[Globule]

You can't judge Rooney based on this game c'mon. The pitch was absolute rubbish. Zlatan couldn't find a single pass, Pogba just ran straight out with the ball, Mata kept hitting the closest defender, Young was adamant on getting a reverse assist. These are all exaggerations, yes, but give Rooney a break. This game was a bit of a write off from players' performance point of view.

Harder to ignore when it fits the wider trend.

 

[dichinero]

You can't judge Rooney based on this game c'mon. The pitch was absolute rubbish. Zlatan couldn't find a single pass, Pogba just ran straight out with the ball, Mata kept hitting the closest defender, Young was adamant on getting a reverse assist. These are all exaggerations, yes, but give Rooney a break. This game was a bit of a write off from players' performance point of view.

Wonderful! You can't judge a professional player for playing football on a pitch that was passed as safe and fit for an European tie? Are people supposed to select and choose now?

 

[Carl]

Actually think his form had been pretty good since the Swansea game. He's looked lighter on his feet and much sharper.

Was shit on Thursday though.

 

[Devil may care]

I think this is the first time since his reduced role that Jose hasn't put him on between 60-70 minute mark.

 

[Amar__]

Good to see that we are finally done with playing him just because he is Wayne Rooney, even when his form is bit better than the usual crap he gave us over last year or two(altough he was terrible against Zorya anyway). Mourinho definitely deserves lot of respect for this.

 

[Sandikan]

Mourinho has very cleverly managed to completely drop him from the first team with next to no criticism from the press, that until recently, refused to say a bad word In the main part.

The extra games have managed to hide it a bit, as he can come in for a game here and there, to disguise it.

Christmas's packed schedule and cups will allow him to feel he's playing his part, so it's a good position.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Finally picked on merit.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

The silence from about him not playing is nice to see, and it's also nice to still have him as option off the bench from time to time, but it does feel like the end game for him now, just a question of if he can be found a new home next summer, won't be an easy thing to do.

 

[Escobar]

Mourinho has very cleverly managed to completely drop him from the first team with next to no criticism from the press, that until recently, refused to say a bad word In the main part.

The extra games have managed to hide it a bit, as he can come in for a game here and there, to disguise it.

Christmas's packed schedule and cups will allow him to feel he's playing his part, so it's a good position.

I'm not sure if he planned it that way but it's been done brilliantly tbh. No one ever cries about him anymore and even Rooney plays a bit better

 

[Adisa]

Great point by Pougue

Something which Mourinho probably deserves praise for is the whole Rooney thing. He was flagged as massive issue for any new manager to deal with. Yet here we are, not even Christmas and the club and country captain in August has quietly been relegated to a squad player. With hardly any of the drama, squad unrest and general distraction that many predicted. Kudos.

Hardly any debate about this now. Like the whole country has accepted it. Don't know if it's by design but the England situation as also made it easier for Mourinho.
What's surprising was in the last couple of week when he was playing well, he wasn't still starting games. For me that's the biggest hint that it's really his last season with us.

 

[Adebesi]

Mourinho has handled it well. Though I do wonder whether it wasnt more a case of some people overestimating how difficult dropping Rooney would be. There was this assumption that if he was dropped the media would go apeshit, or it would undermine squad morale or something. But the media could see perfectly well that Rooney was diminished. OK some pundits - his friends - did make an exaggerated fuss about every successful pass he did, but journalists made regular references to his diminishing powers, this is not something only United fans could see. And the squad morale point always looked a little nonsensical as you would expect players to be happy to see players picked on merit, not reputation.

So for me it is more about criticising Van Gaal and Moyes for their handling of Rooney than praising Mourinho for his. But obviously it is a bit of both.

 

[Jaybomb]

He's clearly being phased out. And rightly so.

Rooney can probably offer something from the bench but I never wanna see him starting over Mata, Mkhi, Rashford or Martial ever again. And especially Zlatan.

 

[RedCurry]

Wonderful! You can't judge a professional player for playing football on a pitch that was passed as safe and fit for an European tie? Are people supposed to select and choose now?

Yes. That pitch was as fit to play professional football as Platini was fit to lead Uefa.

 

[Robertd0803]

Seems like the fuss about Rooney starting every game and being un-droppable is a million years ago. It has been very well handled by Jose (and to a lesser extent Gareth Southgate to be fair to him).

 

[SteveJ]

I don't believe that Wayne's general form is the key thing for José - for some time now, and even as recently as last week, he's stressed that what he wants from Wayne is goals. In Mourinho's view, one PL goal so far isn't enough to justify selection.

 

[Sandikan]

Great point by Pougue

Hardly any debate about this now. Like the whole country has accepted it. Don't know if it's by design but the England situation as also made it easier for Mourinho.
What's surprising was in the last couple of week when he was playing well, he wasn't still starting games. For me that's the biggest hint that it's really his last season with us.

Has to be his last season.
It'll suit all sides to part, he'll get the record, and he'll still have a chance at the Everton return. I expect we'd give a bit of a payoff, he'll drop a bit, and somehow it'll work.

 

[Vashu]

Mourinho has handled it well. Though I do wonder whether it wasnt more a case of some people overestimating how difficult dropping Rooney would be. There was this assumption that if he was dropped the media would go apeshit, or it would undermine squad morale or something. But the media could see perfectly well that Rooney was diminished. OK some pundits - his friends - did make an exaggerated fuss about every successful pass he did, but journalists made regular references to his diminishing powers, this is not something only United fans could see. And the squad morale point always looked a little nonsensical as you would expect players to be happy to see players picked on merit, not reputation.

So for me it is more about criticising Van Gaal and Moyes for their handling of Rooney than praising Mourinho for his. But obviously it is a bit of both.

I wonder what would have happened if Rooney had converted that golden opportunity presented to him on a plate into goal against Northampton. By proving that he isn't totally useless at that time he might have retained his place for the match against Leicester. Don't think it would be that controversial to say we wouldn't perform as we did with Wayne taking place of whomever from the starting lineup and wasn't it so far our best game of the season? The weather's been quite favorable towards Mourinho regarding Rooney dilemma.

 

[Dobbs]

Seems like the fuss about Rooney starting every game and being un-droppable is a million years ago. It has been very well handled by Jose (and to a lesser extent Gareth Southgate to be fair to him).

I think the England manager just follows the club manager when it comes to Rooney. LvG plays Rooney in midfield and coincidentally Hodgson suddenly does the same thing.

I'm not sure Southgate would have dropped Rooney were he still a regular for us.

 

[Adebesi]

I think the England manager just follows the club manager when it comes to Rooney. LvG plays Rooney in midfield and coincidentally Hodgson suddenly does the same thing.

I'm not sure Southgate would have dropped Rooney were he still a regular for us.

I'm certain he wouldn't. But it's an easy decision for a national manager to drop someone who isn't playing for their club, players move clubs all the time to get more football for exactly this reason.

 

[shamans]

I think Rooney is gonna turn it around this December and have a strong finish to the season. I hope so too as it would greatly improve our chances of top 4.

 

[AndyJ1985]

Great point by Pougue

Hardly any debate about this now. Like the whole country has accepted it. Don't know if it's by design but the England situation as also made it easier for Mourinho.
What's surprising was in the last couple of week when he was playing well, he wasn't still starting games. For me that's the biggest hint that it's really his last season with us.

Everyone is probably tired of it all now. I know I am. The best we could have hoped for is that he's no longer a regular starter, and he isn't, so that's enough until the summer, when he will hopefully be sold.

 

[Adebesi]

I think Rooney is gonna turn it around this December and have a strong finish to the season. I hope so too as it would greatly improve our chances of top 4.

I dont think I agree in terms of expecting it to happen, but it is something I would like to see at least. The way he has responded to being dropped has impressed me and it would be a fitting end to his United career if he played a significant role, principally as an impact sub, getting himself 6 or 8 goals, some of them important and/or spectacular, getting his record and helping us win the Europa Cup and come in the top 3 in the league. Then with his reputation still intact he can accept an offer from MLS.

 

[Sunny Jim]

I think Rooney is gonna turn it around this December and have a strong finish to the season. I hope so too as it would greatly improve our chances of top 4.

Dont think so. There is a general consensus that Rooney needs playing time to play well. If he doesnt play he loses his sharpnes and first touch suffers too. So imho he wont be very important in this season.

 

[Adebesi]

Dont think so. There is a general consensus that Rooney needs playing time to play well. If he doesnt play he loses his sharpnes and first touch suffers too. So imho he wont be very important in this season.

Being the general consensus doesnt make it right though. Since he's been dropped he has played quite well on a couple of occasions, he certainly seems highly motivated. And his touch was hardly good when he was playing regularly. I think you can make a decent case that Rooney plays best when he has something to prove, which he definitely does at the moment.

I agree with you in the sense that I dont expect him to have an amazing second half of the season - but I wouldnt rule it out either.

 

[finneh]

Mourinho definitely deserves credit.

The only concern is that I imagine they'll be a point when Rooney starts to think he's being unfairly treated, rather than just temporarily taken out of the spotlight to find his form. His past form shows that his ego won't merely accept he's not as good as our other options, so if or when we reach that point it'll be interesting to see how we respond to the inevitable leaks and public castigation of the club/manager.

If we get to the end of the season without a peep and he disappears into the sunset it truly would be a remarkable achievement from the manager.

 

[shamans]

Dont think so. There is a general consensus that Rooney needs playing time to play well. If he doesnt play he loses his sharpnes and first touch suffers too. So imho he wont be very important in this season.

We will see. I actually think the reason he was playing bad was because he was overplayed.

Mourinho definitely deserves credit.

The only concern is that I imagine they'll be a point when Rooney starts to think he's being unfairly treated, rather than just temporarily taken out of the spotlight to find his form. His past form shows that his ego won't merely accept he's not as good as our other options, so if or when we reach that point it'll be interesting to see how we respond to the inevitable leaks and public castigation of the club/manager.

If we get to the end of the season without a peep and he disappears into the sunset it truly would be a remarkable achievement from the manager.

Rooney is involved in this. He knows what's going on. Furthermore, back in the day it was true that Rooney really was the best option we had and maybe he has realized how things are now.

 

[finneh]

Rooney is involved in this. He knows what's going on. Furthermore, back in the day it was true that Rooney really was the best option we had and maybe he has realized how things are now.

We've already heard a few leaks earlier on in the season when his form was first being criticised. At a similar time we also heard criticisms of the manager supposedly coming from the dressing room.

I think given Rooney's previous it's unlikely he just accepts a squad role. In Fergie's final season he also wasn't our best option but again we had him kicking off and questioning thr manager, culminating in him being boo'd at the end of the season.

If Rooney keeps completely quiet I will be incredibly impressed with the manager and pleasanlty surprised wirh Rooney.

 

[wr8_utd]

Rooney has behaved impeccably so far despite what everyone told us of how he'd kick up a fuss, use his amazing media contacts and divide the dressing room and bring down United from within. I think the greatest indicator of his improved form was the fact that a lot of people were actually disappointed that he was suspended for the Everton game.

 

[shamans]

We've already heard a few leaks earlier on in the season when his form was first being criticised. At a similar time we also heard criticisms of the manager supposedly coming from the dressing room.

I think given Rooney's previous it's unlikely he just accepts a squad role. In Fergie's final season he also wasn't our best option but again we had him kicking off and questioning thr manager, culminating in him being boo'd at the end of the season.

If Rooney keeps completely quiet I will be incredibly impressed with the manager and pleasanlty surprised wirh Rooney.

And isn't that what has happened so far? He's been quiet.

 

[Amar__]

It's really difficult to separate his shooting from his attempts to control the ball. Looks like his short spell of good form has finished already.
In before he scores

 

[Rossa]

It's really difficult to separate his shooting from his attempts to control the ball. Looks like his short spell of good form has finished already.
In before he scores

Spot on. His good pass to Mata in the 4th minute was in fact a terrible first touch.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

He should have buried that chance.

But pretty uninspiring so far.

 

[acnumber9]

Doesn't really need to put the effort in now people aren't criticising him for drunkeness.

 

[Duafc]

I think the 'pass' to Mata and the one for Ibra were both just poor touches.

Meh half. Probably should have scored.

He looks very average without runners around him, bad news in this front 3.

 

[AXVnee7]

Messed up after Pogbas delightful chip, and also messed up when he should've shot.

Otherwise not a bad half in fairness, he's been decent.

 

[AndyJ1985]

When he's not mucking something up, he's painfully mediocre and offers very little.

 

[Jev]

Think he's been quite decent to be honest.

 

[Bojan11]

Some decent runs.

But his final pass or shot just isn't good enough anymore.

 

[Kag]

His first touch slows down every attacking move through the middle and he sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the likes of Ibrahimovic, Mata, Herrera, Pogba and Blind.

 

[SirScholes]

Messed up after Pogbas delightful chip, and also messed up when he should've shot.

Otherwise not a bad half in fairness, he's been decent.

Would of been a class finish, it's not easy taking a shot over your shoulder on the half volley let a long when it's on your wrong foot and you need to do a 360 to get it off.
It's a chance for a player of his ability but I won't hold that against him
Agreed on the other tho, same goes for zlatan for pogbas goal, he gets a by because pogba scored