Wayne Rooney, The Midfield General? Mourinho Says No.

[UweBein]

If he is United's midfield general next season, then United fans should be prepared for their Waterloo next season.
It is quite unbelievable, but I can still see Jose trying to start with Rooney. He can be very stubborn and blind to the obvious, like any other manager really.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

I'm starting to think Lingard is loads better than some of the rubbish in England's midfield/forward line. At least he shows some passion and fighting spirit.

Passion-wise, Yes he shows alot more than any of the England midfield. But ability wise he is lacking. Saying that, England need to look at building a team going forward rather then individuals as that route hasn't worked for over 20 years now.

 

[don't sign old players]

Passion-wise, Yes he shows alot more than any of the England midfield. But ability wise he is lacking. Saying that, England need to look at building a team going forward rather then individuals as that route hasn't worked for over 20 years now.

Agree on those points.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

If he is United's midfield general next season, then United fans should be prepared for their Waterloo next season.
It is quite unbelievable, but I can still see Jose trying to start with Rooney. He can be very stubborn and blind to the obvious, like any other manager really.

I think he definitely will. Rooney will probably start well too like he often does , But it's when he has to play a few games in the space of a week when he starts getting exposed.

 

[itso 7]

I don't think its as clear as that. Mourinho has been a big fan of Rooney for years. I don't think he will give up trying to get the best from Rooney. He tried to do something similar with Falcao but failed miserably. Mourinho's ego may get the better of him when it comes to Rooney. We are surely going to have Rooney playing a lot next season. I just don't know where he will play though! If Mourinho does get rid, then its going to be a much better one-time solution for the club. (Him or the next manager will no longer have to deal with the Rooney issue in the dressing room). Moyes made a huge mistake offering Rooney a 5 year contract!

If this happens then in a couple of years I'm certain we will be looking to appoint our fourth manager in the post-Fergie era, simple as. Every manager that has been naive enough to fall for Rooney's "elder statesman act" has paid the ultimate price, I'd be surprised and disappointed at the same time if Mourinho does the same. If this Rooney issue wasn't holding the club back them I'd say it none of my business.

 

[Mindhunter]

I don't care about England tbh, I just shudder at the thought of him playing CM for us and hope these games go some way towards shoeing he isn't good enough for the role.

Absolutely true about him not being good enough for our midfield (or maybe even our starting 11). However, he will continue to play as he is our top earner. Moyes and LVG were not able to drop him so I am pretty sure that Mourinho will shoehorn him in somehow, at least till Christmas.

The best approach would have been to sell him but we can thank Moyes for screwing that up for the rest of our lives.

 

[Varun]

Absolutely true about him not being good enough for our midfield (or maybe even our starting 11). However, he will continue to play as he is our top earner. Moyes and LVG were not able to drop him so I am pretty sure that Mourinho will shoehorn him in somehow, at least till Christmas.

The best approach would have been to sell him but we can thank Moyes for screwing that up for the rest of our lives.

To be very honest, a lot of the retrospective flak that Moyes gets for giving him an extension is very harsh. SAF wanted to get rid but when he left and Moyes was appointed with Rooney looking to move to Chelsea, I remember the mood here on Caf being that we couldn't afford to lose him. The vast majority wanted him at the club and Moyes being Moyes and not SAF wanted the same. It turned out that the great man did see what few others could, unsurprisingly, but most here give Moyes a lot of shit for doing something the majority at the time saw as the right decision.

 

[JPRouve]

To be very honest, a lot of the retrospective flak that Moyes gets for giving him an extension is very harsh. SAF wanted to get rid but when he left and Moyes was appointed with Rooney looking to move to Chelsea, I remember the mood here on Caf being that we couldn't afford to lose him. The vast majority wanted him at the club and Moyes being Moyes and not SAF wanted the same. It turned out that the great man did see what few others could, unsurprisingly, but most here give Moyes a lot of shit for doing something the majority at the time saw as the right decision.

I have always loved Rooney but I was totally behind SAF on that one, we needed to start a new cycle and it should have been without Rooney.

 

[Varun]

I have always loved Rooney but I was totally behind SAF on that one, we needed to start a new cycle and it should have been without Rooney.

That's fair enough, I remember there were posters that wanted him gone. Just saying that the majority wanted to keep him especially as the club he wanted to go to was Chelsea.

 

[fellaini's barber]

Rooney was his usual self yesterday, not spectacularly bad, just that he usually caps it off with 1/2 good passes that lead to a goal or chance that immediately elevates his performance from 2/10 to 9/10. His fans tell you 'he's not finished, he's still our best player, he created our best chance, midfield general etc'. It didn't work out for him this time and you guys ended up getting knocked out by fecking Iceland. We've seen this all before though,he'll put up a good performance in preseason and his praise singers will be out in full force again, jizzing themselves over the 2/3 good things he does in a whole 90 minutes as that's seemingly all he needs to do to justify his inclusion.

 

[Mindhunter]

To be very honest, a lot of the retrospective flak that Moyes gets for giving him an extension is very harsh. SAF wanted to get rid but when he left and Moyes was appointed with Rooney looking to move to Chelsea, I remember the mood here on Caf being that we couldn't afford to lose him. The vast majority wanted him at the club and Moyes being Moyes and not SAF wanted the same. It turned out that the great man did see what few others could, unsurprisingly, but most here give Moyes a lot of shit for doing something the majority at the time saw as the right decision.

That's why they get paid to be managers and we get to write our opinions on discussion forums. He should have seen the bigger picture and done what's right. Getting swayed by public opinion is being naive (although I firmly believe that he didn't. He wanted an anchor in the dressing room due to his lack of pedigree and Rooney was the go to man).

Surprisingly, he acted very decisively with SAF's staff and sacked them almost immediately. Sadly he couldn't do the same with the players.

 

[Varun]

That's why they get paid to be managers and we get to write our opinions on discussion forums. He should have seen the bigger picture and done what's right. Getting swayed by public opinion is being naive (although I firmly believe that he didn't. He wanted an anchor in the dressing room due to his lack of pedigree and Rooney was the go to man).

Surprisingly, he acted very decisively with SAF's staff and sacked them almost immediately. Sadly he couldn't do the same with the players.

Yeah, Moyes getting something wrong isn't really a surprise. The guy was useless.

 

[GiddyUp]

This constant about his teammates being upset if he is dropped/sold etc has to stop. We simply cant afford to let the tail wag the dog any more. Its down to the manager who is in the squad and the team, not the players, especially when said players should be concerned for their own futures when they have been sub par for more than a while.

Also any player who thinks Capt Wayne would have their back if they were dropped or sold is deluded, look how he sold his teammates out for a new contract.....

The players are the last people the club or manager should listen too regarding football matters. I trust Jose to sort it out. I think it would be nice to allow Wayne to continue next season until he gets the goals record and then phase him out. Unless Wayne fixes his shit and starts to play like a professional again.

 

[crossy1686]

With us signing Mkhitaryan from Dortmund and apparently in serious talks to sign Pogba, does that not signal the end for Rooney in a midfield position? Or does that signal the end for Rooney at United full stop?

Jose is certainly keen on addressing our 5 year midfield problem.

 

[parisite]

With us signing Mkhitaryan from Dortmund and apparently in serious talks to sign Pogba, does that not signal the end for Rooney in a midfield position? Or does that signal the end for Rooney at United full stop?

Jose is certainly keen on addressing our 5 year midfield problem.

probably just signals the end for other players at Utd. Going to be a big old clear out methinks.

 

[Fer]

I actually like Rooney but it's undeniable that this insistence that we have to play him is hurting the team.

We're buying players in his position so to accommodate him, he's now a midfielder just to put him in the starting XI. Problem is he's worse than our other actual midfielders and makes us worse. He can hit a decent diagonal and he'll run around for an hour before he's huffing and puffing (Anderson style) and that's it. We're literally playing him because of one good bit of skill he has. It's as ridiculous as if when it was obvious Vidic was in the wane we played him as a striker because he was good at headers.

I know he's on a lot of money, but just because he's a burden financially doesn't mean he should be a burden on performances as well.

With us signing Mkhitaryan from Dortmund and apparently in serious talks to sign Pogba, does that not signal the end for Rooney in a midfield position? Or does that signal the end for Rooney at United full stop?

Jose is certainly keen on addressing our 5 year midfield problem.

I would like to see Mkhitaryan behind the striker. But I think he will play on the right wing as many people suggest.

Pogba would be a great signing. Unfortunately, I can see Pogba going to Madrid or staying in Juventus. Even though we don't sign Pogba, I think we will sign another CM.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho plays like this:

Zlatan
Martial - Rooney - Mkhitaryan
Bastian - Morgan
​

I guess Rooney will start most of the games. IMO he should start only if he is in good form and contribute to the team. If not, he should be benched/rotation player.

 

[what a mess]

In his prime Rooney was a top (not world class ) attacker , he is now fast becoming a good ( not very good ) centre midfield player . it showed last night For England that this is not a natural fit for him his passing was woeful and he is not a great tackler .He's not good enough in this position for England and nowhere near good enough for United because in the position we are in "good " is no longer good enough

 

[red4ever 79]

In his prime Rooney was a top (not world class ) attacker , he is now fast becoming a good ( not very good ) centre midfield player . it showed last night or England that this is not a natural it for him his passing was woeful and he is not a great tackler .He's not good enough in this position for England and nowhere near good enoughforir United because in the position we are in "good " is no longer good enough

This doesnt make sense. On one side you are saying he is becoming a good Centre midfield player, and then on the other side you are saying he is not good enough with his passing or tackling.

 

[gza the genius]

Pretty excited for Rooney to start out in midfield, Mou slowly realizes he's crap and moves him up top, he then gets injured for a month or so before he can get dropped - buying him some more time, comes back and plays terrible again and then the season is over.

Swap whatever positions you want for the past couple years and probably the next couple years as well. I hope Jose has some balls and does what needs done, it was never going to happen under Moyes or LVG.

 

[what a mess]

This doesnt make sense. On one side you are saying he is becoming a good Centre midfield player, and then on the other side you are saying he is not good enough with his passing or tackling.

Sorry what I mean is Rooney is turning into a " good "midfield player like a Fernandinho or Ramsey not world class like Kroos or Modric and what United need in that area is someone world class not merely good , same to a degree goes for England

 

[Adisa]

I think we will play 433 under Jose and Rooney will start as the second midflielder. Just ahead of a DM. I just hope we go into the season with a plan b for when he shows everyone hat he's shite.

 

[what a mess]

He is the 'leader' in the dressing room according to most players you hear have interviews. Plus he is the clubs biggest marketable asset, He won't be going anywhere soon without a fight. Unfortunately for us.

This view of Rooney as a leader is absolute nonsense , shouting the odds and chest thumping in the dressing does not make a leader .A leader needs to show it on the pitch needs to be seen to be encouraging, cajoling and bollocking the other players when necessary , needs to be directing them on the pitch putting them into position giving instructions driving forward, winning tackles showing controlled aggression . I saw none of that last night when England needed it most

 

[JPRouve]

I think we will play 433 under Jose and Rooney will start as the second midflielder. Just ahead of a DM. I just hope we go into the season with a plan b for when he shows everyone hat he's shite.

I don't understand that opinion, since when Mourinho does this type of things? He isn't Van gaal or Hodgson.

 

[Irrational.]

Persistence with Rooney and trying to shoehorn him into an XI has been one of the main reasons for England's downfall. Hope it won't be the same for us next season.

 

[kenny19]

No matter the how next season ends, if mourinho can flush out rooney or limit him to the bench then he is a success in m eyes. Rooney is the sole reason why we can't move forward as a team. his role limits evry other player. Because of rooney players like schneiderlin can't build any chemistry. We have so many players available to us but with rooney there none of these players will ever have a good season. He is like a disease right now that was inflicted by Moyes when he gave him that stupid contract.

That disease was spread to the England team. Their midfield was so slow because rooney was supposed to be the maestro. Kane would have had a better time if he got service. Hodgson is to blame also for the team selection but this is about rooney. If rooney can't recognize that he isn't good anymore like Gerrard did in his last season then he can feck off for all I care. If Mourinho benches him next season and he decides to whine to the press we should all boo him.

Rooney is a United legend and has been my favorite player for many years till recently. He deserves to stay at the club but not as a first team player. First team players should be there on merit. Rooney has not been a first team player for a year now but has been included in the team out of respect. Not anymore!

 

[Dans]

This view of Rooney as a leader is absolute nonsense , shouting the odds and chest thumping in the dressing does not make a leader .A leader needs to show it on the pitch needs to be seen to be encouraging, cajoling and bollocking the other players when necessary , needs to be directing them on the pitch putting them into position giving instructions driving forward, winning tackles showing controlled aggression . I saw none of that last night when England needed it most

I have long argued that he's not captain material. He has been exactly the same for United. The thing is the players he plays with are followers in awe of his reputation, both at United and with England, so they want him there and there's really no one else who jumps out as being a leader in either team.

 

[Random Task]

With us signing Mkhitaryan from Dortmund and apparently in serious talks to sign Pogba, does that not signal the end for Rooney in a midfield position? Or does that signal the end for Rooney at United full stop?

Jose is certainly keen on addressing our 5 year midfield problem.

While I'm not ready to give up on the idea of Wayne Rooney playing a huge part in our campaign next season, I do concede that the signing of Pogba would make that idea irellevent. Problem with that, of course, is getting Pogba here in the first place. Let's be realistic, the chances of United signing Pogba ahead of Real are at best slim to none. But...

For arguements sack, let's say that United pull off the Pogba signing and suddenly declare that Rooney is unwanted at the club and therefore up for sale. Great. That's all well and good but who is going to buy him? There is no way on earth that Rooney will accept a move to anywhere less than a tier one club and, let's face fachts, no high profile football club would even entertain the idea of taking him off our hands, not on current form anyhow and most certainly not when his outrageous wage demands are taken in to account. Rooney is stuck here, like it or not, for the forseeable future and possibly beyond that, so we may as well work with the idea of getting the best out of him as opposed to working against it.

Rooney still has something to offer, I just feel he is lacking in motivation and belief in himself. He needs a kick up the arse and who better than Jose Mourinho, arguably the best man mangager and motivator in the game today, to do that very thing. Wayne Rooney possesses a talent level akin to the greats of the game, whether he has fullfilled that talent to it's maximum efficiency is highly debateble and a conversation for another time, but nevertheless that talent is still there lurking in the background. He could be a top quality midfielder under the correct guidance and with Jose steering the ship I'm quietly confident that our Wayne just may surprise a few couple during the coming season.

 

[Adisa]

I don't understand that opinion, since when Mourinho does this type of things? He isn't Van gaal or Hodgson.

What part don't you understand...Mourinho playing 433 or Rooney in midfield?

 

[Adisa]

While I'm not ready to give up on the idea of Wayne Rooney playing a huge part in our campaign next season, I do concede that the signing of Pogba would make that idea irellevent. Problem with that, of course, is getting Pogba here in the first place. Let's be realistic, the chances of United signing Pogba ahead of Real are at best slim to none. But...

For arguements sack, let's say that United pull off the Pogba signing and suddenly declare that Rooney is unwanted at the club and therefore up for sale. Great. That's all well and good but who is going to buy him? There is no way on earth that Rooney will accept a move to anywhere less than a tier one club and, let's face fachts, no high profile football club would even entertain the idea of taking him off our hands, not on current form anyhow and most certainly not when his outrageous wage demands are taken in to account. Rooney is stuck here, like it or not, for the forseeable future and possibly beyond that, so we may as well work with the idea of getting the best out of him as opposed to working against it.

Rooney still has something to offer, I just feel he is lacking in motivation and belief in himself. He needs a kick up the arse and who better than Jose Mourinho, arguably the best man mangager and motivator in the game today, to do that very thing. Wayne Rooney possesses a talent level akin to the greats of the game, whether he has fullfilled that talent to it's maximum efficiency is highly debateble and a conversation for another time, but nevertheless that talent is still there lurking in the background. He could be a top quality midfielder under the correct guidance and with Jose steering the ship I'm quietly confident that our Wayne just may surprise a few couple during the coming season.

I don't agree with your last paragraph at all.
Rooney looks like he's physically shot. He's made a habit of being physically dominated by much smaller players in the past year. He can run anymore. I don't know what you're seeing.

I also disagree that Rooney is stuck here. Another season like the last and he's gone IMO.

 

[CamuNoir]

Seriously, he is holding us back.
I hate him more than Anderson who was a pure legend.

 

[clarkydaz]

strange thing is while many of us on here have aired these concerns for a long time, the assumption was it would eventually be when we play a top side he would get schooled. Imagine how we would have looked against France, Germany, Italy? this was Iceland, and as a captain leader he collapsed technically and mentally. Yes Kane, Sterling etc have been shit but they have their careers ahead of them. We call him our Gerrard but even he bowed out against the likes of Uruguay and Italy, not Iceland

 

[JPRouve]

What part don't you understand...Mourinho playing 433 or Rooney in midfield?

Rooney being a CM.

 

[Random Task]

I don't agree with your last paragraph at all.
Rooney looks like he's physically shot. He's made a habit of being physically dominated by much smaller players in the past year. He can run anymore. I don't know what you're seeing.

I also disagree that Rooney is stuck here. Another season like the last and he's gone IMO.

Gone where exactly?

 

[clarkydaz]

Gone where exactly?

if the manager makes it clear he has no future in the team he will look elsewhere. This likely wont happen till he breaks the goal record though, that would be optimum time for both parties for a clean break on the pitch, then return later for ambassador role etc. You could argue keeping him as a squad player, but history shows if he isn't playing regular fitness wise he is useless

 

[Adisa]

Rooney being a CM.

I think we will play a 433. There's nowhere else he would play in that formation.

 

[Random Task]

if the manager makes it clear he has no future in the team he will look elsewhere. This likely wont happen till he breaks the goal record though, that would be optimum time for both parties for a clean break on the pitch, then return later for ambassador role etc. You could argue keeping him as a squad player, but history shows if he isn't playing regular fitness wise he is useless

Fair enough but Rooney won't step down a tier just to continue his playing career, not his age and current status as United and England legend. So who will buy him?

 

[dichinero]

While I'm not ready to give up on the idea of Wayne Rooney playing a huge part in our campaign next season, I do concede that the signing of Pogba would make that idea irellevent. Problem with that, of course, is getting Pogba here in the first place. Let's be realistic, the chances of United signing Pogba ahead of Real are at best slim to none. But...

For arguements sack, let's say that United pull off the Pogba signing and suddenly declare that Rooney is unwanted at the club and therefore up for sale. Great. That's all well and good but who is going to buy him? There is no way on earth that Rooney will accept a move to anywhere less than a tier one club and, let's face fachts, no high profile football club would even entertain the idea of taking him off our hands, not on current form anyhow and most certainly not when his outrageous wage demands are taken in to account. Rooney is stuck here, like it or not, for the forseeable future and possibly beyond that, so we may as well work with the idea of getting the best out of him as opposed to working against it.

Rooney still has something to offer, I just feel he is lacking in motivation and belief in himself. He needs a kick up the arse and who better than Jose Mourinho, arguably the best man mangager and motivator in the game today, to do that very thing. Wayne Rooney possesses a talent level akin to the greats of the game, whether he has fullfilled that talent to it's maximum efficiency is highly debateble and a conversation for another time, but nevertheless that talent is still there lurking in the background. He could be a top quality midfielder under the correct guidance and with Jose steering the ship I'm quietly confident that our Wayne just may surprise a few couple during the coming season.

I could not disagree with your last paragraph even more. You are basing your assumptions on hope and sentiments. We're talking about a player who has been on a decline for almost 4 years now. What you are saying is what many have been saying for the past couple of seasons with no change, actually it gets worse.

People come and go and we are not immune to such natural cycles. We have to remember that some other player gave way for Rooney to come in the scene and it's time to understand that it's time for another hand over. He is finished as a striker, and there is no reason consider him a midfielder when we have actual natural midfielders, who have potential and are yet to peak.

We keep crying that we want youth to come through and new signings come through the door but what is the use when another player will clog up the space and block their progression. Keeping Rooney as a misfiring midfielder is no different to benching Pogba for Rafael in the midfield.

If I was a player like Pereira I would not be happy that having started the season knowing that I had for example 4 players to compete with in the midfield and half way through the season another player just comes infront of the queue.

Rooney's status means that he is competition for other players places but no one competes for his. This kind of competition is unhealthy for the squad and younger players alike. And we wonder why there was talk of young players losing focus on training.

Rather than keeping a player on a decline with some blind hope, I would rather put my hope in players that can help the team move forward. If not we would be here again this time next year.

 

[clarkydaz]

Fair enough but Rooney won't step down a tier just to continue his playing career, not his age and current status as United and England legend. So who will buy him?

he will see himself still young, but he might have to drop level if he wants to play. RVP was told he was surplus and sent packing. If it were to happen there wouldn't be a fee to get rid of him, it seems par for United to pay money just to get players to leave now. RVP, Nani

 

[djdhrubs]

I think he definitely will. Rooney will probably start well too like he often does , But it's when he has to play a few games in the space of a week when he starts getting exposed.

Well he started last season realy badly. That's actually when his form was at its worst and we all kept complaining about him not being dropped. The problem seems to be (for a new manager) that he's a powerful person off the field. Maybe he's also very good in training. I'm just speculating as to why people tend to stick with him.

Someone with a bit of ruthlessness would ship him off to China or put him on the bench and use him judiciously. Let's hope Mourinho is that man. The problem with selling him is that he will need a hefty incentive to leave when he's making a massive wage with us and still in sight of Charlton's record. We can't sell him elsewhere without his consent unfortunately!

As for him being a midfielder, we've been here before even under Fergie. We already know he doesn't have the close control and short passing ability needed to play in central midfield against good opposition. Logically, getting rid of him or using him as a sub is a blindingly obvious decision. Someone needs to have the balls to make it.

 

[JPRouve]

I think we will play a 433. There's nowhere else he would play in that formation.

Why would we play in 433 and not in 4231 with Rooney playing as the AM? Mourinho used the latter a lot more.