Now I know there is a seperate thread to discuss the ongoing Rooney transfer saga and I don't want this thread falling into a discussion of whether the transfer rumours are true and what not, personally I take anything they say with a very large pinch of salt.
Anyway regardless these stories and our recent troubles on the pitch have got me thinking, if the rumours about Wayne have an element of truth to them, is the chance to sell Rooney a 'gift' that we should capitalise on or is it the final nail in the coffin of Fergies chances of winning a third and probable final European cup.
In the next few seasons we shall see the inevitable departure of VDS, Neville, Scholes and Giggs. Three of those are stalwarts of the current side and there is no doubting that the quality of the side dips heavily when all three are missing...you just have to see the impact of losing Giggs v the Baggies to see that we didn't have a left sided player on the bench to come on and replace him like for like.
We are famous for having good squads, but personally I feel the current side doesn't have enough proper first teamers who we can rely on to perform against the elite of europe if thrust into the side...not enough regulars and too many fringe players. By this I mean likes of Carrick/Anderson/Park/Gibson and not enough Nani/Hernandez's, players who you can see actually becoming fixtures in the side.
So far thankfully due to the presence of the old guard, we haven't been exposed too much even though our performance levels have declined since 07/08 but once they're gone we are going to need to invest and we need cash.
If Rooney was to leave soon and we were to get £60-70 million (not to mention a reduced wage bill) and in return we could guarantee that we could sign the likes of Bale, Modric/Sneijder/creative mid in general, and Rodwell/P.Jones/defensive mid in general... would it be prudent to do so and leave behind a well balanced team for the future with a long shelf life? Dare we say it... would we actually be a stronger team for it?
On the other hand to get rid of one of the worlds marquee players, would it damage the reputation of the club...would we have less of a fear factor for opposition teams. There is also no guarantee whatsoever the players we want to sign would want to come to a club whose pulling power is fading.
Is it a step too far to get rid of a player who is usually acclaimed as the heart and soul of the current side, a guy who when on form makes our team such a great team to watch and can destroy teams single-handedly and almost won us the league single-handedly... is it worth getting rid of such a talent for three lesser talents albeit if they make the squad and the first team more balanced?
Now this whole debate I wish to discuss is based on an hypothetical premise, i.e. the Rooney rumours may have an element of truth to them, so disregarding whether or not that is a load of bullshit etc and whether Fergie or Rooney is more pivotal to the club. Just your honest opinion and analysis of whether you think we'd be a better team by selling Rooney and reinvesting in the team in a number of areas or retaining an established world-reknowned talisman... your thoughts?
Anyway regardless these stories and our recent troubles on the pitch have got me thinking, if the rumours about Wayne have an element of truth to them, is the chance to sell Rooney a 'gift' that we should capitalise on or is it the final nail in the coffin of Fergies chances of winning a third and probable final European cup.
Gift
In the next few seasons we shall see the inevitable departure of VDS, Neville, Scholes and Giggs. Three of those are stalwarts of the current side and there is no doubting that the quality of the side dips heavily when all three are missing...you just have to see the impact of losing Giggs v the Baggies to see that we didn't have a left sided player on the bench to come on and replace him like for like.
We are famous for having good squads, but personally I feel the current side doesn't have enough proper first teamers who we can rely on to perform against the elite of europe if thrust into the side...not enough regulars and too many fringe players. By this I mean likes of Carrick/Anderson/Park/Gibson and not enough Nani/Hernandez's, players who you can see actually becoming fixtures in the side.
So far thankfully due to the presence of the old guard, we haven't been exposed too much even though our performance levels have declined since 07/08 but once they're gone we are going to need to invest and we need cash.
If Rooney was to leave soon and we were to get £60-70 million (not to mention a reduced wage bill) and in return we could guarantee that we could sign the likes of Bale, Modric/Sneijder/creative mid in general, and Rodwell/P.Jones/defensive mid in general... would it be prudent to do so and leave behind a well balanced team for the future with a long shelf life? Dare we say it... would we actually be a stronger team for it?
Madness
On the other hand to get rid of one of the worlds marquee players, would it damage the reputation of the club...would we have less of a fear factor for opposition teams. There is also no guarantee whatsoever the players we want to sign would want to come to a club whose pulling power is fading.
Is it a step too far to get rid of a player who is usually acclaimed as the heart and soul of the current side, a guy who when on form makes our team such a great team to watch and can destroy teams single-handedly and almost won us the league single-handedly... is it worth getting rid of such a talent for three lesser talents albeit if they make the squad and the first team more balanced?
Now this whole debate I wish to discuss is based on an hypothetical premise, i.e. the Rooney rumours may have an element of truth to them, so disregarding whether or not that is a load of bullshit etc and whether Fergie or Rooney is more pivotal to the club. Just your honest opinion and analysis of whether you think we'd be a better team by selling Rooney and reinvesting in the team in a number of areas or retaining an established world-reknowned talisman... your thoughts?
