Shouldn't have started, shouldn't have been taken off.
Marouane Fellaini signs new contract until 2020 with option of a further year
- Thread starter ash_86
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One of those games when him starting from the first mimute is clearly costly to his team. They would never win this game with him playing from the start.
Once again, a manager misuses him. The ONLY way to use him is at the end of a game, when facing a low block, so that you can cross or play the long ball.
Great plan B and can't really fault him for the goal. Just like with us those stellar cameos always fool his coaches into promoting him to Plan A in big games. Should be a late game option to minimise his limitations
Ah yeah, makes more sense.
For a moment I thought it was another of the posts like you mentioned where myths are said about him, like that he gives 100% every game. Of course he hasnt done that for us every game and few people have, he's had some very lackluster performances at times. In fact thats where I'd say the general bemusement with him as a player came from was when he had games where he was off the pace, missing passes and losing the ball and giving people the ammunition to say that he's not a very good footballer.
But yeah, a decent threat in the air but not one of the best around at winning the ball in the air. His special skill was always chest controlling the ball down from the sky
Maybe it’s just me but I thought he played well, at least in the first half. After the goal (which he wasn’t to blame for) he became a de facto LW, and had no effect on the game from there.
I really don't know how you can fully blame Fellaini for that goal
Umtiti isn't Fellaini's man on set pieces, but once Umtiti got in front, Fellaini did what he could to stop him.
Problem is, unless Fellaini could literally walk through Umtiti, how else is he supposed to win that header when the ball was at a perfect height for him
Well the ball comes off him and goes into the goal. Its a bit unlucky but we wont know for sure where the header was going and whether the keeper could have done more with it because of Fellaini's touch
That said yes its Toby's original error letting him get goalside of him.
Fellaini isn't fit to clean O'Shea's boots.
Cant fault him for the goal, Umtiti ran up from behind him. If you're not resorting to plan F and hoofing up the ball to him in the box then there's really no point him being on the pitch if you're chasing a game
Stop thinking and watch the replays. He wasn't n did what he could to defend once Toby lost umtiti.
I mean, his job was to clear any ball about to come into the six yard box and he got beaten to it. Alderwierald was more at fault but Fellaini wasn't blameless.I really don't know how you can fully blame Fellaini for that goal
Umtiti isn't Fellaini's man on set pieces, but once Umtiti got in front, Fellaini did what he could to stop him.
Problem is, unless Fellaini could literally walk through Umtiti, how else is he supposed to win that header when the ball was at a perfect height for him
Seriously? This game is proof he has "little to no footballing intelligence and skills whatsoever"??The number of times he got the ball in an advanced position only to check back and play it backwards was infuriating.
He had a few chances he could whip in a cross. But no - touch, check back, pass back.
No idea why his technical ability gets talked up.
Plan B, or an extra man in midfield to do leg work. Nothing more.
He had a few chances he could whip in a cross. But no - touch, check back, pass back.
No idea why his technical ability gets talked up.
Plan B, or an extra man in midfield to do leg work. Nothing more.
Not sure why he was taken off when Belgium were chasing a goal. Nevertheless, he wasn’t good tonight however he should have stayed on for his arial threat.
Should had scored with his chance.. Overall a very good tournament and looked fresh until tonight(SF)
This game in combination with the many other games I've seen him play in for United over the years, I think it's fair to say he is a distincly average footballer. You very likely disagree.
the trouble with forums that we tend to put people in a total critic box the moment he criticise the player. I am accused that I am a big critic of the class of 92. That's because I think that none of them are top manager material + I think the Nevilles and Butt were extremely hyped as players (Gaz did became a great RB late in his career though). In reality things are different. I think Giggs was virtually unstoppable at times, Beckham was the best crosser the world had ever seen and Scholes, well if I had to choose between him and Zidane, I'll choose him every single time. Zidane was a great player, possibly the most talented of his generation. Scholes though was an assist and goal machine. He could go on playing magnificently well game in game out for months.
To return on the subject in my opinion Fellaini has his uses and he gets more effective further on the pitch. Currently we're not exploiting that skill to its full efficiency because we've got so many inside forwards who aren't exactly great in crossing the ball. However if we add wide players who can whip the ball then he might even become a regular player on the pitch (not first team but a valid squad player). What I absolutely hate is hype and bad comparisons. You gave a perfect example on the former. The OShea comparison is a perfect example for the latter. I expect more from Fellaini then a homegrown talent who was probably paid peanuts to play as a squad player.
He should have played alongside Lukaku once they went behind, he has no business in the midfield against a compact defence.
Seriously?
Yes, that's a fair assessment.
Still, the point is that a player like that - who doesn't stand out ability wise and who is, clearly, more "useful" than "brilliant" - won't be hailed by demanding fans when he isn't part of a successful team: O' Shea was - Fellaini hasn't been. His cult following would've been minimal, to put it like that - nutmeg or no nutmeg.
"Deadwood, adds nothing, should seek to add quality to the team not donkeys who can play multiple positions..." And so forth.
Nah, I'm not really serious. Fellaini has his uses, of course, they are just very limited.
For a club like United, one that is attempting to close the gap on one of the strongest premier league teams in history (Man City), the likes of Fellaini don't really cut the mustard. We have to think bigger than him if we are to even consider winning the premier league as a realistic option.
I don't think he had much of any fan boys. Just people that can appreciate what he offers and don't think he's as shit as he's portrayed on this forum
Marouane Fellaini's comical own-goal knocks Belgium out of the World Cup, 87% of United fans think he should be hung, drawn and quartered, or worst still, sent out on loan to Stoke City for the season says the Metro
Fooled his coach starting him as plan A+1 again. Should never be a starter.
Fellaini a nuisance playing a number 10 role?
Generally, number 10's are players of vision, excel at passing and consistently score. Defensive midfielders are more of what you describe. Fellaini's issues are he's neither a number 10 or defensive midfielder. I would think his stats will provide proof he hardly wins games when played in an attacking role since he's been with United.
Does anyone have statistics to prove him coming on late as a sub works? How many has he scored when his team needed a goal whilst losing a game?
I'm just interested in his United career.
sums him up well.....
great guy in the odd game but in a footballing sense he is limited
would have had a better impact than Merterns had he stayed on though
great guy in the odd game but in a footballing sense he is limited
would have had a better impact than Merterns had he stayed on though
Im as big a Fellaini fan as there is, but I wouldn't have started him that game. He should have come on in the 2nd half, playing more centrally/behind Lukaku. This is the second time they had him playing on the wing, WTF. I don't know a single soul that would want Fellaini sending in crosses. There is no way he is going to beat anyone down the line. It didn't, and doesn't make any sense why he ended up playing there in 2 separate WC games. If he is central, he takes CBs with him as he lumbers toward the box, freeing space for their playmakers to get into dangerous positions.
I felt that Martinez really screwed up their chances that game with his lineup decisions. Kompany again looked nowhere near to what they needed out of a central defender. Dembele was terrible, and he waited until the last minute to bring in another
I felt that Martinez really screwed up their chances that game with his lineup decisions. Kompany again looked nowhere near to what they needed out of a central defender. Dembele was terrible, and he waited until the last minute to bring in another
Fellaini was a waste of space tonight. Couldnt see what he was supposed to do. He just lurched mainly on the left side of the pitch. Saying that Lukaku wasnt any better.
Coming on as a late sub (60'-90') in games United are drawing/losing he has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 seasons.
He was there to mark Pogba, and didnt do a great job of it, as Pogba was running off him and turning him every time the ball was played in to him.
When the roles were switched the second half Pogba lost that one header on the edge of the box to him and other than that handled him quite well for a player not known for his defensive qualities.
To be brutally honest he was on a hiding to nothing last night as there was a massive gulf in class between him and the players he was up against, and matching him up against Pogba meant his one attribute (height) was wasted, as there is only an inch or two between the two of them.
He isnt there to send in crosses, he is used there to bully fullbacks (usually the sortest defenders) and bring his own players in from there.
Was decent today. Goal was top class. sometimes, you can't do anything against those.
Dembele on the other hand, that was unexpected. Was 2 yards behind every action. Lack of game time I suppose.
Dembele on the other hand, that was unexpected. Was 2 yards behind every action. Lack of game time I suppose.
Thanks, buddy!
That sums it up. He's not the saviour and lumping up the ball to him does not work.
Well that make sense in theory but not in practice. Don't forget that SAF won EPL titles with the likes of Owen, Fortune, Silvestre and co.
This is what I really think. We were lumped with a 30m player whose clearly not United level. Throughout the years it was evident that he wasn't good enough for regular first team football HOWEVER he survived the chop under 3 different managers. Last summer he tried to leave, he failed to find anyone willing to get him on a free and he signed a contract on pretty much our terms and despite falling further down the pecking order (ie Fred). Is it that tragic to have a Belgian international as 4th-6th choice CM especially since he can be dangerous if utilised as no 10 in direct football?
I think we're seasons away to compete with Shitty let alone win the CL. There's too many positions that need to be strengthened and by the time we tackle those other issues will crop up. Meanwhile Shitty keep reinforcing their squad with real talent (not Grant)
Thus I doubt that this gap will be closed if got rid of Fellaini whom as said is a squad player now.
Players with a lot of workrate and little talent/football IQ to match will always attract hype and fanboys on this forum. I know since I've been clashing swords with them since 2002 (I even earned a tag for that).
Having said that I don't think we ever had a character so divisive as he is. The likes of Phil matched him talent wise but he was a little trooper, who loved United dearly, he wasn't payed much and who would play wherever we wanted him to play. Fellaini still stinks of a big signing turned bad. He's got that mean streak in him and his interviews prior signing a contract with us were a bit insulting towards the club. That's why he lack the fanboys the likes of Phil and OShea has.
I'm not a fan of Fellaini at all, however he's had a surprisingly good World Cup and he performed well yesterday, didn't look out of place at all on the pitch. I thought Witsel was more of an issue. Belgium didn't use him for height and hoof, yet I thought he did alright with the role he had.
I'd still rather he left, but credit where it's due.
I'd still rather he left, but credit where it's due.
true and that's why he's effective. Modern defenders are used to face technically gifted no 10s who will try to dribble or outwit them. Fellaini is a freak of nature. He's 6ft4, he's decent in air and he's very physical. Defences tend to struggle against that especially if he comes late in the game when the defenders are tired and tactics didn't catered of having a fresh giant nuisance bullying his way in their box. Its not about assists or goals but more about the disruption he creates in the box as defenders will have to adapt so late in the game to cut him off. That has the potential to create new gaps in the defence.
In some ways he reminds me of Pippo Inzaghi. Talent wise he was very ordinary. He had some pace but not at Kanchelskis level and he was reasonably strong but nowhere near to Vieri or RVN. All he had was a good eye for goal and the ability to know how to make a nuisance of himself. He would stick very close to the last defender and then constantly try to outpace him forcing him to commit mistakes. He would make a scene out of every tackle he suffered and by doing so he would get into your brain. Defenders hated him. They had to choose to either give him the space he needed to act or else risk being dragged into a penalty or a foul in the box as Inzaghi will probably throw his own mother under the bus for just another goal. Stam was immense during the treble but this little shit got to him at the Delle Alpi.
Should stay on instead of useless carasco since Belgium start whipping in cross , the goal wasn't his fault either, at least he tried to compete after Umtiti ran away from his man.