Short memories... Fellaini needs to be in the middle of the park.

[ReidM]

So I was talking to a lad about Fellaini who then had a crack saying Fellaini's best position is behind the striker. I simply posted him this video:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xoxuyw_fellaini-vs-chelsea_sport#.UL8Fz5Nev4R

Fellaini/Gibson is ideal for the middle. That dozen or so goals that Jelavic scored last season... it was when Fellaini was either out of the side or in the middle of the park. Putting Fellaini in the middle of the park avoids the option of hoofball and means Jelavic can be serviced.

We lump balls all game to a goal poacher and a defensive midfielder and then some people wonder why we are dropping points. Drop Osman or Mirallas in behind Jelavic and things will change.

Whose sick of Fellaini behind the striker?

 

[ijjysmith]

The fact he's in the top 5 goalscorers in the whole league makes me alright with it.

 

[Jags..class]

said the same the other day, we're drawing to many games, Jelevic is not scoring much with fellaini behind him.

 

[slimspek]

As much as I love Felli, we need a playmaker behind Jelli. I think if play for Jelli's style we will score more and win more than if we rely completely on Felli as we have been this season.

 

[Christiffa25]

Don't agree. Earlier in season when mirallas was in the team also we were not playing as many direct balls to Fellaini, we were mixing it up more and whilst he was not in top top slotting form jelavic was still slotting.

I'm no massive osman fan and have always said he should only be a squad player but he's been very good this season. Is Fellaini creative from deeper in midfield? Not really.. Is he a defensive midfield rock? Not really..

The key is getting the balance right. Mirallas and Gibson add that balance IMO.

 

[MartSlinger]

Always said it, with Fellaini at CAM we are playing to his strengths rather than Jelavic's. Jelavic likes the ball on the deck and with Fellaini playing behind him he isnt getting it. Even Fellaini feels his best position is in the middle of the park. He'll be better there next to Gibson as well, playing as a box-to-box midfielder, makes him less predictable.

 

[McBain]

Isn't Jela just struggling, second season and all that?

That Balloon he hit the other night after some great control and a super turn would have hit Voyager.

 

[ijjysmith]

Imagine if we move Fellaini back to cm.

Then he stops scoring.

And nobody else scores.

Horrific scenes.

 

[LTblue]

Fellaini is a world class central midfielder, yes he will be dropped back there in time, but right now he's scoring very regularly playing behind the striker, so it would be hard for Moyes to change his role.

 

[Deloodid]

we drawn a few away games back end of last year. with fellaini next to gibson.

 

[Blue Truth]

naismith behind jelavic please. if we then cannot break down our opponent take naismith off and move felli forward.

 

[nsno-chris]

..................Gibson........Fellaini............

........Oviedo........Mirallas............Pienaar

........................Jelavic.......................

I'd give that a try. Oviedo seem comfy on the ball and has a bit of pace; whihc would benefit us on the counter. Allow the 3 freedom to interchange and move around.

If it doesn;t go to plan then i'd bang Naismith behind Jelavic

 

[RFUS]

Fellaini scored two from a deeper position a few games ago. If he's played as a number 8 rather than a number 6 or 10, he could influence our play more evenly. I do honestly believe Jelavic would slot again if he had a creative player behind him AND WE DIDN'T HOOF IT TO HIM (e.g. Norwich).

It's a bit like Cahill the other year. He had 9 goals around about this time of the year but we were getting bad results. It's okay if one player's scoring, but that doesn't mean they can't be moved. It's a team game.

Not that I'm saying we should move Felli back, rather I'm saying we shouldn't be scared to move him back. We all used to rate him this highly before he was playing as a striker/second striker -- just because the sh*t pundits here have finally cottoned on to him (like children they only seem to take note of goalscorers) doesn't mean that's suddenly his best position.

 

[micknick]

The fact he's in the top 5 goalscorers in the whole league makes me alright with it.

Kind of agree with this.

I just cant help thinking having him in his favoured position could:

a) Make him happy
b) Mean Jelavic starts slotting
c) Naismith gets a real chance up top

 

[Michael Bazel Betschart]

Such dips are normal says Jagielka, who uses the example of how a pair of Newcastle United strikers have continued to share the scoring burden at St James’ Park over the last year.

And the Blues stand-in captain believes that when Jelavic is back amongst the goals then it will give Everton’s bid to qualify for the Champions League a major shot in the arm.

“Everything was working for him when he came and now the person who is playing up front with him – Felli – everything is coming off for him,†said Jagielka.

“Look up at Newcastle, Demba Ba was on fire then Papiss Cisse came and Ba didn’t score. This season it is the opposite way round, that is the way cycles go.

“We’d love to have both Felli and Jela firing on all cylinders but it’s not like Jela is getting into four or five good positions and missing easy chances every game.

“It is just not breaking for him.

This.