Fellaini/Castello - Initial Views?

[McBain]

Castillo actually surprised me. I wasn't expecting to much his first time out especially since he was late coming back from international duty. Looked like a Makelle look alike. Check out those legs they are like stumps. Did great tracking back and receiving the ball from the back four. This will be another of Moyes's bargains I hope we tie him up right away on a longer term deal looks like a Carsley clone but a little neater on the ball and plays with his head up.

Fellaini still has to adjust to the prem pace but I saw enough to know he will be good for us. Cahill stole the show for me boy have we missed our Skippy.

Your bang on there. Who else could have scored the winner? Gray was right, back post to front post pick that one out.

From what I could see, (the feed was a little fuzzy) we took three points, and in a game where I was surprised at the Stoke threat. They will take some scalps this year I reckon.

Fellaini's young, and he did look like he was looking to the defense to talk to him more. He was unsure about which balls to go for and generally looked not to make mistakes, which is a good sign because when he knows his position and the team around him he will grow into his role.

Castillo's another tradie who has a level head, a good work ethic and looks a good pro. Lost the ball to bad passes a couple of times but didnt let it get to him. I like the way we played, spraying it wide to take the pressure off and building up. It was a little frustrating at times with Yakubu giving the ball away, but I think he was just trying to hard to make up for his last effort.

Was anyone surprised Anichebe on the flank? I guess we didn't have any other options and he looks to be above Vaughn at the moment. He made some good runs, but the kid has to learn to back himself more, and stop going down like a big girl all the time. I'm glad he notched and hopefully this will give him some more confidence to get forward.

All in all we did well. The Delap attack nearly cost us but the newly Tatted up (is it new? I havent seen it before) Cahill did what he does best and what we've missed the first few games. We are looking good, and put Ossie/Pienaar back in the team and things are looking sweet.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Both looked neat on the ball, which allows us to build from the back, something we havn't been able to do for a while. That alone should bode well for the coming season.

 

[Chris]

Castillo looked very good. Not fazed at all. Provided tight support to Nev (mostly) but covered the backline well. Made a great tackle near the end of the 2nd half and came away with the ball that put us on a good break.

He needs to pick his short passes a bit more as he generally just laid it off to Neville even when Arteta was an option. This put Nev under pressure at times and the ball ended up coming back to the defence or being passed on to Arteta from Nev.

Good show from him though. Bit of settling in and seeing who can do what will give him a better short passing game. I thought Moyes didn't have an option to sign him? Loan only I thought.

Fellaini looked good too. Thought he sat a little too deep at times and he ended up going up for the same balls as Jags/Castillo etc which was a waste. Despite what people are saying on this thread, he did use his head to make 3-4 defensive headers and he did jump. He doesn't have to jump up very far like! He didn't win all his headers mind.
He did support the attack when we pushed up though and even had a wicked long range shot blocked which he hit on the turn with loads of pace on it.

Both players tried to play in some defence cutting passes with varying success. No punt and see what you get type of balls which was nice.

Missed Ossie BIG TIME though. We lacked that spark that he gives us. Not sure who I'd drop for him. It depends on the opposition but I think the team was right from Moyes today.

Anichebe played over Vaughan for his physical strength more than anything. He did a decent job when he got the ball, but more coming away from our box with it on the wing rather than dropping in pin point balls to their box. Again the opposition dictated his selection over Vaughan.

It's good. We seem to have options now in the team and can field different setups and teams depending on how we want to play and what the opposition are like.

Me. Happy.

 

[Makis]

OK, if they played so well as the midfield duo, why did Stoke overrun them late in the game? Both of them did some very poor clearances that lead to more long throws and on several occasions Stoke players got free shots inside the penalty area. I actually struggled to spot Castillo on these occasions at all, Fellaini was at least in the picture, just late.

Castillo also gave the ball away on several occasions needlessly.

I put all this down to just having joined the club, but saying they played well is far too optimistic in my opinion. They have to improve plenty, Fellaini in particular (considering his massive transfer fee).

 

[derek.murphy]

im happy enough with the two lads.

castillo was good bar a few misplaced passes looks like a good find.

felliani showed glimpses but i think he was trying to hard.

both of them will have a full weeks training under their belts this week so hopefully should be more settled by the time we play hull

 

[micknick]

I thought they did well. I like Castillo he looks like he can cope with that defensive midfielder role very well- he was busy and made a nuisance of himself.

Fallaini was comfortable and did well in the 1st half but faded in the 2nd. I think that the two of them could prove to be a great combination in the centre for us.

 

[HalewoodBlue]

Fellani header made the 1st goal. Am suprised he hasn't been given credit for starting the move by the box
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[kenada_blue]

I was mor impressed with Fellini but maybe that's because I kept an eye on him more than Castillo. Castillo made some hospital balls and over hit passes - reminded me of Fernandes when he came back.

Fellini was always there in the mix for the 90minutes I felt. There was plenty of times he was in their between two stoke attackers battling in the air for the ball. He was also pushing forward alot which I liked.

Both though seem to have a bit more creativity and vision that just a general hard tackling DM.

 

[uknightbreed]

first half castillo did have a couple of wild passes , but 90 % of his passing was pretty good.
i noticed a few times he steaded the ship with simple passing just to spread the play and make stoke work .
but every now and again he showed great vision to pick out passes that at first glance werent an option.
his work rate was good and his tackling was very strong.
he needs time to settle , but the signs were there that he is going to be a very very good find.
ps anyone notice how he walks like gravesen ? spooky.


fellaini , well just seemed to be from the phil neville school of passing for long periods of the game.(ie get in a good position , go erratic and give the ball away with a simple pass).
his closing down was to slow , he didnt use his height enough and didnt jump to well when challenging for headers.
also when we were defending free kicks or corners he seemed like he didnt know what to do. wondering aimlessly around the box , blocking his own keepers view or marking players already covered.
all his problems will get better as he settles , he just needs to find out his role more , close down faster and put a bit more effort in.
although he needs work , he did show some great strength and 1 or 2 of his passes and through balls especially were through the eye of a needle quality.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Interestingly, both players attempted 49 passes during the game, but whilst Castillo made an impressive 44 of his, Fellaini made just 29 of his.

 

[TX Tiburon]

Was anyone surprised Anichebe on the flank? I guess we didn't have any other options and he looks to be above Vaughn at the moment. He made some good runs, but the kid has to learn to back himself more, and stop going down like a big girl all the time. I'm glad he notched and hopefully this will give him some more confidence to get forward.

I guess I wasn't suprised although I prefer Vaughn. But I will say that I was frustrated that Vic wasn't subbed out when he made a half-assed run on one of our few breakout possibilities in the second half. I think it was right before or after Moyes was sent to the seats. Vic plainly left the attack and Yak hanging. I would have yanked his lazy butt right then. He may have been tired but it looked lazy to me. You choose the adjective.

Castillo looked good to me for a first start. He did look confident. To think that there may be more there after some training with the squad is quite encouraging.

 

[bobbyrob]

Both looked rusty and need a couple of games to get upto the EPL pace,but both show a lot of promise,Anicebe on the wing not for me,how will osman fit in ?

 

[Goat]

Personally i thought Felliani looked and played like a 20 year old who has just moved to a new country, playing with new team mates, whos language he barely knows, playing in a system hes maybe not used to. Im sure when he gets his feet under the table we will see a different player. From what ive heard he loves to get stuck in and maybe he was trying to avoid a red card his 1st game. . Now hes seen his manager get sent off, im sure the gloves will come off and hes gonna rampage thru every1.

Castillo started slowly, but i feel he really came into the game the 2nd half, his passing got better and he sat rigid in front of our defense, there is no way we will get broken down thru the middle with him around, hes dogged and his postional sense was excellent at times.

Its way too early to judge either player atm, but i feel they both have the talent to shine and become really good players for us, i cant wait till they have both settled in.

 

[steevie]

Fellaini for me found it more difficult than Castillo in adapting to the English game. Castillo was solid throughout while Fellaini tired during the second half. Saying that, they both bolstered the blues at Stoke, it was just a shame our defence still looked vulnerable yet again with Howard not helping ease the nerves. Still, we are improving now and hopefully will continue to progress, Stoke will upset many at the Britannia this season so this result should not be scoffed at.