Lets not try to cover up the facts, Manchester united were appalling in the 2013-14 summer transfer window. United were linked with a whole host of targets for the summer yet they could not manage to bring the players David Moyes wanted to focus his team around. Believed to have wanted two new midfield targets, a strong hard tackler that can win the ball in the middle of the park along with a creative skilled midfielder capable of launching attacks and picking up the runs of the attacking forwards, David Moyes wanted to create him own three man midfield with the above mentioned players to partner the excellent Michael Carrick. Moyes must be disappointed that he was only able to get his former player marouane fellaini. However Fellaini is just the kind of player that manchester united has needed for so long in midfield.
Manchester united were never truly able to replace Roy keane, a hard tackling, no nonsense Central midfielder with great vision and creativity although they did come close (if only owen hargreaves could have stayed injury free) and as a result of this lack of steel in midfield, United have suffered with losing possession easily and getting over run. Mostly all Major teams always utilize a strong presence in midfield that can tackle, intercept and win the ball back for their creative players, Ramirez for chelsea, Lucas for liverpool, yaya toure for city, arteta for arsenal etc. However Fellaini is the first real midfield signing in quite some time for united and its been a breath of fresh air that the depleted midfield was finally targeted for improvement (with fletcher out of an unknown period of time the only real First team center midfield players United possess are Carrick, cleverly, anderson. *real means natural position as CM and not converted like Ryan giggs).
its is undeniable that Fellaini is real presence in midfield capable of changing the course of the game. More then once has Fellaini come to haunt his new club in the premier league. The 4-4 draw at old trafford in the 2011-2012 season was considered the point when Manchester united lost the title and again fellaini came to drown Manchester united in the opener of the next season when he scored the winner and the only goal in 1-0 home win against the eventual champions. He also scored crucial goals against arsenal, manchester city and fulham in everton’s bid to secure European football.
Fellaini’s height and strength makes him an excellent target man, capable of holding the ball and bringing other players in play. He is a creative player when playing in an offensive position capable of picking out players and launching counter attacks. And the most important thing that comes with this signing is that Fellaini himself says that his best position is as a defensive Midfielder. That leaves michael carrick to venture forward and pick out players with his long range passing ability and not be concerned with defensive duties.
Whatever the transfer farce united faced this summer, some good came of it at least and i believe fellaini will add a lot to the current manchester united squad and the stats don’t lie.
Marouane Fellaini stats from last Season:
Total appearances: 31
Goals scored: 11 (only Shinji Kagawa scored more then 2 from manchester united’s midfield)
Chances created: 40
Avg Passing accuracy: 79%
Header won: 60% (151/276, in comparison Center back Ryan shawcross won 95 of 157 headers).
Here is to hoping Fellaini can reach his full potential and shine in both the premier league and the champions league.
