It’s always a wonderful feeling when your team scores. But sometimes, when a certain player sticks one away, it just seems to mean that little bit more. As an Evertonian, when players like Duncan Ferguson or Tim Cahill netted important goals for the club, there was always a sense of something extra special in the air. Their passion was so apparent and the crowd fed off it, for it was so obvious just how much it meant scoring a goal for Everton.
Another player who belonged in this particular category was Marouane Fellaini. You could see when he celebrated goals, that Evertonian passion gripped him. He just loved scoring for the Toffees. Of course, his days of scoring goals for Everton are no more, as he completed a £27.5 million move to Manchester United on deadline day. At his new club, expect him to stir up similar feelings amongst the watching faithful. After five years service, he departs with the well wishes of every Everton supporter.
Now, with the dust settling in the wake of a chaotic deadline day, the general mood surrounding Fellaini’s deal seems to be rather negative. There is a consensus that perhaps the Belgian international is not up to the United standard, that he isn’t high profile enough and that his new employers have paid well over the odds to recruit him.
It is in some ways understandable, especially with the club being linked with superstars like Cesc Fabregas, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil throughout the summer months. Not to mention, United could have secured Fellaini’s signature for £23 million if they had acted in swifter, more ruthless fashion. It seems at this juncture, opinions of the former Everton man have been clouded because of United’s curious summer transfer policy.
But looking forward, Fellaini is a player that can thrive at Old Trafford, and there is little doubt from this stand-point that the United supporters will come to love their new midfielder.
It would be difficult for them not to. Fellaini is certainly not one to veil his passion, he is a footballer who wears his heart on his sleeve. He will give everything to win for United and in a fashion that is far from understated. In the main, football supporters gravitate to that sort of personality. Everton supporters did, and United fans will too.
As for the notion that Fellaini is not a United-type player – a throwaway comment that has been used regularly during this transfer saga – don’t expect that to hold much clout. He was one of the standout players in the Premier League last season and is getting better and better as he becomes increasingly acclimatized to the demands of the English game.
He will also bring a host of qualities to David Moyes’s midfield that are currently in very short supply. His unorthodox somatotype gives him an incomparable presence in the centre of the park, a facet that was noticeably absent in United’s recent surrender at Anfield. His ability to dominate aerially and bully in the challenge will provide heightened assurance at United’s core, not to mention an excellent foil for the playmaking abilities of Michael Carrick.
Aside from his physical presence, he will give United a bit of needle in that central area too. Not one to shirk a tackle, Fellaini is also an aggressive and supremely combative character. Granted, he must learn to keep these attributes in check, having overstepped the mark on a few occasions at Everton. But they are tantamount qualities that every team needs, and ones that United don’t really have in abundance.
His technical ability has also been significantly undervalued. Most notably his passing ability, which has improved no end since his move from Standard Liege five years ago. Whilst it was initially wayward and rash, he now distributes the ball with purpose and intelligence.
Fellaini’s passing has improved considerably as of late.
A prime indicator of this is the role he was given in Everton’s early encounters under Roberto Martinez; tasked with sitting deep as a withdrawn playmaker, he was the teams most prominent and accurate passer in two of Everton’s opening three encounters. His ability to bring the ball down on his chest and shuffle out of tight areas is another majestic and wonderfully skillful patent he has developed down the years.
Critics of Fellaini in his time at Everton point to his inconsistency as a detrimental quality, and he can occasionally go missing in games against what you might consider to be lesser sides. But Old Trafford is the ideal stage for him to take his game up a notch. As a United player, expect the Belgian to be even more focused, motivated and determined than he was when donning royal blue.
At his best, when the power, aggression and technique are all channelled positively, Fellaini is an unstoppable force. He has always been a player who performs well in the big games for Everton, and with the extra pressure that comes with being at a massive club like United, expect him to turn in those sorts of unplayable performances on a much more regular basis. Stellar showings combined with his passion and will to win means that United supporters are going to love Fellaini.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments section or on Twitter: @MattJFootball
What a nice honest positive article for once. Sick of seeing newspapers trying to spread their negativity. I have every faith Fellaini will make a great addition to the United sqaud, looking forward to seeing him play for us!
I love that big-haired goofball. He’s a very unique individual that’s easy to root for. Wish Everton didn’t have to sell Fellaini but his ambition was always Champions League and we couldn’t quite get it for him. I might actually be rooting for ManU in Europe this year.
As an LFC supporter, I liken Fellaini to Suarez. The kind of player you hate…unless he’s on your squad. He’ll be a big boost over Cleverley.
I do not fancy the Belgian, but he is indeed a step forward from Notso (Cleverly), who can it seems, only pass sideways and backwards.
Great read. This move makes me even more nervous about United. I don’t get the whole ‘Fellaini isn’t a United player’ talk either. He’s a monster in the midfield and can win balls in the air which United excel at.
I will echo Ryan. I dislike Fellaini and have even taken to calling him “Moron”. However, I’d love to see him in Stoke stripes….if that makes sense.
I’m not sure why he is being so undervalued as an addition to United, but am certain he will prove the doubters wrong for all the reasons you have stated.
People are getting hung up on the price and the way United’s dealings went. If you look at the player he is a very good addition to United and does improve them. United are not weaker with him but the way this transfer has been covered you would think so.
United may need other signings but make no mistake adding Fellaini makes them better and that’s what counts in the end. Not how much was paid (a club like United can afford it) or how it happened.
Fellaini did very well at Everton most of the time. It will be interesting to see if he’s pacey enough for Utd’s midfield unless Moyes adopts a more cautious approach. One thing is for sure Utd has never effectively replaced Paul Scholes.
The hair is not United material. He isn’t high profile enough, and no doubt we paid too much for him. When his sharpened elbows earn a red card in the Champions League, everyone else will realize this as well. Mr. Moyes is out of his depth and is on the way to transforming United to a mid table team.
Fellaini is not good enough. We could hace gotten better midfielders but we ebded up focusing our whole summer on him.
Those people who don’t rate Fellaini highly are the ones that haven’t seen him play week in and week out for Everton. He makes United stronger not weaker. He was sensational for Everton when they beat United last season in the opener. With better players around him he will show his class. At Everton he was the main man and opposition teams targeted him. At United he won’t be the main man and that will benefit him.
Good piece Matt, and thanks for the regular Everton coverage on the site. As a fellow Toffees supporter, I’m not quite as high on Fellaini’s future at Utd as you, though I readily admit that he turned in some big performances in his time at Goodison.
As commenter Gary notes, Felli dominated Utd in the opener last year while playing in front of goal, tormenting the backline and ultimately scoring the winner. That’s his ideal role, and he would wreak havoc in a Route 1 side that used him to bring down long balls and head home crosses (imagine a stronger, more aggressive Peter Crouch). But Utd don’t really utilize that style of play and will apparently play Felli as a midfielder, which in my view neutralizes his strengths and emphasizes his rather ordinary passing and movement. He will be competent and at times may be able to disrupt the opponent’s game with his physical play, but he’s no Paul Scholes.