Being a Manchester United fan living in Liverpool is difficult enough as it is, but when the Scousers are outplaying my beloved United it’s unbearable. I must stress, I am only in Merseyside because of my education, and after this year I will be straight back to Salford and the sooner it comes, the better. I digress. Sitting in a pub with a few ‘acquaintances’ last week, one of them, an Everton fan, began to laugh at United’s midfield, and couldn’t believe that they had finally got rid of Marouane Fellaini.
Now, while I agree that the Beligan hasn’t had the best of starts to his Old Trafford career, it got me wondering how our midfield ‘problem’ could be fixed.
For me, it’s simple. David Moyes’ desire to stick Phil jones in midfield makes sense, after all his tackling is superb and he is able with the ball at his feet, but it’s how Michael Carrick is being used that grinds on me a little bit.
Carrick is a sublime passer of the ball, but playing next to Fellaini he is being weakened in my eyes. Should Moyes stick Jones in the anchor role and play Michael Carrick in front, not only does it ask the midfielder to use his creativity and lure his impeccable shooting out of him, but it could finally settle Jones into one position.
Fellaini has to step up or be dropped completely, it’s as simple as that. Sticking Shinji Kagawa in his place and holding Carrick and Jones back would give the Japan international his favourite central position and also provide a good base to go forward.
For me, I would like to see:
Jones
Carrick Kagawa
Valencia Rooney Januzaj
RVP