We hugely missed Pogba today but Fellaini still did his job. He'll help us win the ball back but he's not going to be a player that will help us control a game. He was probably just behind Matic as best player on the pitch.
27
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 23
- Goals
- 5
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Usually better in the oppo's box, but today was full of clean tackling and running his arse off after the ball.
Constantly on improving curve this season.
Constantly on improving curve this season.
Big fella better when Herrera came on.....
He's no Pogba and it affects our chance creation. Still, Marouane does what Marouane does, can't fault him for a decent workhorse performance.
Ordinary performance - I see no reason why he should start games.
Solid defensively, but did nothing going forward.
Expected more.
Expected more.
Was good, but think if we play him then he needs to get more in the box and closer to the goal. If Fellaini is your CM, it shows. He is not really exciting or a good source of creativity, keeps it simple in midfield, but useful.
This, but I don't think he had as much license to roam forward as he usually does. I wasn't expecting him to pull out hollywood passes like Pogba does.
He did press well for the second goal though and there was a couple times where I thought he pressed well in midfield.
He's a limited footballer. It is known. Did well in the air and tidying up but was ultimately useless as matic does the job exceptionally.
Offered nothing going forward.
Is a good option off the bench, shouldn't start.
Offered nothing going forward.
Is a good option off the bench, shouldn't start.
Chuffed with him today. Clean and swept up the mess in the midfield today.
Sure he didn't do much offensively but I'm certain he was instructed not to power in much. Fellaini loves bombing forward and getting his head on it, it's rare seeing him not in it so I'm certain it was Mourinho's plan to just let the front 4 do the work - possibly why we may have looked a bit toothless as we relied on the front 4 to do a bit too much.
He'll start games this season in which he's suited to - today was one of those matches.
Sure he didn't do much offensively but I'm certain he was instructed not to power in much. Fellaini loves bombing forward and getting his head on it, it's rare seeing him not in it so I'm certain it was Mourinho's plan to just let the front 4 do the work - possibly why we may have looked a bit toothless as we relied on the front 4 to do a bit too much.
He'll start games this season in which he's suited to - today was one of those matches.
So now the most important thing is that he's done well defensively. Against Everton who are usually terrible in attack, and still gave us a lot of problem.
He shouldn't be doing nothing attacking wise when he is sent in a defensive role, unlike other players who are judged on every possible detail(Pogba, Herrera, Mata, etc.).
He shouldn't be doing nothing attacking wise when he is sent in a defensive role, unlike other players who are judged on every possible detail(Pogba, Herrera, Mata, etc.).
Matic was very good but that's a stupid comment to make. They had different jobs. Pretty sure Fellaini won the ball back more than him. Matic was given the distribution role, while Afro was the destroyer today.
He made some decent tackles but his lack of mobility and ability on the ball wedged us in at times, Pogba is a huge miss.
Well, Mourinho thinks that he is important.
Guess what, no one is saying that Fellaini is as good as Pogba/Xavi/Iniesta, but he is sold in what he does. You don't expect Matic to break attacks, make assists and score goals all the time, right? So why do you expect Fellaini to do so? He played away from the goal because that was his task. It could be different in the next match.
Last week we conceded 2 goals and dropped points. Whose fault was that? Fellaini wasn't even in the squad!
I'm glad that he has started, and we will probably see him starting more until Pogba is back. To be clear, if Mourinho chooses to start Herrera, then I'm fine with that too, but Fellaini deserves more respect, and Mourinho gives him that respect!
Wasn't great but wasn't shit, I don't think he's a good fit for games like this where we're gonna have most of the possession.
One of our best players today. Nice and tidy.
Average performance, nothing great but nothing shit either.
I think this is where we miss it when it comes to Fellaini. I can bet he did exactly what Jose wanted him to do today and that's why the manager classifies him as invaluable.
We have all these expectations but what if the manager told him to do nothing but break up the opponent's play, keep possession, lay simple passes and be measured in going forward? Those were things he did pretty well today. I believe Fellaini is a player Jose uses for very specific functions and it seems he fulfilled his role well today. Mata and Miki should have provided creativity and drive forward, they seemed lacking for most of the game.
If that is what the manager wants from him it really isn't enough though. I hope not. That is Obi Mikel territory and Fellaini is better than that. It shouldn't be the sole responsibility of certain players to create chances for the team, it is the responsibility of all, certainly a central midfielder for Manchester United.
As popular as he is, Fellaini can't be given a free pass for sitting and laying simple passes. Mata and Mkhitaryan wouldn't. Pogba wouldn't. Tom Cleverley was mullered for it.
Solid enough performance. Much easier to watch when the play isn't centred around him at all.
That people expected him to fill in for Pogba when attacking because of one decent game is fecking ridiculous though.
That people expected him to fill in for Pogba when attacking because of one decent game is fecking ridiculous though.
Very good performance. He won the ball and gave it to Mkhi or Mata, both of whom were poor. Think Fellaini did his job well.
We can expect him to pass and create etc, but he did not need to do that today. Both Mihi and Mata were mostly free and available for a pass and Everton were not pressing them that much. His lack of creative ability becomes a problem in matches where the opposition is always onto us and opportunities to break are few but todays match was not one of them . We had plenty of possession and the creative players were mostly available. Think it is best to hand over the creative responsibility to these players , which is what he did.
Great interception for the second goal.
We can expect him to pass and create etc, but he did not need to do that today. Both Mihi and Mata were mostly free and available for a pass and Everton were not pressing them that much. His lack of creative ability becomes a problem in matches where the opposition is always onto us and opportunities to break are few but todays match was not one of them . We had plenty of possession and the creative players were mostly available. Think it is best to hand over the creative responsibility to these players , which is what he did.
Great interception for the second goal.
Just to annoy people I hope.
Another solid performance from Fellaz today.
It's weird but after years and years of being a terrible defensive midfielder, Jose actually seems to have turned him into a passable defensive midfielder.
He's put together a few consecutive showings now where he hasn't been wildly out of position for an opponents goal, or given away a penalty with his only act of the game, or elbowed someone in the face only to act dumbfounded when booked. He actually did what someone of his size and skill set is supposed to do in that midfield role. Harried, won headers, put out fires and gave the ball to better players.
He seems to have responded really well to Jose's faith in him. Hope it continues, but I have a sneaky feeling that before long he'll get caught with his back to goal while Defoe nods in a late winner. What can I say, 4 years of this stuff puts you in a cynical way. Anyway, well played Marouane.
He's put together a few consecutive showings now where he hasn't been wildly out of position for an opponents goal, or given away a penalty with his only act of the game, or elbowed someone in the face only to act dumbfounded when booked. He actually did what someone of his size and skill set is supposed to do in that midfield role. Harried, won headers, put out fires and gave the ball to better players.
He seems to have responded really well to Jose's faith in him. Hope it continues, but I have a sneaky feeling that before long he'll get caught with his back to goal while Defoe nods in a late winner. What can I say, 4 years of this stuff puts you in a cynical way. Anyway, well played Marouane.
Played with passion out there. Yes, he is not the best technical footballer, but he can certainly do a job.
I seem to stick up for him, more often than not, but I thought he was garbage today. It was a one man show from Matic in central midfield, Fellaini was all over the place. And not in a good way. A few decent tackles isn't enough to compensate for being so poor on the ball. Heavy touches, sloppy passing. He was even making a mess of chest traps. Not often you'll see an away team dominate possession for long spells the way Everton did today and Fella's regression to his form of previous seasons was a big factor in that (plus a big worry with Pogba out)
Really good closing down for our goal.
I liked the performance today. Fan overall, but prefer him in a midfield three. Was very disciplined in a two today.
Only saw the 2nd half, but from what I saw I'd agree with that. Broke up quite a few Everton attacks
His tackle/pass started the attack for Mhki's goal. Glad he's in form.
I don't know how much rating here means, but his average rating is 6.4. That's about right in my view; not great, but really far from being garbage. Solid performance, and he continues to be consistent.
People should also remember that this was his first start with Matic, and that doesn't help either. I was hoping to see him playing in a more advanced position, but Mourinho chose to let that work to Mata, Mikhi and Rashford.
A little harsh Pogue. Had Pogs been fit our side would probably have looked about the same as today except Felly would have been on the sideline. The only similarity between the two perhaps is their energy and in-your-face style of play. The difference in talent is miles apart and compared to what we would have got from Pogba today you're right it would have been miles away. That said, Mou clearly felt he could rely on the 3M corporation; Mata, Mhiki & Matic for style and creativity with Rashford & Lukaku providng the goals. Felly remonds me of a big tall Nobby Styles (with better teeth) who ran around all game long breaking up what few meaningful attacks the blues tried to generate. The plan worked and will continue to work against most teams.
We will get more out of Rashford in games to come; we'll also get more out of Mata, who for me struggled a bit today.
We are fortunate our run of games without Pogba are "manageable" but if Felly plays just like he did today (and other pick up their game) we'll be just fine.
Don't know where you got that from, he was solid today.
Rashford, Mkhi, Mata were worse IMO.
He was not garbage today at all, lol.
I think he does the job well. And will be quiet. Hes not a direct replacement for Pogba, but nobody in our squad is. Of course hes limited but you know what youre gonna get from him most of the time.
Do think hes better in a midfield three though in a more advanced position.
I think he does the job well. And will be quiet. Hes not a direct replacement for Pogba, but nobody in our squad is. Of course hes limited but you know what youre gonna get from him most of the time.
Do think hes better in a midfield three though in a more advanced position.
Did well today, liked how he broke the play quite a bit and put some balls forward.
It's not his fault our forwards played like shit today (except Lukaku)
It's not his fault our forwards played like shit today (except Lukaku)
This season's record:
With Fellaini, 240 minutes, Goal difference 14-0
Without Fellaini, 390 minutes, Goal difference 6-4
Not just a freak stat, I think. More like Herrera struggling to find his role alongside Matic and Pogba and Fellaini being in a good form. Also biggest CB problems have coincidentally happened without Fellaini on the field.
With Fellaini, 240 minutes, Goal difference 14-0
Without Fellaini, 390 minutes, Goal difference 6-4
Not just a freak stat, I think. More like Herrera struggling to find his role alongside Matic and Pogba and Fellaini being in a good form. Also biggest CB problems have coincidentally happened without Fellaini on the field.
He did fine. He's a limited player so of course he couldnt replace Pogba and I wish he would have helped to control the midfield a bit more
He is playing ok at the moment, let's see how long it lasts.
It's not the first time he has played well for a spell, problem being is it's usually not long before he regresses to being a complete passenger at best or a total liability at worst.
It's not the first time he has played well for a spell, problem being is it's usually not long before he regresses to being a complete passenger at best or a total liability at worst.
Matic has a surprising passing range on him, didn't expect it.
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