Makelele wasnt and he did just fine. Fellaini plays best when he is further up the field, im not sure about him giving the CDM positon, de Rossi on the otherhand has proven both in international and club level. He also happens to be the right age 29 (previously I thought he was older). IMO, older players are best suited in the CDM position. U really don't need to be bulky if you can anticipate, and older players usually have have gained enough experience to do just tht. And with young players coming up I see him as a more of a short term solution.