Rumoured Marouane Fellaini

[Justin_3d 1,140]

I ask myself why we are getting a lot of belgian players, when the NT is not even in Euro, and I don think they will be in Brazil 2014.

Hazard is the only player that can make us world beaters, while Fellaini would be a good buy because of his hair.

Yeah I don't see what's the big fuss with all these Belgium players.

If anything getting some of those players might have been a motivation to help us get Hazard like with Yossi to bring Torres here, and then Torres to bring Mata here.

So after getting Hazard, Fellaini might be worth a shot but if he is going to cost the same as Tiote, then I go for Tiote.

After that, don't think we should get more Belgium players. Cause at the moment, Lukaku looks like he is going to be another Heskey, and KDB...not sure.

Belgium are not top dogs, Spaniards and Germans are. So if we want more players of a country it should be from there and not Belgium!

[Wilson 358]

I really don't wat him at Chelsea, will be pissed off if we sign him, he's not a good player.

[JDY 1,290]

IF you have watched Fulham's matches this past season, you would realize that he plays in the CAM role a lot as well. Martin Jol have on many occasions play Dembele just behind the striker when he goes with 4-4-2.

Wouldn't quite agree with that. He may have played as a CM a lot but still see him more of a CAM type of player, a player that is similar to Mata and one who likes to get forward a lot. We need someone who can sit in that midfield move the ball from one side to the other, dictate the tempo etc like Scholes does at United. Players like Modric or even Cabaye fits the bill.

I didn't say he hasn't played in the CAM role, I said he played mostly as a central midfielder. Of course he can play there but he excelled when he was dropped back to a deeper role (in the 2nd half of the season). I was thinking of doing match compilations of him and have downloaded numerous Fulham games from last season. "He may have played as a CM a lot but still see him more of a CAM type of player". It's only natural that people will still think of him as a more attacking player, but that isn't the case anymore.

"We need someone who can sit in that midfield move the ball from one side to the other, dictate the tempo etc". Again, from watching him in games he is fully capable of controlling a game. His passing range may not be as good as a Modric or a Scholes, but it is still very good. Combine that with his composure on the ball, and the ability to shift quickly to create a bit of space for himself, its a lethal skill set to have. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather we buy Modric, but for the price Spurs are quoting I would rather go for an alternative such as Dembele.

[Hutcho 8,443]

I didn't say he hasn't played in the CAM role, I said he played mostly as a central midfielder. Of course he can play there but he excelled when he was dropped back to a deeper role (in the 2nd half of the season). I was thinking of doing match compilations of him and have downloaded numerous Fulham games from last season. "He may have played as a CM a lot but still see him more of a CAM type of player". It's only natural that people will still think of him as a more attacking player, but that isn't the case anymore.

"We need someone who can sit in that midfield move the ball from one side to the other, dictate the tempo etc". Again, from watching him in games he is fully capable of controlling a game. His passing range may not be as good as a Modric or a Scholes, but it is still very good. Combine that with his composure on the ball, and the ability to shift quickly to create a bit of space for himself, its a lethal skill set to have. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather we buy Modric, but for the price Spurs are quoting I would rather go for an alternative such as Dembele.

Dont we already have someone who can control the game and can split defences with his passing etc, who can also defend shoot take free kicks, has more assists per game and goals per game than scholes etc...

SUPER FRANK....

[DH1988 1,348]

Much prefer Martinez as a buy rather than disco stew

[Jase 43,479]

I didn't say he hasn't played in the CAM role, I said he played mostly as a central midfielder. Of course he can play there but he excelled when he was dropped back to a deeper role (in the 2nd half of the season). I was thinking of doing match compilations of him and have downloaded numerous Fulham games from last season. "He may have played as a CM a lot but still see him more of a CAM type of player". It's only natural that people will still think of him as a more attacking player, but that isn't the case anymore.

"We need someone who can sit in that midfield move the ball from one side to the other, dictate the tempo etc". Again, from watching him in games he is fully capable of controlling a game. His passing range may not be as good as a Modric or a Scholes, but it is still very good. Combine that with his composure on the ball, and the ability to shift quickly to create a bit of space for himself, its a lethal skill set to have. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather we buy Modric, but for the price Spurs are quoting I would rather go for an alternative such as Dembele.

Did mention Cabaye and don't think he would be costly to get.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Really didn't get that bit

But anyway i don't see it as a problem. You need 5 players competing for that double pivot and with Ramires also being a backup RW that is virtually making it 4 players (Not counting Meireles). Also need to factor in that there is likely to be an injury at some stage too and i'd much rather see a Fellaini or Lampard come in as a replacement rather than Essien or Meireles

Two issues here. It's not a real competition though. Lampard was one of our best players last season and will start 30-35 games. Ramires will play regularly in the double pivot. Mikel will play regularly. Romeu will back up Mikel. And that's if we play a 4-2-3-1, if we play a 4-3-3, the competition for playing time would be worse. The second problem is that you don't pay 20-25M for a guy to come off the bench or to play sparingly. Would Fellaini be an improvement on Meireles? Probably, but it's a minor improvement.

[themightyblue 443]

Two issues here. It's not a real competition though. Lampard was one of our best players last season and will start 30-35 games. Ramires will play regularly in the double pivot. Mikel will play regularly. Romeu will back up Mikel. And that's if we play a 4-2-3-1, if we play a 4-3-3, the competition for playing time would be worse. The second problem is that you don't pay 20-25M for a guy to come off the bench or to play sparingly. Would Fellaini be an improvement on Meireles? Probably, but it's a minor improvement.

This is just opinions, but i'd rather see us start to slowly phase out Lampard from the team, not so that he doesn't play obviously but not too many games. Fellaini can also play an advanced role too rather than just in the pivot and so could also get games there. Ramires as things stand will probably get a lot of his games as a winger as backup to Hulk. Then as i stated before there is bound to be an injury in there. Also Fellaini would be a huge improvement on Meireles not minor. He's already a much better player and is only 24 so will only get better. He's one of those signings where if he comes i'll definitely be happy and if he doesn't come (providing we get another CM) then i won't be too fussed. Just don't agree with people saying he's rubbish or not needed

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

This is just opinions, but i'd rather see us start to slowly phase out Lampard from the team, not so that he doesn't play obviously but not too many games. Fellaini can also play an advanced role too rather than just in the pivot and so could also get games there. Ramires as things stand will probably get a lot of his games as a winger as backup to Hulk. Then as i stated before there is bound to be an injury in there. Also Fellaini would be a huge improvement on Meireles not minor. He's already a much better player and is only 24 so will only get better. He's one of those signings where if he comes i'll definitely be happy and if he doesn't come (providing we get another CM) then i won't be too fussed. Just don't agree with people saying he's rubbish or not needed

I have my doubts as to how good Feliiani actually is. I don't think he's rubbish or anything, but for a defensive midfielder, 20-25M, you should be getting Ya Ya Toure. If all these Belgian players were as good as people said they were, they'd be a world-class team, not the #54 ranked team in the world. And I disagree. We absolutely don't need him. From last season, we've subtracted Kalou from our midfield/wingers and added Marin, Hazard, Benayoun, probably Hulk and maybe De Bruyne. If we play the 4-3-3, we'll have Hulk and Hazard as wingers with Marin, Sturridge Mata, Malouda, and Ramires able to play there as well. In the midfield, we'd likely rotate with something like Mikel, Lampard, Mata, Meireles, and Ramires starting the bulk of the games with Romeu, Malouda, and Essien providing cover (with Hazard and Benayoun also able to play more centrally if needed.) If we play a 4-2-3-1, We'll likely have Hulk, Mata, and Hazard behind the striker with Lampard and Mikel deeper. Ramires would be able to provide cover to most of those spots but then Meireles, Benayoun, Malouda, Romeu, etc...can also cover. This idea that we need another midfielder seems crazy to me. We actually have about 2 or 3 too many midfielders right now.

[themightyblue 443]

These belgian players are class but they've had a change in manager and lack team chemistry as was shown against England. Individually though there brilliant, but also England are ranked 6th so you can't use that as justification. The reason for needing another midfielder is simple and thats because we lack real quality in that position. Our options

Mikel - Definitely good enough, but does he have the consistency

Romeu - Outstanding potential and can rotate with Mikel

However look at the other positions

Lampard - He's 34 this year and although he had a good end to the season in that role, Lampard tends to slow the game down which is fine in our defend deep game, but when it comes to teams who are stubborn and sit back we need much quicker transitions.

Ramires - He'll be rotating with Hulk too and so not solely focusing on the double pivot role

Essien - The less said the better

Meireles - He's one of those players who does well if the whole team is playing well, but when we're not he becomes atrocious

Thats the thing in the double pivot we may have the quantity, but in terms of quality we are really lacking. Fellaini is currently an improvement on all of those players bar Ramires. If we want to be the best we need to dominate that midfield area and like i said we don't have the quality to do so yet against the top opposition. Modric is my preference, but Fellaini is still a big improvement

[themightyblue 443]

You need to go and read some of Romeu's interviews, he's an absolute model professional

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

dafuq ? Romeu has huge improvements to make in his whole play to be regarded as reliable. I must admit I don't like his mentality, it's just an impression but I don't think it was accidental to see him in his first press conf with an enormous Nike hoodie. The feeling I've is "I'm a grea prospect, I've nothing to prove" and he's right to think so in a certain way. He's a great prospect but even that makes him far from deserving a starting role in a club like Chelsea

At Barcelona we ask midfielders to intercept the transmissions instead of tackling. This tactic is good when your whole team moves and covers each other, not when you're the only one to play that way. When he had to play he did want to intercept everytime à la Barcelona.

He's poor in dual, 1vs1 (most dribbled player in the squad even with only a handful of games played), covering and containing the adverse pressing. And his will to create from the back outpost him from his real role to provide a proper and clean 1st distribution (the famous "Mikel's sideway pass"). And as I explained in Mikel's thread, the DM's role in a team playing 4-3-3 is crucial because if his distribution is accurate, it frees the two players in front of him to worry about the consequence of an early aborted attack (a counter attack)

You're way way too quick to judge a player's mentality. I respect your footballing opinion though and agree with everything else you said. But saying stuff like he wore a big hoodie and seemed like he thought of himself as a great prospect is ridiculous.

[Joker10 946]

Central playmaker, attacking central midfielder, advanced playmaker/winger and a deep-lying playmaker? :banghead:

They're all completely different roles. Why on earth are all those players being mentioned in the same sentence?

They are being mentioned because they all can play in the double pivot, and fill the need for a creative midfielder.

Belhanda is more then advanced playmaker/Winger, this is the only season he has played that role. He has spent most of his career as a DM.

Witsel is very versatile he has played everywhere for Benfica and Belgium. LM/RM/CAM/CM.

I don't think i need to mention how perfectly Banega and Gundogan fit the double pivot, since both of them play their majority of games in those roles.

[themightyblue 443]

José Mourinho has highlighted the name of Marouane Fellaini on his list of possible reinforcements. His number one target was and still is Javi Martinez, but the manager has been made aware by Real Madrid that signing the player from Athletic Bilbao is nigh on mission impossible.

So Mourinho, who knows the market well, has drawn up a shortlist of candidates. One of his priorities is to strengthen the central midfield, as well as the right side of the defence. The Everton midfielder meets Mou’s requirement. The Toffees have already rejected an offer from Chelsea (€15m plus Lukau on loan) and another from Arsenal (€20m).

The biggest Premier League clubs are surprised by the Belgian’s progress, having just had his most successful season to date. He topped the rankings in terms of balls recovered (something that interests Mou), as well as aerial balls won. He was also the player who covered the most kilometres on the pitch.

Real Madrid would have to dig deep to pry Fellaini away from Everton. He has other offers, plus he wasn’t cheap. Everton paid €20m to Standard Liege for his services. He has a contract until 2016 and Everton isn’t willing to sell him for less than €30m, but Real will never pay that much and would look elsewhere for more affordable options.

From Marca

[Kezza 1,965]

Not worth anywhere near 28mil pounds.