United's system was fine. The problem was that the striker failed to convert any of the chances presented to him. In fact he was put through at least 3 times and on no occasion did he cause the keeper any kind of a problem. EDIT: I should add that Rooney can't be blamed for being crap. We can all see that he's been crap all season apart from against a very poor Bruges team. The manager has to deal with that issue. To date he's tried to pretend it doesn't exist.
Rooney really is the weak link in all of this. We are reasonably solid in defence and the midfield has both experience and pace on both sides of the park - but it all goes wrong with Rooney. Memphis and Mata (and Herrera) have plenty of movement, but Rooney simply isn't making the right runs and so they have nobody to pass to. How many times have we founmd ourselves playing fluid and fast stuff right up until the last third - and then it all stops. Rooney is running around like a headless chicken a good yard or two off the pace. As a result play breaks down or Rooney takes it on himself to disrupt the midfield by dropping back to get the ball leaving us with nobody up front. If you believe what you read in the papers it seems he has got far too much influence at the club, well beyond the normal responsibilities and the involvement of the captain. Somehow he has become a very important figure at the club and has probabaly made himself undroppable in LVG's eyes.
Don't take this the wrong way, but we would have murdered you had we not had Montero out on the bench, we made you look good because all we had on our left flank was a very poor Routledge, as it is we still managed to stuff you, just be grateful for Montero not being on the pitch..........
Not somehow, because of Ferguson and now Van Gaal bending over backwards. Back when he held you ransom and went on holiday for a month and Fergie had to cry on TV to get him back he was promised not only a massive pay rise but a guaranteed job as ambassador after he quits playing. Van Gaal is also so weak he not only called him undropable because he's captain he openly consults with him about the team.
What we are overlooking here of course is off field significance of Rooney to Manchester United. We currently do not have any marquee player to take his role. The fact that he is England's captain benefits United's on commercial front. I think that factor is playing into Rooney's hands and forcing the manager to keep holding out for his revival. I believe this is why United are in search of a marquee signing besides football reasons. Sad, but I believe this to be true.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...ey-signs-new-deal-with-manchester-united.aspx "- Ambassadorial role after retirement" "Wayne will also become a club ambassador when he retires from the game." Though I think it was first announced under Fergie and this article just repeats it with his new contract extension
