He didn't sound overly delighted with his role when speaking in his post match interview but it didn't show in the performance. It's what we're going to need for him for most of this season.
Wayne Rooney | 2012-14 Performances
- Thread starter gooDevil
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He should play as the front two with RVP, with RVP leading the line in that diamond formation.
I think Wayne would prefer being involved and not scoring than being totally isolated all game. Somehow he is playing this position because of the lack of penetration by our midfielders. Hopefully Cleverley and Anderson can change that and get Rooney to play in his proper no10 role. That's still his best role I think.
Same position every time please.
Regardless of whether it is his best position, we are soft as hell in the centre and lack class there. He brought it.
Regardless of whether it is his best position, we are soft as hell in the centre and lack class there. He brought it.
If you look at just how much defensive work Rooney did today...covering for Evra, clearing the ball in the box when Newcastle were attacking it's hard to really consider him a number 10 dropping deep because no other striker in the game has ever been this selfless or diligent when it comes to defending.
There was a period in the first half after we scored when Newcastle reverted from their disastrously open 442 to a 451 and Rooney was covering a hell of a lot of ground supporting Cleverley who for all his energy isn't a strong defender. For me he was a free role / box to box midfielder who was allowed to take up position anywhere in the diamond to influence the game.
You can label what Rooney does any way you like but the truth is when the man is in form he can play just about any position on the pitch well. His innate understanding of the game is just that good.
He just tweeted this
At least he is happy I guess.
WayneRooney said:
At least he is happy I guess.
Yes I wasn't saying he played his usual role today. He was definitely in midfield. I was picking up on Fergie saying he'd like to play him in the same way but a bit further forward, which to me would be pretty much indistinguishable from his normal deep striker position.
I honestly have the feeling Rooney determines how he's going to play without the need for Fergie giving him detailed instructions. Once in a while you see Fergie tell the players to make adjustments but I have never seen Fergie as someone who is controlling players the way Rafa or some other continental coaches like AVB do. Micromanaging their every movement like...
So, Fergie might say he wants Rooney to play further forward but I get the feeling Rooney's going to just roam in most games and depending on his confidence level demand as much of the ball as he can.
United are altogether a different proposition when Rooney is in this sort of mood and form.
In the past there have been discussions about Rooney playing in midfield. A lot of people said he shouldn't play there because he lacks the positional discipline. I'm curious to know whether those people think he's improved that part of his game. Or if they still don't rate him there. Anyone?
I've long been intruiged by the possibility. Not saying it is def the answer. But to me he has some good attributes to play there, his energy, willingness to win the ball and passing range. Like seeing him in midfield.
I've long been intruiged by the possibility. Not saying it is def the answer. But to me he has some good attributes to play there, his energy, willingness to win the ball and passing range. Like seeing him in midfield.
5 assists in 4 games for Rooney?
Not as part of a midfield 2, in a midfield 3 he's definitely got enough about him.
Still think he'll get sent off a lot in midfield though
He often points towards the involvement in our build up and general play when he's had a good game. I think it's clear that he's doing a Scholes transition and I would not be surprised if he ends up as a proper midfielder. Not yet, not in a year or two either. But in the future.
Really good game from him last night. The deeper attacking midfielder role really suited him tonight. He tracked back very well, putting in some key tackles and popping up to break up Newcastles play quite often at one point. Plus he was always looking for the ball and then trying to move it forward quickly either by turning himself or a quick one two to the running player.
I'd be quite happy for him to play this role for the next few games. Let RVP lead the line and have Rooney playing deeper and pulling the strings and setting him up.
I'd be quite happy for him to play this role for the next few games. Let RVP lead the line and have Rooney playing deeper and pulling the strings and setting him up.
5 in 3 games, I think.
Assisted the goal for Nani against Spurs, twice for RVP against Cluj, One for Evra and Cleverley in the match against Newcastle.
He makes everyone around him a better player.. I think thats why he's a better all round player than RVP. He's essential to the aesthetics and effectiveness of our play.
There's the Statistics Thread for a reason.
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[U]#[/U] [U]MIN[/U] [U]OPPONENT[/U] [U]RESULT[/U] [U]COMPETITION[/U] [U]DATE[/U] [U]G[/U] [U]A[/U] [U][COLOR="Yellow"]■[/COLOR]/[COLOR="Red"]■[/COLOR][/U]
1 ● 90' v Everton A | [COLOR=Red]0-1[/COLOR] | Premier League | 20-08 | - | - |- -
1(1) ☼ 22' v Fulham H | [COLOR="SeaGreen"]3-2[/COLOR] | Premier League | 25-08 | - | - |- -
2(1) ● 76' v Newcastle H | [COLOR="SeaGreen"]2-1[/COLOR] | League Cup | 26-09 | - | - |- -
2(2) ☼ 45' v Tottenham H | [COLOR="Red"]2-3[/COLOR] | Premier League | 29-09 | - | 1 |- -
3(2) ● 90' v CFR Cluj A | [COLOR="SeaGreen"]2-1[/COLOR] | Champions League | 02-10 | - | 2 |- -
4(2) ● 79' v Newcastle A | [COLOR="SeaGreen"]3-0[/COLOR] | Premier League | 07-10 | - | 2 |- -Statistics 12-13 / Wayne Rooney
Very good yesterday. First touch seems up to speed, his workrate is impressive and his vision is great. Looks like the injury might have been a blessing: enabled Fergie to get RvP into the team without a weekly media frenzy about one or the other being dropped and it was good for Rooney to come back into the team with no pressure. His last three outings (second half against Tottenham, games against Cluj and Newcastle) have been great.
Yesterday we indeed did play a diamond (which is referred to, in lineups, as a 4-1-2-1-2 or a 4-4-2 "diamond", don't know why people are getting all annoyed that you'd actually refer to the formation correctly), and he looked perfect in the 10 role. The formation could also be tried with him alongside RvP with Kagawa behind. The only downside yesterday was that Shinji seemed to struggle to get into the game. In a diamond, the 2 in front of Carrick aren't wingers per se but wing playmakers, but didn't get the feeling Kagawa was great in that position (might come with time if we persist with the formation).
As I've said before, I also wouldn't mind seeing an "Ancelotti" 4-3-2-1 formation once, with RvP as the lone striker and Kagawa and Rooney as the playmakers behind him (although this formation demands huge comprehension between the front three players and should only be tested a bit later in the season, I think, when they've started to strike up a real good understanding).
Anyway, it was a good performance all round, and Ferguson seems to have resolved pretty quickly the conundrum about how to get the best out of both Rooney and RvP.
Yesterday we indeed did play a diamond (which is referred to, in lineups, as a 4-1-2-1-2 or a 4-4-2 "diamond", don't know why people are getting all annoyed that you'd actually refer to the formation correctly), and he looked perfect in the 10 role. The formation could also be tried with him alongside RvP with Kagawa behind. The only downside yesterday was that Shinji seemed to struggle to get into the game. In a diamond, the 2 in front of Carrick aren't wingers per se but wing playmakers, but didn't get the feeling Kagawa was great in that position (might come with time if we persist with the formation).
As I've said before, I also wouldn't mind seeing an "Ancelotti" 4-3-2-1 formation once, with RvP as the lone striker and Kagawa and Rooney as the playmakers behind him (although this formation demands huge comprehension between the front three players and should only be tested a bit later in the season, I think, when they've started to strike up a real good understanding).
Anyway, it was a good performance all round, and Ferguson seems to have resolved pretty quickly the conundrum about how to get the best out of both Rooney and RvP.
Fair enough, mate.
His record over the last 2 seasons begs to differ although I can see where you are coming from.
I don't think that there would be any question on the matter a few years ago.
Whilst he still has the fire in his belly, he's matured a lot over the last few seasons in my opinion and whilst he will throw himself into tackles/blocks, it is in a far more considered manner.
His inclination to lose his cool seems to have receded in sync with his hair line.
Box-to-Box
My favourite thing about Rooney is the fact that he keeps on working on parts of his game.
Besides his debut Rooney's free kicks were for the most part shit and Ronaldo took the bulk or Giggs or Nani. Now Rooney's freek kicks and corners are a real threat, all the time.
And Rooney back in the day hardly scored headers and would often opt for the volley or take it on the chest - now Rooney is probably the best header of the ball under 6 feet tall.
He also the most versatile player I've seen. He not only plays several positions (Left Wing, Attacking midfield, Second Striker, Main Striker) but he excels in them. Not many players can be that good in so many positions.
I can't even tell what position that he is best in.
Just amazing.
Besides his debut Rooney's free kicks were for the most part shit and Ronaldo took the bulk or Giggs or Nani. Now Rooney's freek kicks and corners are a real threat, all the time.
And Rooney back in the day hardly scored headers and would often opt for the volley or take it on the chest - now Rooney is probably the best header of the ball under 6 feet tall.
He also the most versatile player I've seen. He not only plays several positions (Left Wing, Attacking midfield, Second Striker, Main Striker) but he excels in them. Not many players can be that good in so many positions.
I can't even tell what position that he is best in.
Just amazing.
You could put him at right-back and he would still play better and offer so much more than someone like Glen Johnson
Wow, are we talking about best player of all times?
Chill down, he isn't that good as a striker anymore, and he is average as a left midfielder(winger) in last two years, for example, I would always take Welbeck on left wing before rooney. He is playing excellent in his last three games, but I wouldn't call him best player in the world after three good games, he didn't have his best season last year, and his start of this season wasn't that good also. I would like to see more of last three games-Rooney, than we can talk how good he is.
He said versatile. He never said Rooney was the best player in the world.
Reminder of how good Rooney can be on the left. Great player anywhere on the pitch really. That's a CL knock out tie as well.
He was praising him like he just won us everything with his versatility. And his versatility was his stronger side few years back than it is now. He was better as a striker and as a winger than he is now, that's for sure.
I see you're on a roll since yesterday.
Rooney isnt that good a striker anymore? When did this "anymore" start? Welbeck better on the left than him? Really? There's almost nothing that Welbeck does better than Rooney to make him more suited to the role.
He's our best player and one of the top five in the world.
Rooney has been sensational since returning from injury so what are you smoking?
Last season was the best goalscoring return of his career, so how have you come to the conclusion that he was a better striker years ago?
No way he's top 5.
That "anymore" started two years ago, he barely played 10 games as a striker in that time, and rarely played good there.
As for left midfielder/winger, you just need to watch our last year's game against blackbun away, he played as left winger and was player less on the pitch that day eventough he didn't play poor at all, he just isn't suited for the role anymore and that's it, he is more opted for a midfielder now.
First of all, he is nowhere near top five in last year or so.
And are you blind or what, read the goddamn post, where did I say he was poor after the injury, just oposite, I said he was excellent.
Ronaldo and the Barca trio are the only ones you couldn't make a decent argument for Rooney (at the top of his game) being on their level, it's obviously 4 then the rest atm but Rooney is as valid a suggestion from that second group as anyone else.
It's nothing against Rooney, you can call him better player now. Consistency is better than versatility.
You mean the time when he was playing behind Hernandez in our run to the CL final and the league win? That wasnt him playing as a striker?
He's been consistent in his goal scoring for a while now. Always has some end product.
See below...
He seems to be well and truly over the anger issues he rarely boils over nowadays, more a simmer type lad.
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