An alternative solution to the Rooney situation

Rhyme Animal

Thinks Di Zerbi is better than Pep.
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
11,193
Location
Nonchalantly scoring the winner...
An alternative (of sorts) to all the (deserved) negative Rooney threads on here right now.

Firstly, I'm not a Rooney fanboy, in fact, I don't think he should be starting PL games for us anymore.

But, I do think, if he was offered a different role in the squad, he might be realistic, ruthless and smart enough to still play a rewarding, important and fulfilling part in the team...

If we're realistic, there are 3 ways Rooney's decline will play out, but the first 2 are the only ones that you'll read about from a sensationalist media and a frustrated fanbase -

1. He is continuously shoehorned into the first team, fans become increasingly unhappy, media increasingly highlight his natural aging process, and his confidence (and legacy) are slowly chipped away until he leaves in a bad light.

2. He is annexed from the first team, isolated, and shipped out in January or in the summer. Meanwhile bad press and bad atmosphere cloud the club until he goes.

Both of these aren't ideal from a United point of view, or from Rooney's viewpoint either...

But there's a 3rd, quite realistic and sensible option that is never talked about -

3. Offer him a diminished, but important role as a squad member using his experience to guide the youngsters in the domestic cups and as back up to Zlatan and Rashford in the PL - not as captain.

Before you shout me down, just imagine yourself being in Rooney's position. Knowing that your decline is speeding up, feeling the heat from the media, from your teammates, and now serious talk from broadsheets about the f**king MLS, or China...

And then imagine being offered the chance to stay at the club you love, in your home country, take a pay cut (as Scholes and Giggs both did) and wind down your career with some glory in the domestic cups and coming on against tired defenders in the PL while retiring as the club's leading goal scorer - I know which one I'd pick.

Rooney has often shown on-the-pitch selflessness during his glittering United career, and he might, MIGHT, be smart enough to realize that being a leader to the youngsters, dedicating his last playing years to the FA and League Cups and winding down, rather than burning out is a better move when the only realistic alternative is the MLS or China.

Rooney could actually have a lot to offer in this role. His leadership qualities are perfect for the domestic cups (as we saw just last season) and offering his vast playing experience to the youngsters coming through.

And from Mourinho's viewpoint, how great would it be if, unlike Guardiola, he could show everyone that he's capable of actually MANAGING a player's latter years to get something out of them.

I'd like to think that these types of talks are taking place at the club, because if you take a step back from the media bloodlust, and the frustration of seeing an ineffectual captain being shoehorned in at a level he isn't at anymore, you can see that there's another way out of this where both club and player benefit and actually get something from the situation.

Ferguson would often have players who were reserved for specific competitions (Fletcher and Park spring to mind immediate), and it can work if handled right.

Who knows, maybe Rooney by now would see that such a role would actually be a fantastic move for him?
 
Last edited:
We'd have to renegotiate his contract. He's not a first-team fluffer for 300K a week.
 
Nope, he's a rope around our club's neck. He's got too much influence on all levels for a League 1 player.
 
The only way he'd take a pay cut is if we offer him a new contract, and therefore even more years at United. I really don't think we should be doing that.
 
He will never take a pay cut, he held the club to ransom over contracts in the past. What has changed since then?
 
Why he must be given all those options for? He was ruthless in hia contract negotiations and what not. Twice!! Its only fair the club do whats right for itself. Buckle up or drop down. There is no way a club of this size shall sink with one man. Nobody is bigger than the club. You can blame moyes for giving him that contract but that costed moyes his job (partially) and LVG insistence of playing him regardless of performance brought the entire fanbase down. Going down the same path, jomo will lose his job too. All for what? An under performing player for over 3 years who is on a fat wage. Grow a pair and someone has to do the correct thing as a leader. Thats why you are paid to do anyways Jomo.. Do your job.
 
Dunno, the guy who plays Fred the Red might be a bit angry at being pushed out for Wazza.
 
Rooney take a pay cut with three years left on his contract. This is Paul Stretford we are talking about.
 
Rhyme Animal said:
His options.
Click to expand...
So he has even less options now. Which would lead me to believe he is going to try and grab as much money as he can - ie holding onto his current contract for dear life.

I would love it if he took a pay cut. It would be a good start to regaining the fan's respect and send a positive message to the rest of the squad.
 
He can't offer us what Giggs and Scholes did in their later years. He's already worse than they were when they were approaching 40. And believe me, I criticised them something rotten.
 
I'd rather he went as I think a clean break is needed, but if I thought for a second he'd agree to give up the armband, be a squad player and take a wage cut I'd begrudgingly be ok with it, but his ego and greed wont allow for this to happen IMO.
 
Kag said:
He can't offer us what Giggs and Scholes did in their later years. He's already worse than they were when they were approaching 40. And believe me, I criticised them something rotten.
Click to expand...

This. He's at the Gary Neville vs West Brom stage except for it's every fecking game for over a year now.
 
Has he ever really been selfless?

When he was played wide or deep when he was younger it's because the likes of Ronaldo, Berbatov and Tevez were preferred over him in more advanced and central positions. It was either play there or spend time on the bench as far as Fergie was concerned and Fergie was true to his word later on in his career when Van Persie took his central role. When Moyes took over, Van Persie was moaning about Rooney occupying his space. Hardly a selfless act.
 
He already thinks he'll still be playing at the top level in 2 years time by announcing his England retirement after Russia. Usually players do that and then wind down to focus on their club careers.
So if he thinks he's still good enough I can't see him taking a big pay cut
 
Devil may care said:
I'd rather he went as I think a clean break is needed, but if I thought for a second he'd agree to give up the armband, be a squad player and take a wage cut I'd begrudgingly be ok with it, but his ego and greed wont allow for this to happen IMO.
Click to expand...
Remember with the new contract there was the supposed ambassador role linked to it. And recently said himself he wants to finish at united, so its a bit of a mess at the mo. He doesn't take criticism well and wont go quietly
 
clarkydaz said:
Remember with the new contract there was the supposed ambassador role linked to it. And recently said himself he wants to finish at united, so its a bit of a mess at the mo. He doesn't take criticism well and wont go quietly
Click to expand...

Yeah, his interviews during the International break were those of a deluded man, he thinks he has nothing to prove and wants to sign an extension at United.
 
a_devil_inside said:
He already thinks he'll still be playing at the top level in 2 years time by announcing his England retirement after Russia. Usually players do that and then wind down to focus on their club careers.
So if he thinks he's still good enough I can't see him taking a big pay cut
Click to expand...

Then again he has always had his media buddies backing him and he probably expected them to do so until he eventually leaves. Hopefully now they have turned on him however and he can no longer coast and live on past reputation. To the people thinking he will take a pay cut, absolutely no chance. Rooney is a tosser when it comes to money as we know so he certainly wouldn't do us any favours, especially if we are already denting his ego.
 
Didn't he said couple weeks ago that he has nothing to prove and he knows he's good enough to play for us?

I doubt he would be happy with less minutes and I really doubt he would take less money, most likely he'd want to run down his contract and then leave.
 
Bastian said:
We'd have to renegotiate his contract. He's not a first-team fluffer for 300K a week.
Click to expand...
If I were him, I'd decline any request whatsoever reducing my existing agreed contract.

Any reduced salary can wait til the next set of contract discussions. Thats what I'd do if I were him!!!
 
He's too arrogant and deluded to accept a lower role in the squad. He'll need forcing out, and it won't be pretty. He's not considering retirement from internationals for another 2 years.
 
You need to a manager with balls to drop him from the first team. Let's see if Mourinho grows them quick enough to save the season.
 
Pexbo said:
Has he ever really been selfless?

When he was played wide or deep when he was younger it's because the likes of Ronaldo, Berbatov and Tevez were preferred over him in more advanced and central positions. It was either play there or spend time on the bench as far as Fergie was concerned and Fergie was true to his word later on in his career when Van Persie took his central role. When Moyes took over, Van Persie was moaning about Rooney occupying his space. Hardly a selfless act.
Click to expand...

I can remember him being moved wide left to enable Ronaldo to play up front. Can't ever remember him being moved for the other two unless we were chasing a game and Ferguson just wanted to get all four on the pitch.

Also Van Persie played upfront in front of Rooney who didn't move from where he played the season before.
 
Rhyme Animal said:
A pay-cut is specified in the OP. As both Giggs and Scholes took one, there's no shame in that.
Click to expand...
Why would he get a paycut though? I mean if you have another year in contract, then you might accept to get a paycut with the condition of getting the contract extended, but I don't think that anyone ever took a paycut in a contract that runs for another three year.

Giggs and Scholes didn't accept a paycut, instead when they contract run out, the club offered them a lower contract.

...

The other problems with your opening post IMO are that Rooney is too arrogant to accept being a squad player (just see how he said that he will retire from England after the next world cup, essentially saying that he'll be there which should be a decision of the manager) and I am not sure that he really loves United (he played quite dirty in the last two contract extensions and was near joining City, so not the biggest United fan).

The biggest problem there though is that he isn't good enough anymore even as a squad player. And sure as hell, he won't be in a year or two from now.

I think that the best solutions would have been to somehow sell him in the summer (even if it was in free, even if it meant paying some of his wages). Now it is all damage limitations and the only not-insane option is to give him the Carrick treatment (not being a bit of dicks like in Schweinsteiger case, but at the same time not playing him).
 
I wouldn't mind him playing left wing, cutting in. He can deliver his crosses still, is limited to one side of the pitch to stop him roaming around and picking up the ball in pointless spaces. Hes got too much space if he's played centrally, its the only realistic option in my opinion IF he's going to continue here at the club. Otherwise, sell him in January.
 
iammemphis said:
I wouldn't mind him playing left wing, cutting in. He can deliver his crosses still, is limited to one side of the pitch to stop him roaming around and picking up the ball in pointless spaces. Hes got too much space if he's played centrally, its the only realistic option in my opinion IF he's going to continue here at the club. Otherwise, sell him in January.
Click to expand...

And add another year to Martial's development?
 
C3Pique said:
And add another year to Martial's development?
Click to expand...
Play him upfront or right wing.
Play Mkhi centre or right.
Play Rashford behind Martial or vica versa.
Ibra can't play every game and could easily pick up an injury too.
 
iammemphis said:
Play him upfront or right wing.
Play Mkhi centre or right.
Play Rashford behind Martial or vica versa.
Ibra can't play every game and could easily pick up an injury too.
Click to expand...

We could play him in any position and the results would still be the same.. a) he'd be a hindrance and b) someone much better would be benched to make way for him.

Removing him is the only solution.
 
The problem is Rooney would never except just being a squad player and playing in the cups, he would probably cause disruption behind the scenes. The delusional fool still thinks he's a great player and who can blame him when every pundit and media outlet has been up his backside for the past decade. Still now most pundits back him after he has been woeful for 3 years.
 
I read he is going to become a United ambassador immediately after he retires? Hopefully that can be removed from his contract.
 
People forget who his agent is. How they treated the club. There's no way he'd resign a contract that will most likely be his last for lower wages. 300k a week. Christ

They will kick up a fuss as soon as Wayne is dropped. Hopefully that will lead to an exit. One thing that the past has proven is an unsettled Rooney kicks up a stink and leads to acrimony. The end won't be pleasant.

The only good thing is now the media are beginning to strike and turn the club will soon have the stronger hand
 
Pexbo said:
Has he ever really been selfless?

When he was played wide or deep when he was younger it's because the likes of Ronaldo, Berbatov and Tevez were preferred over him in more advanced and central positions. It was either play there or spend time on the bench as far as Fergie was concerned and Fergie was true to his word later on in his career when Van Persie took his central role. When Moyes took over, Van Persie was moaning about Rooney occupying his space. Hardly a selfless act.
Click to expand...
I know you dislike the guy but Rooney really has been selfless over the years and sacrificed his peak years to play wherever the manager wanted him to be playing. He was better than the likes of Berbatov and Tevez and yet he's never complained when shifted around the pitch.
 
The way Rooney is portrayed as a scheming mastermind on here, once he hangs up his boots, he could easily go on to replace Kevin Spacey on House of Cards. In all seriousness though, I think if he's dropped, he'll wait for his chance and it'll be the kick up his arse he needs and he'll probably play better. He got dropped against Stoke and he only played much better after that. I also don't think he'll be able to "raise a fuss" via the media considering the very same media seems to be saying he's done and needs to be dropped.
 
wr8_utd said:
I know you dislike the guy but Rooney really has been selfless over the years and sacrificed his peak years to play wherever the manager wanted him to be playing. He was better than the likes of Berbatov and Tevez and yet he's never complained when shifted around the pitch.
Click to expand...
Sacrificed his peak years... Good grief.

He requested a transfer when the manager dared to leave him out for a few games or play him in midfield. So selfless.
 
Bastian said:
We'd have to renegotiate his contract. He's not a first-team fluffer for 300K a week.
Click to expand...
You do know he has no future in football once he is done right? He cant coach, he cant be a pundit either. He isnt smart enough for either. He will want to milk every penny he is getting because he wants to earn as much before he retires. There is no way he is taking a pay cut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.