Three Things We Learnt From Watford’s 3-1 Win Over Manchester United

Add as preferred source on Google

Fellaini Is Too Limited For A Team Like United

The Belgian has enjoyed a good start to the season on an individual level, and is sometimes an easy target for criticism when results take a turn for the worse. Mourinho’s deployment of Fellaini was understandable given Watford’s direct style and Deeney’s aerial prowess.

However, as the perceptive Michael Cox picked up on in the first half, Fellaini’s assistance to United’s centre-backs left space around the edge of the penalty area where a holding midfielder should be:

There is also a sense that Fellaini is not the right fit for a possession based side like United. For a team that looks to build from the back and will have the lion share of possession in almost every game, he cuts an awkward presence in there. Not many top sides have a destructive player at the heart of their midfield, nowadays constructive midfielders are preferred; Xabi Alonso at Bayern Munich, Toni Kroos at Real Madrid or Sergio Busquets are Barcelona.

United have prospered in the past by building their midfield around Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick. A ball playing defensive midfielder would also allow Paul Pogba to drift further forward. Alongside Fellaini, he has to assist United’s build up play and receive the ball off the back four.