Wayne Rooney believes some United players pretending to be injured

I listened to the pod, and I'm a big fan of it. But I do wonder how they arrived at the conclusion Rooney was talking about Bruno. Certainly wasn't anywhere near who I thought he was referring to.
 
He clearly doesn’t think about what he’s going to say before saying it. It’s all off the cuff and talking like a fan, which I guess is great for some, but unfortunately people will take his word as gospel.

Last night he suggested we keep the kids, Bruno and sell everyone else. It’s akin to what a poster would say on here, forgetting that it’s impossible to bring in 15 new players and you still need an actual squad. Keane had to follow up after and say it won’t be that simple, some won’t want to move on etc.
 
TMDaines said:
What are you talking about? Why would they call out Rashford? The point isn’t that they are engaging in conjecture about Rooney is talking about, but have well sourced information that they know Rooney was criticising Bruno Fernandes specifically.
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How would they know Rooney was taking about Bruno?

Have the got it from Rooney that's who he was talking about?
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Because Rashford was out injured at the time of Rooney's comments and regularly misses games with what seem to be minor niggles. The exact opposite of Bruno who never misses any games and recently played a match with a fractured bone in his hand. If you're going to speculate about footballers refusing to play matches they are capable of playing, then Rashford is an obvious suspect and Bruno is literally the last footballer on earth you would assume that about.

If Rooney was specifically talking about Bruno and told assorted journalists who he was alluding to then he's a fecking idiot, as is any journalist who didn't challenge him over talking such obvious nonsense.
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Thou can not criticise rashford
 
Makes sense imo. In a successful team competing for all major trophies, scoring goals for fun and playing free flowing football, a knock is not going to hinder you from playing. You don’t want to miss out and lose your spot in the team so you work through it.

In a dysfunctional team getting a knock is a good excuse to take a step back and recharge so you can be at your best. Get a break from all the negativity and pressure. Sure, you could still play but it’s not worth it.

I don’t think the players are “pretending” they are just making their fitness and mentality their priority because it’s not worth it to play through the pain.
 
It's common in top level sport for players to play through injury and certainly would have been when Rooney was playing here. Not hard to imagine the weak on field mentality of some of our players would extend to their willingness to play through an injury. They're not arsed on the pitch so why would they push themselves anywhere else?
 
TMDaines said:
What are you talking about? Why would they call out Rashford? The point isn’t that they are engaging in conjecture about Rooney is talking about, but have well sourced information that they know Rooney was criticising Bruno Fernandes specifically.
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Just listened to the podcast. I have absolutely no idea how you came to the conclusion in bold. Carl Anka even specifically said that he isn’t saying that Rooney was definitely referring to Bruno. They’re speculating, just like the rest of us.
 
TMDaines said:
Eh? Have you actually read the last page of posts.
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I have, regardless of what a podcaster said. Lots of United fans assumed it was Bruno. Lots of United fans also have a weird dislike of Bruno.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Just listened to the podcast. I have absolutely no idea how you came to the conclusion in bold. Carl Anka even specifically said that he isn’t saying that Rooney was definitely referring to Bruno. They’re speculating, just like the rest of us.
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Pogue, a mea culpa on my part. I’ve just gone back to listen and I definitely misheard something earlier. They are nowhere near as explicit as I make them out to be, and don’t declare it is explicitly Bruno Fernandes. I’m a little embarrassed, and hold my hands up.

But, I’m actually a little confused now, because Mitten clearly knows something and is substantiating Rooney’s claim as being valid, and Anka then defends any player (basically defends Bruno in all but name) who has a “busted hand” and/or who “cannot turn properly”, who essentially tells the manager he cannot play through his injuries again. It certainly implied to me on my first listen, and does again now, that Bruno not playing through an injury is being defended.

Are people hearing this differently?
 
No other teams ex players damage club morale and cause problems for the club more than ours do. You didn't see Carragher and Souness at this when Liverpool were falling to pieces under Rodgers. I'm not saying Wayne is entirely wrong, but the stuff him and Neville and Keane come out with sometimes definitely worsens rifts in the squad.
 
TMDaines said:
Pogue, a mea culpa on my part. I’ve just gone back to listen and I definitely misheard something earlier. They are nowhere near as explicit as I make them out to be, and don’t declare it is explicitly Bruno Fernandes. I’m a little embarrassed, and hold my hands up.

But, I’m actually a little confused now, because Mitten clearly knows something and is substantiating Rooney’s claim as being valid, and Anka then defends any player (basically defends Bruno in all but name) who has a “busted hand” and/or who “cannot turn properly”, who essentially tells the manager he cannot play through his injuries again. It certainly implied to me on my first listen, and does again now, that Bruno not playing through an injury is being defended.

Are people hearing this differently?
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Andy Mitten knows loads of footballers so is bound to have heard stories about certain players being much less willing to play through pain than others. Even amateur athletes are well familiar with that sort of thing. So I’m sure he’s just defending Rooneys accusations in general. Without any specific player in mind.

Anka does seem to be speculating that Rooney is referring to Bruno (hence the busted hand comment) but, as I said, I think that’s a particularly dumb bit of speculation. Bruno is probably the one United player least likely to do this. I can only assume his mind went down that path because Rooney’s comments came after a game where Bruno’s absence was particularly notable. Then added two plus two to make five. As somebody else already pointed out, the damage to Bruno’s hand is obviously quite severe. He wasn’t even using it to push himself off the ground. So there’s zero chance that he’s swinging the lead here. If Rooney does have a specific player in mind then that player obviously isn’t Bruno.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Andy Mitten knows loads of footballers so is bound to have heard stories about certain players being much less willing to play through pain than others. Even amateur athletes are well familiar with that sort of thing. So I’m sure he’s just defending Rooneys accusations in general. Without any specific player in mind.

Anka does seem to be speculating that Rooney is referring to Bruno (hence the busted hand comment) but, as I said, I think that’s a particularly dumb bit of speculation. Bruno is probably the one United player least likely to do this. I can only assume his mind went down that path because Rooney’s comments came after a game where Bruno’s absence was particularly notable. Then added two plus two to make five.
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I will edit my initial post to reflect more what they actually said, but Mitten clearly knows more than he is comfortable sharing as he stops himself a few times, whilst substantiating Rooney's claim. Both of them too repeatedly attach Bruno's name to Rooney's comments, do not allude to any other player as being the target, and do a lot of defending of Bruno's United record in the middle of this discussion, whilst also defending a player who cannot continue to play through the multiple injuries that Bruno currently has.
 
C'est Moi Cantona said:
Some of our players can't be surprised that this would be brought up at some point, the injury situation is a joke.

Maybe they're still writing them, but not seen any stories yet from the club about anyone disputing what he had to say.
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Carl Anka has said he and other journos will likely get clarification on the injury issues once the season ends and people around will want to talk then.

Just like we get the stories about inside the dressing room after the season.
 
Rooney was infamous for always wanting to play - even when he clearly shouldn't have.

So, there's that.

But he isn't actually talking about players "pretending to be injured", is he?

He's talking about "playing through pain", that sort of thing.

Point being: headline/thread title is sensationalist (misleading to an extent).
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Andy Mitten knows loads of footballers so is bound to have heard stories about certain players being much less willing to play through pain than others. Even amateur athletes are well familiar with that sort of thing. So I’m sure he’s just defending Rooneys accusations in general. Without any specific player in mind.

Anka does seem to be speculating that Rooney is referring to Bruno (hence the busted hand comment) but, as I said, I think that’s a particularly dumb bit of speculation. Bruno is probably the one United player least likely to do this. I can only assume his mind went down that path because Rooney’s comments came after a game where Bruno’s absence was particularly notable. Then added two plus two to make five. As somebody else already pointed out, the damage to Bruno’s hand is obviously quite severe. He wasn’t even using it to push himself off the ground. So there’s zero chance that he’s swinging the lead here. If Rooney does have a specific player in mind then that player obviously isn’t Bruno.
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The number of games Bruno has played, he obviously will play with injuries and knocks. It is ones who are always out not lads who will run through fire to play for us.
 
SilentWitness said:
I'd be surprised if it was Bruno as last night he said that he thinks the club should build around him. Also don't really think it's unprofessional to state that his opinion on it. Didn't Anka do something similar recently too? Said something then didn't name anyone? :lol:
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He was doing that re: Tosin from Fulham and being linked to Man Utd. Not sure why though. Not the same thing either way.
 
Chesterlestreet said:
Rooney was infamous for always wanting to play - even when he clearly shouldn't have.

So, there's that.

But he isn't actually talking about players "pretending to be injured", is he?

He's talking about "playing through pain", that sort of thing.

Point being: headline/thread title is sensationalist (misleading to an extent).
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Probably. Every player will be different, but some players will always want to play unless they are on crutches or in a cast or completely fecked with a torn muscle.

Remember Roy Keane saying he'd be taking pain killers and playing through whatever little niggles just to get out there and help the team. Where he felt guys like RVN were soft becaue they would feel a small twinge and not play. Thought in the end that maybe he was the idiot because Ruud was playing at 39 and he was done at 33 or 34.
 
So i'm not reading through 7 pages, who is it assumed Rooney was talking about?

Can't think of anyone obvious. Rashford is the one who pops to mind, but I doubt he'll get more than a few minutes in the Euros anyway
 
Dan_F said:
He clearly doesn’t think about what he’s going to say before saying it. It’s all off the cuff and talking like a fan, which I guess is great for some, but unfortunately people will take his word as gospel.

Last night he suggested we keep the kids, Bruno and sell everyone else. It’s akin to what a poster would say on here, forgetting that it’s impossible to bring in 15 new players and you still need an actual squad. Keane had to follow up after and say it won’t be that simple, some won’t want to move on etc.
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To be fair he didn't say sell them all in one window, he said over the next couple of seasons.
 
Players often play with knocks, we probably have a lot of players who will only play when 100%.

They won't be inventing injuries but definitely maximising the time away from the shitshow as much as possible.
 
Well it seems he was right (at least to an extent). Bunch of players available now.
 
Not advocating playing injured players, but the club needs to get rid of the one's pretending
 
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Yorkeontop said:
Very convenient for some to be available today indeed.
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Yep, but where's the managers authority and ruthlessness in these situations.

Would they get away with faking injuries with Fergie, Mourinho, Conte and Guardiola etc.
No chance.
 
always speaks so well as a pundit and gives interesting insights as opposed to the likes of Shearer who say the same cliches on repeat
 
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