I can't remember one much worse tbh. A host of players in our squad have question marks over their futures and we don't seem to be making much progress in getting players in. And we don't have SAF.
Replacing Rooney
- Thread starter Bebe
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
I can't remember one much worse tbh. A host of players in our squad have question marks over their futures and we don't seem to be making much progress in getting players in. And we don't have SAF.
You say this but in a season where Rooney was poor we still went on to do very well. Hernandez and Kagawa playing more often (the latter in his favoured position) will in my opinion at least fill in 80% of what Rooney offers.
Buying a quality central midfielder will make up for the lost 20% with significant interest.
I feel with RVP, Hernandez, Welbeck and Kagawa we'd still have the best central forward 4 in the League. Our Defence I'd say is also the best and our Goalkeeper, if he continues as he is will be the best. To top it off our wingers can only get better from last season (pretty much impossible to be worse).
I agree with Feed Me though. It isn't what he brings to us, it's what he'd bring to Chelsea if he moved there. To be honest they are the only team I'd be concerned with if he left for - which would mean they'd need to break the bank for him (or throw in one of the 3 amigos!).
You're obviously entitled to your opinion but I hope it's not based on anything he's done between taking office and now, 'cause that would be, at best, unfair.
I don't really think we need to sign anyone to replace him, I'd rather we gave players like Nani, Kagawa and Welbeck starting berths and supplement that with appearances by Hernandez, Valencia, Zaha, Giggs and players from our academy like Januzaj.
That's the worry in regards to Rooney for me. I don't agree with how he has treated the club at times, and his performances haven't been up to the standards he has set over the years, but if he develops an understanding with Mourinho and he can regain his form, he is as good an all-round player as anyone in the league for me
We do have the players to fill that hole if he does leave, but I can't help but think that he will come back to haunt us. The sight of Wayne Rooney in a Chelsea shirt doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.
We do have the players to fill that hole if he does leave, but I can't help but think that he will come back to haunt us. The sight of Wayne Rooney in a Chelsea shirt doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.
Tbf though I think Rooney at chelsea could be very good I think his problem with his drop in concentration leading too poor touches would be a bigger problem there with their attacking 3 who are very much about those little touches around the box. But then no idea how Mourinho will step up, those front 3 aren't like the players he's usually start with.
Haven't we already done that? And bought 2 superior players? Shinji and Robin. Both do Wayne's roles (up top and in the hole) better than Wayne does.
He was only poor by his own standards. I seriously doubt we'd have won the league without him, he scored some crucial goals for us, especially the 2 against City which gave us a huge early boost. Had they won that game there's no telling how the league would've panned out.
Other than Ronaldo or Messi there's not a single player who we could bring in and guarantee to be better than Rooney was last season. That includes Bale.
Don't be silly, Kagawa has done nothing to prove he's a better footballer than Rooney, and RvP hasn't played in the hole in years.
RvP plays up front better than Wayne. Kagawa plays in the hole better than Wayne (as he can control a ball).
I think if he were to leave, then signing a very good winger along with a very good central midfielder is a must. Kagawa I think will and should start the season as the #10 behind Van Persie, so somebody that plays on the left but can fill in the middle when asked to would be perfect. A central midfielder was a must even before this, but if he does leave then it's even more important.
Ideal signings would be Bale and Vidal, but both seem impossible, so more realistic options could be Marchisio/Modric and El Shaarawy. I honestly think those 3 players could be attainable, if we offer the right amount of course. Players like Bale we'd have to offer insane amounts so it won't ever happen.
Ideal signings would be Bale and Vidal, but both seem impossible, so more realistic options could be Marchisio/Modric and El Shaarawy. I honestly think those 3 players could be attainable, if we offer the right amount of course. Players like Bale we'd have to offer insane amounts so it won't ever happen.
Yet somehow Rooney had far better stats than him last season despite apparently having a poor season by his standards. People forget quickly how good Rooney actually is because of these issues with him. Kagawa in his career hasn't shown nearly enough to suggest he's a better player than Rooney.
Yep and Rooney can play both roles very well, I'd rather not lose that without knowing there was a top replacement coming in.
I don't see us directly replacing Rooney, something that's quite hard to do anyway since he's technically a striker and a second striker/attacking midfielder/whatever you like to call it. Instead, we'd use the money to put it towards another major transfer. That could be Fabregas; it could be Bale. Basically, I'm not too bothered about it going to a direct replacement, but I would like it to be used for some sort of major transfer anyway. We can cope without signing a direct forward though because I suspect Kagawa will play in the hole and Welbeck and Hernandez not only serve as decent backup to Van Persie, but will hopefully further develop as they get game time.
This is the problem. Losing Rooney means we lose a player who is capable of world class performances in either position. Very few players who can claim that.
Ronaldo
I don't think it's as simple as that. While both players can play in the hole, they're very different types of footballers and it's difficult to say who's better than the other. While Kagawa is better on the ball control wise and may be better for setting players up etc, Rooney's very effective at both dropping back to pick up the ball from midfield and bursting forward with it, making him excellent in the role for a counter attacking game. Kagawa's probably a more natural attacking midfielder positionally, but Rooney offers a lot to a counter attacking game and will score plenty of goals from that position. Kagawa's more likely to play a supporting role from there, while Rooney's more likely to drive a team forward for there. Both can be as effective as each other depending on what you want, although I'd like to see Kagawa get time there if Rooney does leave.
No it's not. I'm an absolutely massive fan of Kagawa but Rooney is quite clearly the better player than him. Just because they're different types of players doesn't mean they aren't comparable as footballers overall.
This idea that Rooney is on the decline as a footballer aged 27 and somehow isn't as good as he used to be despite only four months ago being absolutely brilliant for two months is just ridiculous and it seems people are a little blinded by this whole saga. I guarantee if he goes to the right club where he's happy and not in the shadow of another forward (like Chelsea, heaven forbid), he'll be class again.
If I could pick anyone it would be Mata or Bale. Although thats unrealistic. I would be also be fine with not attempting to buy a direct replacement.
Part of the Rooney problem is that we made him the main man, undroppable etc so he has way too much ego. I think we would do well to share more responsibility throughout the team - give Kagawa, Welbeck and Hernandez more opportunity and responsibility and if we could then strengthen our weaker areas I think we'd be in great shape. If, as is rumoured, the likes of Di Maria and Khedeira (or even Fabregas although i again don't see that happening) were available and we could bring them in the team would be much stronger as a unit.
Part of the Rooney problem is that we made him the main man, undroppable etc so he has way too much ego. I think we would do well to share more responsibility throughout the team - give Kagawa, Welbeck and Hernandez more opportunity and responsibility and if we could then strengthen our weaker areas I think we'd be in great shape. If, as is rumoured, the likes of Di Maria and Khedeira (or even Fabregas although i again don't see that happening) were available and we could bring them in the team would be much stronger as a unit.
Yeah, I worded it wrongly. Based on what they've done so far, Rooney is undoubtedly better than Kagawa. What I should have said was that when someone said Kagawa is better as an attacking midfielder, just because he's perhaps a more natural one doesn't mean he's automatically better there than Rooney. Anyway, I reckon Kagawa has the potential to be as good as Rooney, although they are very different types of players. For the moment though, yeah, Rooney is better, but that wasn't really the point of my post.
I think there is rational dislike for his antics eventually leading to irrational dislike for him as a footballer and now it's suddenly cool to play down the impact on him leaving.
Kagawa has everything to prove at United. He may well benefit more than anyone if Rooney was to leave, but despite what some believe as his worst season ever, he was still the second most effective player in regards to creating and scoring goals.
I don't. No slight on him, he'll be a top class player for us, but I can't see him being as good as an in form Rooney.
Well it'll have far less of an impact than it would've two years ago, but yes, people are going totally overboard with their dismissal of how good he is.
People can say what they want about Rooney, but you can't fault his contribution to this club. He has played a major part in our success since he signed for the club, and his goal scoring record speaks for itself. He's made 400 + appearances, and as I say, you can't overlook what he has brought to this club as a player. Unfortunately people will look at the negatives from here on in.
If Rooney does leave, that's the only positive aspect about it for me. Kagawa showed glimpses last season without really displaying the full package. He's an intelligent player with good energy, he can spot a run, and his movements excellent. He's tidy on the ball, he can get himself out of tight situations, and I think we will see more of a goal threat in the final third next season. He would benefit massively by playing off Van Persie in that number 10 role, and if would be interesting to see how he develops playing in that position.
There are positive signs there with Kagawa, and perhaps Rooney's departure is what's needed to lift him to the next level.
I said it before all of the recent rumors surrounding Rooney but I really don't want to see him as a number 10 any more, he's far too inconsistent with his touch and passing to be relied on as the main creative outlet in our team. He obviously still produces goals and assists but I just don't think his general play anymore merits him being used behind RvP over Kagawa. If Rooney were to stay I'd like to only see him as a lone striker, which won't happen because RvP is better there than he is.
Like many other have said, the Rooney replacements are already here in Kagawa, Hernandez, and Welbeck. If Rooney goes we still only need some central midfielders and probably another versatile winger.
Like many other have said, the Rooney replacements are already here in Kagawa, Hernandez, and Welbeck. If Rooney goes we still only need some central midfielders and probably another versatile winger.
I remember reading about a release clause in Marco Reus' contract a few weeks ago, but nothing since. We could do a lot worse.
If we get the Cesc deal done then I don't see any reason why we need another forward. I'd assume Kagawa will be moved as a starter behind RVP and we'd have Hernandez and Welbeck as backup. Also will free up time for the young forwards such as Henriques and Keane to perhaps get a few cameos in the league cup.
And there-in lies the problem. At his best, Rooney was sensational when in behind the striker, but bar the second half of 2010/2011 he's not had a sustained spell of being brilliant in that role. Even in 2011/2012 when he was able to maintain his goalscoring, not a lot of people would argue that his overall game was excelling in the attacking midfielder role because it's a position in which he's remarkably frustrating.
I think Kagawa's more than capable of matching what Rooney has done in that position. Again, he'll be a very different type of player but I reckon he's going to certainly be a much more polished technical player, if not better physically. He might not match Rooney's overall contribution at United, but there's no reason why he can't match what Rooney has contributed in the hole.
I'd love to see him at United, but the release clause is effective next year apparently.
Bale. Basically he has surpassed Rooney and will only get better here. If RVP gets injured put Fabregas upfront lol
If we sell him, I think there needs to be a "marquee" signing to replace him. Otherwise, the club loses its biggest marketing player with no replacement.
I don't think we need to replace him tbh. We are fine with RvP, Hernandez, Welbeck, Kagawa and hopefully Januzaj for the positions up-front. I would love to have Bale but the priority should be a top CM and someone as cover for Carrick.
This.
Why do we need to sign a replacement when Mata is already coming as part of the Rooney deal??
I'd love us to sell Rooney, just had enough of him, not the two transfer/more money rubbish but also curious to see how we move on. He's not been as good as he was, even when he scored 30 odd goals the other year. Its weird because he's our 4th top scorer of all time, been great for us at times but as Fergie said before, sometimes a player just has his day, and even at 27 that time could be now.
No idea who we replace him with because our pulling power on transfer targets and battles with other clubs is limited for our size. Would like to see him go though, felt it for a while. He seems like he's too big for his boots. Beckham was gutted to leave but had the looks to crack on nicely, Rooney doesn't, so its either his football or nothing. If it was up to me I'd sell him to Chelsea even for £40m, I know some will say he'll win them the league but they'll be up there anyway now.
No idea who we replace him with because our pulling power on transfer targets and battles with other clubs is limited for our size. Would like to see him go though, felt it for a while. He seems like he's too big for his boots. Beckham was gutted to leave but had the looks to crack on nicely, Rooney doesn't, so its either his football or nothing. If it was up to me I'd sell him to Chelsea even for £40m, I know some will say he'll win them the league but they'll be up there anyway now.
No worries... I have tapped into Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha on last season. Had to when you look at RVPs Saha-like record.
I heard that Suarez wants out of Liverpool...
Honestly if we sign a superstar CM in the mould of Fabregas/Modric, I think that will more than soften the blow of losing Rooney. Everyone is fed up with the Rooney saga at this point. But we are even more fed up with the CM scenario, so I don't think people will give too much of a shit about what happens to Rooney tbh.
Chelski has the same problem as Bayern -- stacked with CMs.
Trade Rooney for Mata will keep both sides happy.
Trade Rooney for Mata will keep both sides happy.
Lampard (done), Ramires (Average), Essien (Done), Mikel (Below Average), Oscar (Very good)
5 players for 3 positions out of which only 1 player is a budding potential. Rest are either at the end of their career or below average.