With Manchester United having strengthened their midfield so considerably over the last week there is now more competition for places in there than at any time in recent memory.
Manchester United’s recently threadbare midfield now has a very impressive pool of talent including Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Herrera and Fellaini. Add Daley Blind, who often played there last season, Juan Mata and the prodigious talents of Andreas Pereira and the ship begins to look over burdened.
So perhaps we should expect a fall guy before September? A player who will be cut from the roster to streamline the squad.
Of the names mentioned we can’t look much further than Maroaune Fellaini. The idea of him being something of a ‘surprise’ departure is yet another testament to the speed at which fortunes change in football.
Indeed, a year ago, it would have been more of a surprise to many Manchester United fans had Fellaini not been sold. But his form has improved dramatically and he became an important player for United last season.
But there was a sense that the tactic of hitting long diagonals for him to head into the path of a team mate got ‘found out’ towards the end of the season. Simply putting a man marker on him dampened his efficacy and he toiled again as the campaign entered the final furlong.
And can you see him getting much game time at Manchester United next season?
He played on the left of a midfield 3 last season but, with the aforementioned to squeeze into the eleven, we can easily envisage him ending up as a bit part player – a big lad to throw on as a measure of desperation when chasing a game.
Add to this the fact that he will miss the first couple of games through suspension and the future once more begins to look uncertain for The Human Microphone.
Fellaini is something of a cult figure at Old Trafford but he will possibly struggle to get into the starting line up next season.
Manchester United fans: Time to offload Fellaini while his stock is high?
Spanish Red
Jul 16, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Not necessarily. He still offers an option that none of the others do. If a goal is needed with 20 minutes left of an important game then, with Fellaini on the bench, United can bring him on and go direct. Not pretty but if it gets a result where there wasn’t one initially, then its worth it.