I think Fellaini has been fairly good, but he's similar to Rooney. There is no point building him into the XI becuase not going to be good enough to get where you want to go. Fellaini has little passing or playmaking ability, he's got poor control and isn't a good ball carrier. His scope for growth is ultimately limited by that. We are always going to have that flaw in our midfield so long as he is there. If you have Fellaini in there, you have to have another playmaker, like Herrera rather than Morgan for example. You can put Basti or Carrick in, but then what is Fellaini doing in offence? He's good being a target for long or high balls but is that what you are hoping to see next time we face City?
People seem to accept we need a midfield 3, we also need a midfield 3 that can rotate, otherwise we might as well stick with Rooney as part of the 3. If the team cannot play for sustained periods with an interchange of roles or position as required if not suitable imo.
I thought the defence, Bailly in particular was pretty shocking today but the overall work rate and organisation of the defence has been poor. Simple stuff like getting bodies back more quickly than the other team attack. Getting numbers behind the ball, and closing down the spaces in key areas. Its not being done. Similar to back when he was at Chelsea with Ivan, the whole using the full back as another winger is inherently problematic without a player who will pull wide, Fellaini has been doing that, but just like Matic at Chelsea, you vacate key space if you do that.
I think perhaps the solution in the structure of the 4-3-3, it is still really being played like a 4-2-3-1. A flatter midfield 3, and higher and tighter forwards. Narrowing the pitch like we see Atleti doing, and leaving less room in the half spaces defensively. Ibra needs to remain high but Rashford and Martial doing the up and down defensive work in the centre. Mou has used the tactic of leaving the opposition full backs aimless previously to good effect, and I think it would solve a lot of our problems. Could even play Rooney as one of the forwards if it all seems too radical.