Are we really using goals as the only factor when he has spent few games as a striker in the last 3 years. He spent half of two seasons ago as a midfielder.
10
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 14
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Are we really using goals as the only factor when he has spent few games as a striker in the last 3 years. He spent half of two seasons ago as a midfielder.
To be honest, he should be able to see Di Marias run and he shouldn't even take a touch, the ball should have just been laid off to Di Marias path.
It is micro analysis though to be honest, many players will make these kind of mistakes in games.
However I think when people say Rooney tends to slow down our build up play this is what they mean, he doesn't seem to get his head up and asses the space before he receives the ball, its almost like he wants to get the ball under control and then have a look and pick out a pass, which at the highest level is the wrong way round.
EDIT: Also I would like to see him receive the ball, turn and take the defender on more often, but he needs to improve his first touch to do that effectively when the defender is tight.
And there also he hasnt been good enough, most of his assists have been from set pieces further he doesnt do what we require from a #10, his control and creativity isnt good enough for that position, get rid.
And I a not saying he should be a playmaker, I like Rooney as a second striker or a #9. My point is that I want to see how he performs with a better supporting class than run up the side and kick the ball at shins Valencia. At this point, we will really know how much Rooney has declined or not.
Last couple of years United team could make Messi look or Ronaldo look sub-par.
He also hasnt been brilliant at England, top class players make their team better, Rooney doesnt.
No one has been brilliant for England
Yeah because England doesnt have world class players. It could be Sturridge/Sterling in few years time tho.
Even dross like Forren is taking shots at Rooney now?
I actually think Rooney fitness wise looks good, he will always have a bulldogish shape. The worse he looked was after the last euro where he spent the whole month at the pub.
Can he do this anymore though? He used to have space and strength to simply plow himself through, that combined with some simple but efficient dribbles. His pace looks long gone and his strength looks shattered also. I haven't seen him dribble past anyone in a long time either. I think it's his name that is world class these days.
Pace has nothing to do with it, as RVP shows quite often (example his penalty appeal against Sunderland) if you have good technique and a brilliant first touch, you can take players on with skill and make space for yourself (of course if you don't have pace you can't run away from them) but you don't have to you can get a shot in / make a pass.
As @Cassidy pointed out you don't really need pace if both your technique, weight shift and positioning are perfect. Falcao and RVP calculate every movement they make and they're so economical in the way they use the ball. You will see during the next few games most of the time Falcao turns away from the striker and positions himself and the ball for a shot with his first touch. Rooney just doesn't do that anymore. 
Every movement is well thought out, nothing wasted and no hesitation. If van Gaal switches to a 4-3-3, I think it would be the end of Rooney as a number 9. He'll either take Mata's position in a midfield 3 or sit on the bench.
Every movement is well thought out, nothing wasted and no hesitation. If van Gaal switches to a 4-3-3, I think it would be the end of Rooney as a number 9. He'll either take Mata's position in a midfield 3 or sit on the bench.
If we swap to a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 which most of the fans want then I don't see Rooney fitting in. Falcao and Van Persie are better #9's and Mata is a better #10.
When was the last time Rooney actually had a good season? And by that, I don't mean a good few months here and there, but a consistently good full season. I'd probably say 2010 when he scored all those goals. Thats 4 years ago. Since then he's been forever patchy. Scores goals but just doesn't play consistently well. It has to be a concern. He's just not the player that defenders used to fear anymore.
I think LVG will play him at #10. He seemed to make a big deal out of the captaincy so I don't think he'll drop Rooney anytime soon.
No they haven't. And that's a scientific fact.
Prove it then.
Also do goals from set pieces count less? Why is it a bad thing that a lot of his assists come from set pieces?
Yep, debunked that a long time ago. Not that it really matter though, it was still a pass.
It only matters if you use assists as a measure for creativity (something that applies to open play)
Watch the games and you'll see it. 'Proof' is there.
He's even worse there. No creativity and only wants to be in the box for goals. If he is going to play it should be as a #9.
Here's a video showing 13 of Rooney's league and CL assists from last season (which is, I think, pretty much all of them):
http://tune.pk/video/3285413/wayne-rooney-goals-amp-assists-2013-2014
Three of them came from set-pieces, and the other ten came from through-balls, lay-offs and crosses (some very nice ones in there as well)
To put it another way, 76.9% of Rooney's assists in the league and Champions League *didn't* come from set pieces. So the statement 'most of his assists have been from set pieces' is an exact reversal of the truth.
But who are you going to believe? Sammyjun, or your lyin' eyes?
For example some people might claim he is a better #10 than Mata due to his assists etc but if most of his assists came from set pieces then it doesn't matter where his position on the pitch is, if he's taking the free kicks and corners.
For the record I don't know the stats on his assists. The above is only an example.
Rooney is still a very good players but has been on the decline for years now.
Allright, you've proved me wrong havent you. But only these assists are really #10 assists when I watch that vid. The first RVP goal, I wouldnt call that an assist even, as RVP does it all literally all by himself. And 13 assists is already quite little imo for a #10, but if you cant that 10 assists were from open play and the first one RVP carries the ball away to the goal and smashes it, its 9 real assists in those competitions. Is that the amount we should expect from a 10 at United?
I reckon that with the new signings Rooney is going to look even more slow than he does already......
I know pace isn't everything in the game, but that was how Rooney would get past people - pace and power. Berbatov used brilliant first touches and dribbles, which RvP, although not quite as proficiently, also uses. Rooney has never been that kind of player, hence why I wrote that his loss of both pace and strength are a concern. In the past, he was nigh on impossible to shrug off the ball, now that seems far too easy, for instance.
Take a shot at Rooney competition. First some Norwegian player nobody ever head of, than Parker, now the Daily Star.
walk away from the computer. Should have stopped typing after that first sentence...Anyone else disappointed that a certain bit of selfishness has crept into his game recently? The managers used to love him for his selflessness and willingness to work for the team at times at his own expense but he's slowly been moving away from that attitude.
Rooney finding Valencia, in Ecuador.
Been rubbish tonight. I know they're only friendlies, but he should still be performing so much better. Just look at how well Di Maria is playing against Germany. Rooney doesn't need to be as good as that, but he should at least look competent. Right now he doesn't.
World class.
He was as bad for us if not worse during the opening 3 games of the season. I hope he's not doing a Torres and turning into shit in a single season. With the signings of Falcao and Di Maria and future signings of similar quality he will be made to look even more average. Mind you, many will still remember him for the 10 good games a season he has and say he's world class.
Last edited:
I haven't seen a footballer that gets away with being so shit for most of the time like Wayne Rooney. Even his peeks aren't even that good anymore and when he's rubbish he's not even EPL material.
SAF was right about him.
SAF was right about him.
I wouldn't call him shit just yet, but it is increasingly looking like he's on a downward trend.
Even when he's at been at his very best for United, he's managed to look shit for England. But yeah, let's take his performance today as yet another reason to twist the knife in.
- Status