Capello is playing him as a second striker; fergie is playing him in midfield. Was his one season up top after ronnie left a one-off? He's lost that burst of pace he had. And he had been playing for nine seasons now since he was very young which takes it toll. he adapted brilliantly tonight: is this the future for wayne?
He certainly looked like a striker when he got the third goal against you lot in September. And twelve goals in twelve games would probably make him the most prolific midfielder in history
I can see Wayne being the new Platini - his vision is just amazingly brilliant and he is a leader and his range of passing from the midfield is like Platini/Pirlo type. Platini scored many many goals from midfield and I can see Wayne doing just the same.
well mr WUM, as much as you would like that, im afraid that this is a temporary measure. paul pogba was on the bench tonight, which pretty much shows how few CMs we have fully fit.
Rooney was never a striker. His best position is that free role behind the striker. Rooney needs to make the impact in the oppositions third. Not our third.
He's not an attacking mid and he isn't a striker. Not now anyway. For years his best position has been unknown, but with a striker that plays on the last man, he comes into his own. All im saying is that he is wasted when comes too deep and if he plays in midfield, he will drop too deep.
Rooney looks the part as an attacking CM and I've long thought that this would be his ideal place. The trouble is if he starts to play there regularly then it'll look like the problem is solved and the world class CM we so desperately need won't be signed and the problem will have been papered over rather than solved. Leaving another gaping problem as to who is then supposed to provide all the spark and goals at centre forward. Rooney at CM sounds great but the attack without him is, frankly, lightweight. Berbatov and Hernandez? Nah, won't work. Hernandez and Welbeck? Nice thought, not enough experience. Owen, injured. And Berbatov still turns up ONLY when he feels like it. We should sign the CM and keep Rooney up front in my opinion.
One of the most versatile forwards on the planet, whatever position he's in now I think he's brilliant in it! I've noticed he's been back to defend in key moments, saving goals at the same time.
Rooney is a one man team tbh. he could play anywhere and play there well. Attack is what he does best though, either finishing or creating them.
Aye. Who was it who said the art of being a great striker is being in the right place at the right time? I want to say Shankly, but I think his quote was slightly different. I guess it was probably Gary Lineker
Rooney is such a good footballer, that you could play him anywhere in attack, midfield, or I'd even fancy he would do a good job as a wing back. He is 26, he is still well in his prime, and has not lost any of his pace, not to my eye anyway. Fergie was probably just experimenting, against a weak side at home, he does this all the time. Berbatov and Owen have been playing well in the Carling Cup, so Fergie probably wanted to reward them, by starting them, whilst Rooney likes playing every game. So to start all 3, he put Rooney in midfield, as he's most versatile. When we play Sumderland on Saturday, I have no doubt Rooney will be playing up front, again