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Tank? Lets hope they roll him out when The Gunners come to town 
With Carrick injured, Fellaini still lost out to Cleverley and Jones in United's midfield at Fulham... so is Moyes having second thoughts about his £27.5m man already?
By Jack Gaughan
PUBLISHED: 10:04, 3 November 2013 | UPDATED: 14:45, 3 November 2013
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As Marouane Fellaini decided against attacking a free bouncing ball in midfield, his Manchester United career to date was encapsulated in a flash.
At £27.5million, David Moyes may have expected a little better than the former Everton man to wait for the ball to rise into the air before prodding his head at it aimlessly and surrendering possession.
Brought on at half-time during the 3-1 win at Fulham on Saturday, the Belgian failed to make any sort of impact on an afternoon when almost everyone else in a red shirt shone.
VIDEO Scroll down to see manager Moyes praise Fellaini's more impactful teammates
Hair apparent: But Marouane Fellaini has been disappointing since his £27.5million move to United
English alliance: Tom Cleverley (left) and Phil Jones were preferred by David Moyes for the win over Fulham
The incident with the bouncing ball was in the 78th minute; it was the first time Fellaini had done anything noteworthy.
Moyes said afterwards that the forced triple change – when Tom Cleverley, Jonny Evans and Rafael all had to go off injured at the break – stopped United’s fluency.
To have someone they splashed so much money on this summer entering the fray should have served as added impetus. To inflict more wounds on their beleaguered hosts. Instead, his disjointed performance gave more weight to the manager’s decision not to start the 25-year-old.
And what a damning verdict that was to begin with.
Moyes: Rooney and Van Persie are 'incredibly talented' players
Back on track: But Moyes has failed to get the best out of Fellaini as he did at Everton (below)
The Premier League champions were without Michael Carrick for the first time this season, owing to calf and Achilles problems. Their big signing was left kicking his heels on the touchline while Phil Jones partnered Cleverley in the middle.
Jones was given an audition as the ‘enforcer’ last week against Norwich in the Capital One Cup and passed. The youngster gives that little bit more than Fellaini when asked to break down play and act as a shield to the back four.
There is no reason why Fellaini shouldn’t be able to perform in that role, but has so far failed. It isn’t as if he was never asked to do similar at Goodison Park - some of his best games for the Toffees were in there.
Duo: Moyes has been setting up with a striking pair of Robin van Persie (centre) and Wayne Rooney (right)
But in choosing Jones, the snub spoke volumes for the difficulties he is currently going through at Old Trafford.
Moyes wants to go back to basics and play Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie together, meaning one less spot in midfield. Fellaini must beat off Cleverley and now Jones to partner Carrick. It isn’t something he will manage any time soon.
The way in which he floundered at Fulham was difficult to watch. Just six months ago he was almost unplayable.
Consistently giving the ball away, a lack of drive going forward and tackling painfully meekly for someone of his frame, this isn’t the same player. It isn’t his fault that United were so desperate to seal a move that they paid over the odds, but the figure isn’t exactly helping.
Aerial battle: But Fellaini (right) looked a shadow of his former self when he came on at Craven Cottage
It makes him an easy target, but the player isn’t giving himself a fair hearing.
In fact, the only way Fellaini endeared himself to the travelling support was by ploughing into Pajtim Kasami and Sascha Riether after they roughhoused Adnan Januzaj. ‘A £27million bodyguard’ was the assessment from some supporters.
Any new signing needs games, but that doesn’t look to be a luxury afforded to Fellaini, who must grasp every opportunity to come his way. For the moment he is stagnant and that won’t be tolerated for long. Moyes will doubtless look to add to his engine room come January, which is a sad indictment of how this gamble is playing out.
With Carrick injured, Fellaini still lost out to Cleverley and Jones in United's midfield at Fulham... so is Moyes having second thoughts about his £27.5m man already?
By Jack Gaughan
PUBLISHED: 10:04, 3 November 2013 | UPDATED: 14:45, 3 November 2013
119
View
comments
As Marouane Fellaini decided against attacking a free bouncing ball in midfield, his Manchester United career to date was encapsulated in a flash.
At £27.5million, David Moyes may have expected a little better than the former Everton man to wait for the ball to rise into the air before prodding his head at it aimlessly and surrendering possession.
Brought on at half-time during the 3-1 win at Fulham on Saturday, the Belgian failed to make any sort of impact on an afternoon when almost everyone else in a red shirt shone.
VIDEO Scroll down to see manager Moyes praise Fellaini's more impactful teammates
Hair apparent: But Marouane Fellaini has been disappointing since his £27.5million move to United English alliance: Tom Cleverley (left) and Phil Jones were preferred by David Moyes for the win over Fulham
The incident with the bouncing ball was in the 78th minute; it was the first time Fellaini had done anything noteworthy.
Moyes said afterwards that the forced triple change – when Tom Cleverley, Jonny Evans and Rafael all had to go off injured at the break – stopped United’s fluency.
To have someone they splashed so much money on this summer entering the fray should have served as added impetus. To inflict more wounds on their beleaguered hosts. Instead, his disjointed performance gave more weight to the manager’s decision not to start the 25-year-old.
And what a damning verdict that was to begin with.
Moyes: Rooney and Van Persie are 'incredibly talented' players
Back on track: But Moyes has failed to get the best out of Fellaini as he did at Everton (below) The Premier League champions were without Michael Carrick for the first time this season, owing to calf and Achilles problems. Their big signing was left kicking his heels on the touchline while Phil Jones partnered Cleverley in the middle.
Jones was given an audition as the ‘enforcer’ last week against Norwich in the Capital One Cup and passed. The youngster gives that little bit more than Fellaini when asked to break down play and act as a shield to the back four.
There is no reason why Fellaini shouldn’t be able to perform in that role, but has so far failed. It isn’t as if he was never asked to do similar at Goodison Park - some of his best games for the Toffees were in there.
Duo: Moyes has been setting up with a striking pair of Robin van Persie (centre) and Wayne Rooney (right)But in choosing Jones, the snub spoke volumes for the difficulties he is currently going through at Old Trafford.
Moyes wants to go back to basics and play Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie together, meaning one less spot in midfield. Fellaini must beat off Cleverley and now Jones to partner Carrick. It isn’t something he will manage any time soon.
The way in which he floundered at Fulham was difficult to watch. Just six months ago he was almost unplayable.
Consistently giving the ball away, a lack of drive going forward and tackling painfully meekly for someone of his frame, this isn’t the same player. It isn’t his fault that United were so desperate to seal a move that they paid over the odds, but the figure isn’t exactly helping.
Aerial battle: But Fellaini (right) looked a shadow of his former self when he came on at Craven CottageIt makes him an easy target, but the player isn’t giving himself a fair hearing.
In fact, the only way Fellaini endeared himself to the travelling support was by ploughing into Pajtim Kasami and Sascha Riether after they roughhoused Adnan Januzaj. ‘A £27million bodyguard’ was the assessment from some supporters.
Any new signing needs games, but that doesn’t look to be a luxury afforded to Fellaini, who must grasp every opportunity to come his way. For the moment he is stagnant and that won’t be tolerated for long. Moyes will doubtless look to add to his engine room come January, which is a sad indictment of how this gamble is playing out.
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