Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini was a panic buy, reveals Ryan Giggs

London: Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has described former manager David Moyes's decision to buy Marouane Fellaini from Everton in September 2013 as a "panic" buy.

Fellaini joined United from Everton, Moyes's former club, in a 27.5 million pound ($33.6 million, 30.9 million euros) move on transfer deadline day.

But the gangly Belgium midfielder became a symbol of United's struggles under Moyes, who was sacked in April 2014 after just 10 months in the job.

"I don't blame David," Giggs wrote in Saturday's Daily Telegraph. "United had signed players late in the window before. This time was different. It was more of a panic."

Giggs stepped in as caretaker manager following Moyes's departure and steered the club to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

Giggs said Moyes, now the Sunderland manager, spent his entire United tenure playing catch-up following his appointment as the successor to Alex Ferguson.

"He came in without any of the inside knowledge about how the squad worked: when certain players needed resting, who was right for which game, who needed to be moved on and who needed to be encouraged," Giggs said.

"Sir Alex (Ferguson) might not necessarily have had a first-choice XI, but he knew exactly what side was needed for each game and would have that planned weeks ahead.

"David did not have that information. He started with a blank sheet of paper and for most of the first season we were chasing our best XI, or the right team for the game in question."

United finished fourth and fifth under Moyes's successor, Louis van Gaal, before Jose Mourinho was appointed manager last May.

Giggs, who made a club-record 963 appearances for United, worked as Van Gaal's assistant, but left after the arrival of Mourinho.

More games: friv

Were we wrong about Marouane Fellaini at Manchester United?

Marouane Fellaini hasn’t got many friends among Manchester United fans after three years at the club.

A poor season under David Moyes and two under Louis van Gaal, albeit with some fleeting good performances, mean the much maligned midfielder was considered by many as certain to leave this summer.

Yet, two games in and Fellaini looks transformed under Jose Mourinho which begs the question – have we all been wrong about him? Maybe he does have a future under Mourinho at the club.

Sam discusses the topic over on United Peoples TV. Make sure to get involved in the comments and give your say on the Fellaini situation.

Juan Mata, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini Could Yet Stay at Man Utd After All

Manchester United trio Juan Mata, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini could yet be set for an Old Trafford reprieve that will see them stay at the club this summer. That's despite long standing rumours that the three would be among the first to be shown the door by Jose Mourinho.

According to a refreshing report from the Daily Mail, Mourinho is actually prepared to keep Mata and Fellaini for the time being, and will offer Blind a chance to prove himself during pre-season.

At least as far as Mata and Blind were concerned, it had been suggested as early as May that their time at Old Trafford would be up. The rumours regarding Fellaini have never been quite so clear cut, but each will now have the opportunity to try and impress the new manager.

Mata, who remains an incredibly popular member of the squad, as well as with fans, is said to asked for assurances over his future at United once Mourinho was appointed. He will likely no longer be the first-team regular he was under Louis van Gaal, but a squad rotation role is on offer.

The report from the Mail also suggests that Mourinho, despite selling Mata at Chelsea, feels he can find a way to get the best out of him. That, combined with the fact moving him this time around might not be quite so straightforward.

For Blind, the situation appears clear, 'earn your place'. The Dutchman does not fit the physical profile that Mourinho usually looks for in players, while the new boss has already made a point of stating that he is only interested in 'specialists'.

However, at the same time, he acknowledged a need for at one of two more versatile options. At his opening press conference the Portuguese even highlighted a 'left-back or midfielder' to fill in at centre-back in an emergency, although he never mentioned Blind by name.

Fellaini most certainly does fit Mourinho's ideal physical profile. The Belgian is a real bruiser and is known to be fiercely loyal to the manager he plays under. While he is unlikely to be a starter, he still offers a unique threat from the bench and could prove to be a very valuable weapon despite continuing to be unpopular with the majority of fans. Unfairly so.

Marouane Fellaini eager to win Jose Mourinho’s trust at Man United

MAROUANE FELLAINI is determined to be a major player under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Fellaini has struggled to impress in his three seasons at Old Trafford since joining from Everton for £27.5m.

The 28-year-old was in and out of the team under former boss Louis van Gaal and managed just four goals in all competitions last season.

But he is hoping to reboot his United fortunes following Mourinho’s appointment.

"As far as my future is concerned, I'm under contract with Manchester United,” Fellaini said.

“In addition, a great manager, Jose Mourinho, is arriving.

"He likes to win titles and I would be honoured and proud to work with him.

“Now it's up to me to show he can trust me."

Marouane Fellaini & Robert Huth charged with violent conduct

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Leicester defender Robert Huth have been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after an off-the-ball clash.

Fellaini swung an elbow at Huth after the German pulled his hair during Sunday's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

The incident was not seen by match officials but caught on video.

Both players, who could be banned for three matches, have until 18:00 BST on Wednesday, 4 May to respond.

The charges were brought after a panel of three former elite referees watched the video evidence and decided the players' actions warranted punishment.

Should Fellaini be found guilty and suspended, he would still be available for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace because United have three league games left.

Defending the Belgium international, United manager Louis van Gaal said:"It's not in the books that someone has to grab by the hair and then pull it behind - only in sex masochism."

The Dutchman felt his side should have been given a penalty for the incident.

He added: "When I grab you by the hair, what are you doing? Shall I do it? It's also a penalty. When I grab your hair, you react also. I know for sure."

United are fifth in the Premier League but still have trips to Norwich and West Ham before hosting Bournemouth on the last day of the season.

Newly crowned Premier League champions Leicester have two games remaining.

In August 2015, Morecambe duo Kevin Ellison and Ryan Edwards were given three-match bans for violent conduct after they were found guilty of pulling the hair of Wycombe's Marcus Bean. 

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Marouane Fellaini: This is the real reason why Man Utd suffered against Liverpool

MAROUANE FELLAINI has cited Manchester United’s inability to respect Louis van Gaal’s game-plan as the main reason as to why they lost against Liverpool.

The Red Devils produced an insipid display as Jurgen Klopp’s men took the initiative in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie at Anfield and ran out 2-0 winners.

United legends Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes blamed a lack of leadership and fight for the defeat.

But Fellaini believes there is much more simple explanation.

“We didn’t press well in the first half. I think the second half was much better and we had more possession of the ball,” Fellaini said.

“But in the first half we didn’t show enough respect to the game-plan of the manager. That’s why we conceded a lot of chances.

“The plan before the game was to press from the start. We didn’t do it well at all first half so we changed in the second half and it was better.”

United will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face West Ham in the FA Cup sixth round tomorrow (4pm).

Marouane Fellaini says players are to blame for Liverpool loss - because they ignored Louis van Gaal

The Belgian midfielder says Van Gaal instructed his side to press from the start, but the players "didn't show enough respect to the game-plan".

Marouane Fellaini insists Manchester United stars are to blame for their damaging Euro defeat at Liverpool – because they failed to follow Louis van Gaal’s orders,reports Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

With flak being hurled at the United boss from all corners after their abject display at Anfield, Fellaini has surprisingly come to the Dutchman’s aid before today’s must-win FA Cup showdown with West Ham.

The £27million Belgian revealed Van Gaal laid down a team pattern to contain Jurgen Klopp’s side in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie – but United stars IGNORED his instructions.

Midfield star Fellaini said: “We didn’t press well in the first half. I think the second half was much better and we had more possession of the ball.

Gallery: United go down at Anfield

didn’t show enough respect to the game-plan of the manager. That’s why we conceded a lot of chances.

“The plan before the game was to press from the start. We didn’t do it well at all first half so we changed in the second half and it was better.” Former United legends Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes blamed the 2-0 Merseyside mauling on a lack of leadership and cohesion at United.

And that’s prompted Fellaini to challenge his fellow players to show some balls as they try to rescue their season against the Hammers today, and in the return fixture with Liverpool on Thursday.

“The captains will talk when something needs to happen. I don’t think it is about the leaders. We all have to do better at it,” Fellaini said.

“All the players should be leaders. We need to play with.. (laughing and pointing to his balls).

“Against Liverpool it is always like this – lots of duels and lots of challenges. In the first half we were not ready. The team was not ready.

“But we have to forget the Liverpool game for the moment and focus on the next one. It’s a big game against West Ham for the semi-final of the FA Cup.

“It was already a big game – but now it is even bigger. It is a massive game for us and an important week in the future of the season.

“We will be focusing but we’re playing at Old Trafford and we have to win.

“West Ham have bought great players and have a good manager in Slaven Bilic.

“They are playing well at the moment and are full of confidence so we have to be careful. But we are at home so we will be ready.”

Manchester United: It’s Time For Fellaini To Go

There’s an unspoken tradition at Old Trafford whereby the most dazzling players bring up the rear of the line as the team walks out.

George Best, King Eric and Cristiano Ronaldo have all done it. It’s not just limited to players donning the number 7 shirt. It’s reserved for the attacking, creative players that the Theatre of Dreams is synonymous with.

Last Saturday, Marouane Fellaini did it.

Yes, that Marouane Fellaini. The only high level player that, when he completes a ten-yard pass it’s a nice surprise. The only player that viciously drives his elbow into an opponent’s head when jumping to head the ball and is shocked to see a yellow card brandished in his direction.

“In there for the aerial threat”, the most positive of fans opine. A notion so widespread yet so false it’s similar to “Young’s a great crosser” or “Nani had a great shot”. In reality what usually transpires is that Young’s tenth cross of the day finally finds a red shirt, Fellaini inadvertently lets his head go with gravity in some sort of direction towards the ball (I assume he has no control over it, it certainly appears that way) and it dribbles across the line. Yet he’s an aerial threat.

One wonders have these people actually watched him in action? Rarely does he actually jump; when he does he usually fouls his opponent to his constant bewilderment. When he does win the ball, he hasn’t the slightest notion what a footballing brain is, let alone possess one, so his header usually ends up in open space and is returned to the opposition.

He is the last lumbering ruins of the David Moyes era, but it is his new Dutch boss who uses him so inexplicably. At least Moyes didn’t just play hoof-ball towards the ex-Everton man.

A little piece of United died that day when United stole an undeserved point from West Ham after drilling the ball towards Fellaini, and it fell to Daley Blind to volley home the equaliser for “long-ball United” as Big Sam so succinctly described his United counterpart’s painful game plan. At Manchester United, that kind of “football” is simply not acceptable and neither is the languishing Belgian.

This might seem a bit hyperbolic but as far I’m concerned, Fellaini is the worst player to ever pull on the famed United strip. Yes, Bebe, Djemba-Djemba et al were pretty poor but they undeniably possessed natural talent. Admittedly, very little of it but they did. Fellaini possesses absolutely none. He cannot pass, he cannot shoot with any semblance of consistency, he cannot tackle without fouling. He is a pathetic joke that wore far too thin, far too long ago.

He also has a detrimental impact on his teammates, which the aforementioned Djemba-Djembas of this world do not. His size and shape means he is, like it or not, a target man. So much so that players like Blind – truly intelligent players – will attempt sixty-yard passes to his general vicinity.

He could be marked by three players and others free, and yet from set-pieces he’s always the target. It’s as predictable as a Daniel Sturridge injury.

“Fellaini is undroppable”, Louis van Gaal once said of the Belgian.

Not just his dropping, but his outright sale would bring back many of the United fans Van Gaal is losing so rapidly.

Manchester United FC team news: Predicted line up for Newcastle in the Premier League

Man United can catch Tottenham up with victory against Newcastle at St James' Park.

Manager Louis van Gaal's side are three points behind fourth place, but the Dutchman has some injury worries.

Bastian Schweinsteiger played against Sheffield United in the FA Cup, but was injured later in the game. 

"It shall be difficult of course [for Schweinsteiger to face Newcastle]," Van Gaal said, adding: "I don't know yet but I think he has a knee problem."

Andreas Pereira is an option in the middle as is Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick, who were rested along with Ashley Young. Fans will hope the manager does not turn to Marouane Fellaini, though.

Click the yellow arrow above, right, to see the predicted line up.