I felt the same about Ade at the start of the season posting that I didn't think he was an AVB type of player. As it happened I was right and wrong,right that he lost his touch but wrong as to the reason why. I have the same feeling about Rooney. When he leaves Utd he's going to do a Keane or a Carroll or a Bent,just wander in the desert.
I raised the question to Luke about Rooney and Hernandez (seeing as RVP and Welbeck seem to be favourites atm) if United were to sign Lewandowski... please log in to view this image
Rooney has 11 goals and 9 assists in 20 PL games this season (missed games through injury). Many of those have been significant- like the brace at City. I think all clubs in the PL would settle for a player in this kind of decline. He was left out for sound tactical reasons v Madrid. RvP was always going to play as striker. Welbeck's directness and strength in the air was always going to earn him a starting place too (he was Utd's best player). Rooney would have either had to play deeper (Cleverley's role) or wider- and SAF chose Nani because of his pace and recent return to match winning form v Reading. Nani was influential until he got sent off. Utd got a lot of joy down Madrid's right. Rooney was always going to play a part from the bench later in the game when players tired, especially if Utd were chasing the game. As usual, journalists are looking for an angle to sell papers. It's strange how they have their fingers on the pulse yet never raised the issue on Sunday after Rooney had scored an excellent goal himself and created two for Kagawa v Norwich, isn't it?
Luke,assists are nothing,they're a crap statistic. How many non assists do players have? For instance a player crosses right onto the head of a player one yard out and he misses,he's created an assist for a miss hasn't he? I'm talking about the future Rooney not the past and I think he's on the decline as he's missed sitters etc.
Only those inside the club and Rooney himself will know what shape he's in, TMT. He's had injuries and some personal issues this season, but he's still contributed plenty even if it's not been his best season. The evidence on Saturday showed a player still at the peak of his powers- his movement, awareness and the quality of his goal. The two passes to tee up Kagawa were genuine assists. The reports on Sunday were about a match winning performance; he's left out v Madrid 3 days later, so he's now a spent force? I don't follow the logic.
I did not say that he was a spent force because he was left out of the side against Real did I? I'm talking about the future if he leaves utd,I doubt he'll find the same success. Look at my original post.
There was a rumour about Rooney joining PSG, so maybe he fancies another pay rise? If they've stopped doing sequels to Shrek then he'll have to earn that money from somewhere, I guess.
His ludicrous, ever-changing hairline? Perhaps he's become self aware and taken a quick peek in the mirror? Scarred for life.
Rooney is no longer 1st choice, SAF says he's stale and out of condition...nice! he's 28 this year with 2 yrs left of a ludicrous contract/wage. SAF will not have forgot the shenanigans to get that deal, and will know this is the last chance to get proper money from a transfer. If you think he's going to do a Giggs...think again!
Just seen Coloccini is out for the season probably, after breaking two bones in his back following an overhead kick clearance v Soton...he walked off the pitch after the injury obviously unaware! Nasty, get well soon.
SAF's has made barbed comments about his physique and the benefits of players looking after themselves like Giggs, but it would be premature to write Rooney off at 27. Of course selling him whilst he still has a decent value in the transfer market- like Beckham- is a possibility, but he wouldn't do that unless Utd's asking price was met (won't be less than £25M) and there is a suitable replacement lined up at a price also acceptable to the club. Yes, the treble was unlikely- it is always unlikely however good the team- but if we had got past Madrid- as we should have done- it was possible. The lack of an Alonso or Schweinsteiger or Busquets in midfield was telling. You can see out 34 minutes of a game with ten men when you can shield the back four and hold on to the ball when you get it. Modric would have been snuffed out by a good defensive midfielder before he got that shot away.
Lets see, a moron from liverpool saying rooney couldn't play for Barca or shall we listen to Xavi Tough call whos opinion holds more weight.
I really think they've had enough paying him 250k a week, especially when he's nearly 30 if he see's the contract out...that instruction may come from 'over the pond'!
