Make or break for Fellaini

Fellaini turns away to celebrate after scoring against Man Utd

Things haven't gone as smoothly at United

 Fellaini was a lion for Everton but so far for United has been a lost lamb. 

For the past few season Marouan Fellaini was the scourge of Manchester United. A dominating presence in Everton's midfield, he bullied teams off the pitch. His great strength and size meant he pushed opponents of the ball, tackled them with ease, and never lost out in the air. He was like Everton's road block. When he pushed further up the field he was the master of the flick on,the head on, the chest on or down. At Everton's high tempo he didn't dwell on the ball but moved it on quickly and efficiently with deft touches to those around him.

Fellaini always seemed to save his finest performances for matches against United. He scored the only goal in last seasons opening game which saw Everton win 1 nil. The season before he famously ripped the title from United and handed it to Man City by helping Everton come from behind to draw 4-4. Fellaini dominated the midfield in that game. Breaking up play, moving the ball quickly, linking up with faster teammates, sucking defenders in to a physical battle that created huge amounts of space for the rest of the team to run into. We even saw him running at defenders with the dribbling skills (as they say on Fifa) to create one the goals. He was a football force and the center of Everton's team.

Now at United he is a shadow of that player. In defense he chases the ball helplessly, a lumbering figure trying to catch the sprites running rings around him. Given time on the ball he looks clueless, constantly misplacing simple passes. He no longer tackles hard but clumsily bundles players over conceding free kicks. He even seems to have shrunk, no longer dominating the air as he did for Everton. The thought of him stampeding powerfully through midfield is far away indeed, his control often letting him down; he can barely seem to keep the ball. The chances of successfully moving with speed is unlikely. He no longer has that classic cliche of  'a good touch for a big man'. He now has 'a poor touch for a professional footballer', not as catchy admittedly but more appropriate. However, the worst impact he has had on Manchester United is pushing Carrick wide of center.

Carrick's job has been to sit deep and retain possession. Every so often he sprayed a delightful pass out wide, gently falling beyond a fullbacks out stretched boot, creating attacking potential. Since Fellaini has started occupying the same space Carrick has has to move further out and his range seems to be off. The new angles and slight changes in distance has affected his radar. Carrick playing with Fellaini is like a sniper who's had their view finder slightly knocked. They do everything the same as always, but just miss their target.

Aside from the passing, Carrick's other vital role was chief interceptor. He is very effective in breaking up attacks and protecting the defense by reading the play and cutting out passes. Yet pushed further wide by Fellaini he can no longer get across to the ball in time meaning the defense is put under increased pressure. Uniteds defenders, without their man Carrick sweeping things up, have looked panicky at times this season which isn't helped by their own poor form. United have looked far better when it is Carrick with anyone else in midfield, better on the ball, better in defense.

The trouble with Fellaini is not that he is playing badly. There are many in United who are doing that at the moment. It is the way he unbalances the team, forcing established players to alter their position or style for him, that is such a problem. You would alter a teams style to accommodate Ronaldo or Messi, but Fellaini?

Naturally, Moyes insists he is sticking by his man, and no one likes to see a player fail. Yet Fellaini needs to start performing now, tonight, against his former club Everton. If not he will be faintly remembered alongside Veron, Djemba-Djemba or Kleberson, while, high in the stands, United fans witter wistfully about the good old days of real midfielders like Scholes, Keane, Butt, Beckham, Ince, Robson, Charlton, Stiles, Edwards.........

Tonight, against Everton, it will be make or break for Fellaini.