We know football is a fickle sport. Just look at how quickly elite players like Lionel Messi and Robin Van Persie get pilloried for dips in form (granted RVP has been poor of late) - or the flipside where English eligible players are raised to the rafters after a few decent performances until the realisation sets in that they are a tad over-rated.
While Team 33's Joe Coffey was the only one backing Manchester United renaissance man Marouane Fellaini during the World Cup and into this season, most people were writing the Belgian off.
To be honest, I have never thought of him as a bad player even if the first impression I get when I see him on the pitch is of an Ent from Lord of the Rings.
But all joking aside, professional players do not become 'bad'. They just lose confidence in their abilities or are hampered by being used used incorrectly as David Moyes managed to do with Fellaini at Man United last season.
Moyes knew how to use his strengths at Everton, which was a completely different challenge. The Belgian was able to use his strength in the air as his physicality more effectively in a team which had a technical edge married to physicality and an element of directness, and where Fellaini could sometimes play just behind the striker.
The former Everton midfielder has proven that he can be effective when feeling confident and when a manager like Louis Van Gaal can find a way of using him effectively.
An ent from Lord of the Rings (New Line Cinema)
Objectively, his box to box credentials are clear. You often see him making his way into the box especially when the likes of Juan Mata drop deeper, while he was able to use his physicality to good effect in the matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Indeed, Fellaini is probably still rooting in his pocket to find out where Cesc Fabregas has been holed up after the 1 - 1 draw at Old Trafford in October.
But without further ado, let's see how the stats separate Moyes's Fellaini to Van Gaal's resurrected incarnation.
First off let's look at the areas which have remained more or less the same. A reliable - but not incisive passer - Fellaini's rate of 88 per cent success is standard across this season and the last campaign, although Squawka stats show a marked change in the direction of his passes. While just over 60 per cent of his passes went forwards last season, that is now about 10 per cent lower.
He is also dispossessed far less often this season. According to WhoScored.com he has lost possession 1.6 times per match in the first few months of this season, compared to an average of 3 per game in 2013/14.
Siginficantly, improvements show he has created as many chances (5) in 9 matches this season as he did in 16 games in 2013/14.
No goals came his way last season, but he has 2 already (including last night's header against Stoke) this term from midfield, with an improved shot accuracy.
In the air, he is winning far more headed duels (almost 10 per cent more than 2013/14) and his tackle success rate is also up slightly according to Squawka.
Admittedly stats only tell part of the story and changes in movement cannot be accurately captured. But the numbers above do point to an improvement at least. Not enough for a Ballon D'Or tilt next year though.
Stats by WhoScored.com and Squawka.com.
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