Poll: Is Wayne Rooney past it and should he be sold?

Is Rooney past it?

  • Total voters
    1,482
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
How is a performance drop when played off position an excuse?
Click to expand...
I was insinuating that your arguments were all excuses.
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
With such a ineffective midfield, none of the strikers were able to make an impact and Rooney is still the most effective of the lot.
Click to expand...
Being better than Falcao and RvP is not a sign of quality at the moment.
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Get a decent midfield and play him upfront before making deciding if he is effective or not!
Click to expand...
According to whoscored.com Rooney played 14 games in midfield and 14 games as a striker (incl. 4 as acm) this season. Let's not pretend like he didn't have a shot at playing up front. Although I agree that if he is to stay he should play as striker. He could potentially do well there, but that's largely due to a lack of options in the market, and LvG most likely prioritizing other areas of our team.

Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Expectations off Young were nearly non-existent beginning this season. As long as he doesn't embarrass himself it would be exceeding expectations. Are you seriously saying Young brings more the the team than Rooney?
Click to expand...
No, but again that's not a sign of quality. As you say yourself "As long as he doesn't embarrass himself it would be exceeding expectations".
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Young? From calling for his head to a consistent performer? :lol:

The only person in that list comparable to Rooney is Carrick who has been crucial in defence as Rooney is to attack (excl the GK ofc).

Do you even consider the facts the amount of times he has been played out of positions? He is not a midfielder and just plays there because we do not have any better option. It says lots for the team that he is still a better player off positions than most in position. The amount of effort he puts in to shore up the pathetic excuse of a midfield we have fielded before is somehow his fault now! Oh, the irony!
Click to expand...
What? Since Rvp got injured he's pretty much only played as striker, and he was shit generally. But to be fair, being poor for a while is also consistent so you have a point. Since Arsenal in the FA, Young has been amongst our best playerd consistently. Even before when he played as wing back brilliantly.
 
Rooney's unique in his inconsistency. He has a terrible patch almost every year, and also purple patch.
What you can bank on, is his contribution over a full season being at least a solid 7/10.

Ridiculous to compare him to Ashley Young, who could easily have a truly shocking season, and it wouldn't be surprising to anyone, despite his good form last season. You can't bank on Young having at least a 7/10 next season.

Years of Rooney indicate that we can expect a good output from him, even with his iffy patch. That can't be said of many of our players.
So you can easily argue that he's been one of our most consistent players, and still is.
 
Sammyjunn said:
Since Rvp got injured he's pretty much only played as striker
Click to expand...

Hostekule said:
According to whoscored.com Rooney played 14 games in midfield and 14 games as a striker (incl. 4 as acm) this season.
Click to expand...

What's that, about 37% playing time in his strong position :rolleyes: And yet being judged on that, Oh my!

Speak said:
Rooney's unique in his inconsistency. He has a terrible patch almost every year, and also purple patch.
What you can bank on, is his contribution over a full season being at least a solid 7/10.

Ridiculous to compare him to Ashley Young, who could easily have a truly shocking season, and it wouldn't be surprising to anyone, despite his good form last season. You can't bank on Young having at least a 7/10 next season.

Years of Rooney indicate that we can expect a good output from him, even with his iffy patch. That can't be said of many of our players.
So you can easily argue that he's been one of our most consistent players, and still is.
Click to expand...

Well said!
 
Speak said:
Rooney's unique in his inconsistency. He has a terrible patch almost every year, and also purple patch.
What you can bank on, is his contribution over a full season being at least a solid 7/10.

Ridiculous to compare him to Ashley Young, who could easily have a truly shocking season, and it wouldn't be surprising to anyone, despite his good form last season. You can't bank on Young having at least a 7/10 next season.

Years of Rooney indicate that we can expect a good output from him, even with his iffy patch. That can't be said of many of our players.
So you can easily argue that he's been one of our most consistent players, and still is.
Click to expand...
You are talking about inconsistency over his career, where inconsistency in this season is what I'm talking about. Those are 2 very different things.
 
Most certainly past it, and I imagine the number of forward players who are better than him in the league will only continue to increase in coming years, so this 'he's our main man 'business is not good enough.

Ordinarily I would not want him sold, but due to his 'status ', it is almost impossible for him to be here if not a first choice player, which he shouldn't be in any of his 'specialist ' roles for an elite club in my opinion. For that reason, I'd accept a decent offer for him.

The fact is, a club with CL winning aspirations should no longer have a 'main man' who would likely struggle to attract bids of much more than £25m on the market. I certainly can't see anyone paying more than £30m.
 
For all you muppets whining about Rooney not getting enough time as striker this season as an excuse for his form, bear in in mind that it's not like he wasn't played at all outside of those times, which by the way was about half of his games this season. A certain Japanese playmaker was given far more grief for not performing in games when he was played far more inconsistently.
 
I've said over the years on here that we make too many excuses for players simply not delivering. There is always some sort of perfect circumstance that they need to be playing in, or they are entitled to be useless. They are either 'settling in', 'too young', 'playing in the wrong position', 'playing with the wrong partner', 'playing in the wrong system', 'returned from injury x months ago' or whatever other variable that applies. Too many players get away with simply not delivering, and I doubt opposition/rival players are judged with the same level of 'consideration'.

In Rooney's case, given this is his thread - we were originally promised a great, one-off, world class player - and some people seem to think he has really been that player for the last however many years, only we haven't really seen it because he was allegedly a winger when Ronaldo was here (which is absolute bollocks), 'sacrificed himself', was a central midfielder this season (which he wasn't for most of it). The fact is, meanwhile, others are simply doing it. Suarez' story is not that he sometimes played wide at Ajax, or partnered Andy fecking Carroll at Liverpool, or was suffereing from media pressure after whatever incident, or was 'settling in' in England or at Barca. While everyone has been apologising for Rooney, he has simply come along and been better at football, mostly while being paid significantly less for doing so.

Watching RVN's goals on MUTv the other day and it really made me miss a striker with that kind of goal threat. That is the kind of output our rivals are enjoying from their top strikers, and we can really do with similar to kick us on.
 
Well he's definitely past his best. That much shouldn't really be up for debate. It's just whether he's good enough for a United side that wants to challenge on all fronts or not.

If I'm being honest, I think he's holding us back. Making him captain means he's undroppable and we arguably have better players in every position he plays in; central midfield, attacking midfield and striker. Even if you doubt the latter, it's not exactly like he's pulling up any trees up front.
 
Rozay said:
I've said over the years on here that we make too many excuses for players simply not delivering. There is always some sort of perfect circumstance that they need to be playing in, or they are entitled to be useless. They are either 'settling in', 'too young', 'playing in the wrong position', 'playing with the wrong partner', 'playing in the wrong system', 'returned from injury x months ago' or whatever other variable that applies. Too many players get away with simply not delivering, and I doubt opposition/rival players are judged with the same level of 'consideration'.

In Rooney's case, given this is his thread - we were originally promised a great, one-off, world class player - and some people seem to think he has really been that player for the last however many years, only we haven't really seen it because he was allegedly a winger when Ronaldo was here (which is absolute bollocks), 'sacrificed himself', was a central midfielder this season (which he wasn't for most of it). The fact is, meanwhile, others are simply doing it. Suarez' story is not that he sometimes played wide at Ajax, or partnered Andy fecking Carroll at Liverpool, or was suffereing from media pressure after whatever incident, or was 'settling in' in England or at Barca. While everyone has been apologising for Rooney, he has simply come along and been better at football, mostly while being paid significantly less for doing so.

Watching RVN's goals on MUTv the other day and it really made me miss a striker with that kind of goal threat. That is the kind of output our rivals are enjoying from their top strikers, and we can really do with similar to kick us on.
Click to expand...

Beautifully put and totally right.
 
I agree with @Rozay 's post earlier.

It surprises me that people still try to call Rooney world class - when every week we have been able to watch the likes of Aguero, Costa and Suarez showing us how much more a striker should offer to their team.

Rooney is meant to be our talisman, our captain, our club legend - but he has always been overshone by other players at the club or in the league. We waited and waited for him to suddenly become the world class English player that he hinted at as a teenager, and now he is 29 and we have never really seen it.

I also think that Rooney is past his physical peak. He was an early developer, and has never struck me as the consummate athlete - I think at this point his best years are behind him.
 
I just think that Wayne is in a comfort zone for both club and country. IMO it's not entirely his fault that he's been indulged though; perhaps his managers need to consider what (arguably) concerned SAF most of all: Wayne's admission (to SAF) that he felt he had nothing left to prove.
 
SteveJ said:
I just think that Wayne is in a comfort zone for both club and country. IMO it's not entirely his fault that he's been indulged though; perhaps his managers need to consider what (arguably) concerned SAF most of all: Wayne's admission (to SAF) that he felt he had nothing left to prove.
Click to expand...
If that is the case he needs to be got rid of asap, there is no room for ANY player at OT with that attitude.
 
I voted 'Yes but still keep' - clearly he is past his peak but still one of the more important members of the squad.

I cant really see anyone offering us enough (say £30m+) to make it worthwhile to sell him at this point

Do think he lacked any really stand out moments this season though - on the otherhand he did more for the team and did prove to be a better captain than I expected.
 
He's got nothing to prove in my book. He's a bone fide world class player. His versatality no doubt a hindrence, but it's use has been deemed necessary. He has moments which astound, and I believe he has the ability to do repeat those moments of magic more consistently if the team continues to be rebuilt this summer. No way in this world should he be sold.
 
RedFish said:
He's got nothing to prove in my book. He's a bone fide world class player. His versatality no doubt a hindrence, but it's use has been deemed necessary. He has moments which astound, and I believe he has the ability to do repeat those moments of magic more consistently if the team continues to be rebuilt this summer. No way in this world should he be sold.
Click to expand...

At his age we shouldn't be "hoping", "waiting", or "believing", he should have delivered whatever the hell it is you're hoping/waiting/believing it years ago, he's not exactly young and it'll only go down from here.

We've been waiting 10 years for him to be consistent, haven't we waited enough?
 
I agree with the point that he's got nothing to prove these days. He reeks of a player that's been pampered and is far too comfortable. I really hope LVG brings in a striker that's too good to drop, and then we might see better from Rooney.
 
RedFish said:
He's got nothing to prove in my book. He's a bone fide world class player. His versatality no doubt a hindrence, but it's use has been deemed necessary. He has moments which astound, and I believe he has the ability to do repeat those moments of magic more consistently if the team continues to be rebuilt this summer. No way in this world should he be sold.
Click to expand...

No. Saying 'I've got nothing to prove' is the sort attitude that shows why Rooney hasn't improved since his best season in 2009/10. Messi is thought to be the greatest of all time already at 27 years of age yet here he is season after season scoring 50+ goals and winning titles. Rooney wouldn't get in to any first XI of the clubs that made the semi finals of the Champions League this season and he probably wouldn't get into Chelsea or City either.
 
I voted option A.

We've got far worse problems than Wayne Rooney, far worse. In fact, give him good service and he's still good enough to bang in 20+ goal a season (same goes for RVP btw). The play behind him is jut so ponderously shit though that unless we get in either Aguero or Suarez not many strikers are going to do much good.
 
Sky1981 said:
At his age we shouldn't be "hoping", "waiting", or "believing", he should have delivered whatever the hell it is you're hoping/waiting/believing it years ago, he's not exactly young and it'll only go down from here.

We've been waiting 10 years for him to be consistent, haven't we waited enough?
Click to expand...
He's been consistent for 10 years. He's probably one of the most consistent players around when you have an overall appreciation of his career.
 
RedFish said:
He's got nothing to prove in my book. He's a bone fide world class player. His versatality no doubt a hindrence, but it's use has been deemed necessary. He has moments which astound, and I believe he has the ability to do repeat those moments of magic more consistently if the team continues to be rebuilt this summer. No way in this world should he be sold.
Click to expand...

What a ridiculous comment, every Utd player has something to prove EVERY time they pull on the shirt, they have to prove that they deserve to start again in the next match because there is always someone ready to take their place at a club like Utd.
 
Devil may care said:
Are you drunk or just dumb? Aguero, Costa, Benzema and Lewandowski are all better than Rooney.
Click to expand...

Not sure about Costa and Benzema. Rooney on a good day is still on their level.
Lewandowski, Aguero and Suarez are the best strikers right now.

None of the 5 mentioned above is avaliable realistically speaking so our question should be if there is anyone better in the market? I would say no.
 
Cnaiür urs Skiötha said:
Not sure about Costa and Benzema. Rooney on a good day is still on their level.
Lewandowski, Aguero and Suarez are the best strikers right now.

None of the 5 mentioned above is avaliable realistically speaking so our question should be if there is anyone better in the market? I would say no.
Click to expand...

Personally I don't think he's been on either Costa or Benzema's level for the last 2 seasons.

Well my post was simply refuting the notion that Rooney would be a first 11 starter for any club in the world. As far as if there are better options, I'd like to see us bring in someone like Lacazette and force Rooney to compete for a starting spot, because I don't think we have any chance of winning either of the major trophies while Rooney remains our sole starting #9.
 
Many people are saying, and correctly, that if we add this and that, and surround Rooney with the world class players that he himself should be - that he would still get goals for us, probably 20+.

While this may be true, it isn't good enough for Wayne Rooney. He isn't a terrible Championship level player, he simply isn't an elite player. Many players of that level can score goals in a perfect team, the point is - the talisman and highest paid player is the one who should be turning our attack into the best in the league, not there to profit from the fact that we happen to have the best attack in the league. Hernandez would likely score 25 goals as a regular for Barca, as would Charlie Austin probably. Rooney can also do it, but his status is befitting of a real game-changer, not the role Alan Smith played for us while we were on a great run in 2007.

There is nowhere to hide anymore. A £300k a week player should be performing like Suarez/Aguero. Rooney, purely on footballing merit, is paid almost £200k per week too much in my opinion.
 
So, if he's past it and should be sold, what's the price someone would be willing to pay for him, or how much should United ask?
 
Rozay said:
Many people are saying, and correctly, that if we add this and that, and surround Rooney with the world class players that he himself should be - that he would still get goals for us, probably 20+.

While this may be true, it isn't good enough for Wayne Rooney. He isn't a terrible Championship level player, he simply isn't an elite player. Many players of that level can score goals in a perfect team, the point is - the talisman and highest paid player is the one who should be turning our attack into the best in the league, not there to profit from the fact that we happen to have the best attack in the league. Hernandez would likely score 25 goals as a regular for Barca, as would Charlie Austin probably. Rooney can also do it, but his status is befitting of a real game-changer, not the role Alan Smith played for us while we were on a great run in 2007.

There is nowhere to hide anymore. A £300k a week player should be performing like Suarez/Aguero. Rooney, purely on footballing merit, is paid almost £200k per week too much in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Austin, Hernandez and Alan Smith? I don't think many would disagree his wages are obscene, so is mentioning him alongside them tbh. I know you're not saying they're at the same level but it could kinda be read that way.

Without reading through the thread, so I could be wrong, I doubt many people are saying we need to sign Bale and Pogba to see the best of Rooney, I'd be happy just to see him start the season fresh and be used as a striker from the off regardless of who we sign
 
Last edited:
RedFish said:
He's got nothing to prove in my book. He's a bone fide world class player. His versatality no doubt a hindrence, but it's use has been deemed necessary. He has moments which astound, and I believe he has the ability to do repeat those moments of magic more consistently if the team continues to be rebuilt this summer. No way in this world should he be sold.
Click to expand...

He was world class at one point but now? not really. He has his moments and he's capable of 'world class' bits of skill here and there but I wouldn't say he was world class now.

He's not in the top ten for strikers worldwide and he's not in the top 'insert ridiculously large number' as a midfielder.
 
Amethyst said:
No. Saying 'I've got nothing to prove' is the sort attitude that shows why Rooney hasn't improved since his best season in 2009/10. Messi is thought to be the greatest of all time already at 27 years of age yet here he is season after season scoring 50+ goals and winning titles. Rooney wouldn't get in to any first XI of the clubs that made the semi finals of the Champions League this season and he probably wouldn't get into Chelsea or City either.
Click to expand...
He'll definitely start at Juventus, most likely replacing Moratta. And using Messi as a comparison is a bit daft. Even though Rooney didn't develop with the same curve as Messi, then again, there's only one other player in the world who did. Like someone says above, we got much bigger problem than Rooney right now. Fix the midfield and defense first, got them playing as a unit, then we'll worry about whether Rooney is good enough or not.
 
Stick him up top all season next season, with a decent midfield behind him, then judge.
 
reelworld said:
He'll definitely start at Juventus, most likely replacing Moratta. And using Messi as a comparison is a bit daft. Even though Rooney didn't develop with the same curve as Messi, then again, there's only one other player in the world who did. Like someone says above, we got much bigger problem than Rooney right now. Fix the midfield and defense first, got them playing as a unit, then we'll worry about whether Rooney is good enough or not.
Click to expand...

Maybe. It depends I suppose on what system they wanted to play but clearly their midfield is immense and Tevez has been better as a CF. For arguments sake let's say he gets in at Juve. My point was that most of the best teams he wouldn't and that people saying he would are kidding themselves like the guy a few pages back.

Why is using Messi as a comparison daft? Read what I said again. I'm talking about the mentality of the player with regards the quote about not needing prove anything. I'm not talking about his skill level vs. Rooney's. I already said before in the thread I agree that the midfield and defence need fixing first and the service to the forwards has been terrible.
 
Last edited:
reelworld said:
He'll definitely start at Juventus, most likely replacing Moratta. And using Messi as a comparison is a bit daft. Even though Rooney didn't develop with the same curve as Messi, then again, there's only one other player in the world who did. Like someone says above, we got much bigger problem than Rooney right now. Fix the midfield and defense first, got them playing as a unit, then we'll worry about whether Rooney is good enough or not.
Click to expand...

If I look at our current crop, looking into our potential starting 11, from midfield to striker we've got:
Carrick-Herrera
Di Maria- Mata- Depay
Rooney/RVP

Then for me our biggest question is the forward. We need a forward that can play at high pace with good short passing. I'm sorry but Rooney doesn't offer that any more. Our build up can't be solely blamed on fixing the midfield, the lone striker plays too big a part in that these days.
 
No. The Time to sell already came and went. And what better striker can the team sign to replace him?
 
Cnaiür urs Skiötha said:
Not sure about Costa and Benzema. Rooney on a good day is still on their level.
Lewandowski, Aguero and Suarez are the best strikers right now.

None of the 5 mentioned above is avaliable realistically speaking so our question should be if there is anyone better in the market? I would say no.
Click to expand...
Rooney on a good day is about 5 games a season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.