He'd play deep for us and he'd boss it.
Marouane Fellaini
Should be noted he has played almost exclusively as an attacking midfielder for Everton this season, and his explosion of form has come in that position. So anyone proclaiming this guy to be the answer to our defensive midfield question, needs to think again, he is hideously undisciplined in that role, hence his withdrawal from that role.
Basically a much better Diaby.
That'd be quite something, because he never really did for Everton.
He's had plenty of good performances in midfield before and he's a talented footballer, it wouldn't be that suprising at all. Thought he played very well at the Emirates a month or 2 ago, in a deeper role.
Personally think he's better defensively than people are giving him credit for. He's been awesome in an advanced role but he's awesome deep as well.
He's immense; let's sign him and worry about where to play him later.
He's decent, but nothing special in that position. No discipline, really - Amstel has it spot on. As a DM, we'd be paying £24m for a £10m player. It'd be foolish.
Not a single person would have taken you seriously if you'd advocated signing Fellaini for £24m as a DM, and he's barely played there since.
The only way I can see us signing this guy, is if we're finally fucking Diaby off, and Wenger is pushing Walcott through the middle, so see's this guy as the hold up man, a presence upfield, to win the drop downs and allow the midgets space & time to make runs.
We don't really play a defensive midfielder anyway, as long as he remembers where to stand he'll be okay. But it'll be a waste because he's much more of a talent going forward because most defenders can't cope with his awkwardness.
Ron Burgundy wrote:Personally think he's better defensively than people are giving him credit for. He's been awesome in an advanced role but he's awesome deep as well.
He's immense; let's sign him and worry about where to play him later.
I feel that way too.
He'd work well alongside Ramsey, wilshere or arteta
Well we could just play him in both roles depending on the situation. Personally i think if the link is true Wenger would be much more likely to want him for a deeper role rather than behind the striker.
Goal.com saying we've activated his release clause.
Didn't know he had one.
Has the Times ever led a transfer story before?
As a midfielder, he reminds me of a shit Vieira.
Though maybe Wenger is looking to move to a more direct, power and pace dynamic again, he was heavy in his praise for Bayern's style of play & quite damning of Barca's in his recent interview. Javi Martinez role? It's possible, I suppose.
asajoseph wrote:Goal.com saying we've activated his release clause.
Didn't know he had one.
It's been pretty well known for a while that he has a release clause. Everton have practically been publicizing it themselves.
He's a player at the level of someone like Dempsey IMO. We need little bit more. There has never been any serious interest from a bigger club as far as I can tell. Fans like him because he gets fantasy football points. But wouldn't want him starting 30+ league games for us in midfield or at no.10. And therefore for that much money it's a definite no for me.
He's versatile and Wenger likes his midfielders to be adaptable.
Doesn't have to be restricted to being the mythical DM
Could replace Diaby.
Will Arsene truly lash out £24m though?
If Cazorla's playing wide, Fellaini would be our best 10, or our best striker. No way he's playing deep.
Tend to agree with Armor and Ron here.
In any our set up, he'd get multiple opportunities to be the most advanced of midfielders, in any case, during the course of the game. (Especially, if Wilshere is playing)
Also, I think, Wenger has given up hope on Diaby. I remember him talking about how Diaby had to earn a new deal, last season. And Diaby, though for no fault of his own, has clearly not earned it. I think, this could be his last year in the current contract and most probably, he'd run it and move back to France on a free transfer.
"He talked about a couple of new signings and he talked about the squad and asked 'Do they need to go?'," said Kenwright of his discussions with the 39-year-old. "I said 'No, they absolutely do not have to go' (although) there is one (Fellaini) that has a get-out, which everyone knows."
Yeah, I just saw that.
He's miles ahead of Dempsey. There's a reason Dempsey wasn't considered at 10m and only right at the end did someone stump up 6m to sign him. For 6m half of europe would be over this guy.
Bigger interest? Chelsea have had a long term interest in him and so have United.
No big club came in for Arteta and even though he was turning 30 and had a broken leg prior he turned out to be a great signing.
Frankly a person who uses the argument that "No big club is interested in this guy" to come to the conclusion that a player is not good enough just has a poor argument.
Could see Mourinho making a move for him too
I think united will match the release fee n get him.
The man has all the attributes our midfield lacks and the 24m quoted is a reflection of these skills. Its just paper talk at this stage but even though I would, I cannot imagine Wenger spending that much on one player
I recon wenger is looking for to pay just behind the striker. He's an alternative to Rooney, Jovetic and grenier
You could get the skills our midfield lacks for half that price.
Yes, comparing him to Dempsey is a bit extreme. I've no doubt this guy would improve us in alot of ways, but I also think £24 million can be used in a more productive way aswell. I wouldn't be massively opposed to it, but if he was a marque signing, I'd be pretty disgusted.
@lorddulaarsenal wrote:I recon wenger is looking for to pay just behind the striker. He's an alternative to Rooney, Jovetic and grenier
That's what I think too. He'd be immense there.
-------------Walcott
---Cazorla---------Chambo
------------Fellaini
------wilshere--Ramsey
Has a good balance to it
Cor I don't half make a shed load of mistakes in my posts
Old age that
would be a good signing. stick him in cm or am.
United won't sign him purely because the 4-4-2 that they use would mean that Fellaini would have to play much deeper or be on the bench. Chelsea I can see coming in for him but assuming any club wanting him desires to use him in an attacking role then they already have TOO many numbers as it is
he's a fine player, but im not sure how we'd use him. he's a solid player, and he's looked good at everton because most of their play flows through him; they basically pound the ball up to him whenever they can. cant see arsenal playing like that. he'd need to adjust his game to seeing less of the ball, which alot of 'all rounders' struggle with when they make a big move.
I wouldn't be surprised if Wenger saw him as a Diaby type replacement. Someone who he can play at CM, AM, or DM.
Gunner89 wrote:He's miles ahead of Dempsey. There's a reason Dempsey wasn't considered at 10m and only right at the end did someone stump up 6m to sign him. For 6m half of europe would be over this guy.
Bigger interest? Chelsea have had a long term interest in him and so have United.
No big club came in for Arteta and even though he was turning 30 and had a broken leg prior he turned out to be a great signing.
Frankly a person who uses the argument that "No big club is interested in this guy" to come to the conclusion that a player is not good enough just has a poor argument.
I'm not 'just' using that though, am I? Its also not as irrelevant as you think for a significant player in this league that everyone has known about for years. And I see no concrete evidence of Chelsea interest or indeed ours. Dempsey had little time remaining on his contract and was approaching 30. Ability and impact wise, I see them as a similar calibre of player. And that's not to say they're no good...just that we should be doing better, especially for that money.
As I say, so long as we're not trying to convince ourselves he is a DM, we realise he is a more attacking player and more useful in the final 3rd, then he would certainly improve us, he has his assets and would add variation to our play. It's interesting and I think Wenger is looking to change our style a little.
That goal.com article is brilliant 
Arsenal have already made moves for Swansea City defender and QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but their pursuit of Fellaini will send shockwaves through English football.
asajoseph wrote:You could get the skills our midfield lacks for half that price.
His are pretty unique though as I can even imagine him getting on the end of Sagna's crosses and Scz's goal kicks