Why are we wasting Rooney in midfield?
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Doesn't even look fit enough to play CM. The constant moving, screening of the defence and movement off the ball is different so what he's used to. All his work is so inefficient. He's a couple of seconds behind the danger which leaves Blind doing practically everything. So they both end up doing nothing.
Van Gaal is making a right mess of this situation.
Van Gaal is making a right mess of this situation.
He looked quick at times, which bodes well for his inevitable return to striker. Wonder if we'd have won with him upfront and Herrera in his spot today.
I'm a massive Rooney fan. I think his contribution is over-looked on these forums and by fans in general but right now I am beyond frustrated. He's being turned into shit and he's playing like utter crap as well. A blind man can see Rooney is not a bloody midfielder.
RVP and Falcao are missing sitters upfront and we have a proven Manchester United striker giving away possession in midfield.
RVP and Falcao are missing sitters upfront and we have a proven Manchester United striker giving away possession in midfield.
To shoehorn RvP and Falcao in the side. Apparently van Gaal doesnt care about reputations though
Biggest myth about him it seems.The product of being technically underwhelming and an average midfielder. That's what he is and has been for years now. Rooney is a striker and until he plays there I don't expect anything other than what we see in midfield right now. He can't be something he's not.
He needs to be not played in midfield any more! For his sake and ours - we're ruining him in midfield! Please lvg, get your head out of your arse and sort this mess out!
He's a great finisher that will guarantee you goals if you play him up front. In any other position we have better options than him and so he shouldn't be played anywhere else than up top. It's so obvious to everyone bar Van Gaal. It's infuriating.
He really was dreadful today I thought, he hasn't played well since Christmas but he's not playing in the right position so it's to be expected.
He really was dreadful today I thought, he hasn't played well since Christmas but he's not playing in the right position so it's to be expected.
How many shots has he even had in 2015? This midfield role is severely limiting him.
In his United career it seems that the better Rooney's finishing, movement and awareness in the box has become, the further away from goal we've moved him.
If he continues to play in midfield, i doubt he will surpass Sir Bobby's record. Go on Aloysius, thats probably his main aim.
He was absolutely terrible today - he just cannot play this role.
I wouldn't mind seeing him the furthest forward of a three in midfield with Blind and Herrera, with Januzaj and Di Maria on either wing, in a sort of 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 hybrid with van Persie up top. I think that would have potential.
Heck - I'd even prefer to see him on the wing like Fergie used to do rather than this role he's being asked to play at the moment.
I wouldn't mind seeing him the furthest forward of a three in midfield with Blind and Herrera, with Januzaj and Di Maria on either wing, in a sort of 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 hybrid with van Persie up top. I think that would have potential.
Heck - I'd even prefer to see him on the wing like Fergie used to do rather than this role he's being asked to play at the moment.
Now he's Jamie Oliver. You've got to feel for the guy. I'm sure he had such high hopes in August.
I'd like to see RvP dropped for a few games, Rooney up top with Falcao, and Herrera back in the team. Using Rooney in midfield long term is fecking stupid, he's better there than most strikers would be, but it's still totally counter productive.
Hopefully the fans and the media will demand Van Gaal to push Rooney further forward, as they did when it come to getting rid of the 352. He's at best as a number 10 or a second striker. Please use him there.
I don't care if he plays or not...I've lost confidence in all of the so called 'big name' players.
I just want to see midfielders in midfield. His passing is so illogical at times.
Stick him in there to do a job here or there, that's fair enough. But when you have two forwards who can't score goals, a forward in midfield and two midfielders on the bench, something has to give.
I just want to see midfielders in midfield. His passing is so illogical at times.
Stick him in there to do a job here or there, that's fair enough. But when you have two forwards who can't score goals, a forward in midfield and two midfielders on the bench, something has to give.
Rooney is not a central midfielder and never will be one, he may look good the odd game, but to get the best out of him and the team he has to be played further forward, at the moment would probably be the best striker in the team if he was played as a striker as the other 2 just waste chance after chance, id like to see him up there again he would be more energetic than both of them playing him as a striker would help bring balance to the diamond formation and incorporate Mata into the side.
How is that not a pen!?
If that's the case, then he shouldn't be playing, because in such a role he's totally one-dimensional. He lacks the touch, vision and passing ability needed to play what is probably the most influential position in the attack. Instead, his pathological firing of the ball out to Valencia regardless of whether there's better options has become an unfortunate trademark of his.
Rooney starts as a number 9 or he shouldn't start. The less he can influence the build up, the better, honestly.
He's getting slated on here, I feel for him. It's an unnatural position for him and he's doing his best.
Ideally, if Mata isn't playing, Rooney should be at the tip of the diamond. Makes perfect sense and you can have Herrera/Fellaini as the RCM.
Ideally, if Mata isn't playing, Rooney should be at the tip of the diamond. Makes perfect sense and you can have Herrera/Fellaini as the RCM.
I feel sorry for him a bit. I mean I get the criticism but it's not his best role so he can't help his poor performances. We are not getting the best out of him, he needs to be moved up-front. There were a few times where RvP was peeling off his marker at the back post but Rooney opted to play the simple sideways pass too. Frustrating stuff all round. He wasn't our worst player out there though.
He's been playing that position for most his career at United, which has seen us have a lot of success. He just needs someone lively, who's good at, both linking up and running in behind. This is why I felt he and Welbeck were awesome together.
Absolutely maddening that van Gaal plays him as a midfielder.
Same old story. had a few good games in midfield and had a few bad games. The same consistency he showed when he was a striker. He'll do no better than what RVP and Falcao have been producing of late. He has been shunted out to the wing for defensive duties (not offensive) because he has no other attribute apart from his so called work rate. The only thing that has surprised me is he hasn't squeaked a word about it to the manager unlike previous seasons.
Because a still doesn't give you a full description of the situation.
Doesn't matter. I will yellwrite this sentence until a pen will be awarded.
It's bizarre. Only us and Villa haven't been awarded one. There's one awarded every 5 games.I will join you if you allow me. We don't get penalties anymore, where are our divers ?
He just gave up after we lost the ball on one attack in the final minutes. He looked visibly frustrated. The player was near him, Rooney of old would have chased the man down full length of the pitch.
Can't blame him when two people are taking your primary position who can't score to save their lives.
Can't blame him when two people are taking your primary position who can't score to save their lives.
I will join you if you allow me. We don't get penalties anymore
Is Phil Jones our dedicated penalty taker?
What a waste of talent to be running around covering ground when he is most potent in and around the opponent box. I am not sure why LvG can't see that he is clearly not suited for role. Apart from cross field passes to Valencia, he really don't have the vision to make defence splitting passes.
I am one of his biggest fans but he was quite bad yesterday. If LVG thinks Falcao and RVP are better strikers then fair enough bring Rooney on as sub when they get tired or we need to try something different, however there is no point playing him in a role which is not No 10 or 9, specially when we have Blind, Fellaini, Hererra etc who are better suited there.
I think Rooney's performance is also getting affected because he has started realizing that his shift to midfield is probably not a temporary move in eyes of LVG. Not only is he competing with Falcao and RVP but also with Di Maria, Fellaini and Wilson (who have all been preferred up top in some recent games). The funny thing is that none of these players have shown any sort of goal-scoring form playing up front while Rooney was scoring quite a few when he was playing in No 9 or 10.
LVG was right to try him in midfield. But Rooney is not being effective there and our strike-force is not effective up front. Its just a no-brainer now that we drop one of RVP/Falcao (or even both) and try Rooney upfront with proper midfield players behind him.
I think Rooney's performance is also getting affected because he has started realizing that his shift to midfield is probably not a temporary move in eyes of LVG. Not only is he competing with Falcao and RVP but also with Di Maria, Fellaini and Wilson (who have all been preferred up top in some recent games). The funny thing is that none of these players have shown any sort of goal-scoring form playing up front while Rooney was scoring quite a few when he was playing in No 9 or 10.
LVG was right to try him in midfield. But Rooney is not being effective there and our strike-force is not effective up front. Its just a no-brainer now that we drop one of RVP/Falcao (or even both) and try Rooney upfront with proper midfield players behind him.
Rooney has plainly been better up front, yet Van Gaal persists with him on the right side of the diamond.
You'd understand if Falcao and/or Van Persie were in brilliant form but they're not. Wayne deserves a run up front.
He was pissed off today. Only a matter of time before he rebels. Painfully obvious this isn't working.
Thought he played as well as he could do in midfield really, but that pass when countering to Di Maria was so bad it was damn annoying. It just needed a little touch and he was in, but he overhit it badly and we lost all the momentum. Little thing's like are what makes a good midfielder or not IMO.
Rooney has plainly been better up front, yet Van Gaal persists with him on the right side of the diamond.
You'd understand if Falcao and/or Van Persie were in brilliant form but they're not. Wayne deserves a run up front.
I don't think those stats really show that he's been "plainly" better up front, I'm surprised with the amount of chances created from midfield to be honest. That he'd score and assist more from a forward position is pretty logical given his position in the diamond.
Having said that, you only have to watch the games to realize how ill suited he is to this position in midfield. He's a guy who can do a job there if needed now and again, but making him an out and out midfielder when he still has it in him to be a great goalscorer is a bit silly.
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