[Roman Bellic]

Is it just me or did he restrict some of our balls from getting into the box? we were more likely to get the 3rd goal without him on the pitch, despite the fact that Falcao was basically a -1.

Still happy with his contribution to the team though.

 

[Walrus]

I think Villa marshalled him pretty well, although it is worth noting that the man he had been marking on set pieces scored as soon as he went off.

Not very effective although it looked to me like he was playing a bit deeper than normal. Young and Blind both had a lot of space on the left to work with though, and you could argue that Fellaini contributed to that simply due to the fact that Villa were manmarking him constantly.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Did okay. Won the ball back a few times very quickly. Should have scored with that header. Headed it too low

 

[JustAFan]

Poor up front today not enough movement but worked hard getting the ball back for us a number of times.

 

[Kostur]

As soon as he goes off, we concede from a set piece. Coincidence? White text, but is it needed?

Although I've seen a white text...

Not really, I think he's been on Benteke (alongside with Rojo) on corners/free kicks this match, in the replay you can see how easily Falcao gets outmuscled by Clarke or whoever outmuscled him, Fellaini wouldn't be moved like that.

Noting flashy today but nothing flashy was required I guess, shame about his header not going in, can't forget his great touch/pass to Rooney in 5th minute when we should've had a penalty and a red card for Villa player. As soon as he went on, we've lost the stability in the game though, he shouldn't have gone off, especially not for Falcao.

 

[Sylar]

He works part of a machine now. When hes double teamed, then it frees up Mata. When Mata is marked out, it allows Herrera time and space to get into the box. We now have threats and hes one of them. Hes not slowing the play down and gives us an outlet. And of course important for defending set pieces.

Also proof (along with Young) why it can be dangerous to write of player who are not performing especially when the rest of the team arent performing either.

 

[Devil may care]

Gave an option for the back post ball and made a couple of good tackles, solid performance.

 

[Walrus]

He works part of a machine now. When hes double teamed, then it frees up Mata. When Mata is marked out, it allows Herrera time and space to get into the box. We now have threats and hes one of them. Hes not slowing the play down and gives us an outlet. And of course important for defending set pieces.

Also proof (along with Young) why it can be dangerous to write of player who are not performing especially when the rest of the team arent performing either.

This is pretty much it - if the opposition choose to man mark one of Our attackers then it freed up room for others.

 

[GDaly95]

For the first 30 minutes or so he was poor. Didn't get himself about enough, basically just stood and waited for the ball at the back post. Hutton got injured and when the players were getting water you could see Giggs have a word with him, he was a lot more lively after that conversation and overall I think it was a fairly good performance.

 

[marlowe78]

I never think it's a good idea to take Fellaini off against crap sides like this because half of our height goes away for the set pieces. But he did have a poor game IMO. The international break was pointed out to me in another thread and it's interesting to note that he had to visit the Middle East as opposed to the two games England had at Wembley and in Turin.

 

[the hea]

Not his best game this season. I thought he looked a little tired maybe because of the amount of minutes he has played in the last month?

 

[Striker10]

Fellaini played a good ball for Rooneys penalty that wasn't given.

 

[HabeasC]

Looked a bit tired and constantly had two men on him the whole game. Sanchez stuck to him like Sterling to a £5 note, so was always going to be tough.

Think he'll be very important vs Arsenal, Chelsea and City.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Pretty quiet today, but felt he held it up well when he got the ball and brought others into play.

 

[ZDwyr]

He was solid. Did some good things and made some mistakes. I suspect that he was a bit fatigued from the international break too. Also, Villa handled him very well and seemed to be man-marking him at times. His touch to Rooney (for the penalty that should have been) was good. Always a worry when we don't have Smalling and we sub off Fellaini, it leaves us with no height in defending set-pieces.

 

[Sam]

Thought he was really poor in all honesty.

Didn't get involved at all, wasn't putting himself about physically, missed a great chance....I noticed he was wearing that bandage on his wrist again, I hope that isn't going to restrict him (like it supposedly did last season) He was quite evidently less physical today then he has been recently.

 

[BAMSOLA]

He was being asked to get into the box ASAP to help overload Villa and the crosses just weren't reaching him. Wasn't really being asked to make the same intelligent runs forward he's been making of late, more a case of playing as a second striker today and with better crossing and a better finish on one occasion could have had a more productive game.

 

[ManUSarge]

May not have been his best but it was far from his worst. I thought he did well enough...he could have taken that header better but honestly I thought the defender was getting a touch on it and he probably got in on the ball slower because of it. The balls that were put in toward him were too long and he couldn't do much on that. I thought he played well.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Wasn't great but he was fine. A little too deep for me when we had the ball but from where he has come from, I'm happy enough with that performance.

 

[R'hllor]

In most parts of the game it looked like they glued Sanchez on him,due Villa playing with 2 CMs,there was so much space on that left side because Sanchez went so deep to man marking Afroman.We did not exploit that much,only few times,one of those was Rojo`s strike. He was good today,even without his true impact like in prev 2 games,now LvG can find solutions in scenario where they man mark him.

 

[Gannicus]

An off day for afroman but he wasn't poor. Nothing to be too concerned about.

 

[Yorkeontop]

Looked a tad jaded but still provided the platform for the first goal after another bad touch from Wayne.

 

[Litch]

I think tired after the international games but still a solid performance.

 

[Hit It]

We'll win more game with him in the team even if he has a bad one. Our team has a variety of weapons now, Fellani's height and power, Rooney's finishing, Young and Valencia pace, Mata and Herrera's passing, Carrick and Blind's composure, super sub Di Maria, we've got it all. I know we wont win the League this year but to see it all gelling is a satisfaction in itself especially after last season.

 

[ravelston]

We'll win more game with him in the team even if he has a bad one. Our team has a variety of weapons now, Fellani's height and power, Rooney's finishing, Young and Valencia pace, Mata and Herrera's passing, Carrick and Blind's composure, super sub Di Maria, we've got it all. I know we wont win the League this year but to see it all gelling is a satisfaction in itself especially after last season.

This - although I wouldn't give up on the League just yet - where there's life there's hope, after all.

 

[dwd]

Sanchez had the better of him yesterday.

 

[Acole9]

van Gaal is right he is undroppable at the moment. What a contrast to last season. He is definitely worthy of being at the club.

 

[RedMachine03]

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[Cnaiür urs Skiötha]

Just had a chat with a colleague being Arsenal fan. He used to make some Fellaini jokes everytime we met. Now he called him "one of the best midfielders in the PL atm".

 

[b82REZ]

Just had a chat with a colleague being Arsenal fan. He used to make some Fellaini jokes everytime we met. Now he called him "one of the best midfielders in the PL atm".

A tag many had given him the season before he signed for us.

 

[Ekeke]

A tag many had given him the season before he signed for us.

You mean the season he played as a target man up front?

 

[b82REZ]

You mean the season he played as a target man up front?

No the season he played the same role he's playing this season. An advanced midfielder who can operate as a target man on set pieces and counters.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

You mean the season he played as a target man up front?

He was a deep lying target man that season too.

 

[Ekeke]

No the season he played the same role he's playing this season. An advanced midfielder who can operate as a target man on set pieces and counters.

Everton didnt play a 4-1-4-1

He was in behind a single striker, the same role Mata had at Chelsea

 

[b82REZ]

Everton didnt play a 4-1-4-1

He was in behind a single striker, the same role Mata had at Chelsea

Formations might not be the same, but he didn't operate as an out and out target man.

 

[Ekeke]

Formations might not be the same, but he didn't operate as an out and out target man.

Well he did, but not as the furthest forward. I'm referring to the way they used him. They used him as a target and he was the main man to support the real striker

 

[Oneunited26]

This - although I wouldn't give up on the League just yet - where there's life there's hope, after all.

Remember the momentum we used in the second half of the 2005/06 season, springboarded us next season. So this could be a vital stepping stone in preparation for next season, and we could go far next season

 

[BigDunc9]

Fellaini is playing the exact same role he did in his last season at us so that article is a load of shite.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Fellaini is playing the exact same role he did in his last season at us so that article is a load of shite.

I always remember him playing centrally for Everton. If nothing else, the way he mainly sticks to the left flank is new to him, surely?

 

[BigDunc9]

I always remember him playing centrally for Everton. If nothing else, the way he mainly sticks to the left flank is new to him, surely?

Nope. He always drifted to the left for us and linked up with Baines and Pienaar.