What of Marouane Fellaini?
Belgian Marouane Fellaini has been amongst United's best players so far. Zero sarcasm there. Along with Valencia and Bailly and Zlatan up front, these players have certainly fared the best in the squad.
Fellaini has been unrecognisable from the player these past few years (not just because of the bleach). His mobility for starters has been absolutely astounding. He's been one of United's best pressers when the opposition has the ball and has fared impressively when it comes to interceptions. He's been quicker than we've ever seen and has been busy buzzing around in that shielding role in front of the defence.
This might be one of the hardest decisions for Mourinho of all, as by himself while Fellaini has performed very well he might have to make way to accommodate his club's best eleven or play in a midfield heavy eleven with the other guys.
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One of United's best midfield combinations, rather funnily took to the pitch last week, despite which they suffered a loss. In the game against Feyenoord, Mourinho deployed Pogba, Herrera and Morgan Schneiderlin as the midfield three. They looked rusty and lacked coordination. Not because they don't fit as a trio, but perhaps more to do with the fact that they were playing together for the very first time.
And here's where the approach comes in. The lack of an identified way of playing seems to be affecting those players sitting on the outside looking in. They get few opportunities and when they do, they fail to impress due to a lack of a defined approach. City don't have that problem anymore, Arsenal haven't had it under Arsene Wenger and Juergen Klopp has engineered the same at Anfield since arriving.
Too early for doom and gloom
The biggest upside to all of this is that United and Mourinho are only into their second month and under 10 games played overall in what is going to be a long, hard season. Setbacks suffered early are major platforms on which to build on, especially for a new manager.
The combinations, of course, are flexible, but these four players need to be critical components of the side to better help the Zlatan, Mkhitaryan and Pogba do what they’re good at and prevent the United midfield from resembling grenades that blow up in the face to well-deployed ones that help clear a trail to go about completing your objectives.
The solutions for United and Mourinho are right in front of them, tucked inside their large player chest. Starting this Saturday against Leicester City, some of those other pieces might find themselves making their way onto the playing board. For at this early point in the season, there are moves still open to them.
