The Manchester United Thread X

Increasingly i've been won over by the idea of Rooney at CM, he has everything needed to play there and if we had the goalscorers ahead of him then it could work incredibly.

Like?

He doesn't have the first touch or the passing to pull it off. Take Swansea for example, his passing was that bad he was taken off. People see him pull off a Hollywood pass ala against City in the Carling Cup semi in 2010 and then trick themselves into thinking he's some football genius who can ping passes left, right and centre, this is not the case. This idea that he can play the Scholes role is laughable.

You hear people say "But he runs himself into the ground and works his socks off". Really? His fitness is awful and he isn't pacy either, physically I would say Rooney is actually quite poor (strong though.)

He's inconsistent, he lacks motivation and he will only get worse physically from now. He's a formerly hyped up hot prospect who has failed to fulfill his potential. He's a good player (not an elite one) but he's peaked. Man. United would be smart to cash in and get a big sum of money for him while they still can.

At his best...

Great vision and awareness of the space around him, a good passing technique, the mentality to battle all game, fantastic tactical discipline, the ability to keep running all match, the physicality to impose himself and break up play, the ability to score goals. I'd say he could be a pretty complete central midfielder. Obviously he couldn't play how Scholes does, no English player can get close, but as an all round central midfielder (and, incidentally, a great partner for Carrick) he definitely has the potential.

I won't refute every single point you made because I've already touched upon a few previously but this particular bit isn't true. How many times has he been dropped now against scouse teams for whatever reason? How many poor tournaments has he had for England? How many really high stakes games has he actually performed in? He's a mentally weak player. The polar opposite of someone like Ronaldo who thrives under pressure. Rooney can't handle it.

Most of your criticisms of Rooney are extremely valid...but i'm not sure why they apply to him potentially playing as a midfielder more than they apply to his current role.

I don't know if the formations on the last page are serious, but every single one is ridiculous.

Rooney is not a midfielder and never will be one. It would be nice if we actually bought a proper midfielder and stop with this notion that Rooney will potentially play there.

I agree with the majority of Wilfred Little's posts. Rooney has not become as good as he probably should have done. He is still very good, but he's clearly a cut below the best players around the world. I wouldn't be too fussed if he were sold, because he's not going to get any better.

Especially since he carried on about the club not having enough ambition and didn't want to sign a contract. I've never felt the same about him since then. If he were actually producing fantastic performances like a top player should, then maybe I could have taken that seriously.

agree with the majority of Wilfred Little's posts. Rooney has not become as good as he probably should have done. He is still very good, but he's clearly a cut below the best players around the world. I wouldn't be too fussed if he were sold, because he's not going to get any better.

Imagine Rooney playing for PSG, Real Madrid etc (not playing for any English club I presume) you will regret your comment after seeing him demolish other teams in his natural position. It is not his fault that he is played out of position all the time.

I think he is mature now and cool headed as with age (just like van persie), but you cannot dismiss his quality, he needs to be played in his prefered striking positions.

Tell me one person who has played in an unnatural position and actually done better than in his natural position?

Again, the attacking line up needs to be better, its like playing with 9 men, there are no wingers, practically do nothing, so how are chances meant to be given for Rooney/van persie to score.

Well he is the best player we have pretty much (Vidic in defense and RVP when he is banging them in could argue.) You don't see Barca fans saying they would be ok with selling Iniesta and Xavi because their "not going to get any better."

Reading other forums, I know I'm not alone in my thinking. I expect better performances from our best paid player. Being mediocre, when this should be the peak period of your career is not acceptable.

16 goals from 31 appearances when he's not even playing upfront half the time is not mediocre. Rooney has been put in positions we lack because he's the only player good enough to do it and that is the fault of the club for consistently, season after season having a hole that he has to fill, you try putting RVP in CM when we are short of cover and see what happens.

One of the compliments towards Rooney, to this very day, is the work he puts in all over the place. I've seen plenty of comments this season of how other fowards wouldnt be caught dead 'At LB defending balls Rooney defends' for example. People clearly don't actually watch him, watch how he reacts to losing or the opponents scoring a goal or him missing a shot etc if they think he doesn't care as much.

I just dont understand how a player who is having his best ever return for the club isn't showing much this season..

So you care about Rooneys goals + assist returns being better per game than Van Persies?

16 goals from 31 appearances when he's not even playing upfront half the time is not mediocre. Rooney has been put in positions we lack because he's the only player good enough to do it and that is the fault of the club for consistently, season after season having a hole that he has to fill, you try putting RVP in CM when we are short of cover and see what happens.