£7m isn't the lucrative fee I thought we might get when I saw a Chinese club were involved but selling him is a statement of intent as much as anything. We're moving on from the long ball tactics we've employed so often with him in the team and we're getting a high earning squad player off the books.
Fellaini | Gone
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
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He’s China’s problem now
I don't imagine Dembele was on £100k per week like Fellaini though.
£7M was less than £10M the last time I looked. Also, Chelsea would be getting at least double that.
He should re-grow his hair, I think they will be fascinated by it. The wig sales, alone, will cover his salary and transfer fee, even if he ends up being absolute pants.
The Belgian newspapers 11,5 million euros (= £10 million) 14,5 million euros a year ...
Your point being? It was mind boggling for most people who follow the Belgian competition Benteke went to Aston Villa at the time. He had one good season, the seasons before he was loaned out with little success. Lukaku was tearing up our league at the age of 17, scoring goals for fun. He was one of the youngest players ever to play for our national team, being top scorer of all time at the age of 25. The difference in quality is immense.
Alright, that's a bit better then. Chelsea would still be getting double that though.
Delighted. He built up a weird **** following on here that convinced themselves he was a quality player. Bizarre.
The Phil Jones effect. Don’t do something completely oafish for a couple of games and people tie themselves in knots trying to convince themselves that he isn’t that bad.
It's the right move. If the club is going to play the way Ole wants to play then they need more players who can play that style.
The front 6 of Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Rashford and Martial are well suited to that style of play, but as soon as one of those players drops out, the quality of the attacking team play decreases (even with Lukaku or Sanchez in attack).
The back up in midfield just isn't there and needs to be improved to add depth. There is no point holding onto a player like Fellaini.
The front 6 of Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Rashford and Martial are well suited to that style of play, but as soon as one of those players drops out, the quality of the attacking team play decreases (even with Lukaku or Sanchez in attack).
The back up in midfield just isn't there and needs to be improved to add depth. There is no point holding onto a player like Fellaini.
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Hope he’s trolling and this isn’t his actual standard of reporting
Dare I say...with the way we were lumping it into the box last night, would have been a decent option? 
He's injured anywayDare I say...with the way we were lumping it into the box last night, would have been a decent option?
But regardless of whether it's the United way or not he's a great plan C
Should have gone last summer but at least it's happening now. Nothing against big man, he played with 100% effort and made good use of his abilities. Changed few games with his physicality too, like the one vs Juventus. End of the day, if we are to progress as a good footballing side, we need players who are good on the ball and have good passing ability.
Hopefully he will enjoy China like Paulinho did.
Hopefully he will enjoy China like Paulinho did.
I guess the £7m will pay for some of his wages from last year.
I don't think we'll agree on some of the subjectives here. But I do agree with the bold completely! My big issue here is the timing. Of all the squad players to dump now, I don't know that I'd get rid of plan B who could come in quite handy before the season end, especially if injuries add up.
Playing hoofball to the big guy is not a plan B but the consequence of desperate managers who are completely devoid of any tactical ideas of how to turn things around. Which explains why no big club use this tactic and why Fellaini is heading to China and not Barcelona.
Don't take me wrong, the current side is nowhere near to the treble winning team. However its far less shit then Mourinho had portrayed it to be. It has enough talent to give us a plan A, a plan B and a plan C if we need, plans that actually work btw.
Again, this is a point of disagreement - I think hoofball, is still football. Route 1. Sometimes pretty , many times ugly. But it's needed to change things up. A player like Cristiano makes it look better when Chiellini lumps it up to him and he volleys it in past De Gea. If that's not an apt comparison then I'd say it's the same as a defender going up into attack, purely to provide that physical, plan b presence.
In any case, the other part of this is the pittance of a transfer fee. Anything substantial and its a missed opportunity. But at 7mil, my attitude is meh.
Going back to the first thing you've said here, I'm actually feeling the same about using Lukaku last night. It seemed like he was thrown in central to just compete with Burnley's physical side. Aside from not even coming close to doing so, it just seemed strange to move away from the kind of focal point Rashford has been providing. Definitely overthought by the manager, and or too gracious after the FA Cup display. Moving forward, I'm tempted to put Lukaku into the same category you have for Fellaini - doesn't mesh with the football style.
You're confusing a team whose good in air and whose great in through balls with proper old fashioned hoofball. The treble winner team is a good example of the former. Scholes, Keane and Giggs were excellent passers of the ball while Beckham, Irwin and Gaz could whip some great balls for Yorke and Teddy to score. Hoofball is different. Its conceding that midfield is basically useless and must therefore be bypassed completely by whipping the ball up while hoping the big lump up front can do something with it. Ronaldo, Yorke and Teddy were far more then a big lump. Can't say the same with Fellaini.
We drew against Burnley because Periera kept the ball for too long + Rashford failed to convert clear chances into goals. Sort that out and we would have won easily. Throwing Fellaini against Burnley would have meant that the quality of our passes would deteriorate and so would our tempo. Which is exactly what Burnley would have wanted. There's way more effective ways to change the game then play a player whose so one dimension that it forces the team to play only in a certain way
"I don't have any specifics, but something will happen."
Yup.
I like his attitude. Despite the cricism he always put up a fight for the club which is adorable. But I can't pretend he's a quality footballer like some here seem to.
I'll drive him to the airport.
Ole's post-match "we'll wait and see" suggests it is on, ah well.....I think it's more lucky for you that you don't bet on things like that mate.
We'll have to wait and see i suppose, theres another month before the Chinese transfer window closes so plenty of time for them to get the deal done.
Think it'll be the best move for all parties, don't see him playing much under Solskjaer.
Did his job as a squad player. People hating on him were clueless and always will be.
Wish him all the best.
Wish him all the best.
Agreed, we're so clueless we must of missed all those top top clubs scrambling for Fellaini's signature over the years, i'm glad we managed to fight them off so we could retain a player of Fellaini's class, but now he's off to the top club he deserves to go to and we won't be holding him back, what a quality quality player. Gonna miss him everyday.
Yes. People that said he wasn't good enough are haters.
It seems Ole agrees with us too. Perhaps he's clueless too?
I think you mean "admirable".
Take away the long ball. Fellaini is just a better midfielder than Pereira period.
In my view, Pereira has suffered through a foolish attempt to turn him into a deep-lying playmaker. In our youth teams, he played mostly as a no10 and has excellent close dribbling and two good feet. He reminded me of Coutinho in his style of play. When he was out on loan at Valencia he played on the left wing cutting in very similar to Coutinho at Liverpool. He is also very good at free kicks as he showed in a League Cup game for us a couple seasons ago.
Unfortunately, in our team, he doesn't have the ideal role with Martial, Rashford and Sanchez better options at left wing and we don't play with a no10. If anything he could be used as a backup for Pogba in the creative midfield role given license to get forward. He does need protection behind him and as such I'd like to see him get a chance with Matic and Herrera if the need arises to rest Pogba or if there is a suspension or something.
If we were to sign a new holding midfielder like Ruben Neves or promote Garner for next season we could lineup with Pogba/Pereira Matic/Neves Herrera/Fred. Ultimately, you can't have 22 superstar players and a homegrown player is a valuable commodity.
Any one think they are selling Fellaini to use those wages for De Gea and Martial? Seems really odd to sell him in January when it's clear they need all the help they can get this season. Unless that's the reason.
YES!
good luck fellaini
good luck fellaini
Good luck to him.
It feels so significant style-wise to say goodbye to Fellaini. I admire his hard work and professionalism but having Mourinho and Fellaini go in the space of 6 weeks is joyous.
Good luck.
Glad he didn't go to an English club as he was always difficult when we played against him.
He clearly realised that no top team wanted him, given he was free in the summer, so he's gone for the money. No issue with that.
Glad he didn't go to an English club as he was always difficult when we played against him.
He clearly realised that no top team wanted him, given he was free in the summer, so he's gone for the money. No issue with that.
I find people who constantly defend Phil Jones just weird. It makes no sense to me
One down six to go!
I am shocked to see that he made as many appearances for United as he did for Everton. It sounds just... Wrong.
Regardless both of them should be out of here.
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