Fellaini

[Jags..class]

Most of us want him in DM, so does Fellaini Sometimes I look at myself and ask, 'What is my best position?' I think it's a defensive midfielder, that's the best one.
"The manager might like it sometimes when I play up front because I can cause trouble for the defenders, but for me my best position defensive midfield - stopping the opposition and then looking to impose myself on a game.
"When I play up front, it's hard. It's not my position and I find it difficult. I've played in a few positions. Sometimes I've played well there. I understand why the manager might put me up there.
Phil Neville and David Moyes believe he was our next cahill.




Phil Neville believes Everton have found their new Tim Cahill in Marouane Fellaini.

Staying put at Everton for now


The Belgian scored the only goal of the game as David Moyes' side kicked off their season with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Goodison Park.
Fellaini was playing in the role between midfield and attack that Cahill made his own during his eight-year stay on Merseyside, and captain Neville led the tributes to the club's record signing.
He said: "He was unplayable. Fellaini was the focal point for us - but I think his best position is when he is causing problems in the final third. He is such an awkward player to play against.
"We've lost Tim Cahill, but Fellaini can fit into that role. Him and [striker Nikica] Jelavic look like they can form a good partnership

 

[bluestevon]

I'd put that down to, in part at least, the fact he rarely got a run in CM. Even in games he could be used in 2 or three positions over the course of it. The one time he did get a consistent run was when we picked up midway through the season before last. We beat City, Chelsea, Fulham in the cup and a few other and he was immense in every single game.

Agreed and i dont doubt he could be a dominant centre mid, but stepping back and looking at the squad as a whole, we have two glaring areas that need fixing, a striker, and a right winger, add to that ideally a playmaker which we havnt got either, i genuinely would love to keep felli and be able to bring in those areas but i just think to address the weaknesses we have to let go of a strength, lose a very good player to stenghten the team overall, end of the day we can replace him whilst bringing in other with the fee and its got to be viewed without emotion for whats the best for the good of the club

 

[steken1]

Agreed and i dont doubt he could be a dominant centre mid, but stepping back and looking at the squad as a whole, we have two glaring areas that need fixing, a striker, and a right winger, add to that ideally a playmaker which we havnt got either, i genuinely would love to keep felli and be able to bring in those areas but i just think to address the weaknesses we have to let go of a strength, lose a very good player to stenghten the team overall, end of the day we can replace him whilst bringing in other with the fee and its got to be viewed without emotion for whats the best for the good of the club

TBH I disagree. Mirallas has proven himself to be a good player at right wing. Also, Jelavic had an awful season last year and won't be anywhere near as bad after a proper rest.

He played football for a long time without a break. It's not uncommon to see a player struggle after playing consistently for a few years. Especially one that runs himself into the ground every week. He gradually worsened as the season went on which suggests it was physical and mental fatigue as well as a lack of confidence.

For me the playmaker could easily be Ross with Osman stepping in at times.

The area's I'd be most keen for us to strengthen would be GK and perhaps CB. That shouldn't cost the type of money Felli will fetch.

And despite the fact that he see's himself as a DM I think he's most effective roving all over the pitch breaking play up and pressuring the opposition high up the pitch. He doesn't have the discipline, and it's a waste of his other talents, to play him in such a closed off role.

 

[bluestevon]

Problem is though IF jela returns to form we still need another forward as tbh anichebe is distinctly average at best, miralles is better either off the front man or on the left and if we did move him to the right wed need a left winger anyways as Pinnear had long spells last year where he looked average, Naismith is shocking and should never ever be near the wing and theirs no one else proven, just think theirs a case of putting too much pressure on Ross to be the man straight away, a lot more game time yeah i want that but not 38 games as the focal point of the play

 

[pfim]

And despite the fact that he see's himself as a DM I think he's most effective roving all over the pitch breaking play up and pressuring the opposition high up the pitch. He doesn't have the discipline, and it's a waste of his other talents, to play him in such a closed off role.

I agree with this, putting him in a DM role also puts him in the space that Gibson covers. If we want to be playing on the front foot, Gibson needs to be sitting in front of the back 4.

 

[Christiffa25]

"Mirallas has proved himself to be a good player on the right"

Yes I agree BUT....

He has proved himself to be an amazing player with goals galore in him from a more attacking left posistion.

 

[Christiffa25]

I agree with this, putting him in a DM role also puts him in the space that Gibson covers. If we want to be playing on the front foot, Gibson needs to be sitting in front of the back 4.

IMO

Gibson 4
Fellaini 8
Barkley Osman or pienaar 10

 

[pfim]

"Mirallas has proved himself to be a good player on the right"

Yes I agree BUT....

He has proved himself to be an amazing player with goals galore in him from a more attacking left posistion.

I think he's at best being a wide forward in a 4-3-3. I don't know that the remaining squad really fits that, certainly helps if Fellaini stays.

 

[Saint Domingo]

The only player int he current squad who can play holding mid is Gibson. Fellaini can only play ahead of him. The only times Fellaini has played holding mid this season was the loss at Leeds and when Gibson went off against Villa away. Everyone knows what happened in the first game and in the second we conceded one and nearly another as we tried our best to throw away a 3 goal lead. Fellaini's idea of holding mid is holding hands iwth the CBs and heading away goal kicks right into the area where he should be competing for the ball. Moyes knew this and so does Advocaat which is why he doesn't often play holding mid for either Everton or Belgium.

 

[Whitty]

I think he's at best being a wide forward in a 4-3-3. I don't know that the remaining squad really fits that, certainly helps if Fellaini stays.

I agree that's Mirallas' best position but not sure Fellaini staying fits the 4-3-3. Fellaini could be the holding player but lacks the discipline as far as i'm concerned and he's not mobile enough to cover the other 2 central positions which would suit players like Pienaar, Osman and possibly Barkley more.

As much as I do love him i've started to come to the conclusion that selling him now and bringing in 2 others like McCarthy / Fer / Biglia and putting some towards another forward would benefit the team

 

[pfim]

I agree that's Mirallas' best position but not sure Fellaini staying fits the 4-3-3. Fellaini could be the holding player but lacks the discipline as far as i'm concerned and he's not mobile enough to cover the other 2 central positions which would suit players like Pienaar, Osman and possibly Barkley more.

As much as I do love him i've started to come to the conclusion that selling him now and bringing in 2 others like McCarthy / Fer / Biglia and putting some towards another forward would benefit the team

Really? I think Fellaini is perfect for the 4-3-3. Someone who brings the line of confrontation further up the pitch, like Ramires at Chelsea, and allows a player like Gibson to sit back and control the play with his passing.

 

[throughthewindandthedrain]

Mate i agree with a lot of what you say, but honestly i cannot for the life of me remember all these games he has dominated the midfield in. For what my opinion is worth i think Parkinson was a more influential and dominant player in the center for us than felli ever has been, sadly only for just over two years until injury struck

I certainly agree with how good Joe Parkinson could have been, but I rate Fellaini even higher because of his mobility, and would never have dreamt of selling a fit Joe Parkinson either, but it cant be coincidence they are the only two names we have come up with and it just seems like the most crucial area of the pitch to me, it took reid/bracewell and then Joe Parkinson to get us a trophy. we do need to strengthen and I am not going to deny this may eventually result in Fellaini going but any comments i have made are really just aimed at some posts, more on other sites admittedly, from blues who can't wait to collect the money with no obvious idea whether we will develop with it, or willing to believe everything that destabilises the team. I would much rather see an attempt to improve in these areas without the sale, even if it is from the point of view of having this asset that can be sold if the club needs to. As other people have said some of the answers could be already in the squad

 

[Walken]

Really? I think Fellaini is perfect for the 4-3-3. Someone who brings the line of confrontation further up the pitch, like Ramires at Chelsea, and allows a player like Gibson to sit back and control the play with his passing.

Just like the role he played alongside Gibson against Arsenal, with Ross ahead of them, looked great, and no one had to cover Osman

 

[Hellerad]

Pienaar and Mirallas are smart enough footballers to interchange as they see fit. Each can do a job left, right, and central.

Fellaini (if he stays) would have to drop deeper if Roberto plays his funky 3-4-3. Fellaini and Gibson certainly isn't the worst pairing, but I don't know if it is ideal.

Honestly, I obviously have no clue whether Martinez wants to force a new formation on everybody, but it might be fun to watch Coleman and Baines in a 3-4-3.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

Just imagine it lads,

Coleman Jags Distin Baines

Gibson Fellaini

Barkley

Boss Winger Mirallas
Boss Slotter




It's the stuff dreams are made of...