Fellaini and the Belgian Intrusion

Little was known about Marouane Fellaini before he arm twisted Manchester United into an uncharacteristic submission. He seems to have made an impact even on the casual football fan. The Toffees, on the other hand, have been drooling over their lean, mean killing machine ever since he set foot on Goodison Park. His audacious header has assumed immense proportions, solely because it sobered up a rejuvenated United strike force. That it was a meticulously taken header will be overlooked. Why? Because he pipped the likes of van Persie, Rooney and Kagawa! That’s the way the world works.

An art of a goal has lost all its charm to the unfortunate plight of the transfigured. To the United faithful, it will go down as just another routine set piece fiasco. That it was against a lambasted Michael Carrick will only spawn their complacence. Could the stiff Ferdinand have neutered Fellaini’s aerial threat in the box? I highly doubt it. At 6’5”, Fellaini is unusually physical and the ability to throw his markers off guard is no mean feat. Given the warrior that he is, he would have only relished the chance to run Ferdinand ragged. Ferdinand, owing to his age and the episodic thigh injury, is a mere shadow of his former self and he would be silently happy that he missed the game. Such was Fellaini’s authority in the game. He was a menace. He hassled his midfield counterparts to pull the strings – he was indeed a handful, as Sir Alex had reluctantly admitted during the post match conference.

Fellaini’s latest performance has aroused the casual football fan. Sadly, he is not noted for his versatility. He is seen as a mere dandy that prances over and across a football pitch. However, that dandy has been a life sustaining component in Everton’s bustling midfield. He asserts his physicality with caution – an art he has been forced to develop in England. He was booked 10 times in his first 17 appearances for Everton. Having escaped a lengthy ban for his alleged roguish approach, he went on to make 35 appearances that season. And it is this polished physicality that sets him apart from the current crop of one-touch midfielders.

It is indeed a delight to watch the Belgian at work. When he extends that tenacious arm span to ward off a challenge, he enforces himself. The great thing about the enforcement is that he bullies his opponents into compliance. And to bully players around in a physically charged league such as the EPL is an act of marvel.

It is also quite difficult to steal possession from him. Because, when he is not lunging into tackles, he is spraying passes all over the field. David Moyes, of all people, will know the kind of impact Fellaini brings to a game. And he will have to face a barrage of tempting offers thrown at his Belgian gem in the coming transfer seasons. Ranting about Fellaini is not a mere reflex response to his whiz – it is the pleasure of having watched him prosper as a downright box to box midfielder.

His performance against United has only hurled him into prominence. There is no denying that he has been the same kind of sensation in his four seasons at Everton. The only summation has been the smothering presence of media, thanks to which, his previous contributions have been downplayed. In the eyes of the casual football fan, he will only be judged by his performances this season. And if he doesn’t script another upset, he would just be the dandy that got lucky against a makeshift United defence. Ah, the scourge of the underrated!

Interestingly enough, Fellaini’s emergence as one of the most authoritative midfielders in the EPL reflects the rise of Belgium’s football artistry. The EPL is now quite laden with Belgians in rather instrumental roles. It has now become a mark of status to have a Belgian in one’s ranks. Chelsea have the fickle Eden Hazard and the lesser known Romelu Lukakau (on loan at West Bromwich Albion), while City can boast about the assured Vincent Kompany – all of whom sparkled on their opening fixtures. A rampant Hazard lit up the DW Stadium with his mazy runs as the Blues brushed aside an ailing Wigan, and Lukaku writhed past the Liverpool defence to nod in the unforeseen third.

From Arsenal’s new captain, Thomas Vermaelen to Spurs’ new signing, Jan Verthongen, the EPL has registered an unprecedented influx of Belgian talent. In all probability, we might just witness an unheralded Belgian brilliance in the coming few seasons. This little nation, after all, is more than just waffles and saxophones!