I've gotten to like Fellaini since he puts a shift in and he has been an important player at moments, like in our cup wins and wins against rivals. He's taken a lot of shit that isn't his fault, primarily because Moyes brought him here for a insane sum of money.
Still, it's bemusing to see him in action for a 3rd manager post-SAF - and in a CL knockout tie yet - when it's clear that United are never going to reach the levels we need to with him in the lineup. He is a useful player when a lot of balls are being played into the box during the waning minutes or if you need a body in MF who can help to break play up. But if you want sure-footed defence or a smooth attack with movement, you are simply not getting that with him. He is too big and cumbersome and he slows down everyone around him.
Why is he still in the United squad? Fellaini, quite simply, was LVG's and now Jose's escape route when we're faced with a high press. The Liverpool game on Saturday was another clear sign that our team can't deal with a high pressing line from the opposition. Both LVG and Jose have wanted players to stay rigidly in position and maintain shape, so it tends to isolate our players from one another. Our lack of movement is such that the ball carrier sometimes has only one passing option and it's impossible to create a 1-2 and get through an opponent's press.
We also have CBs, especially Smalling, who lack confidence with the ball and hoof it under the smallest amounts of pressure. Compare this to teams like Bayern, who have Hummels in their backline, or Real Madrid, who have had players like Ramos and Pepe. City is the same with Kompany, Otamendi, and Stones. We don't have comparable players (maybe Bailly in the future? Lindelof?), so the plan of escape is to station Fellaini in the middle of the pitch and play balls long to him. By no coincidence, we did the same kind of thing with Lukaku on Saturday and we scored both of our goals from it.
I think if our inability to deal with the press is not dealt with - or at least there is talk made of addressing the problem over the summer - Fellaini may be here next season, against the wishes of most in this thread. Jose (if he is still here) and the scouting staff need to look at a couple of ball-playing CBs to upgrade us. I won't mention who should go, we all know who they are. Hopefully Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah will also get their chance next season.
