Rooney vs. Van Gaal

Will Van Gaal's arrival:


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I'm not particularly worried about a Rooney/LVG personality clash, Rooney can work hard when properly motivated.

I do wonder how LVG will manage to a) fit Rooney, Mata and RvP into the same team, b) still have Rooney playing as either a striker or no.10 and c) get the most from those three players and the team.

RvP is a better striker than Rooney and Mata is a better no.10, so if anyone is going to be shunted out of position it should be Rooney. Yet we know Rooney dislikes playing outside his favourite position and is paid too much to be left on the bench.

This is definitely a potential problem imo.
I think comments like this do a disservice to Fergie. He didn't win as many trophies as he did by letting players take the piss, in training or during the off-season. In his entire United career to date there's been one incident of Rooney letting off-field antics affect him at training and Fergie didn't hesitate to take him out of the team (the infamous Blackburn game in 2011/12)

This image of Rooney as a lager-swilling, lazy good for nothing doesn't fit with someone Fergie rated so highly and picked so often. People are reading far too much into some photos in the tabloids. I mean, when did you ever see Rooney let himself down in terms of work-rate or effort during a match?

No aimed at you but it's slightly ironic that so many people on here slag Rooney off as a lazy fat bastard and say someone like Kagawa should have his place in the team. When did he ever put in the type of 90 minute shift you see from Rooney? You're far more likely to see him hit the wall after an hour or so of football than our "lazy" scouser.
I'm not the biggest fan of Rooney, but I do think people find external or off-the-pitch reasons to criticize him when he has a bad game or run of games. In reality, he's just a streaky player, who works his socks off evey game - it's just that sometimes he looks a world-beater, while at other he looks a pub player. I don't think it's really down to his attitude. It's the same with RVP. When he had a bad game this past season, everyone moaned about his bad attitude; when he banged them in, he was pure class. Too many arm-chair shrinks around here. Thankfully Van Gaal isn't one, and do everything he can to make a good match between Rooney and his system.
 




Well, he has extended his hand to Van Gaal via the Twitters anyway, I guess that is some kind of start...
 
Why is there not an option in this poll for "There will be no big dramas and things will be largely the same..." ??
 
Nothing in your points prove that they could get on brilliantly. The way you pointed out Rooney's "shortcomings", it will be a recipe for disaster so what makes you think it could go either way!!
Anyway, I doubt there is any cause for concern. Rooney wanted to be top dog here after Ronaldo left and he has a new multi-million pound deal and a long term contract. I doubt not being made captain will be all that big a problem for him. If he has a problem with that, good luck to him for finding a club which will listen to his demands for the wages he is on/wants.

It depends on Rooney's attitude basically. The things I mentioned are there and that could set it off on a bad note. If Rooney buckles down and just focuses on becoming so indispensable that he can't be dropped, or demonstrates genuine leadership, and works hard to get LvG's methods down then I don't see a problem.
 
The abuse he got after the van Gaal one was incredible! :lol: Dunno why footballers opt to use social media, there's no real point really.

Yeah the comments that all the footballers get on social media, well some of them are fierce harsh. Some of them are just sickening!
 
I have a feeling Van Gaal will force to play wide.
Why would he do that? Rooney is shit at playing wide. However he is an excellent second striker, and in most of matches LVG preferrs his No.10 to play advanced, which will make Rooney favorite for that role.
 
What were people saying? That he wouldnt get picked, that Van Gaal would ship him out?
Some random insults like fat lard, fat feck, etc. then others along the lines you're suggesting, some saying he 'wouldn't be so glad once RvP is picked as captain' and some saying he was being hypocritical. Some others just wishing him good luck too, but they were the minority.

One made me chuckle, a guy suggesting van Gaal would send him out on a season long loan! :D
 
The abuse he got after the van Gaal one was incredible! :lol: Dunno why footballers opt to use social media, there's no real point really.

It's a shame that there are just so many obnoxious, horrible gobsh*tes who follow our beautiful game.
 
It's going to be bad,
Rooney doesn't want to be compromised and Van Gaal would absolutely destroy you if you not listening.
 
There are some real special cases out there.
It's a shame that there are just so many obnoxious, horrible gobsh*tes who follow our beautiful game.
But that's why I'm surprised players put themselves through it. Especially guys like Rooney who are pretty controversial and polarize opinions. I don't understand the appeal of it given he doesn't even seem to use it for fun (like Joey Barton who probably receives tons of abuse but probably just stays on it cos he likes being controversial).

Maybe it's a sponsorship thing, like having to be visible on all big social networks.
 
It depends on Rooney's attitude basically. The things I mentioned are there and that could set it off on a bad note. If Rooney buckles down and just focuses on becoming so indispensable that he can't be dropped, or demonstrates genuine leadership, and works hard to get LvG's methods down then I don't see a problem.

That is true for every player. Not just Rooney.
 
Why would he do that? Rooney is shit at playing wide. However he is an excellent second striker, and in most of matches LVG preferrs his No.10 to play advanced, which will make Rooney favorite for that role.

LVG prefers 433 formation. If RVP is fit then I can't see Rooney take RVP position unless RVP is off form. In other word we will have Mata, Kagawa and Rooney fighting for same position. One of them has to play out of position if they want play together. Mata is too slow, so there is no way he will play wide in three forwards. That means if Rooney wants to play in LVG system then LVG might force Rooney to play wide. Obviously as what you just said. "He is sh!t at playing wide" So Rooney will only have 2 choice. Try to do good in wide position or leave the club. Obviously we can't keep a player with 300k per week on the bench.

Unless if LVG doesn't prefer Mata in his 3 midfield then I can see Rooney will take that position
 
Be an absolute managerial masterstroke that helps Rooney to realise his full potential? Is what I chose as I hope Wayne can get on-board with LvG ideas and I think he could make him a better player if Wayne gives him the chance. However, my brain says Hasten an exit from the club? He's just isn't a team player. Yes, he's talented, but his attitude stinks most of the time. If things aren't going his way he throws his toys out of the pram and I'm worried he could become a burden on our team. I think next season will make or break Wayne's career at Manchester United. If he doesn't shape up and pull with the team, then he will shipped out. Simple really.

 
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This idea that Rooney will be "playing second fiddle" to RVP is probably true in the sense that RVP will be first choice to start up front. But since last season Rooney is on the bigger contract. I think that is significant in terms of keeping him happy. I think if he is asked to play wide - or elsewhere on the pitch - and Van Gaal helps him to excel in that position, he will be happy. Van Gaal wont make him feel like he is playing second fiddle, he will make him feel like every position is equally important and Rooney will be doing an important job where he is playing.
 
All depends if Rooney's willing to adapt and make improvements to his game to suit Van Gaal. But whether he goes 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 It's hard to see how Rooney's fits in.
 
I doubt they'll be any major clash between Rooney & LVG. At the end of the day they are both professionals, Despite Rooney countless time threatening to leave united to get more money, he is still a team player that will do anything to play a game and win. So it'll be interesting to see where LVG will put Rooney considering LVGs philosophy is using a lone striker and he'll favor Mata or Kagawa behind RVP. So its going to be tough for Rooney but he'll do anything to get games, so we could likely see him in the midfield next season.
 
It's not very hard to invision a scenario where this doesn't go well theres no point claiming you don't see it because the potential issues are there to see, probably clearer than any of the positives. We have to just wait and see though before claiming it to be a failure already. Rooney has alway been a player to sacrifice for the team but this last season he has made it clear that he does not want that anymore and wants to play his preferred position consistently. That in itself is a clear potential problem.
 
That is true for every player. Not just Rooney.

Right, of course. They don't have the list of negatives I just mentioned though. Nor are they the highest paid player at the club. The potential negatives of Rooney's situation are quite large. Which isn't the same for the others. That is why i think it could go either way. For other players it is a little different.
 
Rooney's reputation is different outside of England. Provided we're winning and Rooney's contributing, I don't see why he'd have a problem - even if he's not the number 9.
I doubt there will be a clash, unfortunately for those who want to see Rooney knocked down a peg or two for whatever reason.
 
Right, of course. They don't have the list of negatives I just mentioned though. Nor are they the highest paid player at the club. The potential negatives of Rooney's situation are quite large. Which isn't the same for the others. That is why i think it could go either way. For other players it is a little different.

See, I understand your concern. But based on the list of issues you raised, it cannot go either way. Either Rooney knuckles down and accept a new role/position for himself or he has issues with LvG. In either case, I don't see Rooney getting along "brilliantly" with van Gaal. The best we could hope for is he not throwing his toys out of the pram.

However, I feel he is not stupid enough to do that. He will knuckle down if things don't go his way simply because he knows that he won't get the kind of contract he has here unless he leaves to one of the sugar daddy clubs like in France.
 
I think sometimes people mistake mishit passes and poor touches on the football field for a lack of effort.

Or allow their animosity over him threatening to leave us to cloud their objectivity. Like when you get dumped by your girlfriend and go around telling everyone she was a skank and you are glad to be rid.
 
I'm not Rooney's biggest fan but calling him "not a team player" is a bit of a shit opinion, to be blunt.
 
I think people are coming at this from the wrong points: there is definitely potential for a clash, but not because Rooney is rubbish or anything. I think it's just a matter of where Rooney sees himself at this point in his career, as opposed to how he fits into the team and squad as a whole. Rooney rightfully believe he's in his prime and should be playing in his preferred position(s), but is he better than Van Persie or Mata there? Would be willing to accept being played on the left consistently? It'll be interesting to see.

But then again, wasn't Van Gaal the man who signed Robben and moved him to the right? And he's converted several players to different positions in the past, so I wouldn't doubt he has the capability to bring Rooney onside.
 
Since when was Rooney not a team player?

This doesn't fit the general narrative people like to create. That he's some kind of Ibrahimovic ego monster, and ignore the fact he's spent ages helping the team and playing to Ronaldo, VP and peoples advantage
 
Rooney is screwed with LVG coming in. No pace, can't beat a man any more and completely misunderstands how to play the 10 role going both ways. SAF went on record about how he struggled to take new ideas on board and LVG isn't dropping RVP for him. Mata is a better 10 as well. Him vs LVG is a timebomb.
 
Rooney is screwed with LVG coming in. No pace, can't beat a man any more and completely misunderstands how to play the 10 role going both ways. SAF went on record about how he struggled to take new ideas on board and LVG isn't dropping RVP for him. Mata is a better 10 as well. Him vs LVG is a timebomb.

I'm not one of Rooney's biggest fans but don't be silly ... If Rooney can't beat a man I wonder what you'd classify Young, Nani and Valencia as
 
I think van gaal could sort him out amd really change his career direction as man utd as a team does not really reach its attacking potential with rooney in the hole and rooney is not really a guy that makes endless defence splitting passes which blunts our attacks often...the last few years rooney has tended more to run around like a headless chicken, doing a good job of winning back possession but not having any vision to make the key pass........with rooney in the hole we tend to get over run in midfield by the best teams that play 433 or more modern formations...fergie got mugged many a time playing 442 in europe against lesser teams....maybe just maybe van gaal has the innovation to convert rooney to some sort of midfielder...he switched sweinsteiger from a winger to the best box to box player in the world so maybe he can do something similar with rooney unless rooney fancies himself more on the wing
 
It could go either way, and to be fair there is an equal possibility of rvp being the problem, in an ideal world if we play 433 rvp and Rooney will fight it out for the strikers role with whoever is on form getting the nod and the other busting his ass to take the spot back, but modern footballers, not just Rooney but the majority are such egocentric divas that is going to be difficult. If lvg can make it happen he will be doing a great job.