Just a quick thought on Rooney's pace, well more acceleration really. At Everton and when he first arrived at us I remember him taking players on far more frequently than he does now, he seemed to have a quick burst of acceleration that could get him a bit of space. We don't really see that as much now. I don't think it just happened when he started playing as a 'proper' striker in the 09-10 season, even in the 3 seasons before with Rooney playing a deeper role he wasn't really the same player.
When did he lose it? Difficult to pinpoint I know, but my best guess would probably be that metatarsal injury he got before the 06 world cup. So two seasons after he joined us. Seems plausible to me but my memory of that far back isn't too good. Anyway, could an injury like that have such a long term effect? Or more a general fitness thing, as he got older his physique changed (inb4 fat
) and that caused it?
Could be a technique thing I suppose. I mean, I remember in the 09-10 season at the Emirates when we scored that counter attack goal (Park, Nani and Rooney involved iirc) he made up some ridiculous ground to get there. Showed great pace off the ball, but on it he's not the same. So perhaps his dribbling skills have faded as he concentrated on other bits of his game. Seems strange to think bits of his game have regressed between 18 and 25 (?) but I suppose it's possible.
Or mentality maybe? He has always been a bit of a confidence player, used to have large barren spells, score 7 in 7 or something brilliant, and that'd (roughly) go in a cycle. Maybe he lost confidence in that area of his play, don't buy that too much myself though.
Meh, rambling, thinking aloud, talking to myself etc. This isn't a criticism of him btw, it's pretty obvious he's so much better now than when he joined. But it seems like his future in back in a deeper central role, and in that position a quick burst of acceleration while carrying the ball is such a great asset to have. That was one of the best things about Kaka when he was at Milan, when injuries robbed him of that he didn't look the same. Rooney shows glimpses now but if he could fully rediscover that part of his game he'd bring so much to the team.
Maybe i'm imagining/exeggerating how he played early in his career and therefore imaging/exaggerating the decline, pretty sure it's not entirely fictional though