I hoped this "is he/isn't he happy?" stuff would have died after the transfer window closed. I can see this dragging on all season now, especially if he keeps swerving the questions. How tedious!
Wayne Rooney | 2012-14 Performances
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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.
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I am not convinced he will be here next season. Not sure about January, but I can see him getting his move in the Summer.
Would you have given him a new five year contract at the current wage he's earning after the season he had last year? Fergie had concerns about his fitness and form, I wouldn't be making that sort of financial commitment on him until he'd proved last season was just a blip and that those concerns were unmerited.
January is highly unlikely because he's cup tied and a player like will surely wanna take part of them cups. Only Monaco could lure him with obscene wages and a transfer fee Utd couldn't refuse.
True, and I don't think we'd let him go then anyway. Could obviously be wrong mind and he stays on for years, but I don't see it.
What a difference a midfielder makes - without the need to shoulder some midfield duties Rooney can express himself in his favoured position to score goals and create them as his starting position is about 10-15 yards in advance of where he was last season.
It's not rocket science and Fergies criminal disregard to strengthen the midfield affected Rooney the most.
It's not rocket science and Fergies criminal disregard to strengthen the midfield affected Rooney the most.
His starting position is no different then it was last season when he was operating behind Van Persie. He is just much fitter.
There were points in the game where RvP dropped deeper than Rooney in the game, which was interesting.
The balance of the team is different. His starting position has no relevance whatsoever when your midfield is weak and you're obliged to drop deep to give a hand. This is true at amateur level, and it's even more evident at professional level.
He is fitter, I'll give you that. The freedom he had yesterday to operate between the lines had nothing to do with fitness though.
Don't see any difference in his starting position either, he's just fitter, has his touch back and is consequently playing far better.
He always had freedom to operate between the lines.
He always had freedom to operate between the lines.
You're seeing what you want to see. Rewind back two years and he scored 8 goals in his first 4 games with Anderson-Cleverley starting each of those games. He's just in good form.
Rooney should be knighted for all he's suffered under SAF.
You're right, but I suspect Commadus may have a point as the season wears on. It'll be nice to see Rooney consistently pulling the strings in the final third instead of having to supplement our midfield.
Best we can hope for is step by step. Hopefully a few weeks more of good displays, and he'll realise he's pretty fortunate to be here.
I fear it'll take a new contract to make him realise....
What difference would it have made if said he was happy? Were we going to play dumb and pretend he actually meant it?
If the Moyes experiment is on track come January, Rooney will stay. If not he'll most likely want to go - either then or next summer. That could be the case too with others - Januzaj say.
Top performance from him yesterday, the work rate was nothing surprising, but his willingness and actual ability to take people on was on show in a way we've not seen in a while. Getting his goal touch at a great time as well now ahead if city.
This showed again though that playing in the hole is no reason for him not to score and I don't think that was ever the issue. Wayne Rooney fully fit and concentrated can get goals without having to play up top and can be seriously influential. In rvp he has a partner who will also work hard and is comfortable dropping deep as they showed yesterday. There's plenty of scope for them to alternate. Just like with kagawa on the left. Hopefully we can see a lot more of that as when the attack clicked you could see it had a lot more going for it than normal.
This showed again though that playing in the hole is no reason for him not to score and I don't think that was ever the issue. Wayne Rooney fully fit and concentrated can get goals without having to play up top and can be seriously influential. In rvp he has a partner who will also work hard and is comfortable dropping deep as they showed yesterday. There's plenty of scope for them to alternate. Just like with kagawa on the left. Hopefully we can see a lot more of that as when the attack clicked you could see it had a lot more going for it than normal.
Would anyone describe Rooney's position as an attacking midfielder?
Fergie might.
I've always considered him to be a #10/attacking midfielder since 10/11 (second half of respective season), so it was weird for me to see a United fan labelling him as a striker when on the field.
I've always seen him as an out-and-out striker, but not a poacher like Hernandez. If the service isn't good, Rooney will drop deep to pick up the ball but primarily, he's a striker and 200 goals attest to that. Mind you, Bobby Charlton scored that many and he was, for the last few years of his career, more of a midfielder. Lot of similarities between the two, even the hair.
In the footballing sense, not too sure if the same can be said morally.
Probably not. Bobby never put a foot wrong but that was instilled in him by his family and by Matt Busby. We certainly had one or two "bad lads" back then but today's footballer is a different animal altogether. But, there again, old-times didn't have the coverage modern players do and indiscretions were handled far more easily. I would hate to be a celebrity today given the 24/7 coverage they get.
He's a striker. Over the years Rooney has tended to drop back into midfield to influence games, and that's only due to his great work ethic, and not because he is a midfielder. I think we should discount last year from his CV. Arrival of RvP, his form, and our lack of midfield options all conspired for him to be picked in a more deeper role.
On a different note, attacking midfielder is a relatively new term. I'd hardly heard any footballer called an attacking midfielder until our pre-occupation with tactical formations started with advent of Sky TV.
Looks like Wayne has been on the charm offensive, positive quotes from him regarding his relationship with Moyes and Van Persie in all the papers today, with the Daily Mail and Independent suggesting we could even begin negotiations over a new deal in the next few weeks.
Are we talking about Rooney? Or fans who take it all a bit too seriously?
Good stuff from Wayne:
Asked about his reunion with Moyes after they worked together at Everton, he said: ‘He’s a great manager and thoroughly deserves this job, because of what he did at Everton.'
‘It’s good to work under him and hopefully we’ll be successful together. I feel great. The training is a bit different under the new manager. I remember it from Everton, it’s more intense. But that’s helping me. I feel good and am glad to be out playing. I’ve put my head down and worked hard and tried to do everything right. I’ve tried to show the right attitude. That’s paying off for me on the pitch. I feel fit and ready to do well.’
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/18/wayne-rooney-manchester-united-derby
Asked about his reunion with Moyes after they worked together at Everton, he said: ‘He’s a great manager and thoroughly deserves this job, because of what he did at Everton.'
‘It’s good to work under him and hopefully we’ll be successful together. I feel great. The training is a bit different under the new manager. I remember it from Everton, it’s more intense. But that’s helping me. I feel good and am glad to be out playing. I’ve put my head down and worked hard and tried to do everything right. I’ve tried to show the right attitude. That’s paying off for me on the pitch. I feel fit and ready to do well.’
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/18/wayne-rooney-manchester-united-derby
It's not the attitude I expected from someone like Rooney after being forced to stay, but fair play to him. It does read like he still wants out though, so not sure where talk of a new deal is coming from.
The talk of Rooney wanting out and being forced to stay is all nonsense. Despite not coming out and clearing the whole matter up, he never came out and said he wanted to leave. Paper will never refuse ink and if we continue to discuss it, the media will continue to shovel it.
He is playing some exceptional football at the moment. A delight to have in the side. Are we better without him, no!, most certainly not. I despise his attitude at times but in all fairness, look at his genetics. He is going to be a moody shite when he feels like it.
Is he an attacking midfielder or a forward? He is a footballer that excels as a forward. He is unfortunate that he is at a club that has refused to strengthen midfield and therefore, he has been subject to continuously tracking back and assisting with a heavily outfought midfield. Rooney could play anywhere on the park and for what its worth, I would have him anywhere he wanted to keep him playing ball with us. We function better when he is in the team and seeing him at another premier league club would be a travesty!
He is playing some exceptional football at the moment. A delight to have in the side. Are we better without him, no!, most certainly not. I despise his attitude at times but in all fairness, look at his genetics. He is going to be a moody shite when he feels like it.
Is he an attacking midfielder or a forward? He is a footballer that excels as a forward. He is unfortunate that he is at a club that has refused to strengthen midfield and therefore, he has been subject to continuously tracking back and assisting with a heavily outfought midfield. Rooney could play anywhere on the park and for what its worth, I would have him anywhere he wanted to keep him playing ball with us. We function better when he is in the team and seeing him at another premier league club would be a travesty!
He's saying all the right stuff
That's excellent. I think we can safely say he's committed to United for as long as it remains a successful club. He has probably got one more major contract left at the top level and he needs to be sure that it is the right one for him. That's fair enough.
Interesting about the training. Fellaini was even quoted as saying that it is more intense than what he had experienced at Everton which is very odd considering its the same people organising it! Maybe everyone is lifting their game.
How is that? How things like "..long it may continue" read like he wants out? Isn't it possible that he wants to put summer saga behind, don't want to talk about it publicly, concentrate on game and sort out contract extension etc privately with club?It is funny that the positive things he is saying are being ignored by some but if there is slightest (perceived) negative tone, everyone jumps on it. I think, now it is time for us to concentrate solely on his football side and not worry about whether he will get new contract, will get pay rise etc. That is for Moyes and club to decide and act upon and they will in due course.
A little dig at SAF there
Not so much wants out as throwing his dummy out of the pram if he does not get his own way.
Not so much wants out as throwing his dummy out of the pram if he does not get his own way.
I still think the bigger test is what happens when he's not playing well. That was what seemed to start all of this, his playing poorly and Fergie feeling in a position to be able to drop him and rightfully so. Unless there's been some change on that front from Rooney then either Rooney is gonna have to perform week in week out which seems unlikely or we'll have an issue.
Absolutely spot on. To his credit his performances and attitude so far this season have been exemplary. He is certainly surprising me with how mature he is being. If he responds to rotation/being dropped based on form Ill be very pleased.
he was excellent against bayer, his touch was as tight as its has been for a good while imo and some of the turns he pulled off and bursts of pace we've not seen from him for a few seasons, full credit to him and the coaching staff he's in great shape.
clearly there's been personal issues to sort out and with the injuries (phantom or not) disrupting his preseason it would've been understandable had he been of the pace but you cant deny that on field he's been really good. I give a lot of credit to Moyes here, personally i thought the writing was on the wall the moment SAF gave that interview at the end of last season but it seems that somehow Moyes (and Rooney too tbf) have rectified it all and were back focused on the game.
fancy him to play really well at city and we've a great chance of winning there if he does
clearly there's been personal issues to sort out and with the injuries (phantom or not) disrupting his preseason it would've been understandable had he been of the pace but you cant deny that on field he's been really good. I give a lot of credit to Moyes here, personally i thought the writing was on the wall the moment SAF gave that interview at the end of last season but it seems that somehow Moyes (and Rooney too tbf) have rectified it all and were back focused on the game.
fancy him to play really well at city and we've a great chance of winning there if he does
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