to take his place.
Fellaini takes and carries out instructions exceptionally well. He is looking far more versatile than I thought he'd ever be. The key is he plays within himself. He doesn't try to due too much with the ball, especially once he's won it back. He was very disciplined with the glaring exception of positioning.
He continues to end up the on closer to the touchline and the other deep midfielder than the middle of the pitch. That could prove costly.
Him on with Ibrahimović, Rooney, Pogba and Bailly is a damn stout and imposing team. It was brilliant seeing him hold people off and laying a simple pass off to another. Southampton players were getting frustrated trying to get at the ball and being kept at bay with ease. He's a big part in how the team looks so difficult to deal with.
Regardless, he's adding value to the team. He's going to be no less than a useful squad player. Maybe he hammers down a first XI spot. He's not getting sold anytime soon.
Fellaini takes and carries out instructions exceptionally well. He is looking far more versatile than I thought he'd ever be. The key is he plays within himself. He doesn't try to due too much with the ball, especially once he's won it back. He was very disciplined with the glaring exception of positioning.
He continues to end up the on closer to the touchline and the other deep midfielder than the middle of the pitch. That could prove costly.
Him on with Ibrahimović, Rooney, Pogba and Bailly is a damn stout and imposing team. It was brilliant seeing him hold people off and laying a simple pass off to another. Southampton players were getting frustrated trying to get at the ball and being kept at bay with ease. He's a big part in how the team looks so difficult to deal with.
Regardless, he's adding value to the team. He's going to be no less than a useful squad player. Maybe he hammers down a first XI spot. He's not getting sold anytime soon.
They are hurting. I like it.
Some had fooled themselves silly into believing he would be sold. Yet Jose said the following about him
'' A simple phone call the day after my presentation as Man United manager changed a lot. I told him 'forget everything you read. With me, you don't leave for sure.'"
After our thrashing against Dortmund ,Jose mentioned that a lot of key players were still missing. He specifically namedropped Fellaini in that list .
The manager has that sort of belief in him and he has that sort of belief in himself. Let them cry themselves to sleep. He's going nowhere and will be a pivotal team member this season.
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