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

[Brennan]

I do think he'd be an ace shield to the back four if he was played alongside Gibson. Perhaps Newcastle's goals wouldn't have happened with his aerial presence sitting in front of the back four. We'd concede less goals, BUT we'd probably score less based on current evidence. Can't help but think the "it's Fellaini's fault Jelavic isn't scoring" argument is a myth. Jelavic was slotting for fun last season with Fellaini up there with him.

Safe option would be looking to find a great DM to supplement Gibson and keep Felli terrorising defences and perhaps a more risky course of action would be dropping Felli back and looking for someone who offers similar bossness to Mo behind the striker (nearly impossible, really). Barkley might not be that man. Probably not here anyway so we're looking at a pretty expensive purchase.

Nearly impossible ? I'd rather have Mirallas there all day.

 

[Goat]

So we are blaming Fellaini for Jelavics gashness?

Why not Naismith, FFS.

 

[Brennan]

So we are blaming Fellaini for Jelavics gashness?

Why not Naismith, FFS.

Cause we don't hoof it to Naismith.

The service to Jelavic in the City game was a joke, giving him the same balls we give Fellaini is a non-starter. We either stop hoofing it (takes away one of Felli's strengths) or move him back and stick a player like Mirallas there.

 

[Goat]

Cause we don't hoof it to Naismith.

The service to Jelavic in the City game was a joke, giving him the same balls we give Fellaini is a non-starter. We either stop hoofing or play it on the deck more.

Yea, but surely we can blame Naismith?

Or Osman, Osman or Naismith I say.

 

[neil999]

Yea, but surely we can blame Naismith?

Or Osman, Osman or Naismith I say.

or we could blame moyes for signing naismith? hehehehe

 

[paulbefc]

People need to see beyond the number of goals Fellaini has scored, and that's coming from somebody who loves STATS.

We hoof the ball much more when Fellaini is played higher up, and while it plays to his strengths I don't think the knock on effect of what it does to Jelavic is acceptable.

Sure, we could play the ball along the floor more while keeping Felli behind Jelavic, but then it begs the question why we'd even play him there, as his long ball dominance is what makes him so good in that position. He's not terrible at playing the ball on the ground by any means, but he's no Mirallas either.

Fellaini playing in his destroyer role in the middle would lead to us conceding less stupid goals, and would really strengthen up our midfield.

The hoofing is boss and necessary. When Fellaini is up there, a hoof's no different to a perfectly executed through ball from defence to attack, or a 60 second complex passing move to advance up the pitch. The ball will invariably end up on the deck for Peinaar, Baines, Mirallas, Fellaini and Jelavic and teams will get sexed where it actually matters: their third. When Pienaar is back on top form and Mirallas is back fit, i think we'll see much more from Jelavic. He's all about crosses into the box to slot into the corner. That's how we play once we're in the final third. Felli gives it to the widemen and then joins Jelavic in the box.

When Pienaar's back on form (looks to be getting there) then that left hand side should become more efficient in terms of getting balls in and Mirallas' return should have similar effects on the right.

 

[Brennan]

Yea, but surely we can blame Naismith?

Or Osman, Osman or Naismith I say.

Thought Osman did well against City considering he's never a CM

 

[Brennan]

The hoofing is boss and necessary. When Fellaini is up there, a hoof's no different to a perfectly executed through ball from defence to attack, or a 60 second complex passing move to advance up the pitch. The ball will invariably end up on the deck for Peinaar, Baines, Mirallas, Fellaini and Jelavic and teams will get sexed where it actually matters: their third. When Pienaar is back on top form and Mirallas is back fit, i think we'll see much more from Jelavic. He's all about crosses into the box to slot into the corner. That's how we play once we're in the final third. Felli gives it to the widemen and then joins Jelavic in the box.

When Pienaar's back on form (looks to be getting there) then that left hand side should become more efficient in terms of getting balls in and Mirallas' return should have similar effects on the right.

Yes it is.

 

[paulbefc]

Nearly impossible ? I'd rather have Mirallas there all day.

Not for me. Naismith on the right gives me nightmares. Mirallas is a selfish player. I don't know how much of a play maker he is tbh.

 

[paulbefc]

Yes it is.

Effectively, it's not mate.

 

[Goat]

So its agreed then lads.

Its not Fellaini, its Nevilles fault.

 

[pfim]

Cause we don't hoof it to Naismith.

We actually do a bit. He's good in the air, better than Jelavic.

 

[Allezfan]

We don't hoof it half as much as some people on here make out.

You'd think we were the new wimbledon from some on here.

 

[Brennan]

Effectively, it's not mate.

It is though. If it wasn't everybody would just buy Zigic and hoof it to him. When you move the ball along the ground you create space for others to move into, and you also increase the chance of a defender making a mistake and not tracking a runner. When you hoof the ball from our half up to Fellaini the opposition know exactly where the ball is going and can mark Fellaini accordingly. When the same hoof ball gets sent up and Fellaini can't get to it, then Jelavic is f***ed.

It pins our game on one man who can't always do everything and be everywhere, it's very one dimensional. This was shown to be the case in the last 20 minutes against City when Fellaini was exhausted and we continued to smash balls up in vain as if Jelavic was going to suddenly become a hell of a lot taller, latch onto one and smash the ball into the net from outside the box.

 

[Brennan]

We don't hoof it half as much as some people on here make out.

You'd think we were the new wimbledon from some on here.

There's a reason commentators always go on about how ace Fellaini is at controlling the ball on his chest.