Marouane Fellaini's Key Attributes and How Manchester United Should Use Him

Manchester United may have got a lot wrong this summer, but in the rush to condemn the club's bumbling indecision in the transfer window the true value of their new signing Marouane Fellaini is being overlooked.

The Belgian's move to Old Trafford has been partly downplayed due to a perceived lack of glamour and a lack of surprise. Ever since David Moyes was announced as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, a move for the big haired midfielder was largely expected by the press and fans alike.

Compared to the relative spontaneity and obscurity of the failed bid for Ander Herrera, Fellaini's move sounded positively mundane come deadline day.

With question marks hanging over the club's ability to compete for the title this season, and a touch of early discontentment amongst the fans, Fellaini must prove his doubters wrong and justify Moyes' decision-making and managerial ability.

Fellaini has all the attributes to do just that.

Over the next seven slides we'll look at the qualities that make Manchester United's new midfielder the ideal man to add some substance to Manchester United's style this season.

Physique

Although not built to the proportions of your standard midfield powerhouse, Fellaini's gangly stature is made up of sharp bones, sinew and strength.

United's midfield has long seemed anaemic when faced with players able to drive the likes of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley out of possession, and burst onto loose balls.

Fellaini has the physicality to dominate these situations and stand up to opposing midfielders like Yaya Toure and Mousa Dembele who would otherwise seek to take advantage of United's soft under belly in front of their defence.

Last season, Fellaini made 2.6 successful tackles per game, more than any in the United ranks besides Rafael (3.1). The Brazilian's focused aggression down the right has been instrumental in turning his flank into one the team's most potent weapons, alongside Antonio Valencia.

Once paired up with Carrick, Fellaini could have a similar effect on United' midfield, following in the footsteps of Paul Ince, Roy Keane, and Darren Fletcher as an enforcer in the middle.

Goals

Though Fellaini's goal tally was helped by his deployment up front for Everton, the Belgian is still more than able to get on the score sheet from midfield.

Manchester United's spread of goals throughout the team last year featured a record-breaking 20 different scorers. But of the 86 league goals only five came from midfielders, who pitched in with 2.9 shots per game and 11 of the goals.

Fellaini conjured up an impressive 40 chances last season and now that the Belgian finds himself in a team featuring Robin van Persie and other clinical finishers (United were the only team with a chance-conversion rate above 20 per cent last year) his assists count could well grow from the five of last year.

Aerial Superiority

Fellaini's power in the air is well known, and it will add a new strength to Manchester United's midfield. With Everton this season, Fellaini won six aerial duels per game—18 out of the 20 contested in total.

In comparison, the combined number of headers won by Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand is to 17, with nine and eight successful duels respectively. In midfield Carrick has won three and Cleverley only one of four contested.

Judging by Fellaini's heading figures last season, there's plenty more to come, with the Belgian having won 60 percent of his 253 aerial duels in 2012/13.

Manchester United's midfield may just be about to become a no-fly zone.

Ball Magnet

Whether it's to his chest, head or feet, Fellaini has an incredible capacity to receive and hold up the ball to allow others to run on, play off the Belgian or take the chance to get back into position. 

Last year he made on average of 1.2 interceptions per game too, and he showed a constant hunger to recover possession and hassle opponents off loose balls.

Fellaini can be a highly-effective outlet for his teammates, especially when they are looking for a way out from under pressure or for a platform to build moves and attacks around.

Throw a long ball up at Fellaini and you can be fairly sure it'll stick.

What's less known about him is his passing accuracy rate which last year came in at 79 percent. Although this figure may not bother the likes of Arteta (92 percent) or Carrick (89 percent), for a player often characterised as deficient in the more technical side of the game, Fellaini can hold his own.

Determination

Not for the first time, Manchester United have been written off, but so to has Fellaini.

A player with something to prove, and a grudge to bear against those holding judgement, can be a powerful asset and a catalyst to drive others on to glory.

Moyes too has been dismissed as a tribute act to Sir Alex Ferguson, and unsuitable as a successor to the Old Trafford throne.

Together, he and the Belgian he first brought to English football in 2008, may well have all the inspiration they could ever need to concoct a powerful siege mentality once more within the United squad.

Having pushed to make his move to Manchester a reality, Fellaini clearly wanted the opportunity to show what we can do at a higher level. Comments suggesting he doesn't deserve such a chance or lacks quality can serve as the fuel to make him fight harder, run faster and play better than ever before.

Versatility

Having played in almost every position between defensive midfield and the forward line at Everton, Fellaini's versatility offers Manchester United an array of options for their midfield conundrum.

Alongside Carrick the Belgian can be a ball winner in the mould of Fletcher or add movement, linking the play as a box-to-box midfielder.

Should Moyes wish to pack the midfield or go 4-5-1, Fellaini could drop back to become an anchor man in front of the defence or even play as an emergency attacking midfielder. His muscular approach would certainly shock opponents expecting the more lithe abilities of Shinji Kagawa or even Wayne Rooney. 

Fellaini could well be the player that allows Moyes to make best use of Kagawa, as a guardian destroyer making space for and defending the Japanese as he works. He may even be able to offer a similar service to Carrick, in the same was he benefitted greatly from the diligence and protection of Fletcher.

For that reason, it seems that the Belgian's ideal position will be as an all-action box-to-box midfielder, using his industrious work rate and overbearing presence to press opponents while Carrick and Kagawa create the chances.

Surging late into the opposition penalty box, he may even be able to get on the end of their through balls and chip overs, with his rangy running allow him to drive through markers and defensive lines.

However Moyes decides to deploy his new signing, Fellaini looks set to surprise more than a few people this season at Old Trafford.

What role would you like to see Marouane Fellaini play at Manchester United?