Getting the first match day thread in early. UTD have the worlds most expensive haircut at its disposal. Will Lord Jose make Roo sit this one out? 2-0 super entertaining win.
I doubt if Bournemouth will even have the balls to leave the dressing room. They will forfeit the game by default - #planfortheseason
Fellony plays any part in the game we scrape a 1-1 draw. Fellony doesn't play, we win somewhat comfortably 1-0 or 2-0.
I'd be disappointed if we don't win easily. The LVG negativity away and pedestrian plodding away should have gone. United 2-0 unless Big hair misplaces a pass.
I think Rooney needs to play this because I don't think Pogba would be match fit to start but he will be a substitute. Long term though, we need to start thinking of life without Rooney. There are so many other players in the squad that add more value to the team than he currently does.
Agreed. Don't understand this need to shoehorn him into United or England when superior players are available.
I've said it before but many sniffed at the idea. Rooney had a role to play as the face of the franchise. It had more to do with business that anything else. A sense of identity for the team. Now that we have Pogba and Zlatan, I believe the team will start taking on a new identity.
Yeah I don't disagree though not sure you'd want his face on anything. Given you've got Carrick, Blind, Schneiderlin and Herrera (and others probably), I don't see how he can get in the team there.
Rooney loves old fart grannies, but the man is no thief! We reformed him in Manchester. Have some respec', Custard.
I think part of the setback in Rooney realising his full potential is he's never been allowed to develop in one position. And over the years this myth has developed that he can play anywhere. Yes, he can "do a job" anywhere but that's not the same thing, and in the end he's become a Jack of all trades instead of a master of what he was good at. Sadly what's worse is that this bullshit approach of shoehorning him into midfield has led to Rooney now becoming a liability, which is unfair on him as much as it is the rest of the squad. AND it's a slap in the face to players like Herrera, Mata and Schneiderlin (and if fit even Schweinsteiger) to have them sit on the bench while Rooney keeps giving away possession and breaking down all our attacks. He can't even beat a player anymore. You know the real irony? To think Pogba left in the first place because he saw the likes of Rafael (a RB) and Nick Powell being picked in midfield while he sat on the bench. I'll give Mourinho the benefit of the doubt and assume he won't be doing the same with Herrera and Schneiderlin using Rooney.
For all the massively overblown criticism levelled at Rooney, he's still contributed most to the team in terms of goals and assists in the last few years. Despite being shunted from 10 to midfield to wing to wherever. Until we dump him on the scrap head we need to be certain Zlatan, Micky, Mata, Martial, Lingard and Rashford can deliver on a similarly consistent basis. Because thus far Mata and Lingard haven't, and Martial and Rashford have only done so for one season and half a season respectively.
It's not overblown at all. It's fair criticism. It's not a case of either giving him 100% or 0% support. It's a case of acknowledging when he plays well, but also when he has a stinker. I was one of those who would remind others of his 1 in 2 ratio for assists and goals (particularly in home games) but it's naive to think he's been anything other than poor in midfield. And those figures have been anything but consistent over the last couple of seasons. It's not all his fault, the manager deserves the blame also.
Some of the criticism is fair. I'm talking about the claims that Rooney should never come near the first team, does nothing but give the ball away and earn sponsorship deals, and every player in the squad is better than him. From the same people who refuse to acknowledge he has had a good game since around 2013. And for what it's worth he's been inconsistent in midfield, but not poor. It's obviously not his position, but for a player being played so far out of position he has had some good performances under his belt.
