[Henrik Larsson]

I guess he's been much worse this season

 

[VorZakone]

Another easy 250k+ for him with hardly breaking a sweat.

 

[MadDogg]

Legs are gone we need someone up top with pace (Martial)

Pace, or power, or at least great movement.

You can't be the main striker without at least one of those attributes. Should have two if you're looking to take that role at a top team, and preferably all three. Rooney doesn't have any.

I still rate Rooney higher than most on this forum and think he could do a good job in one of the three attacking roles behind the main striker, or in a two striker system, but it's blatantly obvious he shouldn't be playing up front on his own.

 

[Trizy]

Only caught the second half and for the first 25 minutes where we tried play football he looked good.

 

[facund]

Another decent game from him overall but I am surprised there is not more criticism for the ridiculous chip he tried. Memphis is getting brutalised for poor decision making and yet most seem to be overlooking Wayne's misjudgement which spurned a decent chance to snatch the game.

 

[I_live_cement]

He was good today. What match were you weirdos watching?

 

[RustyS]

He lost his explosiveness which used to be a massive part of his game. Sure he can still finish or play a fantastic cross-field pass but he can't burst past a defender anymore which is limiting his chances.

 

[El Zoido]

He wasn't great, but better than he was before Christmas. Imagine how much better we'd be with a really top class striker up top.

 

[Devil may care]

It's going top be tricky in the summer, if he was still playing like he was for the first 4 months he might well be sold, but his mini burst of form and goals will see his grip on that ludicrous contract tighten.

In an ideal world we'd get a new #9 and Rooney would accept a reduced role, but it's not an ideal world and there's no use trying to play him as a #10, he just hasn't got the skill or vision for the role, to get anything from him he has to be in getting on the end of things around the box and focused on that.

Which all means we might need to pad around him for yet another season with a couple of additions at RW and #10..

 

[clarkydaz]

He wasn't great, but better than he was before Christmas. Imagine how much better we'd be with a really top class striker up top.

which is applauded now

 

[NinjaZombie]

Another decent game from him overall but I am surprised there is not more criticism for the ridiculous chip he tried. Memphis is getting brutalised for poor decision making and yet most seem to be overlooking Wayne's misjudgement which spurned a decent chance to snatch the game.

It's the annual Rooney chip shot, which he needs to attempt at least once every season to keep up the appearance of him having some attacking "flair" so we've kind of tuned that part of the game out.

I thought he was decent enough. Not 250k undroppable captain kind of decent but let's face it, he needs to be performing like Messi to really earn his undroppable face-of-the-club, captain role so this will have to do.

 

[K2K]

Invisible in the first half. Improved in the second.

 

[ZDwyr]

He is definitely playing better than he did at the start of the season. He isn't anything extraordinary anymore though. Just some decent and average performances. We need a better #9 than him.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

No other striker playing for the top 4-5 have a worse first touch than this guy, it's ridiculous. The ball just takes him a few feet backwards every time.

 

[SteveJ]

He's a better player than Costa, yet it's Costa who made the difference.

 

[Treble]

He's a better player than Costa, yet it's Costa who made the difference.

Yes, 3-4 years ago.

As a centre-forward Costa is much better now due to his far superior hold up play. Rooney's hold up play is incredibly average.

 

[shamans]

You guys need to stop bringing up his salary. For the last time, he gets his money not only for his football but for the "Wayne Rooney" brand involved at Manchester United. It's a business decision.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

He's a better player than Costa, yet it's Costa who made the difference.

Costa has had a rough time this season as has been the case with most Chelsea players due to an unusually miserable season for the entire football club, but over the last few years Costa has been one of the very best CF's in the game, and miles better than Rooney.

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

You guys need to stop bringing up his salary. For the last time, he gets his money not only for his football but for the "Wayne Rooney" brand involved at Manchester United. It's a business decision.

And if he reverts to his Pre-Christmas form for any length of time how much will that brand be worth, it is a valid part of the conversation.

 

[SteveJ]

Costa has had a rough time this season as has been the case with most Chelsea players due to an unusually miserable season for the entire football club, but over the last few years Costa has been one of the very best CF's in the game, and miles better than Rooney.

I know, amol; I was suggesting, really, that Rooney is arguably a better all-round player.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I know, amol; I was suggesting, really, that Rooney is arguably a better all-round player.

Not for a long time, though. 3 years back, yes.

Whenever I watch the discussions on TV about Costa from the English media, it's always surrounding his brute-nature and antics, which is fair given he brings all that attention upon himself via his cuntishness, but many forget just how brilliant he was in 13-14. Absolutely phenomenal, in a one of the great league title wins I've ever seen (Atletico).

 

[LeChuck]

I wasn't that impressed with him last night tbh. Costa has been as crap as him for most of the season, but it's clear who is more involved, and has that deadly killer instinct in front of goal.

Hint: It ain't Wayne.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

I wasn't that impressed with him last night tbh. Costa has been as crap as him for most of the season, but it's clear who is more involved, and has that deadly killer instinct in front of goal.

Hint: It ain't Wayne.

Agree. There's no way he would be first choice for any of the top 4.

 

[SteveJ]

It's a bit like that episode of Steptoe and Son, in which Harold and Albert have to get rid of the knackered old carthorse that had served them well for years. Ok, so it's nothing like that but at least the horse won them some Champions League titles.

 

[shamans]

And if he reverts to his Pre-Christmas form for any length of time how much will that brand be worth, it is a valid part of the conversation.

True but people are complaining that his performances are not worth 250 k or whatever he is on. That salary can hardly be justified by the likes of Ronaldo and Messi let alone Rooney, so why do we talk about it? It's purely business. We should only be concerned about how he performs on the pitch.

 

[Spock]

Rooney had good touches on the ball outside the box but never presented much of a scoring threat. I gave him a 7 but if 6.5 were an option I'd have gone with that.

 

[LeChuck]

You guys need to stop bringing up his salary. For the last time, he gets his money not only for his football but for the "Wayne Rooney" brand involved at Manchester United. It's a business decision.

Salary should be based on performance. If his performances aren't up to scratch then of c people will bring in his salary.

 

[Devil may care]

True but people are complaining that his performances are not worth 250 k or whatever he is on. That salary can hardly be justified by the likes of Ronaldo and Messi let alone Rooney, so why do we talk about it? It's purely business. We should only be concerned about how he performs on the pitch.

The reason the money comes into play is because for that money you are supposed to get a Ferrari not a souped up Focus, we are paying Rooney as an elite player when he is nowhere near that level, hence it annoys fans.

 

[shamans]

Salary should be based on performance. If his performances aren't up to scratch then of c people will bring in his salary.

Salary is not and cannot be based on just performance. Football is a business and there are tonnes of other factors involved.

The reason the money comes into play is because for that money you are supposed to get a Ferrari not a souped up Focus, we are paying Rooney as an elite player when he is nowhere near that level, hence it annoys fans.

Again, you may be getting a focus but that focus is making you a ton of money though its brand name. Ironically, if fans are so worried about the clubs finances they should be supporting Rooney in the club despite his inflated wage as it in turn helps with club finances (which would be ridiculous if they did that)

 

[LeChuck]

Salary is not and cannot be based on just performance. Football is a business and there are tonnes of other factors involved.

Name some of the tonnes of other factors.

 

[criticalanalysis]

I don't care if Rooney was paying us £300k. He shouldn't be on the pitch/and/or has that much influence on the team.

From a pure footballing decision how he continues to get games and the full 90mins is a travesty.

 

[shamans]

Name some of the tonnes of other factors.

In general terms: Nationality of player, status as captain etc

but more concrete terms: Branding such as shirt sales, Rooney brand on merchandise etc.

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

In general terms: Nationality of player, status as captain etc

but more concrete terms: Branding such as shirt sales, Rooney brand on merchandise etc.

Rooney is the only tangible, iconic link to success under Fergie in our current team. I suspect that's the main reason. The only way to replace that image is by a new talisman, in a new title winning team.

 

[Devil may care]

Again, you may be getting a focus but that focus is making you a ton of money though its brand name. Ironically, if fans are so worried about the clubs finances they should be supporting Rooney in the club despite his inflated wage as it in turn helps with club finances (which would be ridiculous if they did that)

It's got nothing to do with finances, it's the fact we are getting nowhere near the product we are paying for and for that money we could replace him with someone better.

 

[shamans]

Rooney is the only tangible, iconic link to success under Fergie in our current team. I suspect that's the main reason. The only way to replace that image is by a new talisman, in a new title winning team.

Hey I'm not arguing we don't need a new fresh striker to set us on fire. I'm just trying to explain his salary and why we shouldn't be too concerned with it.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

I don't care if Rooney was paying us £300k. He shouldn't be on the pitch/and/or has that much influence on the team.

From a pure footballing decision how he continues to get games and the full 90mins is a travesty.

That is all that needs to be said about Wayne Rooney.

If he was put on the transfer market right now, would any of Arsenal, City, Chelsea, or Spurs go for him? No.

Would we for Aguero, Kane, Sanchez, Eriksen? Yes.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

If he was put on the transfer market right now, would any of Arsenal, City, Chelsea, or Spurs go for him? No.

I'm fairly sure they would.

 

[Amar__]

I'm fairly sure they would.

Only Chelsea were interested almost three years ago when he was in his best years, what makes you think others would be interested now that he is much older and worse?

 

[Mrs Smoker]

Only Chelsea tried to sign him then. If he was on the transfer market, we'd get a lot more offers.

And yeah, he wouldn't attract record fees, but certainly a lot of clubs would be interested, even now. And especially now, as he's in pretty good form.

 

[Amar__]

Only Chelsea tried to sign him then. If he was on the transfer market, we'd get a lot more offers.

And yeah, he wouldn't attract record fees, but certainly a lot of clubs would be interested, even now. And especially now, as he's in pretty good form.

He wanted to go, pretty sure clubs see it as "being available".

And no one would be interested to pay his wages now even if they got him for free, probably not even City.