[Americano]

Plays like he still believes. 6 Newcastle players around him when he took the shot that set up the goal. Did what was needed to secure the win.

 

[SirAF]

I'm pretty sure Ashley Young scored the winner. I'd personally be thanking Tim Krul for that one. Worst goal kick of the season.

He created the goal with his pressing.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

The real kieto Mark 2.

 

[RedOldBoy]

He missed 2 sitters.

Fair enough, I actually had in mind the 2nd half performance during which we were dreadful in terms of creativity. Just pissed it around as if we were winning 3-0.

 

[ZDwyr]

Looked sharp I thought. Still room to improve but still our best striker I think. The goal would not have been scored without him either, his desperation was tremendous. Good game.

 

[m1y2]

sharp is the right word to sum up his performance. I liked him today but should have scored, he worked the only goal of the game though

 

[ottosec]

His finishing and touch let him down today, but he compensated with very high work rate. 90% of the goal is because of him.

Much better performance than in the Sunderland game.

 

[mazhar13]

After so many poor performances up front as a striker for this season and the last, this was much better from Rooney up front. Since the 2009/10 season, I haven't seen Rooney perform this well as a lone forward up front. He was sharp, his movement was great, his energy levels made it tough for Newcastle, and he took up nice positions. He was also not sloppy on the ball like he normally was up front, which allowed us to continue on with our attacks.

After doubting whether Rooney would be good enough to play up front, this performance makes me feel more confident about him up front as the lone striker. Hopefully, this isn't an anomaly. Rooney, at the moment, offers more up front than van Persie and Falcao, and we need more of these sort of performances from Rooney to get some more goals in the future matches.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Did great for the goal. Typical Rooney really. Never give up and thankfully we capitalized.

Along with that, though, I also felt his general play against today was very neat and tidy. He threatened in behind a few times and was unlucky not to have a goal.

 

[Acole9]

You've got to admire his part in the goal, he never gave up and that's exactly what you want from your captain.

 

[Empire]

His finishing and touch let him down today, but he compensated with very high work rate. 90% of the goal is because of him.

Much better performance than in the Sunderland game.

I disagree, I think the biggest reason for the goal was the poor decision from the defender to pass it back to Krul, it wasn't an unforced error due to Rooney's pressure but the defender still had the basic task of clearing the ball and in most cases that's what would have happened.

Rooney was ok today, we are reliant on him to score though, as of now going into the big matches I am concerned we do not have a player that we can rely on to get a goal out of nowhere. I hope Rooney will be that player because somebody needs to go on goal scoring form but I was hoping he'd get a goal today and with the two good chances he had I was disappointed he didn't take them.

In the big matches as a striker he will probably have minimal chances so he really needs to take them.

 

[beergod]

I don't think he was particularly good today, but he is mobile and making the runs that no one else has been making for us all season. His threat to break the offside trap will be important in these top 6 fixtures that are coming up.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

No secret that we create chances when he plays upfront. His movement and ability to bring others into play in the attacking third is excellent even when he misses his chances like did today.

 

[nick2004]

Our best player by a mile. He created the goal. He would have scored too, if not for non-existent off sides.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Top 4 is on his back and dependant on his form, it's really down to him getting us the results and continuing like this.

 

[matherto]

Top 4 is on his back and dependant on his form, it's really down to him getting us the results and continuing like this.

We're not gonna get it then going by the historical times when we've relied on him.

He was good today though, just keep RVP and Falcao away from the first XI and we'll do much better.

 

[OldTrevil]

Apart from the two missed sitters, I thought he played well today. Its understandable as well that he lacks sharpness in front of goal after playing in midfield for a while.

 

[NessunDorma]

We're not gonna get it then going by the historical times when we've relied on him.

He was good today though, just keep RVP and Falcao away from the first XI and we'll do much better.

Last time we 'relied' on him, he fecked up by only scoring 34 goals, including what could have been a crucial winner away to Sunderland in the final game of the season. And then by instructing QPRs defense to collapse in the last 180 seconds of their game against City.

All entirely his fault.

(Point being here that, were it not for Rooney, that 2011/12 team wouldn't have even got anywhere near the title)

 

[matherto]

Last time we 'relied' him, he fecked up by only scoring 34 goals, including what could have been a crucial winner away to Sunderland in the final game of the season. And then by instructing QPRs defense to collapse in the last 180 seconds of their game against City.

All entirely his fault.

(Point being here that, were it not for Rooney, that 2011/12 team wouldn't have even got anywhere near the title)

I'm just saying history isn't on our side when Rooney is the main man. Not his fault.

 

[ChrisG11]

Last time we 'relied' him, he fecked up by only scoring 34 goals, including what could have been a crucial winner away to Sunderland in the final game of the season. And then by instructing QPRs defense to collapse in the last 180 seconds of their game against City.

All entirely his fault.

(Point being here that, were it not for Rooney, that 2011/12 team wouldn't have even got anywhere near the title)

Agreed. Also, people don't take into consideration that when Wayne Rooney is the main man, he doesn't have a Wayne Rooney to rely on to do the business when it isn't his day. He's been our most important player for years in that respect, even when he wasn't the stand out player at the club.

In terms of yesterday, it was encouraging. His touch was a lot tighter around the box, he committed players, took players on, ran with the ball, ran in behind, all that was missing was a goal. He should have really got it when he tried to dink Krul, but I sympathise with him on the other chance, the pull back was diabolical from Di Maria and went behind him so he'd have done well to adjust.

 

[berbatrick]

There's a lot of praise for a striker here who missed 2 huge chances, made good runs, pressed and passed a bit. 6.5/10, maybe 7/10, nothing more.
Just because the rest of our attack was shit does not mean we have to glorify what was average.

 

[RoadTrip]

I disagree, I think the biggest reason for the goal was the poor decision from the defender to pass it back to Krul, it wasn't an unforced error due to Rooney's pressure but the defender still had the basic task of clearing the ball and in most cases that's what would have happened.

Rooney was ok today, we are reliant on him to score though, as of now going into the big matches I am concerned we do not have a player that we can rely on to get a goal out of nowhere. I hope Rooney will be that player because somebody needs to go on goal scoring form but I was hoping he'd get a goal today and with the two good chances he had I was disappointed he didn't take them.

In the big matches as a striker he will probably have minimal chances so he really needs to take them.

Do you not understand that Rooneys pressure is what caused the defender to make a poor decision? Just baffling logic by you.

If rooney stops chasing the defender doesnt make that mistake. Fact. but because he chased it and followed it it lead to the mistake. Because the defender was rushed. I.e Rooney had a significant part in the goal.

 

[Roboc7]

He didn't have a great game but his performance highlighted the benefit of having a more mobile centre forward whose pace was a threat, who ran in behind, ran into the channels etc. He should be playing up front every week and falcao should remain on the bench.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

There's a lot of praise for a striker here who missed 2 huge chances, made good runs, pressed and passed a bit. 6.5/10, maybe 7/10, nothing more.
Just because the rest of our attack was shit does not mean we have to glorify what was average.

7/10 performance is "average"? If only...

 

[Nighteyes]

What were the 2 chances he missed? One was the Young headed pass. What was the other one? The Di Maria pass to him was behind him so not sure how that counts as a chance.

 

[Amar__]

I also don't think he should be blamed for that chance di Maria "set" him up because it was a shit pass.

Feckin linesman, that was a very nice goal.

I don't doubt he would score it because his finishing is usually good, but Krul went off once the flag went up.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

What were the 2 chances he missed? One was the Young headed pass. What was the other one? The Di Maria pass to him was behind him so not sure how that counts as a chance.

Depends on your agenda really. To a bunch of people on here that Di Maria pass behind him was a "sitter", unsurprisingly.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

He showed why he's captain, but he also showed why he isn't a centre forward and should get his chances from midfield/from behind a striker.

 

[Kag]

His movement demonstrated exactly why he's a centre forward. He missed a nice chance in the first half, but that happens. His finishing is routinely excellent, enough to compensate for the odd miss.

 

[RooneyLegend]

He had a great match, his control was great with his back towards goal(which is normally an issue with him) and he did some neat and tidy stuff when we got him on the ball. Our movement in attack was pathetic though, only he seemed to know where he should be and what he should be doing. Our wingers hugged the line as if they were related to it and didn't take advantage of the space in behind caused by Rooney's hold up. This just tells me the quality of coaching has just been poor. I'd also like to see him take more shots instead of always trying to link up. The hard work stuff is just mandatory if he's playing.

We need mata on the pitch though, him and rooney would make a good partnership up top. RVP and Falcao just won't be leading us to the top 4 so its time for something new.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

What were the 2 chances he missed? One was the Young headed pass. What was the other one? The Di Maria pass to him was behind him so not sure how that counts as a chance.

I don't see how anyone can a) blame that on Rooney and b) not be at miffed at Di Maria for screwing up a piss easy pass. What made it worse was that he played it - for no apparent reason at all - with the outside of his foot.

 

[Empire]

Do you not understand that Rooneys pressure is what caused the defender to make a poor decision? Just baffling logic by you.

So let's review the post that you just commented to:

I disagree, I think the biggest reason for the goal was the poor decision from the defender to pass it back to Krul, it wasn't an unforced error due to Rooney's pressure but the defender still had the basic task of clearing the ball and in most cases that's what would have happened.

Now ask yourself that question but this time read the bolded part.

The defender despite Rooney's pressure simply had to clear the ball and it was easy enough, to say Rooney was 90% responsible for the goal is wrong, even if Rooney had pressured defenders like that in most cases the ball would have been cleared.

Newcastle were far more responsible for conceding that goal even though Rooney gave them a decision to make it was still very basic stuff to deal with it so let's not act as though Rooney used voodoo to make the ball move backwards.

I've already credited Rooney for his pressure in my post, I am saying however his pressure was not responsible for 90% of that goal, if you think that then watch him pressure defenders in future and also observe how often the ball is cleared.

If that is our sole chance of scoring a goal against the defences we are too face you know Rooney pressuring the defence then may god help us, for surely we need a miracle, you will however be of the opinion his pressure will cause them to make many errors but actually even when he pressures you'll find them just clear the ball.

If rooney stops chasing the defender doesnt make that mistake. Fact. but because he chased it and followed it it lead to the mistake. Because the defender was rushed. I.e Rooney had a significant part in the goal.

It's not a fact, the defender even without pressure could still pass it back, at that point it's an unforced error. Please explain to me how it's a fact? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, you don't possibly know what would happen for the scenario hasn't happened, I do accept had Rooney not pressured it was more likely the defender would clear the ball but let's not act as though that goal wasn't gifted, Rooney did what any good striker should but in most cases the defender would have just cleared it, we were fortunate.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I don't see how anyone can a) blame that on Rooney and b) not be at miffed at Di Maria for screwing up a piss easy pass. What made it worse was that he played it - for no apparent reason at all - with the outside of his foot.

I thought Rooney's response was admirably restrained. Di Maria's seems to be fast taking on Nani's role as "player most likely to drive his team-mates up the wall with inexplicably bad decisions".

 

[humdinger]

His first touch and passing can be frustrating at times but he did really well to force the mistake that led to the goal. It's churlish to suggest otherwise.

 

[Crumpsall Red]

I thought Rooney was excellent last night. We look far more dangerous with him up there. I still don't think we will get a top 4 spot but we have more chance with Rooney as a forward.

 

[Mindhunter]

All I know is that had Rooney not chased the ball, the goal would have never happened.

 

[Sam]

I've been one of those on Rooney's back a lot over the years, but he is slowly but surely turning me back again. I was dead set against him being made captain, but I think he's excellent in the role, and made me eat my words. This clip from last night just sums it up, just watch him bust an absolute gut to try and get back and save the situation

 

[Mrs Smoker]

Awesome. Evans did well too in that sequence. As much as he can against 3 Newcastle players.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

That's the sort of thing that managers love, yet some of our fans who can't see past an occasional heavy touch refuse to acknowledge.

 

[RoadTrip]

So let's review the post that you just commented to:



Now ask yourself that question but this time read the bolded part.

The defender despite Rooney's pressure simply had to clear the ball and it was easy enough, to say Rooney was 90% responsible for the goal is wrong, even if Rooney had pressured defenders like that in most cases the ball would have been cleared.

Newcastle were far more responsible for conceding that goal even though Rooney gave them a decision to make it was still very basic stuff to deal with it so let's not act as though Rooney used voodoo to make the ball move backwards.

I've already credited Rooney for his pressure in my post, I am saying however his pressure was not responsible for 90% of that goal, if you think that then watch him pressure defenders in future and also observe how often the ball is cleared.

If that is our sole chance of scoring a goal against the defences we are too face you know Rooney pressuring the defence then may god help us, for surely we need a miracle, you will however be of the opinion his pressure will cause them to make many errors but actually even when he pressures you'll find them just clear the ball.


It's not a fact, the defender even without pressure could still pass it back, at that point it's an unforced error. Please explain to me how it's a fact? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, you don't possibly know what would happen for the scenario hasn't happened, I do accept had Rooney not pressured it was more likely the defender would clear the ball but let's not act as though that goal wasn't gifted, Rooney did what any good striker should but in most cases the defender would have just cleared it, we were fortunate.

I don't really understand your point.

It is a fact that if Rooney was not there, the defender would have easily been able to clear or be calm. Yes he may still have back passed it. However Krul wouldn't have had to make a snap pass if rooney wasn't there. He would have had yeons to clear it peacefully. It is directly because rooney pressed them both that the situation panned out like it did. Whether it was 90% involvement in the goal I don't know.

I can't forsee that if Rooney wasn't there that they would or wouldn't make the same mistakes but I can tell you for a fact that it would have been significantly more unlikely. Furthermore just because Rooneys pressure will not always lead to a goal, it doesn't mean he isn't responsible. Every time he does that he creates the opportunity for a mistake. Just because a mistake isn't made every time doesn't therefore mean that when it is made he isn't that responsible for it.

Anyway, we are debating intricacies of "how much" Rooney was responsible. The fact he was was my main point, anyway. Your initial post seemed to make it sound like it wasn't totally insignificant but largely insignificant which is what I disagreed with.

As for the rest of your post about relying on his pressure to score goals and God help us if so, it has no relevance to what I'm saying. Don't even know where that fit in.