Using Fellaini further forward

[Scrumpet]

Whether it's what we try tonight remains to be seen but there seems to be a clear caf consensus that this would be the worst thing that could ever happen, but I'm not entirely sure of the reasons behind the objections.

If it were simply a case of preferring other players to play in the hole, I'd understand, but the severity of the reactions at even the thought of using it as Plan D or whatever seem to suggest something more. Given we haven't properly tried it yet, whether it works or not does not seem to be part of the equation for anyone. It's as if many have some deep rooted moral objection to the idea, as if David Moyes will suddenly morph into Tony Pulis and Carrick will start booting every player in sight.

Direct isn't a bad word. We've always been direct at our best, and it seems to me this would be just another way to be direct. If it works, why not?

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to delete this thread if we try it tonight and it's an unmitigated disaster.

 

[Ish]

If it ever happens I sure hope it's because of a crisis and not a actual long term "hoof" the ball tactic.

 

[Cina]

I think it's primarily the Shinji factor, people will mainly rage at the idea because he's going to be playing there instead of Kagawa, and possibly justifiably so.

 

[Castia]

He's not the type of player you want playing in behind the striker in my opinion.

 

[Cheesy]

Everton used him there because he was one of the best players they could play there. we have two players who play in behind the striker in their natural position and are much better at it than Fellaini is. Plus, I'd wager a bet that some other players like Nani would be better long term in that role than Fellaini.

If we do it, then we'll inevitably hoof the ball up to him. We're a team that should be looking to outplay opponents and while Fellaini's big presence worked well to frustrate big teams, it can be really limiting I think if you're a top team as we're supposed to be.

 

[Rossa]

Stoke has a different playing style than United - I don't want to adopt that even for a single game just to see if it works. Should we try RVP as a holding midfielder too? He has strength, passing and technique for it. If Moyes wanted to play like Everton, he should have stayed at Everton. United is at least one level up, and he must treat it as that. I'm not on the bandwagon of Moyes leaving, but I don't like this idea as it's not the counter attacking style of United nor is it a fast flowing passing game style either.

 

[Raven Blade]

Should never be the first option. But could be the last if we're gonna throw everything at our opponents. He's not the most mobile of players. Quick movement, and interchanging of positions is best left to others.

 

[Liam147]

Fellaini still isn't a midfielder. He's never been a midfielder in my eyes. He can neither pass, tackle nor run. His best position is playing as some kind of forward. But even that only works if you utilise his height. So we either play him as a useless midfielder or a massively target man for long balls. For me, Fellaini playing as a forward is a plan G, when absolutely everything else has failed.

 

[Danny1982]

We don't have a good defensive midfielder. We have a couple of good attacking midfielders. We buy a defensive midfielder. It only makes sense to play him at that position.

You never know though, theoretically, it "could" work. After all Barcelona seems to be getting away (to some extent) with playing midfielders at center back, but that would still not make much sense on paper.

 

[Aboutreika18]

Don't worry, it's 4-5-1, not 4-2-3-1. Fellaini's playing deeper.

 

[antohan]

Fellaini still isn't a midfielder. He's never been a midfielder in my eyes. He can neither pass, tackle nor run. His best position is playing as some kind of forward. But even that only works if you utilise his height. So we either play him as a useless midfielder or a massively target man for long balls. For me, Fellaini playing as a forward is a plan G, when absolutely everything else has failed.

I take it you rate him highly.

 

[Theon]

Fellaini still isn't a midfielder. He's never been a midfielder in my eyes. He can neither pass, tackle nor run. His best position is playing as some kind of forward. But even that only works if you utilise his height. So we either play him as a useless midfielder or a massively target man for long balls. For me, Fellaini playing as a forward is a plan G, when absolutely everything else has failed.

Yes he can

 

[Sunny Jim]

He has been wank so far. Jammy assist and loads of misplaced passes.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

In a pure 4-3-3 formation, in a tough away fixture in Europe it makes perfect sense.

 

[Mr Anderson]

Ya, him and Clevz swapping every now and then, taking turns to go further forward. Nice option to have. Few silly fouls though.

 

[Hectic]

Fellaini still isn't a midfielder. He's never been a midfielder in my eyes. He can neither pass, tackle nor run.

 

[Liam147]

Yes he can

He's conceded at least five fouls in the first 40 minutes despite being reffed by the most lenient official I've ever seen. He cannot tackle.

 

[100]

He certainly puts himself about a lot, did little well when he had the ball but it seems like he's everywhere.

 

[Theon]

He's conceded at least five fouls in the first 40 minutes despite being reffed by the most lenient official I've ever seen. He cannot tackle.

He can tackle you magnificent retard, he's done it for years.

 

[100]

He's conceded at least five fouls in the first 40 minutes despite being reffed by the most lenient official I've ever seen. He cannot tackle.

Lenient!?!?1

 

[antohan]

He's conceded at least five fouls in the first 40 minutes despite being reffed by the most lenient official I've ever seen. He cannot tackle.

I'd say it's 50-50, one foul for every tackle, which is bound to bite us in the arse sooner or later.

 

[Liam147]

Lenient!?!?1

He's giving nothing! Srna, Fellaini and possibly Valencia should have been booked. He didn't give that free kick on Carrick either.

He can tackle you magnificent retard, he's done it for years.

You sounded like Hectic then. Don't worry, I knew it wasn't him as it wasn't a laughing smilie with no actual argument in response.

 

[Ekeke]

When he played for Everton in CM, first he had the most bookings in the league. And then in his final season as a CM he made the most fouls in the league. Fellaini can clearly tackle, but he's pretty damn clumsy giving away freekicks

 

[Hectic]

He's giving nothing! Srna, Fellaini and possibly Valencia should have been booked. He didn't give that free kick on Carrick either.

You sounded like Hectic then. Don't worry, I knew it wasn't him as it wasn't a laughing smilie with no actual argument in response.

You basically said Fellaini can't play football, it didn't really deserve an argument in response.

 

[Sandikan]

He's such a bizarre player.

For every piece of play or positive, a negative seems to leap out straight away.

One minute i'm thinking, he's quite crisp on the ball, then he'll be dispossessed and have no chance at all of keeping up with his man.
Or he'll win a header/hold it up with strength, but then equally be as likely to give a free kick away.

Am slightly concerned about him and Carrick as a 2 man midfield going forward, unless Rooney plays in between them and VP.

 

[100]

He's giving nothing! Srna, Fellaini and possibly Valencia should have been booked. He didn't give that free kick on Carrick either.

Card wise you're right but he's been pulling Fellaini up for everything.

 

[Theon]

When he played for Everton in CM, first he had the most bookings in the league. And then in his final season as a CM he made the most fouls in the league. Fellaini can clearly tackle, but he's pretty damn clumsy giving away freekicks

Aye no doubt, but we've conceded that before. Pretty sure I've had this exact conversation with you.

Also, so many of those fouls are for jumping with elbows or nudging in the back when he wins headers. You used to see it all the time at Everton with him. Point is that so many of the fouls aren't strictly to do with tackling.

 

[acnumber9]

When he played for Everton in CM, first he had the most bookings in the league. And then in his final season as a CM he made the most fouls in the league. Fellaini can clearly tackle, but he's pretty damn clumsy giving away freekicks

Having loads of bookings and giving away lots of fouls isn't an indication you can tackle.

 

[Sam]

He's such a bizarre player.

For every piece of play or positive, a negative seems to leap out straight away.

One minute i'm thinking, he's quite crisp on the ball, then he'll be dispossessed and have no chance at all of keeping up with his man.
Or he'll win a header/hold it up with strength, but then equally be as likely to give a free kick away.

Am slightly concerned about him and Carrick as a 2 man midfield going forward, unless Rooney plays in between them and VP.

Was just thinking that!

One second he looks really good, calm, and confident on the ball. The next minute he's fouling someone or giving the ball away.

 

[Ekeke]

Having loads of bookings and giving away lots of fouls isn't an indication you can tackle.

I know, but if you watch him you'd see he also makes tackles. But sometimes you'll be a bit dissappointed when someone goes past him and he fouls them

 

[The Man Himself]

Oh wow. People finding new innovative ways to moan. We are winning away to a team which has a very impressive home record, have beaten many big teams recently, are unbeaten at home vs English oppositions. So what should we do at HT when we are winning? Single out a player (maybe only one) who has been bit below par and satisfy the urge to moan. What is the problem with you lot? Don't you get enough sex and hence are so whiny and bitchy?

 

[Eto'odinho]

Good with his head not so with his feet. Pretty lazy and immobile to boot

 

[Ekeke]

Aye no doubt, but we've conceded that before. Pretty sure I've had this exact conversation with you.

Also, so many of those fouls are for jumping with elbows or nudging in the back when he wins headers. You used to see it all the time at Everton with him. Point is that so many of the fouls aren't strictly to do with tackling.

They were when he was in CM. Not last season when he was behind the striker getting balls hoofed to him

 

[Amar__]

He is poor so far, but he isn't playing behind van Persie, and that's certainly a positive, because I expected him to play there.

 

[Ash_G]

I'm not a fan of him further up the pitch personally. Fair play it's going pretty well so far but I think we could easily get away with someone more creative either in his role or in one of the wider roles. Him playing there with people running inside to knock it off to could work I guess, and Welbeck is sort of doing that but its not ideal for me.

But tbf the bigger problem with him atm is him letting people run of him and giving the ball away cheaply, that's more concerning that him being pushed up a little.

 

[Devil may care]

He's too far forward too often IMO and that Taison scamp has mugged him more than once.

 

[Sandikan]

Oh wow. People finding new innovative ways to moan. We are winning away to a team which has a very impressive home record, have beaten many big teams recently, are unbeaten at home vs English oppositions. So what should we do at HT when we are winning? Single out a player (maybe only one) who has been bit below par and satisfy the urge to moan. What is the problem with you lot? Don't you get enough sex and hence are so whiny and bitchy?

Probably a fair bit that.

But also, perhaps because we're on a thread about Fellaini, and are perhaps giving our opinions on ...Fellaini?

 

[Ekeke]

He's really not been playing in the hole. He's just as often been next to Carrick at the base with Cleverley slightly in front. There's definitely been an interchange of positions with him spending most of his time level with the other CMs

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Fellaini does not have the passing ability to ever be used further forward as anything other than a long ball target.

 

[The Man Himself]

Probably a fair bit that.

But also, perhaps because we're on a thread about Fellaini, and are perhaps giving our opinions on ...Fellaini?

The moaning is what leaves me perplexed. Overall it has been a decent performance. Given our problems recently, I would expect people to look at positives more. Also, if the analysis on Fellaini is bit logical and proper, then even criticism doesn't look so bad. This is just moaning, for the sake of it. We have Fellaini thread already, so it isn't serving any other purpose anyway to have this thread given he isn't playing further forward.