Marouane Fellaini: Player of the Month

, 11 December, 41comments  |  Jump to most recent
Only the seventh Everton player in 18 years
Marouane Fellaini has been awarded the Barclays Premier League Player of the Month award for November. The Belgian star scored four goals and helped to create a further two as he helped David Moyes's men stay in contention for a European qualifying place.

Fellaini began the month by a brace in Everton's 2-2 draw at Fulham before adding another goal and a skilful assist in a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at Goodison Park.

The 25-year-old was involved in Steven Naismith's goal at Reading, however he also picked up a yellow card which saw him miss the frustrating visit of Norwich City when the Toffees conceded a late goal.

Undeterred, the former Standard Liege man was back on top form against Arsenal, firing home from 20 yards to earn his side a 1-1 draw and a deserved share of the spoils.

Fellaini was presented with his award at Finch Farm earlier this week. He becomes the seventh Everton player to win the award since its inception in August 1994.  



Reader Comments (41)

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Trevor McKinlay
1 Posted 11/12/2012 at 16:30:59
Care to fill us in on the other six, out of interest? Well done Felli lad.
Tony J Williams
2 Posted 11/12/2012 at 16:41:02
Name the other six......ermmmmmm!!!
Steve King
3 Posted 11/12/2012 at 16:44:33
Haha good question Tony!! I'm stumped!

I'm guessing -

Cahill, Arteta, Campbell, Kanchelskis, Jelavic..........uuuuummmm.......McFadden? (only joking)

Jon Ferguson
4 Posted 11/12/2012 at 16:48:15
Speed might have got one at some stage.
Tony J Williams
5 Posted 11/12/2012 at 16:49:07
Stato (Wiki) Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Campbell, AJ, Jags, Jelavic
Steve King
6 Posted 11/12/2012 at 16:50:30
3 out of 6!!!

I'm happy with that!

Trevor Lynes
7 Posted 11/12/2012 at 17:07:14
Let's hope that Jeli makes it in December as that would defo' keep us in the top 4.
Nick Entwistle
8 Posted 11/12/2012 at 17:16:39
Stupid award designed to give the sponsor more exposure. I'm sure it will rank along side his other medals won with Everton... oh wait!

Player of the season?

Nick Entwistle
9 Posted 11/12/2012 at 17:19:21
Or rather, potential footballer of the year?
Sam Hoare
10 Posted 11/12/2012 at 17:20:15
All good for his price tag when I fear the inevitable happens. He'll be playing Champions league football next season. But who for? Hopefully us.
Jamie Barlow
11 Posted 11/12/2012 at 17:23:40
Are they really the other 6 Tony?
Tony J Williams
12 Posted 11/12/2012 at 17:29:54
Yep, went through the lot of them. Klinsman was the first ever recipiant
Brian Bates
13 Posted 11/12/2012 at 18:38:36
Hope he does better than Fletcher of Sunderland, hasn't scored since he won it I think
Bob Willis
14 Posted 11/12/2012 at 18:48:16
TJW 545 - The good thing is that we have three of those mentioned in the current squad - let's hope they all click and we push towards a top4 slot.
Pat Finegan
15 Posted 11/12/2012 at 19:20:18
Three of those mentioned, Bob? Not complaining, I mean if Big Dunc is coming out of retirement, i'd be happy to have him in the squad.

Tony, are you sure it's only 6? I'm just having a difficult time believing that a player like Andy Van Der Meyde or Brett Angell hasn't won. Didn't Brett Angell score a goal one time?

Ian Smitham
16 Posted 11/12/2012 at 20:34:02
To stick with the subject of the article, IMHO a world class footballer, must be one of the most sought after in the Jan window, no European cup tied issues, top player, scoring more goals than he ever before and has demonstrated in some games this season, notably against Man Utd that on his day he is close to unplayable. What a great asset to this club and I hope he remains with us for a long time, sadly, either that or we get a real lot of money for him. Imagine this, Citeh decide to comply with the fair play stuff and sell Toure, they get a lot of money and spend a good portion on Fella, he doubles his wages and they cut their costs compared to now. And, are they any worse off with Fella?

Finally, if a player has an exit clause in the contract at say £24 Million, and a club offer it, would it simply trigger a market where the highest bidder wins? Say, Citeh offer the trigger, would another club have to offer more to get his signature or is the £24 mill fixed and it becomes a choice down to the player? Got no idea but wondered if anyone can help.

Tom Evans
17 Posted 11/12/2012 at 20:48:18
Henry Winter, one of the few football journos I have a lot of time for, before a ball had been kicked this season, is in print saying that Fellaini would be among the contenders for Footballer of The Year.

At the time I thought that he was being optimistic, but it just shows you why Winter is so well regarded.
Ian Bennett
18 Posted 11/12/2012 at 20:44:42
Ian - it's a bespoke document so it will depend what was specified as to whether the player is released with a certain fee or simply notified that a fee has been offered. Contracts will vary by club and agent.

He is our big fish. He does look class at number 10, but the way he was knocking toure around he can play at number 8 or 6 for anyone. If a top club isn't prepared to pay £25m for him, but will pay £15m for Garcia, song, or Allen then they are clearly mad. He is another player I called wrong when he first rolled in...

James Martin
19 Posted 11/12/2012 at 21:10:52
I don't think he's world class. Good for us in his position no doubt, but not world class. His performance against Man U was world class but there hasn't been many repeats of that since. Leighton Baines is world class. He could probably walk into any side in the world at left back. He plays the same superlative way every single week. He creates more chances than anyone else in the league and can hit deadballs.

Moyes has found a use for Fellaini that suits him and us. Deep lying striker that can hold the ball up both in the air if we go long against top teams and on the deck to bring other players into play. He has undoubtely improved this season, notably in his long distance shooting.

For me though he still goes missing in games on occassion. Spurs was a prime example, Sandro easily dealt with him. Whenever we're behind he seems to let it get to him as well. The reason I don't think any top top side would take him as a regular starter is his lack of certain attributes. Firstly pace, sharpness, groundspeed, whatever you want to call it he hasn't got it. He can't break the defensive line by running at it, he can't run beyond it either to receive a throughball. Him and Jelavic are never going to play an incisive one two with him running past the last defender to smash it in. If we're on a break he has to lay the ball off quickly because he can't carry it himself. If he finds himself outwide he can't go down the line or beat a man with agility, he has to lay the ball off to Pienaar or Baines to do it. The only method by which he can score is if he recieves the ball when he's already in the box or a shooting opportunity from outside presents itself (Arsenal).

Secondly, his tactical inflexibility. He can only play that one position that Moyes has created for him effectively. He's played a lot at holding mid for us, we've never played particularly well when he has done. He had a few one off games but a lot of the times he was too close to the centre halfs and out of position. The one game he's played there this season was the Leeds game, there were other factors behind that loss but Fellaini was terrible and was at blame for the first goal. The other time he moved back was Villa away and as soon as Gibson went off and he moved back we conceded one and should have another but for the post in a game that we had been cruising. People will argue with me over this but I hate seeing him playing holding mid.

Comapre him to Gibson and you can see the difference. Gibson is positionally fantastic, the whole defense looks better when he plays, he always seems to be where the ball is eventually played to, and pressures people high up on the halfway line. When he gets it, he can go from defense to attack in one long pass immediately putting Jelavic or Mirallas in on goal. Whoever he plays with (even Neville) looks good besides him and everyone in the team seems to have time on the ball. Fellaini is the opposite of these things, he is positionally terrible, him and Rodwell always seemed to be ontop of the centrebacks, backing off teams until they were camped on the edge of our box, he was always running around after the ball but it never seemed to go to him. When he did finally get it all he could do at best was shuffle it sideways to Rodwell or back to the defense. He wasn't comfortable showing for it either. Clearly the Belgian coach and Moyes must see something there too because both have moved him out of that position after runs of bad results. Everyone who plays alongside him in midfield (apart from gibson who pushed him further forward) looks terrible. Arteta, Neville, Rodwell, all played alonsgside him and looked atrocious, they've all played with other players and looked great (well great in Neville terms).

Moyes has built a team around him focusing on the many talents he does have, and we've reaped the rewards, a shed load of goals. Would other top sides do this though? Skew their team around a brilliant left back and a totem-pole number ten? Would Barcelona or Madrid be content abandoning their passing game to shift the ball wide to the flanks to get some good delivery in for Fellaini? Is he going to shift Mata, Rooney, Silva or Ozil from their number ten roles? I'd suggest not.

He's a one off player and Moyes is allwoing him to fulfill his potential here with everything in place for him. I fear if he went elsewhere that he just doesn't have the raw skills to succeed. He may come off the bench and offer tactical variety for a Chelsea but I don't think he'd get in their starting line up in an attacking position. they'd probably play him defensively much to their detriment.

In many ways all the criticisms levelled at Moyes by certain corners of the fanbase could be levelled at Fellaini. Does he consistently deliver for the salary he's being paid? Why hasn't he been playing this way for the last 5 years? Why has no top club ever come in for him despite Arteta, Pienaar and Lescott (formerly our three obvious class players) moving on? Does 6 months of good performances make up for numeous years of dross. I'd be very surprised if he moved in the summer for the fees being banded about and even more surprise di fit was to a top top club. Some bouquet club looking to make a statement like Zenit or PSG might take him but I don't expect to see him in el clasico any time soon. Perhaps that would be to the benefit of both Everton and the player himself.

Ian Bennett
20 Posted 11/12/2012 at 21:50:17
James - could he play ahead of carrick, fletcher, Barry, mikel, diaby, arteta? Of course he can. He bossed toure for goodness sake.

Fellaini can play defensive midfield, box to box, or number 10. He is effective for us at number 10, but looks good in the a deeper role running onto stuff as a plan b giving jelavic more space with another conventional striker. Gibson makes us tick because he passes positvely. Arteta, Rodwell and Neville didn't which added to the lack of pace in our side at times. Fellaini was only a problem with the statues around him.

Andy Crooks
21 Posted 11/12/2012 at 22:18:31
Felaini looks great for us. At present Moyes plays to his strengths. I really can't see him fitting in with Man C ,Utd or Chelsea. They would have to greatly change their style.
Ian Smitham
22 Posted 11/12/2012 at 22:17:43
James, I respect your contribution and the well balanced reasoning, as much as I think he is a to player I can also see there are areas of his game that are lacking, not sure he is so good at tracking back especially when the opponent gains a yard on him, but he is a step apart from any player we have had in a while.

Equally, I appreciate your comments re the Spurs player, I thought 30 and 19 for Spurs stood up to his physical threat really well, and the battle during the game was intriguing. Baines is great, personally I think Pienaar is superb, and though he is struggling at the moment, class will show through. KM is the one though, will be top, top.
James Martin
23 Posted 11/12/2012 at 22:34:14
I agree with you Ian that Mirallas will be a top top player (to quote anyone who ever appears on Soccer Saturday). He has absolutely everything. Can't remember the last time an Everton player did to Liverpool what he did in the derby. Shame Suarez put him out the game, same way Terry got injured playing against them, and Diame, and Karacan, and Ba/Cabaye, and Watson..........
James Flynn
24 Posted 11/12/2012 at 23:28:32
We have a special player in Fellaini. A special one. As good as there is in the Prem. You can drop him into any team on earth and it would be better for having him in it. With he and Baines we have two of the elite of the elite at their position.

What strengths does Moyes play him to? "Walk out there Fella and opponents (players and managers) will shit their pants"? Agree.

This kid's fantastic.

James Flynn
25 Posted 11/12/2012 at 23:41:52
By the way, James Martin, a lot of made-up bullshit to justify your opening sentence, "I don't think he's world class".
Ciarán McGlone
26 Posted 12/12/2012 at 00:04:59
Hes very good in that advanced position with the ball coming at him in the air. As a defensive midfielder, not so great. Would I swap him for Carzola, Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Silva or Toure?

Yes.

James Martin
27 Posted 11/12/2012 at 23:56:51
What part of it is made-up, James?

We haven't played consistently well when he's played holding mid. Runs of form when he was first in the team used to be poor, if he was world class this wouldn't've happened.

He is not quick, he does not have the passing range of Gibson, he does not have any great agility like Pienaar or Osman, he cannot strike a dead ball and he doesn't score many from outside the area (although that is improving). We all watch him every week, like I said, he has many other talents but surely you can see that he is lacking in some of the basics that world class players have. You could list on one hand the number of world class attacking players who don't have any pace.

He is good in the air, he has a Velcro chest, he has a soft touch, and is refining his finishing instinct. He also shields the ball well so if you can get him into the opposition's box he can wreak havoc. There's been several times this season though when we've been on the break and the ball has broken to Fellaini and he just lets the man get back in front of him and the moment is gone.

I think he severely limits our ability to win against top teams away from home. He may get you a goal like he did at City but if you want to win at Old Trafford or the Etihad then sometimes you have to play on the counter and break with pace like Bale did at OT. We can't do this with Fellaini and Jelavic in the team. Combined with Osman and Gibson, we have no pace in the middle; we can dominate possession but no one can beat a man to make a chance for themselves. Against top teams when you can't always dominate possession, you can feel the lack of pace in the side as shown in the second half against City when we just defended.

Ian Bennett, I would not be so quick to put him ahead of some of those midfielders. Diaby ran all over Liverpool at Anfield: pace, power, skill and agression. Has Fellaini ever done this in all the derbies he's played? Arsenal made winning 2-0 there look easy and that was down to Diaby. He is a massive loss to them just like Gibson is to us. If Arsenal could field Diaby Wilshere and Cazorla every week then there is no way we'd be in fourth.

Carrick and Fletcher, how many medals do they have again? Funny how they get bashed all the time yet seem to dominate whoever they're playing against, those two will probably add another Prem medal to their names whilst we go on about how much better Fellaini is than them. Gibson couldn't get in that team for god's sake. Fellaini could only dream of Carrick's passing range.

As for Arteta, he's a different beast now than he was; he still has the best passing accuracy in the league mind you. Back in his heyday though he was a magical midfielder. On the flanks, off the striker, deep-lying – you could play him anywhere. Runs, feints, dribbles, free kicks, shots from distance, set pieces, he had an array of skills that Fellaini will never have.

They're completely different types of players but Arteta was not a statue that made Fellaini look bad. He was a magical player that got the crowd up off their seats at Goodison on a weekly basis. Fellaini has only ever done that once for me and that was the Man Utd game. It all depends on what you prefer in a footballer, but if the school of science had an opening only one of Arteta or Fellaini would get in it.

Jamie Crowley
28 Posted 12/12/2012 at 03:13:45
Clearly a farce. If Kev Johnson got any pitch time, he'd win it hands down.

But Moyes is so big on protecting his youngsters...

Trevor Lynes
29 Posted 12/12/2012 at 10:14:56
Watching the Manchester derby, I was really impressed with the way Toure went past three challenges on the wide left but was brought back when the pitch ahead was clear of Man Utd defenders for an attempted foul by Rooney that missed! City lost any advantage whilst Rooney was booked for a professional foul (which proved a huge advantage to Man Utd).

Toure has proved himself at the top level in a top side, he has more actual pace than Felli and has performed very well for much longer than Felli. I'm delighted with Marouane's form so far this season and if he continues to develop and improve then he could well be a fantastic player.

But a few games does not make him a made man; he needs to do it for the rest of the season playing his full part in a side that is capable of beating any other side in the Premier League.

I hope the lad stays with us and becomes a big star (for us), but we really need to hang on to Baines and Jags who are the backbone of the team, our defence has carried us in previous seasons and it's only recently that forwards have been selected as MotM rather than Baines, Jags etc etc.
Tom Bowers
30 Posted 12/12/2012 at 13:16:02
The guy is just terrific since changing his role. Probably the best player in the Prem at controlling a ball with his back to goal.

It is likely though that he will leave for a really big money club if Everton fail to sustain their Euro push this season. Hopefully not in the January transfer window.

I feel that his link up with Jelavic and Mirallas is as good as you can get and hopefully injuries will not get in the way of the remainder of the season. Never looked like a good player in his first season but has matured leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.
Colin Potter
31 Posted 12/12/2012 at 14:04:09
Good posts James Martin.

How anybody can think he's world class is beyond me.
James Martin
32 Posted 12/12/2012 at 14:14:24
Like Trevor says comparisons with Toure are ridiculous. Toure carried Man City almost singlehandedly at times to the premier league and the FA Cup. Toure was only recently running the length of the Bernabeu searing past Alonso and Khedira. Fellaini might have knocked him around at moments in the first half, but what about the entire second half when we couldn't get the ball back?

In the same breath some fans will be criticising Stoke next week and then praising Fellaini for knocking one of their central defenders around. Is that what we value as a fan base? Pure physical strength? It absolutely baffles me at Goodison when Pienaar or Baines or Osman will dance around 3 men then try and slot an incisive through ball that for whatever reason is cut out or the forward didn't read and all you can hear are the complaints for a misplaced pass 'Pienaar has no end product' 'Osman doesn't have a good shot'. Meanwhile if Fellaini brings down a goalkick on his chest and lays it off to someone standing 2 yards away people are on their feet applauding. Why? That's a basic skill that any player should have. Anyone of Kevin Davies, Crouch, Holt, Stracqualursi could all do exactly the same thing but because they're English or didn't have a big price tag everyone considers that to be long ball play. Let's face it we've successfuly used Fellaini as nothing more than a glorious target man who knows how to get on the end of the good work from the rest of midfield. He brings the goal kicks down, lays it off to Pienaar and then trots off into the box with Jelavic waiting for Pienaar and Baines to work some magic and whip a ball in. What has become of the School of Science? I can't believe some fans were happy to see Arteta and Pienaar go, two of the most skilful Everton players in the premier league era, rather than Fellaini. IF we sold him for big money then you could buy a number ten who would contribute more than just holding the ball up to our attacking play.

Jackie Barry
33 Posted 12/12/2012 at 20:00:41
Toure carried a Man City that cost how much was it? If you ask me the job Fellaini is doing is every bit as good if not better than Toure. As some one pointed out earlier and as many footballing pundits have already stated, Fellaini's first touch is at times simply sublime, not many even come close.
Jackie Barry
34 Posted 12/12/2012 at 20:04:03
Oh and as for the comment about using Fellaini as glorified target man! You need to watch more games and pay close attention, our build up play has been far more tactical and on the ground than the hit and hope strategy you talk about.
Ian Bennett
35 Posted 12/12/2012 at 20:20:00
On form/impact this season Fellaini has been better than Toure, to suggest anything else is clearly bunkum. Toure is an outstanding player, no doubt about that, but he has been off his game in most of the games I have seen this season. The City midfield of Barry, Nasri, Rodwell, Garcia, and Milner have done little, whilst messing around at the back is draining Yaya Toure's game.

I can't remember Fellaini having a weak 2nd half either against united either. No united player would go near him, which included Vidic, and many of the better teams will probably do the same as they lack a power player to match him.

Top players don't have to be dribble around players. One of the biggest legends in Italian football was one John Charles, how many did he skin? I appreciate Fellaini that he can bring down the ball on his chest, fending players off and play a ball onto his team mate near to goal, something highly effective by us territory and the highest attempts on goal in EUROPE. This is not flick and hope stuff from the rest of average gang.

Roman Sidey
36 Posted 12/12/2012 at 20:40:27
If Fellaini keeps playing the way he is, he has to win Premier League player of the season. I said it on another post, but need to say it again: against Spurs he was excellent, but is somehow copping a bit of flack of some people.

The debate as to whether he's world class is a tough one. My mate and I discussed the term the other day, and agreed to be truly "world class", the player needs to be the sort of player you can see being a pivotal player while winning the World Cup. Is Fellaini that player? Maybe. Especially after Sunday night, four of the best players on the field were Belgian too, so perhaps there is more chance than expected.

Also, if there's a "best new signing" award, you'd have to give Mirallas a shout.

Philip Quilliam
37 Posted 13/12/2012 at 08:38:01
The term 'world class' is bandied about far too much. To claim a player is in this rarefied company, then they have to be compared not with the guys around them playing week-in and week-out but to players in their equivalent positions across the planet. I am not sure that he has made it into the Premier League team of the week on a regular basis, never mind a world best team.

Fellaini is not world class. He is however a fantastic and crucial player for us and it is not degrading him to suggest that he is not world class. However, to restrict 'world class' only to those players who prove it by winning World Cups begs the question was George Best world class — by anyone's standards he most certainly was.
Douglas Turner
38 Posted 13/12/2012 at 08:59:49
And he got this award playing out of position... LOL!
Ciarán McGlone
39 Posted 13/12/2012 at 09:23:43
The phrase 'world class' is meaningless pap...

If I asked what it meant, I'd get 50 different answers.

Ian Bennett
40 Posted 13/12/2012 at 19:46:04
Philip I would say he has been a regular this season in the Premier League team of the week so far.

I would put him and Van Persie in the running for the player of the year so far, and possibly the Anfield rat (but he's got no chance even if he scores 300 goals in a season).

Roman Sidey
41 Posted 14/12/2012 at 04:01:16
Phillip, you've explained that pretty well. What I meant about the World Cup is that the player wouldn't seem out of place as a winner. George Best was definitely world class, and would have been good enough to lead almost any team to the World title. In a team sport sometimes things don't work out.

Messi is world class, but, tragically, may never win a World Cup. For want of a better word, he's being robbed Could you say the same for Fellaini if he retires without that accolade?


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