Again, too much is based on a player's history and 'but he hasn't done that yet'. It kind of reminds of the people who used to laugh at Bale even in his last year at Spurs, when it became clear how good he is. It's a little short sighted.
10
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 14
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Again, too much is based on a player's history and 'but he hasn't done that yet'. It kind of reminds of the people who used to laugh at Bale even in his last year at Spurs, when it became clear how good he is. It's a little short sighted.
Agree, in general. Disagree specifically re Sturridge. It was blatantly obvious to me that Bale was the real deal in his final year at Spurs. It was blatant long before that, actually. I just don't think Sturridge is all that special. If I could have my pick of Liverpool's squad I'd want the likes of Sterling, Coutinho before I'd be interested in Sturridge. I'm convinced (perhaps optimistically?) that he'll go down as a one season wonder. Time will tell.
Yeah but can he play in a midfield two and is his knee in good condition?
It's a season and a half now, to be fair. Sturridge's been banging them in for fun.
Very very few people would pick Sturridge over Rooney. Only current form could give him an edge at certain points of time, as can be the case with any player. Sturridge is more explosive but Rooney is comfortably the better player.
Well done
I just want to have a royal laugh to all the bullshitters on here, who were so easily slagging off Rooney (especially during WC) and who were so damn sure that he would have no starting position in a LVG team.
It seems like an age ago now, but during the World Cup, there was actually a *huge* clamour for Rooney to be dropped.
E.G.:
Here's a Huffington Post poll from May 31st that found 64% believed Rooney should be dropped from the England first XI: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/30/wayne-rooney-should-england-drop-him_n_5420882.html
Here's an M.E.N. poll from June 14th that found 60% believed Rooney should be dropped from the England first XI: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...l-news/poll-should-england-drop-wayne-7269990
Here's a Goal.com poll from June 15th that found 55.5% believed Rooney should be dropped from the England first XI: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3270...417/poll-should-rooney-be-dropped-for-england
Here's a Leicester Mercury poll from June 18th that found 63% believed Rooney should be dropped from the England first XI: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/P...tory-21254713-detail/story.html#ixzz34yzTJ6b9
Those of us arguing for his inclusion seemed to be in a very definite minority.
I used to say a couple of years ago, whenever someone accused Rooney of being overrated, that he was actually one of the most underrated players in the Premiership. I always had my tongue slightly in my cheek, and was being to extent contrary, but I did think there was a grain of truth to it.
Now? I don't think there's any doubt that he is quite considerably underrated. Fat, slow, no technical ability, poor finisher, can't create - you'd be amazed at how many people will swear this is true (probably on the more extreme end of the 'Drop Rooney' spectrum, but their number is still considerable).
Not only did an awful lot of people think that Sturridge should have been picked over Rooney, but even that Lallana/Lambert/Barkley/Oxlade-Chamberlain/Sterling etc should be as well. And that to even mention him in the same bracket as RvP/Mata/Ozil/Aguero/Silva was utterly laughable.
Part of it, I reckon, is driven by ABUism; part of it is driven by the fact that, while his England record is much better than some give him credit for, he hasn't really lit up a major tournament since 2004; and part of it is down to the fact that, unless he's scoring regularly, people assume he must be playing poorly (while overlooking that he often plays in a withdrawn role, and is frequently one of the best assisters in the league).
But whatever we may think of his ability as compared to Sturridge's, i'd say that at this moment in time, most 'neutrals' would opt for Sturridge over Rooney.
(Got a sneaky feeling that this'll change by the end of the season though)
Rooney looks in amazing shape at the moment. Fittest I can ever remember him looking. If he can stay injury free I can see him having one of his best seasons so far.
I'm absolutely certain that's true. He's terribly underrated, and very much so by Utd fans themselves to be fair.
He's absolutely bound to pick up something in the first game of the season.
There is no RVP though. When he's back and alongside Rooney, that's the acid test to see if things have been sorted out.
They need to be able to play together and there has been very little evidence over the past two years that they're effective in tandem. Or at least, more effective than playing just one of them with either Mata or Kagawa and also if playing together truly gets the best out of both of them.
For now, to me at least, it's like Rooney and Berbatov. Great players that don't fit in the same side.
Id like to see how Rooney and RVP integrate into the 3-5-2 (assuming we'll still be playing that come Sep)
That could enable them to fit in the same side.
I don't agree. Under Sir Alex the two went like 20-ish games unbeaten together. Like 'SAS', as long as both are scoring and assisting, it really doesn't matter if they work well together, because the aforementioned certainly didn't.
Some of what Welbeck has done well in this system - his hold up play, his linkage with the midfielders, his movement - is what RVP can do just as well. We won't have that pace that Danny brings but I think having a real midfielder in Herrera, different tactics from Moyes, and Mata as playmaker will encourage a Rooney-RVP connection. Rooney's already played nice with the other strikers and RVP's better/more intelligent than any of them. Not expecting cole-yorke but I'm looking forward to it.
So far, LVG seems to have a good grasp on our issues and has, one by one, made a point to address them. Can't see him failing to take control of this one. For one, I'd be shocked if he pulled a Moyes and made RVP his public golden child. That was a big mistake by Moyes, talking down everyone else while fellating Wayne.
So far, LVG seems to have a good grasp on our issues and has, one by one, made a point to address them. Can't see him failing to take control of this one. For one, I'd be shocked if he pulled a Moyes and made RVP his public golden child. That was a big mistake by Moyes, talking down everyone else while fellating Wayne.
If the world cup is anything to go by, no chance. If he can get that lot in harmonious union, imagine what he can do for us!
seems to be back on top form this pre-season under LVG, Rooney at his best will easily bag us 20+ goals this season if not more, if Van Persie is on form and LVG gets them playing well together...
seems to be back on top form this pre-season under LVG, Rooney at his best will easily bag us 20+ goals this season if not more, if Van Persie is on form and LVG gets them playing well together...
We'll need them and Mata on top form as we're going to be leaking goals at the back judging by the productivity of this transfer window so far...
that's my main concern atm too tbh, we need more defensive options, ideally more experienced/consistent ones, and we could really do with a defensive CM too, the silence in terms of confirmed activity recently has dampened my high spirits after pre-season as well, the first half against Liverpool showed we are vulnerable to quick pressing play at the back and to an extent in midfield, going forward we look like we will be great to watch this year, but unless we can bring some defensive players in or LVG gets youngsters to perform there then it's definitely a big weakness for us potentially.
The difference is now nobody is being pushed out of position to accommodate them. They're all playing where they should.
And berba was never a great player. He was a good player, who wasn't cut out for our level and certainly not our style of play. No such thing with van Persie, the problem was always that Rooney would be pushed into midfield or out wide, or mata would play out wide. Under fergie in the first half of the season, when they both played up front, there seemed to be plenty of potential of a partnership, but injuries never allowed it to blossom.
Man Utd 2:1 Valencia
Congratulations Wayne.
Not happy with that.
This deserves a new thread, someone make it.
Ah come on, you were never realistically in the running.
Good stuff.
Doesn't sit right with me at all. First Van Gaal decision I'm not happy with.
Very surprising! But I guess it is a postitive since it means that he has impressed LvG.
Was the only option really, not that that's good for the club in any shape or form of course
Hopefully it takes his performances to another level though
Hopefully it takes his performances to another level though
Well it's what his agent would have wanted.,
Not bothered. The role is overblown.
Great news that. By far and away the best candidate for the job - thought to be honest I don't think it was ever in question. Hopefully some of that aggression is channelled into the big C.
Ten years at the club, well on his way to become all time leading goalscorer. I know some will hate to hear it, but he's a Manchester United legend.
There was a period I disliked Rooney, and I admitted it'd take a lot for him to win me back over... But he has done as much. I'm happy and believe this is the right decision.
There was a period I disliked Rooney, and I admitted it'd take a lot for him to win me back over... But he has done as much. I'm happy and believe this is the right decision.
Eugh.
Good, just as he should be starting his peak years.
Keeps him sweet. RvP will already walk over hot coals for LVG, so he didn't need it.
Good dressing room politics management.
Good dressing room politics management.
Why do people even care that much?
Probably the most suitable person for the role based on his standing in the squad, experience and fiery temperament. Not that I am pleased at the sight of him wearing the armband. Would have rather Fletcher had it but it wouldn't be practical.
Exactly. Don't like him as the captain but LvG made the right choice.
England captaincy to follow?
- Status