The Mail Bag
Fellaini
Comments (27)
Just something that I have picked up on in recent games, is Fellaini's contributions. Moyes has noticably been playing him in front of the back four, and I must admit, the lad's been doing well.
He's never going to be the defensive midfielder we all want, throwing in crunching tackles and marking men out of the game, but his contributions in winning nearly every header from their goal kicks, and generally annoying people off the ball, I think we would all have to say it's a marked improvement.
I also think, he's a way of us stopping our centre halves from lumping the ball up field. (It doesnt matter who plays there, they all do it!) Fellaini is always there for the easy pass, and generally he doesn't give the ball away that often (unlike Osman yesterday!).
All-in-all, I still don't think he's a fantastic player, but for all the stick he gets, I thought it was time to acknowledge that what he's been doing recently is appreciated, and if that's where we are gonna play him, going forward, it means Cahill can get back to his favoured position, or even get on the bench as an impact sub...
Chris Dwyer, Posted 21/12/2009 at 07:07:14
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Happy Christmas and a blooming good New Year to all Evertonians.
The first 20 mins of the Birmingham game when we played our best football for yonks, everything went through Fellaini and Pienaar.
Still, some people will complain about hoofball day-in and day-out, then they want to flog off one of the few ’footballers’ we have.
John is right: he is one of the few players who likes to keep the ball on the floor!
The problem is he can be effective and a threat when attacking and this is where the problem lies. I’m sure Moyes shows him those mistakes you pointed out and will tell him to sort it out. I’ll disagree on one point, I think he can be turned into a good player but as my teachers kept saying (must try harder)
Forget the fee we payed as this is bollocks — we never handed over nowhere near that £15M quoted.
I know it sounds like a broken record but he is young and he has been playing next to... well exactly. Not much to inspire and set an example for him really.
How Fellaini can be slagged off and Rodwell be praised to high heaven I'll never know. They both play the same sort of role with the difference being Fellaini will score you more goals, win more headers, create more chances, and actually try to pass the ball forward.
Yes, at times he has been guilty of not tracking back and loosing concentration, just like Rodwell, but this is common to most young players. In a year or two, I can see a few people on here eating their words.
I’m afraid he doesn’t do enough.
How people can't see Fellaini's massive contribution is beyond me, his work rate I believe is miles ahead of any other player except Pienaar.
Has anyone on this site got access to Opta stats because I think they will prove me right. Get off the big Fella's back; he's excellent, and no, I have not been on the Xmas sherry yet.
Merry Xmas all Blues... we could be in for a scary 2010.
It's been a long time since we had some one on the right-half Jimmy Gabriel position... it’s also been a long time since there was a right-half for that matter.
I think this is his natural role, the number of times he popped up in that position versus Birmingham was amazing.
He is the sort of player that, if he was on the opposition’s side, we would be howling dirty bastard at him every time he touched the ball and, in the old half-back mode of doing a bit of everything.
If this is the position for him, is it one that will suit the way the boss wants it played? This is his square hole, and he seems to fit it. IMHO of course.
Even though he was out for most of it... and hasn’t exactly been setting the world alight since then?
hmmmm.
Those people who want Fellaini to be more like Carsley really have short memories... Carsely was a very limited player who had no offensive game at all and couldn’t pass.
Fortunately Fellaini does have these attributes... I don’t see him as a defensive midfielder — because he doesn’t have the necessary attributes... He’s simply a central midfielder who links up the wing play and scores a few... and his improvement is to be celebrated.
I think a few of us would be very happy if Fellaini could turn into a quality defensive midfielder, given his lack of passing ability. Can't see it happening, but the boy is still young and was ill for a long time so let's give him a break!
Perhaps Moyes has given up on his idea of turning him into an attacking player and is letting him concentrate on this strengths of breaking play up and generally annoying the opposition with his height etc...
Carsley was a decent player who knew his limitations, but wasn't in the team to pass the ball, he’s a footballer isn't he?
-------------------------
Fellaini can’t pass?
Seriously?
It's hard to say what his best position is but I am going for defensive midfielder as his lack of pace will not be exposed and his passing (euro style not hoofball), heading the long ball away and hopefully improving tackling and postional play awareness will stand him in good stead.
He certainly isn’t a striker or second stiker like Cahill as he is too slow... it's embarrassing.
If he can improve his tackling, his give-and-go short passes would make him a good defensive midfielder.
He cost too much, he sometimes looks awkward, but he’s a good player and most of his critics seem to expect something else of him without appreciating what he can do. I’m afraid some blame also has to go to Moyes, who hasn’t always used him in his most natural position or played to his strengths, using him instead as a sort of target man who also had to track back and defend.
And he needs to get rid of the hair. Soon.
Honestly Chris, Fellaini's a class act, mark my words, I know a player when I see one. If you cant see that, get to Specsavers.
Personally I think he has shown some really good defensive play as this season has gone along; however, it is undeniable that he loses concentration at times or needs to work more on this side of his game. Closing down and chasing back must be improved (Sunday being a case in point). The pluses are that he has more overall influence on games at the moment (as opposed to just nabbing goals last season) and he has reduced drastically his potential to be booked. In short, the lad has made progress. But like in all walks of life, there is always room for improvement.
Let's keep things in persective please!!!
Oh and as for Fellaini, I'm on the side of those who think he's just a great big lump!!!! Too slow and not arsed!!!
MotM today again and hope you enjoyed it as well Chris, he's been our best player all season by a country mile.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 21/12/2009 at 15:04:33
Report abuse
You also touched on one of our major problems this season the form of Tim Cahill. He has really been quite poor so far, with little sign of improvement. The effort is there as always but the end result certainly isn’t. I think Moyes could do everyone a favour and sit him out for a couple of games over Christmas.
Can’t see it though.