[United again!]

Didn't watch the game, I bet he played exactly how Van Gaal wants his striker to play.

 

[Escobar]

Could be his last season as a starting player if he doesnt deliver. Unfortunately, we dont have a player who could push him or steal his place

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

I am just waiting for the realisation of what I have been saying for two years to slowly dawn on the rest of you. He's not good enough anymore.

 

[Godfather]

He may cost us big this season if he doesn't step up. LvG HAS to drop him if he doesn't start scoring soon.

 

[Orton]

But where's that silent domination???

 

[Mrs Smoker]

Save for that silly cross attempt at the end of the half, what did he do that was so wrong? Fine touch today, good link up play with others, especially Memphis (but vice versa wasn't that good)...

We looked worse in other areas.

 

[Treble]

He will be better in the official games. But only for 2-3 months. And then he will be average again as it was the case in previous seasons. Still a good player but not good enough to be the main striker for a top top club. I thought that LVG made the right call when he made him captain. Now I think that was a mistake and it could cost LVG the managerial post at United. Our attack is worse than Liverpool's. I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

we sold RVP but if we dont buy a striker we're in trouble.

 

[Phil]

I am just waiting for the realisation of what I have been saying for two years to slowly dawn on the rest of you. He's not good enough anymore.

It's a pretty big elephant in the room.

 

[Chaky_Best]

I bet that he won't pass the 15 goals this season. Slow in his movements, doesn't fight enough the defenders and look lonely so many times on the field.

 

[Bwuk]

I said at the time Moyes giving him that 5 year contract was stupid. Rooney isn't going to age well at all, that much is abundant.

 

[Kill 'em all]

Didn't watch the game, I bet he played exactly how Van Gaal wants his striker to play.

You mean not being capable of making the simplest of passes and playing 10 yard through balls out for a goal kick and going out wide when we don't even have a striker inside the box?

 

[United again!]

You mean not being capable of making the simplest of passes and playing 10 yard through balls out for a goal kick and going out wide when we don't even have a striker inside the box?

No, I mean he follows orders well and he's playing exactly how Van Gaal wants him to play.

 

[kouroux]

It is funny how some seem to happy to be "right" about Rooney possibly not being good enough anymore. Like proving a point is so important on these boards.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

I thought he was good against PSG, his touch was very good and his link up play with Memphis was excellent. Tired towards the end though.

People on here are mental; my PSG supporting friends who watched the game thought he was one of our best players (were also impressed by Memphis and Darmian), and the 'shit touch' is becoming a ridiculous trope that is just rolled out even if he's having an excellent game.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

I thought he was good against PSG, his touch was very good and his link up play with Memphis was excellent. Tired towards the end though.

People on here are mental; my PSG supporting friends who watched the game thought he was one of our best players (were also impressed by Memphis and Darmian), and the 'shit touch' is becoming a ridiculous trope that is just rolled out even if he's having an excellent game.

Agree with all of that.

 

[entropy]

It is funny how some seem to happy to be "right" about Rooney possibly not being good enough anymore. Like proving a point is so important on these boards.

Forget proving a point on forums. Why is LVG even taking such a risk. It's crazy to think that we will be challenging for the title with just one top striker. It takes crazy to another level.

 

[Nighteyes]

I don't understand what games people watch when it comes to Rooney. Why does every little bad touch need to be exaggerated to gigantic proportions while all the good things are completely ignored? Not that he was great but if you hadn't watched the game you'd think he played like he was Ali Dia reincarnated.

- does Rooney actually play like a centre forward? All his instincts to me look like those of a number 10. The desire for possession retention, the dropping deep and playing a safe pass, even when he finds himself in space in attack he looks like a number 10 whose landed up in an attacking position. Now, I know last season he had some good moments in attack but my question is more to do with style. I don't see the physicality nor that instinct of a centre forward where they light up in the box to do something impactful.

Indeed. He's not a #9, never has been. Posted this a few days back:

The reason he hasn't played more as #9 for United in his career is because he simply isn't one. Oh he can play there and is a pretty good finisher more often than not and all said and done he'll probably rack up a decent goal tally but he just hasn't the instinct nor the game for a proper #9. The whole "Play Rooney up top and only up top" crusade is utterly baffling. Obviously, playing him as an actual midfielder or a DM is a bridge too far but he's quite blatantly a much better player when he plays slightly deeper. There's a reason multiple managers have all preferred to play him deeper despite the fact that he'd get a good goal tally if he played constantly as a striker.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Seem to be in the minority but I actually thought Rooney played pretty well today, he had good movement and played a couple of nice passes like the lay off to Memphis. I think there are a lot of posters just jumping in the Rooney hate train because it's become the 'thing to do'. Our biggest problem today was that Young had a poor game by his usual standards and mata just doesn't convince me that he's a natural winger. I honestly think people don't realise just how much we lack creativity, I think any striker in the world would struggle with our current play and it's not a coincidence that 3 world class strikers have failed since LVG came in, it's an impossible job and Rooney is doing as well as he can do.

 

[United again!]

People on here are mental; my PSG supporting friends who watched the game thought he was one of our best players (were also impressed by Memphis and Darmian), and the 'shit touch' is becoming a ridiculous trope that is just rolled out even if he's having an excellent game.

Most definitely.

 

[Kaos]

Really, really don't like the idea of us starting the season with him as our only first team striker.

I know he's captain, but LVG shouldn't exempt him from being dropped if he's adamant that no one's place is guaranteed everywhere else on the pitch.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Save for that silly cross attempt at the end of the half, what did he do that was so wrong? Fine touch today, good link up play with others, especially Memphis (but vice versa wasn't that good)...

We looked worse in other areas.

This 100%, some gross exaggeration taking place as usual

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Why does every little bad touch need to be exaggerated to gigantic proportions while all the good things are completely ignored?

This, completely. He had a few very neat touches throughout the game (stuff that we drool over when Mata does it), and was pretty consistent overall. He has some bad touches, of course, but the majority of players do throughout a game when they're under pressure, when they receive a bad pass, etc. There are some players who can kill a ball dead whatever the circumstances, but not many. Rooney doesn't have a 'shit touch' in any case.

Seem to be in the minority but I actually thought Rooney played pretty well today, he had good movement and played a couple of nice passes like the lay off to Memphis. I think there are a lot of posters just jumping in the Rooney hate train because it's become the 'thing to do'. Our biggest problem today was that Young had a poor game by his usual standards and mata just doesn't convince me that he's a natural winger. I honestly think people don't realise just how much we lack creativity, I think any striker in the world would struggle with our current play and it's not a coincidence that 3 world class strikers have failed since LVG came in, it's an impossible job and Rooney is doing as well as he can do.

Most definitely.

Welcome to the sensible gang.

 

[Orton]

He's meant to be the talisman, the captain and the highest earner in the team yet he can't stand out between the youngsters. Doesn't offer any goal threat either. That's a problem. Something others were shot down for. This silent domination can't go on forever. Why are people satisfied with what he delivers on the pitch these days? It certainly won't lead us to improvement. Some are just blind towards his decline I guess and can't admit it.

Any run of the mill striker can do the things he does nowadays.

 

[United again!]

This, completely. He had a few very neat touches throughout the game (stuff that we drool over when Mata does it), and was pretty consistent overall. He has some bad touches, of course, but the majority of players do throughout a game when they're under pressure, when they receive a bad pass, etc. There are some players who can kill a ball dead whatever the circumstances, but not many. Rooney doesn't have a 'shit touch' in any case.


Welcome to the sensible gang.

I've not seen the match, I'll probably watch it later.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Why are people satisfied with what he delivers on the pitch these days?

Because it's pre-season and it's meaningless?

It's often the case that younger players are going to be much better in pre season as they're trying to catch the manager's eye, whereas the more senior players treat it as warm up games where it's important to get back fitness and not get injured. A few of our players have been meh in this pre season, yet I'm sure they'll turn out to be very important performers for us during the season.

 

[Orton]

Because it's pre-season and it's meaningless?

It's often the case that younger players are going to be much better in pre season as they're trying to catch the manager's eye, whereas the more senior players treat it as warm up games where it's important to get back fitness and not get injured. A few of our players have been meh in this pre season, yet I'm sure they'll turn out to be very important performers for us during the season.

Do you really think I'm only basing it on these 4 games? He was the same last season bar a few games. He need competition and this captain must always play needs to stop. Far too comfortable in this side and it's causing problems. He offers literally no goal threat.

 

[Stack]

So is Rooney this years bashing target?. Just want to know so i can prepare to slag him off.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

So is Rooney this years bashing target?. Just want to know so i can prepare to slag him off.

Isn't he every year?

 

[Orton]

So is Rooney this years bashing target?. Just want to know so i can prepare to slag him off.

Criticising a players performance = slagging him off. Renders message boards meaningless.

 

[Alock1]

Isn't he every year?

Every year that he's a bit shit, so yeah, probably.

I haven't seen the game, so won't comment on last night. But after starting last season saying he was let down by LVG moving him deeper when striker is his best position he's done absolutely nothing to confirm it.

I don't remember his last MOTM performance, or even just match winning performance - upfront or otherwise, but particularly upfront there's been nothing.

Lack of goals, lack of presence - lack of quality.

 

[Nighteyes]

Every year that he's a bit shit, so yeah, probably.

So Rooney's been shit every year eh? This place...

Looking at the last 3 seasons, he was our 2nd best attacking player player in '12-13 but that got lost amidst the transfer request. The following season he was our best attacking player but that got lost amidst all the "Moyes is sucking him off" posts. And last season he was up there with Young as one of our better attacking players for most of last season. This was after every man and his dog was dead certain that Van Gaal would fall out with the fat scouse prick the moment he laid his eyes on him only for him to be named captain.

If Wayne Rooney has been shite, then that doesn't say much for every other attacking player in the squad.

Although, I do agree he's declining and I'm shocked we haven't brought in someone capable of challenging Rooney on a regular basis.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Let's be honest here, Van Gaal's position as United manager will be decided ultimately this season by his allegiance to Rooney. If that fails and we cannot score the goals required, Could easily see him out of the door. If it succeeds then he has made a great decision.

Guess time will tell, Although i'm not holding my breath as I think Rooney is well past his peak now.

 

[Alock1]

So Rooney's been shit every year eh? This place...

Looking at the last 3 seasons, he was our 2nd best attacking player player in '12-13 but that got lost amidst the transfer request. The following season he was our best attacking player but that got lost amidst all the "Moyes is sucking him off" posts. And last season he was up there with Young as one of our better attacking players for most of last season. This was after every man and his dog was dead certain that Van Gaal would fall out with the fat scouse prick the moment he laid his eyes on him only for him to be named captain.

If Wayne Rooney has been shite, then that doesn't say much for every other attacking player in the squad.

Although, I do agree he's declining and I'm shocked we haven't brought in someone capable of challenging Rooney on a regular basis.

It was somewhat tongue in cheek. Though I do think the last 3 years Rooney has been 'a bit shit'. Compared to the average footballer? Obviously not. But compared to supposedly world-class 300k per week; soon to be goal scoring record holders; to the standards and expectations he set for himself previously - then yes, he's been a bit shit.

Was he really our second best attacking player in 2012/13? Does that really mean much even if true? You should compare him to players of his supposed quality, of his pay packet - and he was nowhere near the best players in our own league nevermind other European ones.

 

[Amar__]

So Rooney's been shit every year eh? This place...

Looking at the last 3 seasons, he was our 2nd best attacking player player in '12-13 but that got lost amidst the transfer request. The following season he was our best attacking player but that got lost amidst all the "Moyes is sucking him off" posts. And last season he was up there with Young as one of our better attacking players for most of last season. This was after every man and his dog was dead certain that Van Gaal would fall out with the fat scouse prick the moment he laid his eyes on him only for him to be named captain.

If Wayne Rooney has been shite, then that doesn't say much for every other attacking player in the squad.

Although, I do agree he's declining and I'm shocked we haven't brought in someone capable of challenging Rooney on a regular basis.

I think everyone is quite normal with the thought that our attacking players are bit shit for almost three seasons, with Rooney leading the bunch by being given more chances than anyone else.

So even to you who want to praise him think that he wasn't clearly our best attacking player(let alone overall) in either of our last 3 seasons, even while our attacking players were mostly shit during that time and yet you wonder how people think he was bit shit during that time.
All that while he is pretty much only player who is undroppable and still considered as one of our best players by many, our best paid player, and again you and few others are amazed why are people criticizeing him.

He was always going to be criticized, especially if he keeps playing average as he is for the past few seasons, and rightfully so.

 

[United again!]

I don't remember his last MOTM performance, or even just match winning performance - upfront or otherwise, but particularly upfront there's been nothing.

Aston Villa. But that fixture is usually a turkey shoot for him.

 

[Alock1]

Aston Villa. But that fixture is usually a turkey shoot for him.

He scored a quality and important goal admittedly, but he was still otherwise bang average that game.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Its not disrespect, its fact, for a long time his first touch has been piss poor and whilst he still scores, he is also responsible for a lot of our moves breaking down due to poor first touch and inconsistent short passing. Scoring a feck load of goals over the years doesn't exempt him from valid criticism.
And he hasnt been played here there and everywhere, he has played a handful of games in midfield and the rest of his time somewhere across the front line, lets not make out he's John O'Shea.

Left wing, right wing, up top, behind the striker and centre midfield. As I said, here, there, and everywhere.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Please do not compare van Nistelrooy's ability in front of goal or consitency to Rooney's. It's on a completely different level.

And please do not compare Rooney's position with Van Nistelrooy's.

 

[Chicharito_]

Wake up and read the match thread but end up getting pissed off when you see 20 comments in a row with FFS Rooney.

He will come good and go on his usual goalscoring run before Christmas, also is it just post Fergie where we have been so intense about pre season?
I don't remember it being like this a few years back..