The Mail Bag
The Fellaini Enigma
Comments (26)
This guy can do so much for Everton if he is coached correctly. He still has old habits but has improved somewhat. Unfortunately, he is tall and awkward which means he stands out in his aerial challenges and referees find it easy to penalize him rather than the opponent around the penalty area, similar to what happens to Crouch and also happened a lot with Big Dunc (although Big Dunc could dish it out far to obviously).
I believe too many referees cop out when these players are competing strongly and give the decisions the wrong way. Unfortunately, football has to live with a percentage of inept referees, just as it has to live with dirty defenders.
In the Newcastle game, Fellaini got some poor decisions against him. One thing he has to learn in the Premier League is not to antagonize referees after he is penalized fairly or unfairly by remonstrating too much which will only make him more of a target for referees.
Tom Bowers, Posted 28/09/2010 at 17:36:34
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
To be fair to him though he does seem to have cleaned up his act somewhat, and seems to be getting a few less cards nowadays.
I'm here all week.
I don't see him as a big?? Just a player that has yet to be all that he can be.
It also made me wonder if at some stage there'll be a Hollywood version of The Fellaini Enigma, but in the Hollywood version he'll be playing for LA Galaxy.
(and played by John Turturro)
How many other managers play their defensive midfielder up front?...Mascherano, Essien, Palacios, Fletcher, Barry, Song. None of their managers at any time have played them out of position, put Fellaini where he belongs and see him blossom into the player he can be.
I'd say him and Cahill are the only two winners in the team, the rest are happy to become rich aspiring to mediocrity, as are the majority of players in this "con" we call the Premier League, predictable premiere bore!
Yes, I appreciate there is great pressure which says defend at all costs but referees also have responsibilties to clean up the game a little. Williamson against Fellaini was a prime example of desperate defending by a limited defender which constantly went unpunished by an inept referee.
I believe Fellaini was bought because of his height but he should only be a deep midfielder and not go forward except on set pieces. When forward he is generally static. He needs to learn about timing and making a run for the high ball at the right time.
Lifting your elbows when jumping is a human instinct we've developed over thousands of years. Live with it clown. It won't change.
I hear you've a book comming out called "How to make friends and influence people"
We all know about elbows being used to elevate. "Live with it clown" will not endear you for very long on this website.
As a fellow Evertonian, I'm gutted to read that.
I disagree with your statement - I believe that It depends on how high and how "bent and pointed" your elbow becomes! Yes, modern day footballers do have to lift their arms to jump - but not to the extent some of them take it to. Thugs, purely out to hurt others.
Similar comments remind me of that RS thug - who absolved himself by trying to convince everyone that he "pulled out " of the tackle on Naismith - and the RS goalie who brought the art of lifting one leg to jump (considered normal) to a fine art of thuggery.
There are far too many people accepting these types of things as "normal" - they would make perfect candidates to join the FA steering commitee!
On the one hand, you have a God given talent, co-ordination and reflexes. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
But at this Club and others plenty have been the other way.
You teach the basics to them as kids the 3 G's, pass and move, support the guy with the ball, give him an option, more than one if poss.
They will, if the have half a football brain, learn by doing. The half-time and full-time debrief aka bollocking will put them right... along the lines of and no doubt prettied up in PC nice speak..wtf were you thinking of doing (or not doing) whatever.
Too much coaching ruins the game and some of the players.
It's a simple game.
Oi teacher, leave those kids alone...cue guitar lick.
The Big Fella playing out of position is something we've all had to do when there are injuries ? I'm sure he'll get over it.
I can't think of anyone who has had a decent start to the season, but I've great belief that it will be turned around.
Have to agree with you there. Last season he was immense in that position.
What we need is a striker! :-)
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)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 28/09/2010 at 20:07:51
Report abuse
However, he's more in control when playing DM, and seems to get fewer cards when playing DM rather than AM.
And, one has to remember he's still a very young player. It's easy to forget this because of his size, transfer fee and hairdo (he he).
He's not a agressive player a la Duncan, who mostly scared the shit out of the opponents before smashing them to the ground ( or tried to strangle them ( Freund)). I miss Duncan.. Lots of fun watching him.