ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Fellaini

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, Crosby, Merseyside. Posted 21/12/2009 at 07:07:14

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Dave Street
1 Posted 21/12/2009 at 15:04:33

I agree and think Fellaini’s displays have been improving as the season has gone on. Everyone jumped on his back early season, when he was still suffering with that virus. He is now showing some real form and may yet become an Everton great!

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.

Anthony Millington
2 Posted 21/12/2009 at 15:05:58

I wish we’d never signed him. I’m fed up of hearing how great he is. Yes, he’s performing a bit better now, but he’s got such a poor workrate and is incredibly slow. You say he’s playing really well, but is it just me who sees him costing the team goals? Larsson ran right past Fellaini for the goal and he doesn’t ever both tracking back. It was the same against Tottenham for the penalty incident when Palacios ran past him and I seem to remember the same happening against Hull.

Patty Beesley
3 Posted 21/12/2009 at 15:13:51

Dave — Fellaini might become one of the Everton greats??? You’re having a laugh aren’t you? Personally I wish we had never signed this last-bit panic buy of Moyes's and he was on the transfer list next January. I don’t rate him at all... sorry.

Happy Christmas and a blooming good New Year to all Evertonians.

John Prior
4 Posted 21/12/2009 at 16:29:24

Fellaini along with Pienaar have been head and shoulders above most players since the derby. It's no coincidence that Fellaini’s performances have improved with with our ability to pass it in the last few games.

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.

Michael Wood
5 Posted 21/12/2009 at 16:52:33

Fellaini will be leaving Everton soon. I’ve just bought the home shirt for my son with Fellaini on the back. His previous two kits were Johnson and Lescott!

James Stewart
6 Posted 21/12/2009 at 16:55:50

Fellaini should be one of the first names on the teamsheet at present. Especially in the DM position.

John is right: he is one of the few players who likes to keep the ball on the floor!

Tony Doran
7 Posted 21/12/2009 at 16:53:27

Anthony Millington, you're spot on. If he can learn to defend first and only attack from set pieces or when he’s being covered for, he’ll be a much better player. But when moves break down, he must be there, doing what Carsley use to do, ie, all the ugly stuff.

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.

Nick Dommett
8 Posted 21/12/2009 at 17:29:27

Please remember that he has had a shed load of health problems and is only now being played in his preferred position. Last year he was playing as an auxilliary striker and even this season Moyes started him further up the pitch with Cahill deeper!

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.

Ian Tunstead
9 Posted 21/12/2009 at 17:42:47

Fellaini has been excellent for a while now and receives far too much criticism, even when ill and out of form he was nowhere near as bad as some made out. He is not a propper DM player like a Carsley or Neville who will do the dirty work he is a player more in the Carrick mold who will keep possession and dictate the play but with the added bonus of being good at winning headers.

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.

Brian Waring
10 Posted 21/12/2009 at 19:31:54

One reason why he is always just going to be an okay player, who has the odd good game here and there, he is a lazy bastard.

John Talbot
11 Posted 21/12/2009 at 20:53:39

He was at fault for the goal on Sunday... just let Larsson run past him as he coasted back.

I’m afraid he doesn’t do enough.

Robert Daniels
12 Posted 21/12/2009 at 21:27:31

Fellaini and Pienaar have been our best players all season, with Saha and Coleman being the highlights of a very poor start.

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.

Derek Thomas
13 Posted 22/12/2009 at 03:19:06

One point per game is, unless the ones below us are even worse, which they might be, relegation form. It will be a long season.

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.

Chris Perry
14 Posted 22/12/2009 at 08:14:02

Fellaini is Claus Thompsen Mark II. He is diabolical, lazy, clumsy and quite simply a joke. If people on here rate him, then they have pretty poor standards, no doubt you also rate Osman, Hibbert and Jo!!!!

Ciarán McGlone
15 Posted 22/12/2009 at 09:12:08

Pienaar? Best of the season so far?

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.

Malcolm Evans
16 Posted 22/12/2009 at 10:41:11

Carsley had no offensive game at all and couldn't pass?? That's not what he was in the team for! He was there to sit in front of the back 4, break up attacks and give a short pass to Arteta, Pienaar etc. One of the reasons we are struggling so much at the moment is we don't have that type of player with Neville out.

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!

Damian Scott
17 Posted 22/12/2009 at 10:48:30

I think people are forgetting that the position he played for Standard Liege was as a Defensive Midfielder in the "Carsley role"... That is where he excelled and was noticed... It’s no coincidence that he looks a lot better in that position than he does going forward.

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...

Ian Kearney
18 Posted 22/12/2009 at 11:43:16

Well said Ciaran, how many fans call foreign players lazy, just because they don't run around like headless chickens never suprises me.

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?

Ciarán McGlone
19 Posted 22/12/2009 at 12:09:05

"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."
-------------------------

Fellaini can’t pass?

Seriously?

Guy Rogers
20 Posted 22/12/2009 at 13:40:51

Fellaini is an interesting one, he’s got massive potential but he doesn't half annoy me when he trots about like a prancing pony. I wish he would shave his head and get a rocket up his arse. However, I am glad there has been signs of improvement as at €15 million it would have been hard to write him off even if Big Sam would take him for a cool 7.5m quid.

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.

Guy Rogers
21 Posted 22/12/2009 at 13:50:20

He's also got the muscle to match up with for example Essien/Mikel/Ballak, which we have always complained our midget gems don’t have, so in summary: improved tackling and positional sense and responsibility to hold the fort, which he will only get through experience, and we will have a cracking holding midfielder.

Malcolm Evans
22 Posted 22/12/2009 at 14:00:32

Ciaran, when I say lack of passing ability, I'm talking about the killer balls which offensive midfield players need to have. When did you last see Fellani split open a defence with a key pass?

If he can improve his tackling, his give-and-go short passes would make him a good defensive midfielder.

Mike Allison
23 Posted 22/12/2009 at 17:40:34

Fellaini’s a box to box to player. He’s not, and wasn’t at Standard Liege, a holding midfielder, nor is he a creative attacking midfielder. He’s a bit of everything without specialising at any of it.

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.

Robert Daniels
24 Posted 22/12/2009 at 18:02:15

Chris Perry, Poor standards? Were you a Manny slater as well because he's another player who I rate highly.

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.

Andy Morden
25 Posted 22/12/2009 at 19:18:44

I think Fellaini is great anchoring midfield player when we have possesion and players who can retain that possession and best use his skills. He has said himself he is delighted to have Pienaar back in the team - he obviously appreciates the pass and move game.

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.

Sean McCarthy
26 Posted 24/12/2009 at 17:31:05

Someone earlier said that amongst others Coleman has been a highlight of the season!!! A bit much don't you think seeing as he's only played the best part of ONE league game and a couple of Europa games one of which was the stuff nightmres are made of!!!

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!!!

Robert Daniels
27 Posted 26/12/2009 at 18:41:56

Big lump, Sean... really?

MotM today again and hope you enjoyed it as well Chris, he's been our best player all season by a country mile.

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