Ignoring last season, you could always tell the difference in our performances when Rooney was absent. For that reason alone I wanted him to start every game. If he's played as a number 10 or CF then that's great. You can't blame any of our strikers last season given the way LVG wanted everyone to pass sideways and back ad infinitum. With the players we have around him, feeding him, linking up with him, and with a manager who wants us to score goals, I think he deserves that backing. But if he's played in midfield, I can't understand that. He's simply not good enough to play there and I think the opposition managers/players (professionals in the game at other clubs) privately rub their hands when they see him playing there tbh. Last season they gained some confidence in attacking us as a result.
Agree with you there. Fortunately Mourinho seems to be using him at number 10 which is where he can really score and create. Micky or Mata may end up better than him in that position, but until and unless they do I think he should be starting most games behind Zlatan.
Rooney started last season as a striker and he basically stank. He was frequently presented golden opportunities in the first few games and he had zero touch of class to help him convert them. We can not continue to blame this on LVG. That is an overly simplistic way to analyze the situation considering Martial scored goals last season and mostly from the left, so what excuse do we have for Rooney? LVG again? Then Rashford came in and did a banging job, yet we continue to use that word LVG to excuse Rooney's performances. Is LVG to blame for Depay's shtshow? Absolutely not! I blame LVG for his foolish insistence on playing Rooney but he should not be held accountable for shifts that Rooney put in. The truth of the matter is that Rooney WAS a great player that has failed to progress his game in the last few years. Perhaps due to lack of challenge as he was always guaranteed to start when fit (or half fit). We need to get over LVG as an excuse for world hunger. If Mourinho keeps playing Rooney in midfield, we would be entering most games with half a man down when we would have the likes of Mata and Herrera on the bench and Pogba playing in defensive midfield. That would just be ridiculous. Solution - accept that Rooney is done, sell him and give Pogba or Myki the #10 shirt.
It's not simplistic at all. Rooney was part of a system where we played slow, cumbersome, unadventurous football. He's over 30 years old, there's no doubt he's not the same player he was, but that means he needs to rely more on the space created around him and the quick passing and movement of those around him. We rarely played counterattacking football, and we rarely had anyone playing on the shoulder of defences. Instead we were usually trying to break down two banks of 4 with the opposition in front of us. Couple that with Rooney playing in midfield. When Rooney played as a 10 there was no RVP in front. When he played in midfield he wasn't good enough. Don't get me wrong, I think Rooney IS in decline, but I have absolutely no doubt that LVG's tactics accelerated that decline. I'm willing to give every player (except Fellaini) the benefit of the doubt and a second chance under Mourinho because Van Gaal WITHOUT EXCEPTION was really THAT BAD!! I've not said Rooney should play in midfield at all, I'm against it. There are 4 competitions and we have Rooney, Ibrah and Rashford realistically playing as strikers. We need to give him the opportunity to perform. If he doesn't under Mourinho then we'll know for sure won't we?
Haven't read all this to be honest but should Rooney start it will be at 10 behind Zlat. Mkhi off the right, Martial off the left. Should Rooney not play well then there are plenty options but right now he's in the first team until someone more deserving ousts him. **** all to do with selling shirts. Oh, and United aren't a franchise, thanks. In other news, here in sunny Biarritz we will move sites on Sunday to a site across the road where we've got friends staying. That site bar shows football. Win.
This team should have no problem going forward. What I'm worried about is stability in midfield, why no holding midfielder? And what's with mourinho and only one defender on the bench? Let's wait and see.
Rooney and Fellaini have been our weak link so far. Sadly Rooney cannot find a forward pass so keeps going back. Herrera is just sublime at times. Mata on the other hand has been everywhere and seems to be running the show. Valencia also is having a good game.
Rooney looks a yard slow. Seems like your setup to hit on the break but you dont really have the pace!
It would be a better team with Mata in the middle and Mika-whatsisname on the right IMO. Just don't think Rooney is up to it any more in such an important position for a team aspiring to win the league and he's not going to get any better.
He does want that extra touch, he just does not seem to have any pace of the position he plays in. Anyways you mentioning mata means you score!
So the same player who does the short back pass then passed it back to Mata after his Keeper had saved him. Bad day x2.
