He is the secret ingredient in LVG's diabolical plan for world domination by the fusion of hoof-ball and tika-taka. 
[Poll] Fellaini - What do we Think of him Now? | Poll reset - vote again until May 17th
- Thread starter Walrus
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
It depends on who or if we bring in another midfielder this summer. If our midfield options stay the same, the second option.
Are we seeing the unveiling of the new style, hoofi-taka?He is the secret ingredient in LVG's diabolical plan for world domination by the fusion of hoof-ball and tika-taka.
I disagree. Every player is limited in various ways. I think Maroane is just fantastic; committed, skilful and terribly effective. Everyone can't be, shouldn't be, the same, you need lots of different attributes. There is a decent list of qualities that Fellaini brings to any team he plays for, and you can't argue but that he's been one of the key elements in the team's recent good form.
I've reset it. This is the final reset on this. No need to continually rest polls to collect knee jerk opinions after good or bad performances.
Fair enough, was hoping to get one at the end of the season as well. Just thought it would be interesting to see the general trend of opinion - not as though its being reset after every game
By the way the close date on the poll didnt change
He's been marked out of the last three games, and rendered ineffective. He gives us a direct route -- in fact, the only direct route LvG seems to know. But when it's not working LvG needs to identify it and remedy the situation. In other words, don't play RvP in midfield in order to accommodate Fellaini as a striker.
The fact I can't vote means I have already voted previously? Anyway my vote now would be less negative than when this first opened. I would go for; Decent - Rotation/backup option, or if we want to use a specific "Plan B"
Changed it to 14 days from now.Fair enough, was hoping to get one at the end of the season as well. Just thought it would be interesting to see the general trend of opinion - not as though its being reset after every game
By the way the close date on the poll didnt change
He's worked hard and been effective in many games but the fact he can be marked out of games is worrying
We did the same to him in 2013 when Phil Jones marked him out of the game whilst he was at Everton, it's poor management that we've allowed this to happen for 3 games running
We did the same to him in 2013 when Phil Jones marked him out of the game whilst he was at Everton, it's poor management that we've allowed this to happen for 3 games running
I might be a bit harsh on Fellaini, but even at his best, I never ever thought he was good enough as a first XI player IMO.
He's been one of our best players this past month or 2. I'll gladly admit to that, but that has a bit to do with so-called big name players in appalling form too. Either way, credit to Fellaini. I just still think that he promotes a "outdated" type of (physical) football, which is an excellent "plan B" but if the opposition sits deep and puts a guy on him to counter his aerial threat, your game plan is in serious jeopardy. Basically,
To get the best out of Fellaini, you need to use a certain system and, IMO, that means either:
- you're forced to set yourself up to play a certain way and use his height or
- when that system is well countered by the opposition, Fellaini is kind of irrelevant because he's a limited threat with the ball at his feet.
On a last point, and I know money shouldn't matter, but he''d be an extremely expensive "plan B" or even squad option.
He's been one of our best players this past month or 2. I'll gladly admit to that, but that has a bit to do with so-called big name players in appalling form too. Either way, credit to Fellaini. I just still think that he promotes a "outdated" type of (physical) football, which is an excellent "plan B" but if the opposition sits deep and puts a guy on him to counter his aerial threat, your game plan is in serious jeopardy. Basically,
To get the best out of Fellaini, you need to use a certain system and, IMO, that means either:
- you're forced to set yourself up to play a certain way and use his height or
- when that system is well countered by the opposition, Fellaini is kind of irrelevant because he's a limited threat with the ball at his feet.
On a last point, and I know money shouldn't matter, but he''d be an extremely expensive "plan B" or even squad option.
We shouldn't even use him as a plan B, more like a plan C or D and by that I mean absolute last resort. In the last few games he has shown a complete lack of any technical ability and is actually slowing down some of our attacks.
He is a very good player and can be effective in the right set up though.
He is a very good player and can be effective in the right set up though.
I can't see why some people are blaming all of this on Fellaini. It wasn't his idea to play him up top and drop Rooney and RVP back into midfield.
I've not changed my position.
An improvement on last season (no biggie) but he's had very few effective games in 2 seasons to be kept. I'm not sure even the coaches have yet worked out his best qualities having tried various positions over the 2 seasons he's been at United.
He's certainly not the player going forward if the club aspires to play fast dynamic football on the ground.
An improvement on last season (no biggie) but he's had very few effective games in 2 seasons to be kept. I'm not sure even the coaches have yet worked out his best qualities having tried various positions over the 2 seasons he's been at United.
He's certainly not the player going forward if the club aspires to play fast dynamic football on the ground.
Last edited:
As I have always stated Plan B, his recent form did question my previous stance, but I came back to a realization that this longball to Fellaini game plan can stagnate our creativity
My opinion hasn't changed since this thread was created, he's been decent throughout.
I agree.
Decent.
A decent squad man, nothing more than a useful Plan B.
Good player to have in the squad.
If he's starting regularly next season, something has gone horribly wrong in the Summer.
If he's starting regularly next season, something has gone horribly wrong in the Summer.
Don't understand the whole good player to have in the squad. Bayern/Real/Barca wouldn't even consider him as that, and that's the level we aspire to be.
I misclicked, I think we should cash in on him.
He's got his uses in big games but I find it bizarre every time we play him against teams that will just sit and defend and we need to break down. Him playing striker with RvP partnering Rooney in midfield was just the most bizarre thing I've seen.
Still of the same opinion as last time.
1. I'm sorry but I still haven't acquired a taste for the route 1 tactics on display rather frequently this season. Fair enough, in certain situations wanting a physical threat in the form of a target-man to serve as your Plan B or C in the final third (incase the primary possession setup fails) isn't the worst idea. But then, why not buy someone who can actually be more clinical and proficient in front of goal ?
Someone like Llorente has only 2 years remaining on his contract at Juventus. The emergence of Morata might make him kind of surplus to requirement in Turin. This is someone who has the exact same physical dimensions as Fellaini, but is a is a specialist striker adept at hold up play, creating movement in front of goal, playing with his back towards the defense, and has consistently scored somewhere in the region of 16-20 league goals in the past 6 seasons for Athletic Club and Juventus. He was also part of the dangerous Athletic Club team of Biesla that shocked us in the Europa League. The fee won't even be prohibitive. Juventus need money to replenish the squad, and Llorente might fetch them somewhere in the region of €10-12 million.
2. If you want to add a menacing presence in midfield, buy someone who can be creative, can consistently link up play between defense and attack, is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can recycle possession efficiently when the team in pressed. Pogba might be the dream signing, but someone like Kondogbia (an immensely talented young player in his own) would do well too. Again, a big unit who can boss people around, defensively very aware, very good from a technical standpoint and is a specialist #6/ box to box player who can either play at the LCM position or be Carrick's long term replacement as the central defensive midfielder in terms of function - not necessarily form. This will become even more important (if and when) we re-enter the European Cup and go up against the best clubs around whose managers are tactically aware of our individual weaknesses and came game-plan accordingly.
I honestly do try to rationalize Fellaini's place in the squad, but keep circling back to the same core arguments in terms of his position. Also, which of the biggest clubs around (the standard we've historically been at) have players of his ilk in the XI or even in the squad ? We need to buy players who are specialized for specific roles instead of relying on someone who's a flex half and half, and won't be be as effective as some other options for either role.
For me, Fellaini isn't a striker/ attacker of the highest caliber and he isn't a #8/ #6 of the requisite standard either. He has the presence to be fair, but the technical deficiencies will crop up time and again; we will lose a lot of creative impetus as a consequence, and then you're stuck in a limbo once the aerial supply is stopped. Ideally, you get a decent bid in the summer and move him on. Might be the the best course of action for all parties involved. We recoup a fraction of the transfer outlay, and the player joins a team more aligned with vertical warfare strategies. The football reasoning is kind of two-fold :
1. I'm sorry but I still haven't acquired a taste for the route 1 tactics on display rather frequently this season. Fair enough, in certain situations wanting a physical threat in the form of a target-man to serve as your Plan B or C in the final third (incase the primary possession setup fails) isn't the worst idea. But then, why not buy someone who can actually be more clinical and proficient in front of goal ?
Someone like Llorente has only 2 years remaining on his contract at Juventus. The emergence of Morata might make him kind of surplus to requirement in Turin. This is someone who has the exact same physical dimensions as Fellaini, but is a is a specialist striker adept at hold up play, creating movement in front of goal, playing with his back towards the defense, and has consistently scored somewhere in the region of 16-20 league goals in the past 6 seasons for Athletic Club and Juventus. He was also part of the dangerous Athletic Club team of Biesla that shocked us in the Europa League. The fee won't even be prohibitive. Juventus need money to replenish the squad, and Llorente might fetch them somewhere in the region of €10-12 million.
2. If you want to add a menacing presence in midfield, buy someone who can be creative, can consistently link up play between defense and attack, is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can recycle possession efficiently when the team in pressed. Pogba might be the dream signing, but someone like Kondogbia (an immensely talented young player in his own) would do well too. Again, a big unit who can boss people around, defensively very aware, very good from a technical standpoint and is a specialist #6/ box to box player who can either play at the LCM position or be Carrick's long term replacement as the central defensive midfielder in terms of function - not necessarily form. This will become even more important (if and when) we re-enter the European Cup and go up against the best clubs around whose managers are tactically aware of our individual weaknesses and came game-plan accordingly.
I honestly do try to rationalize Fellaini's place in the squad, but keep circling back to the same core arguments in terms of his position. Also, which of the biggest clubs around (the standard we've historically been at) have players of his ilk in the XI or even in the squad ? We need to buy players who are specialized for specific roles instead of relying on someone who's a flex half and half, and won't be be as effective as some other options for either role.
I'd say decent squad player, but the football we play with him in the side when shit hits the fan...it makes me want to die.
Over the course of a season without him, we'd be no worse off without his presence in the squad. We would find other solutions. He's the most dispensible of the 4 or so central midfielders we have from a pure footballing perspective. Obviously LVG is a fan of what he can provide, but I'd like to think long-term that'll be phased out.
Over the course of a season without him, we'd be no worse off without his presence in the squad. We would find other solutions. He's the most dispensible of the 4 or so central midfielders we have from a pure footballing perspective. Obviously LVG is a fan of what he can provide, but I'd like to think long-term that'll be phased out.
And Persie was much better on midfield than our armband man!
Still a good player. He was key in our best run of form against Spurs, Liverpool and City. He's not played the same role since due to injuries and a change of shape. I don't think that stops him from being a good player. Glad he's kicked on and contributed a few important goals, as well as great spells of overall play. Looking forward to seeing more of it next season.
Still support him as a player that could and should play most games.
Just think about what's happening - he's being man marked. Who in the world of football gets man marked? Messi, Ronaldo and perhaps a handful of others.
The risk opposing teams take is that it frees up other players. But we have to be able to take advantage. Unfortunately Fellaini had become our main and sometimes only weapon and it is now becoming clear that we need a "Plan B".
Just think about what's happening - he's being man marked. Who in the world of football gets man marked? Messi, Ronaldo and perhaps a handful of others.
The risk opposing teams take is that it frees up other players. But we have to be able to take advantage. Unfortunately Fellaini had become our main and sometimes only weapon and it is now becoming clear that we need a "Plan B".
He's a good player, but he should not be one of teh first names on the teamsheet like he is now.
Good player to have in the squad, causes opposition problems and gives them something to think about. But never a regular starter until he improves his technical ability
This has been my take on it, more or less. Yes Fellaini has been getting countered due to opponents singling him out and stopping him - but that should be when other players step in and exploit the space and chances that that should create.
I don't think it's that complicated. We are presumably going to play 4-3-3, so we need 2 CM's who can attack. We have one in Herrera and we need another one in this summer, and then Fellaini, Mata, Di Maria and hopefully Pereira can provide very different options rotated in there.
Long-term, there may not be a place for Fellaini, but for next year I think he should be an important backup option there to be deployed against teams that can't deal with him.
Long-term, there may not be a place for Fellaini, but for next year I think he should be an important backup option there to be deployed against teams that can't deal with him.
Still the same as always, good squad player to use when we want to go direct or have more of a physical presence in the team, but he shouldn't and won't be a key player or anything like that long term. He's a useful player because there aren't many like him, but if you put someone who can compete with him physically it basically renders him ineffective in the game and your basically a man short.
Dont see an updated poll on any other player ...absolutely pathetic
Oh its always his fault..you cant be tall and have an afro and play for United. Its midget spaniards or brazilians that get us moist on here
Can you elaborate on this?
Why is Fellaini subject to an updated poll? He isnt at fault for the current form. The team cant function without Carrick which he will prove hopefully on saturday.
Fair enough. Its worth noting that I created this thread and requested that the poll be reset though, and I have been one of the more vocal Fellaini supporters on this place.
I originally created it after Fellaini came into the team earlier this season and it coincided with us having a good run of form - I wanted to gauge the change in overall opinion (if any) on Fellaini.
I asked for it to be reset after the Liverpool game - where again he had had a pretty good run of form, and sure enough the poll results then were even more positive.
I asked for it to be reset again today because I wanted to show how fickle the fans can be on this, and because I thought it would be interesting/useful to see the change in opinion over the course of the season. My biggest regret is not creating this thread at the start of the season so we could have an initial benchmark.
Oh you dont need a poll to see how fickle this bunch is mate. They revolt quicker than the 18th century French and a lot of them are aptly calling for LVGs head. Fellaini has been hated for absolutely no reason since day one. And those most vociferous about him are the ones who probably have the least knowledge about how football works!