I feel we can beat anyone at home, but away from home is still a concern for me. The games we have been winning away, we have ridden our luck a little
Up until he gave away the pen, I thought Jones and Mata were our two best players. I don't blame him entirely, think it was Colback? who drifted past far too easily on our right. Can understand why LVG wanted to rest Carrick and Valencia, but taking off both defensively minded players invited pressure. Overall thought it was a reasonable performance. Don't believe Rooney works in central midfield and we struggled to break them down, but on the counter attack we were awesome. That gave us the break through and then the game opened up and we then looked good with every attack. Bit poor in the final third, could/should easily have been 5 or 6. Would have loved either Falcao or Wilson to get a goal. Roll on Spurs
Still concerned by our defense, could/should have given away two penalties. Other than that it was a great performance. We look very confident again.
Rooney is currently our best player so far and I think his versatility is such that he could play almost anywhere except GK . I exaggerate of course but his form has been great (no jinx). I agree it was a reasonable performance not great but it shows OT is slowly becoming its old self I.e a place where the away team expects to be beaten. Not yet firing on all cylinders. We are still about 30-40% under strength. I expect shaw, blind, di Maria to slot in as soon as they are fit. But the team is ticking over in their absence.
Yeh good shout Regarding Rooney, he is versatile in that he can "do a job" and has done all over the bloody pitch over the last 6/7 years. But while [for example] we can say that playing on the left isn't his best position, he can usually still play well, unfortunately in CM he makes mistakes which can create problems. Today he kept giving the ball away, wondered out of position (understandably) and that unbalanced our midfield, and he isn't consistent enough to knit passes going forward (except his trademark cross-field ball). I've probably written more than I want to labour on the point, it's a minor thing, he has been top drawer for us. I'd just rather he didn't play in CM and as you say, once the others come back he will.
I though yesterday rooney was great in central mid. Against the better sides i wouldn't play him there but against the other 15 sides he can do a great job. Its how he gets the ball, takes it forward 10/20 yards and spreads the ball out. In a few seconds he takes us from defence to attack. He then becomes a huge threat. I could see him doing tye box to box role quite often as it allows him to be apart of the attack while giving us energy and muscle in midfield. Cant really fault rooney at all yesterday. Also enjoyed seeing Jones power through newcastle. Penalty was a poor one though. As far as i am concerned. At old Trafford, we are going to be very difficult to beat now.
