Fellaini (on his way) out? | Duncan Castles: Fellaini agrees new two year deal

[Renegade]

People seriously mentioning he had a key role in the FA cup and Europa league final? So did forgotten man Daley Blind.

My worry about his resigning is the temptation it gives Mourinho to use him. I wouldn’t mind if he played the league cup games with the kids, but Jose will
100% use him in midfield in important games.

100k+ a week for a supposedly 4th/5th choice midfielder is incredible.

I hope plan A is better this season.

 

[Bastian]

Him getting the deal he wanted probably means Jose is having to work with a transfer budget that is much smaller than what is needed. We'll probably end up getting players for 2 of the 3 positions needed (RW, LB, CB). Might also suggest that we are having mare in finding interest for our unwanted players.

 

[Ed9]

For the first time in 22 years since I started supporting United as a boy I felt such a rage to send an e-mail to fan support and ask wtf is this about. I didn't write about his football qualities but about his disrespect. Their replay said not to believe the press and wait until the official website confirms anything. Either there's still a hope or they just don't give a feck. It was naive from me anyway.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

if the 120k a week rumor is true that would make Fellaini Spur's 2nd highest earner according to spotrac.

 

[AkaAkuma]

I rate Fellaini , but 95% of united fanbase don't. Actually he isn't just big lump player like Peter Crouch although it's his prominent attributes. Still remember how we forced Real Madrid to defend after we put him in during Super Cup , how we played well in first 5 games and so with him playing regularly , he is useful in many tactical situation.
Fellaini should be the least of our problem , he’s a bench player and a plan B.
If we had a better player to execute plan A we don't have to use him at all.

I agree with this and would also add that a lot of the bad feeling for him developed early in his career when he was the plan A in midfield, throwing his elbows around - he just wasn't up to it. He's no longer has that role in our squad.

 

[tentan]

He needs to go.

 

[Class of 63]

if the 120k a week rumor is true that would make Fellaini Spur's 2nd highest earner according to spotrac.

Yeah but they're just a small club near Barnet FC

There will be at least a dozen players at United on similar, and quite a few on double and even treble what Fellaini is rumoured to be getting at United, the game has officially gone mad.

 

[Class of 63]

I agree with this and would also add that a lot of the bad feeling for him developed early in his career when he was the plan A in midfield, throwing his elbows around - he just wasn't up to it. He's no longer has that role in our squad.

That wouldn't be around the time that many United were crying because we just let people run all over us would it ?

 

[Pscholes18]

Jose basically just said he still doesn't have a plan B so another season of lumping the ball to this donkey when we are a goal down in the 80th minute.

 

[MIC_FIN]

That wouldn't be around the time that many United were crying because we just let people run all over us would it ?

Probably one of the worst anologies I've ever read, take a bow sir.

 

[Class of 63]

Probably one of the worst anologies I've ever read, take a bow sir.

Did you mean analogies ?

I just think some posters are only happy when they've got something to moan about, cast your mind back to Spurs at Old Trafford, Dembélé cutting through our midfield like a knife through butter "we need some steel, somebody to get amongst it, somebody to stop them taking liberties, in short we need a thug" they cried. We get somebody to do just that job, but still they moan.....

Right i'm off to take my well earned bow

 

[An Irish Red]

I just think some posters are only happy when they've got something to moan about, cast your mind back to Spurs at Old Trafford, Dembélé cutting through our midfield like a knife through butter "we need some steel, somebody to get amongst it, somebody to stop them taking liberties, in short we need a thug" they cried. We get somebody to do just that job, but still they moan.....

Right i'm off to take my well earned bow

He doesn't do that job though. He doesn't help us control the midfield because he's never in it. He mooches about up front like some sort of Belgian Andy Carroll. He's a hindrance.

 

[beingshe7don]

Telling signs that Mourinho will get sacked sometime into the next season. He's not going to win the title with the additions of Fred and Dalot and keeping Fellaini just means we'll continue to play shitty long ball football

 

[trafford1980]

Him getting the deal he wanted probably means Jose is having to work with a transfer budget that is much smaller than what is needed. We'll probably end up getting players for 2 of the 3 positions needed (RW, LB, CB). Might also suggest that we are having mare in finding interest for our unwanted players.

This.

Also, if we were genuinely looking at Arnautovic as an expensive replacement should Fellaini leave then I'm suprisingly okay with him resigning.

However, if he's been giving assurances that he's in the mix to rotate with Pogba to partner Fred & Matic in a midfield three then I'm disappointed. Less matches for Herrera and Scott, and probably means Pereira is off too.

So I'm holding off on melting down completely until we get a better picture of how we plan to use Fellaini this season and who else we bring in beforehand.

If we end up spending heaviliy on signing one of Alderweirled, Bonucci or Skriniar, another full-back and an absolute gem of a right-sided attacking player then it makes a bit more sense.

 

[nameischarles]

Either Fellaini noticed no clubs were really 100% interested in him or realized there was no one going to pay his wage demands or Mourinho caved into his demands.

I was really hoping Mourinho would have replaced Fellaini for someone more dynamic and skilled but it looks like Fred is Carrick's replacement and Fellaini stays, no replacement or transfer needed now.

 

[Seij]

I figured he would renew. No sane club would offer anything close to what we've offered him to stay here and Jose loves his tall physical players.

 

[Red Daigo]

Doh! https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44628344

 

[reddaz71]

Not great is it but on the bright side the Utd Fanbase are going to be placated somewhat by the return of Ronaldo!

 

[Class of 63]

He doesn't do that job though. He doesn't help us control the midfield because he's never in it. He mooches about up front like some sort of Belgian Andy Carroll. He's a hindrance.

Yeah, but it's hardly his fault if that's the role Mourinho prefers him to play, as opposed to being a minder in midfield

 

[Jonno]

EDIT - I specifically meant replace 20 dross players from 2016 when Mourinho was appointed.

We can't replace 20 dross players within 2-3 summers, it'll take 5-6 summers to completely overhaul the squad.

This is why Fellaini is extending.

I'm sure back in 2016, Mourinho would have LOVED to tear up 20 contracts and sign 20 world class replacements instantly, but that's not how it works.

I'd imagine Fellaini will be 6th choice CM, 6th choice AM and 3rd choice ST

Upgrading our backups isn't the most important priorities right now to be honest.

Sign him up, gives us another 2 years before we need to replace him and move on to other priorities in the squad.

 

[Class of 63]

We can't replace 20 dross players within 2-3 summers, it'll take 5-6 summers to completely overhaul the squad.

I'm sure back in 2016, Mourinho would have LOVED to tear up 20 contracts and sign 20 world class replacements instantly, but that's not how it works.

When Claudio Ranieri took over at Leicester City he probably felt the same, but realising it was totally unrealistic he looked at his squad, decided on his tactics, and then got the very best out of everybody at his disposal. No moaning, no whinging, he just got on with it and won the League.

Now if you think Leicester had a better squad, or Manager....

 

[Robbie Boy]

It's not a Myth he was key member of Europa League and FA cup wins we had. Again, if you're not a fan then fine but don't rewrite history.

Can you read? Herrera was the MOTM in the EL Final go Google it. I’m not the one rewriting history. You’re too invested in this.

 

[Giggs86]

Mourinho is doing the right thing. He know's that Fellaini's price will double if not triple when he gets his WC Winner's medal with Belgium. Good business by Ed and Mou.

 

[devilish]

Yeah, but it's hardly his fault if that's the role Mourinho prefers him to play, as opposed to being a minder in midfield

he can only play as no 10. He lack pace and the energy needed to play b2b/DM and the passing ability and positional discipline to play as a deep lying playmaker. As Osman once said about Fellaini

"He was always like that for us," Osman said. "He was like that in training, if you came up against him he was likely to stand on your toes or give you a dead leg.

"When he played for us you wanted him as far away from our box as possible, get him up causing havoc in around the opposition penalty area where he was really good."

 

[Robbie Boy]

He may well have been a key member, but he wasn't MOTM in the Europa final. That part is the myth Robbie was referring to, Herrera was the official Man of the Match.

Exactly. It seems to have become one of those Caf things that's said as fact for some reason. He played well alright, but Herrera was better and deservedly got MOTM.

 

[kouroux]

We can't replace 20 dross players within 2-3 summers, it'll take 5-6 summers to completely overhaul the squad.

This is why Fellaini is extending.

I'm sure back in 2016, Mourinho would have LOVED to tear up 20 contracts and sign 20 world class replacements instantly, but that's not how it works.

I'd imagine Fellaini will be 6th choice CM, 6th choice AM and 3rd choice ST

Upgrading our backups isn't the most important priorities right now to be honest.

Sign him up, gives us another 2 years before we need to replace him and move on to other priorities in the squad.

But there aren't 20 dross players, where the hell have you gotten that number from ?

 

[Class of 63]

he can only play as no 10. He lack pace and the energy needed to play b2b/DM and the passing ability and positional discipline to play as a deep lying playmaker. As Osman once said about Fellaini

"He was always like that for us," Osman said. "He was like that in training, if you came up against him he was likely to stand on your toes or give you a dead leg.

"When he played for us you wanted him as far away from our box as possible, get him up causing havoc in around the opposition penalty area where he was really good."

Funny you say he can only play as a no.10, yet for 90% of his career, at club level and International level he played as a defensive shield and was bloody good at it.

And the comments from Osman were twattish, bad enough from a fellow professional, but even worse from a former teammate.

 

[maniwin]

Mourinho is doing the right thing. He know's that Fellaini's price will double if not triple when he gets his WC Winner's medal with Belgium. Good business by Ed and Mou.

i know right, what if Belgium goes through WC final and Fellaini scores their winning goal ? He would be considered as Goat for his NT, nobody could say Mourinho was wrong in renewing his contract.

 

[tenpoless]

We can't replace 20 dross players within 2-3 summers, it'll take 5-6 summers to completely overhaul the squad.

This is why Fellaini is extending.

I'm sure back in 2016, Mourinho would have LOVED to tear up 20 contracts and sign 20 world class replacements instantly, but that's not how it works.

I'd imagine Fellaini will be 6th choice CM, 6th choice AM and 3rd choice ST

Upgrading our backups isn't the most important priorities right now to be honest.

Sign him up, gives us another 2 years before we need to replace him and move on to other priorities in the squad.

That's like the entire fecking squad!

 

[devilish]

Funny you say he can only play as a no.10, yet for 90% of his career, at club level and International level he played as a defensive shield and was bloody good at it.

And the comments from Osman were twattish, bad enough from a fellow professional, but even worse from a former teammate.

His best year (ie at Everton) came as no 10. He can play in a deeper role but not a top club like ours

I find Osman's comments as fair. He said that Fellaini is very good in a more advanced role but a bit clumbsy in a deeper one. Surely Mou and Osman know one or two things about Fellaini more then we do

 

[roonster09]

We can't replace 20 dross players within 2-3 summers, it'll take 5-6 summers to completely overhaul the squad.

This is why Fellaini is extending.

I'm sure back in 2016, Mourinho would have LOVED to tear up 20 contracts and sign 20 world class replacements instantly, but that's not how it works.

I'd imagine Fellaini will be 6th choice CM, 6th choice AM and 3rd choice ST

Upgrading our backups isn't the most important priorities right now to be honest.

Sign him up, gives us another 2 years before we need to replace him and move on to other priorities in the squad.

If you think we have 20 dross players then you need to switch your set up box, probably you are watching other club as ManUtd.

 

[fellaini's barber]

If you think we have 20 dross players then you need to switch your set up box, probably you are watching other club as ManUtd.

Don't bother with him in his bid to defend Jose he says lots of stupid things like City have 2 world class players in every position while Jose is inherited a shitload of dross so much he'll need about 10 years to sort it out

 

[RedMachine03]

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[Marcky411]

Can't just be me that questions the regular reference to his work rate and 'spine'. He's been regularly found moping around, unable to track his runners from midfield - ultimately being responsible for goals conceded. The sort that Pogba would be fed to the dogs for.

Those who really like Fellaini really tend to inflate what he does well and reduce the expectations down to an almost bare minimum. Some eejit was objectively trying to argue this morning that he's been better than Herrera for three years - when actual game time witnessed shows he's been comprehensively outplayed and out picked in the biggest of matches, even by Mourinho of all people. I mean, he was generally poor when he played all of last season yet there's still some bizarre pretence to the contrary.

I don't mind having Fellaini around and I was always quick to support him when he received unfair criticism under both Mourinho and Van Gaal - go check. But now it's almost cool to like him.. and expectations have been lowered significantly. He's fecked us around for months and I was happy to see the back of him - and the Plan B that-never-works.

The problem is now that he is signing a new contract I am sure he will have demanded more game time, thus he won't just be used as a plan B and we have all witnessed when Fellaini has been used as a plan A player (a lot of hoofball).
Some say Fellaini must be played more forward, next to or behind the striker, well we saw what happened when we tried that (Sevilla game) we play the long ball and end up with no plan B.
I don't mind Fellaini as a plan B or C it seems to work, him coming on and bullying tired players with his physicality. Is Fellaini the player we should be signing or resigning when we are wanting to close a 19 point gap to City, - No.

 

[Patrick08]

I don't have a problem with Fellani staying as long as we sign one more midfielder this summer who enhances our midfield play, creativity and one who improves our transition play and may be then we can move Mctominay on loan .But if his new deal means we are not getting any more midfielders this summer than surely this is a big problem as our midfield is filled with enough defensive minded midfielders who are poor passers of the ball and have low creativity about them and can't open up a defense in 90 mins of football forcing the attackers to drop deep to pick up the ball.

I'd be even okay with low key signings like Rakitic or even Wilshere for free even if Fellani stays but not getting another attack minded midfielder this summer will seriously degrade our chances of challenging for top spot with the steep challenge we face next season. There are so many options like Golovin or Jean Michael Seri or even Nabiel fekir too who can bring much more attacking threat to our midfield if we are baulking at Savic asking price. I'd even like to offer more money to Napoli for Jorginho to try to hijack that deal.

I'd be hugely disappointed with the board and Jose both if Fellani stays and we stopped improving the midfield attacking wise. Addition of Fred alone does not seem to be enough to challenge for major honours.

 

[Micky Targaryen]

My opinion regarding Fellaini's situation is the same as Martial's.

Great if both stays, wouldn't mind it if both leave the club. Nevertheless, both are decent options to have on the bench to change the game.

 

[Class of 63]

His best year (ie at Everton) came as no 10. He can play in a deeper role but not a top club like ours

I find Osman's comments as fair. He said that Fellaini is very good in a more advanced role but a bit clumbsy in a deeper one. Surely Mou and Osman know one or two things about Fellaini more then we do

We'll probably never know now unless there's a change of Manager as he's never really had a run of games there for us to prove whether he can, or can't, but that's where I thought he'd play for us when we signed him, the fact he'd developed the other side of his game at Everton when David Moyes had no other option than to try him further forward because of injuries being a bonus when we signed him.

If Osman had said what he said whilst stood next to Fellaini in a post-match interview with a big grin on his face, or they were still teammates it would've been fine, as it was it was at a time when Fellaini was getting pelters elsewhere for his erm rough play, i'd have liked to think a former teammate would've been more supportive of him at the time, but maybe that's just me.

On Mourinho knowing more than we do, i'll take the fifth

 

[Renegade]

Plan B ffs. Who and what was SAF’s plan B when we made all those regular comebacks? Would people be happy if we signed Peter Crouch on a free as back up for Lukaku for these circumstances?
He’s better at Plan B than Fellaini and would be cheaper than 120k a week.

 

[Jeppers7]

Our plan B should be to have a better plan A

 

[Class of 63]

Plan B ffs. Who and what was SAF’s plan B when we made all those regular comebacks? Would people be happy if we signed Peter Crouch on a free as back up for Lukaku for these circumstances?
He’s better at Plan B than Fellaini and would be cheaper than 120k a week.

Apart from his time at Liverpool I quite liked Crouchy, anybody when asked in one of those Shoot type magazines what he'd have been if he hadn't been a footballer answered "a virgin" will do me