Where would you like to use the big man??

[Nails]

Osman is like Iniesta against anyone in the bottom half.

Osman is Osman against the top teams.

What Elong says goes.

 

[Allezfan]

Osman is like Iniesta against anyone in the bottom half.

Osman is Osman against the top teams.

What Elong says goes.

Osman has bossed the top teams when played in his proper position.

 

[chicoazul]

Next to Gibson in the middle for me. We'll use him behind the striker when appropriate and can switch things about in the game if were getting nowhere.

Hes a midfielder like.

 

[Nails]

Osman has bossed the top teams when played in his proper position.

Did I imply Osman was gash? Osman carried the team in certain periods last season.

But I'd prefer Fellaini there against the top teams. That is the best way to put stronger teams on the defensive, whereas against weaker sides Fellaini is more capable of stretching out entire teams with a box-to-box role.

I personally think that Fellaini and Osman should be the two players in this role. I think that was Moyes' intention by selling Cahill.

 

[Tree13]

He played him there for most of our run-in last season as well, and then gave an interview in the summer saying he sees him as a possible long term Cahill replacement.

I don't particularly mind where he plays. He's ace everywhere. I'd like to see him off the striker against the RS though so he can do unto them as he did unto United.

Also - I'm skeptical that box-to-box midfielders really exist. He'll always be under orders either to go or stay.

Can't outright disagree with any of that, although I would place more stock in what Moyes does this season (ie selections and transfer activity) than what he said prior to the season starting (the summer interview). The selections in the run-in last year were based on the players available at the time, and aren't necessarily indicative of what will happen now Naismith and Mirallas have signed. Don't see the sense in amassing several players capable of playing that position only to sit them in favour of a chap who can play another position better than anyone else at the club.

Presumably if Fellaini is going to be used overwhelmingly just off the striker then we would have seen someone join the club to play alongside Gibson. Of course this may well still happen. Equally, United were set up to play the play on the deck, so Fellaini's height wasn't as necessary in front of the back four as it might be against a different opponent.

As for the box-to-box thing, modern tactics in a 4-2-3-1 do dictate the situation you're describing. But Fellaini is certainly capable of playing as a box-to-box man, which would be needed if we were ever to play 4-4-2.

 

[ijjysmith]

Where's the 'In Goal' option?

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Cliche box to box cliche cliche cliche break up play cliche cliche cliche dominate midfield cliche cliche cliche off the front players cliche cliche cliche wins headers cliche cliche cliche

 

[ijjysmith]

Cliche box to box cliche cliche cliche break up play cliche cliche cliche dominate midfield cliche cliche cliche off the front players cliche cliche cliche wins headers cliche cliche cliche

 

[Nails]

Cliche box to box cliche cliche cliche break up play cliche cliche cliche dominate midfield cliche cliche cliche off the front players cliche cliche cliche wins headers cliche cliche cliche

The bottom line is, at the end of the day, we can't afford to blow our stack at other posters.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

The bottom line is, at the end of the day, we can't afford to blow our stack at other posters.

It's a game of two halves buddy, we need to give 101% to ensure the boys push on from here.

 

[Nails]

It's a game of two halves buddy, we need to give 101% to ensure the boys push on from here.

We have to go in thinking it's nil-nil.

 

[steken1]

I'd like us to start defending a lot higher up the pitch and give teams less room with the ball. The big fella would be an absolute beast if we done that due to the ground he covers.

 

[somuchfun]

In yar mar.

 

[steken1]

In yar mar.

Loving the east anglian accent you put on it. Nice

 

[kevdotbadger]

Fellaini has already said his job is to win as many balls as possible and distribute them with the highest success rate as possible. He's a central midfielder. It's obvious Moyes saw the defensive issues United had on Monday and exploited them by using Fellaini in the Cahill role. We need a more attack trained player in either the Cahill role, or second front man. That's why we bought Naismith and Kevin. Although I still think Kevin will be better fitted in the Ronaldo role, considering he looks a very good dribbler.