Wayne Rooney, The Midfield General? Mourinho Says No.

What should we do with Rooney ?

  • Keep him as a starting XI player

    Votes: 23 6.7%

  • Sell him

    Votes: 221 64.8%

  • Keep him as a squad player

    Votes: 97 28.4%
  • Total voters
    341
  • Poll closed .
midnightmare said:
Sorry, but while I detest Moyes as much as the next man, this is a bizarre rant against him (though I fully agree on the overall point about mileage).
In 2 seasons , he made 77 appearances across competitions most of which he made as a sub. At United, he made 91 in his first two alone - most as a starter. How on earth was Moyes to blame? If anything, Rooney left Everton because he felt Moyes wasn't playing him enough.
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Hmm, thanks for the stats - I thought he played more when first at Everton, I remember hearing that he was playing for the U19s when he was 14 etc. Arguably at 16, 77 first team appearances (as a sub or not) was too much, especially when he made his England debut at 17 too. I guess we possibly over played him at United, although there is a big difference in physical development between being 16 and 18+.

In comparison, Giggs was a year older at 17 in the 1990/91 season and played 2 times, followed by a full program (all be it a lot from the bench) the next season when he was 18+. This seems somewhat more reasonable.
 
JPRouve said:
Why would we play in 433 and not in 4231 with Rooney playing as the AM? Mourinho used the latter a lot more.
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If our interest in Pogba real or we sign a player of the like. I can't see him putting him in a midfield two.
And do you think Rooney behind Ibra would work? Looks too slow and no dynamism.
 
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
 
Rooney will be Mourinho's Lampard :drool:
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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Ah yes there are a lot of rumours about these famous conversations, certain are reported to have been told that their services will no longer be required as well. We shall see in the near future.
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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How do you know Jose spoke with him on the phone?
How will Rooney be our captain and Leader when he gets benched and we play better?
What's the shit about trenches? How did his trench warfare specialty help us last season?
Rooney is getting criticised because of the Iceland game? Really??:rolleyes:
Ridiculous post, and it's not the worst thing you've posted today
 
Adisa said:
If our interest in Pogba real or we sign a player of the like. I can't see him putting him in a midfield two.
And do you think Rooney behind Ibra would work? Looks too slow and no dynamism.
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At least Pogba is a midfielder, he is naive but that's okay since he is only 23 years old, he will evolve. Rooney isn't a midfielder and he isn't young.
Concerning Ibrahimovic, he isn't a United player yet and it's still better than Rooney as a CM.
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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:lol:

:lol:

:lol:
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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Ok
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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:lol:
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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:lol:
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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Dude. Duuuuuuuuude!

If you're going to support Wayne Rooney please don't make outlandish statements in which to base your entire post upon.

It's all about the hate. And the agenda. And the hateful agenda that people have for Wayne Rooney.
 
Kill 'em all said:
If Rooney is a starter next season, we won't make top 4.
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At least we can have faith that Mourinho won't have "the captain shall always play" he'll drop you if you're shit, so good luck, Wayne!
 
fellaini's barber said:
How do you know Jose spoke with him on the phone?
How will Rooney be our captain and Leader when he gets benched and we play better?
What's the shit about trenches? How did his trench warfare specialty help us last season?
Rooney is getting criticised because of the Iceland game? Really??:rolleyes:
Ridiculous post, and it's not the worst thing you've posted today
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Never said Rooney is being criticised because of the Icaland game only. I said the focus on him has increased becasue he didnt play well last night, . Otherwise when he played well in midfield in the first 3 games he never faced the same criticism he is facing today.

You cant blame last season alone on Rooney because the whole team underperfomed. Not saying he should not get criticised. As for his peers respecting him thats their own choice I cant defend their opinions but its a fact they do rate him highly

As for being benched I dont know that for sure, it may well happen but as per Rooney quotes he was assured by Jose that he is counting on him....

"Obviously I've spoken to him. It's exciting times for Manchester United, and for myself and the other players," Rooney said when asked about the new man in the Old Trafford hotseat.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-after-mourinho/2838056.html

Wayne Rooney will remain Manchester United captain with Jose Mourinho ready to bank on England star

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/wayne-rooney-remain-manchester-united-8073346


 
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Looks burnt out....ball taken off him very easily last night....some good passes....good penalty....hard to believe that he will be the force he once was for UTd or England....
 
dichinero said:
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.
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You make some very good points with regard to youth.

You're right in that my feelings on the matter are based on hope more than anything else, but I believe there is a perfectly legitimate basis in which to place that hope upon. We're talking about a multi-talented footballer with an ability level that far exceeds that of your average professional footballer. The only issue worth debating, for me at least, is whether Jose can motivate him enough to reach those levels again. Recent history, his ever-increasing age and what seems like the entire population of the CAF would suggest not.

I'm not ready to completely write off the idea of him, at worst, re-inventing himself as a competent midfielder, and short of signing Pogba or another player of that ilk, we have very little choice but to persist with the idea.
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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:lol: Always one.
 
Random Task said:
You make some very good points with regard to youth.

You're right in that my feelings on the matter are based on hope more than anything else, but I believe there is a perfectly legitimate basis in which to place that hope upon. We're talking about a multi-talented footballer with an ability level that far exceeds that of your average professional footballer. The only issue worth debating, for me at least, is whether Jose can motivate him enough to reach those levels again. Recent history, his ever-increasing age and what seems like the entire population of the CAF would suggest not.

I'm not ready to completely write off the idea of him, at worst, re-inventing himself as a competent midfielder, and short of signing Pogba or another player of that ilk, we have very little choice but to persist with the idea.
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he certainly used to have that ability level, now though? He is captain of his country in a tournament and a handful of goals from being Man United top scorer, if he needs external motivation I don't know what to say
 
Bruno8 said:
Mourinho has already spoken with Rooney on the phone and assured him that he is counting on him for next season. He is the Captain and Leader of the team. Those who play with him rate him highly because they understand how tough it is in the trenches.

The change in opinions in Rooney Midfield role came about because he didn't play well against Iceland although it was a collective poor team display. Also the fact that people are too excitred by prospective new signings that may arrive such that they want to get rid of every player currently at the Club.
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The only use he would be in a trench is as a plank to stop you walking in the mud.
 
Random Task said:
You make some very good points with regard to youth.

You're right in that my feelings on the matter are based on hope more than anything else, but I believe there is a perfectly legitimate basis in which to place that hope upon. We're talking about a multi-talented footballer with an ability level that far exceeds that of your average professional footballer. The only issue worth debating, for me at least, is whether Jose can motivate him enough to reach those levels again. Recent history, his ever-increasing age and what seems like the entire population of the CAF would suggest not.

I'm not ready to completely write off the idea of him, at worst, re-inventing himself as a competent midfielder, and short of signing Pogba or another player of that ilk, we have very little choice but to persist with the idea.
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No he is not. Would you use that to describe Gerrard in his last season at Liverpool? I think not. What talent? What ability exceeds that of an average footballer? What is the basis for this hope? 1 or 2 good performances from a player in decline does not imply that he is a good player. I bet if you bring back Gerrard to Liverpool, he will have a handful of good games over the course of the season.

I'm still looking for a forward that has successfully being reinvented as a midfielder let alone a good one as far as top level football is concerned. Rooney must be the most talented footballer to ever exist if we think he will be the first to do that.
 
FrenchRed said:
Hmm, thanks for the stats - I thought he played more when first at Everton, I remember hearing that he was playing for the U19s when he was 14 etc. Arguably at 16, 77 first team appearances (as a sub or not) was too much, especially when he made his England debut at 17 too. I guess we possibly over played him at United, although there is a big difference in physical development between being 16 and 18+.

In comparison, Giggs was a year older at 17 in the 1990/91 season and played 2 times, followed by a full program (all be it a lot from the bench) the next season when he was 18+. This seems somewhat more reasonable.
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True. I wonder though if all this has something to do with how the managers see players evolving (in terms of how they think they will evolve over a career). Fergie has managed a bunch of youngsters coming through and while people will always bring up how he handled Pogba, I think he's got almost every single one spot on (Pogba is debatable, I grant). One of my mates just mentioned the other day when we were discussing (and dissing) Rooney's form that maybe Fergie saw early doors that he would never be someone who would play deep into his thirties and that he would peak early, shine brightly and then fade quicker than average.

My memory of that time isn't perfect but Ronaldo and Rooney entered the team a year apart and when Ronaldo entered, despite him being a really special talent, Fergie introduced him gently, with a bunch of appearances off the bench or not even being brought on. He only became a regular fixture in the starting line-up 2 years later! I remember waiting impatiently each time he didn't start, hoping Fergie would bring him on. He was frustrating at times, but the talent!

Rooney on the other hand, while a year younger, went straight into the starting 11 and stayed there. Remember, Ronaldo is a year older and they were in the same team! This was Ferguson - a man renowned for nurturing young players - deciding that a younger talent was fine starting week-in, week-out, while another had to be managed. Even back then, people raved about Ronaldo and how hard-working he was and how he wanted to start each game...

So maybe this isn't mis-management, but the manager deciding that it was in the best interests of all parties that Rooney be allowed to make the most of the limited time he would get at his peak (Compared to players like Ronaldo).

Then again, what do I know?
 
Random Task said:
You make some very good points with regard to youth.

You're right in that my feelings on the matter are based on hope more than anything else, but I believe there is a perfectly legitimate basis in which to place that hope upon. We're talking about a multi-talented footballer with an ability level that far exceeds that of your average professional footballer. The only issue worth debating, for me at least, is whether Jose can motivate him enough to reach those levels again. Recent history, his ever-increasing age and what seems like the entire population of the CAF would suggest not.

I'm not ready to completely write off the idea of him, at worst, re-inventing himself as a competent midfielder, and short of signing Pogba or another player of that ilk, we have very little choice but to persist with the idea.
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It really showed against the mighty Iceland.
 
Kill 'em all said:
If Rooney is a starter next season, we won't make top 4.
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I've yet to see him make a defence splitting pass in all the euros games .
Same old same old 50 yard balls to either full backs over lapping .
Rooney just slows play down and his passing is never crisp like modric , iniesta or kroos . I can't imagine Jose wanting to put him in midfield , as like the quoted post stated I can only see us struggling .
Well over rated in cm and needs to play 9 or 10 or be sold .
He's been a good if not great player but what I've witnessed this last 2 weeks his legs have gone IMO .
 
He is the biggest problem in our team as it's going to take some balls to drop him. Not sure Mourinho will do it as it's his first season and Rooney still has the media support (The Sun gave him a 8/10 for the Iceland game).
 
Attila said:
He is the biggest problem in our team as it's going to take some balls to drop him. Not sure Mourinho will do it as it's his first season and Rooney still has the media support (The Sun gave him a 8/10 for the Iceland game).
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Strange thing is the article states how rubbish he was, then there is a disclaimer on the ratings saying awarded by opta. Which kind of shows how pointless stats are to prove stuff
 
This guy needs to move on. Wayne should end his career at Everton. Been chasing shadows for the last few years. He has been moved about in numerous positions because the thought of dropping him is unthinkable. He is just no longer consistent enough to start every single week.

Unfortunately, Mourinho is another man who will hero-worship Rooney. Only Fergie would've had the bottle to get rid of him.

I'd try to offload him to China or Koeman at Everton.
 
Please, Jose, save us from this 'legend'.
 
At this point, just reading his name or seeing his face makes me angry and at the same time gives me a feeling of hopelessness regarding our future. Pretty much the same effect David Moyes had on me.
 
Rooney was a good player a long time ago. He is now a very mediocre player, living off his reputation rather than his recent performances. The last two United managers have failed miserably while making Rooney the main man for their team. Now the England manager has done the same. Anyone spot a pattern ? Is there a manager capable of learning from the mistakes of others ?

Of course Rooney shouldn't be our midfield general. He should have been sold to Chelsea when Moyes first arrived.
 
kopviolator said:
After seeing Rooney yesterday, bearing the importance of the game in mind, I can't imagine Mourinho relying on him to be any sort of driving force in a team pushing for a top finish. He should be a bit part player now.
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Could not agree more.Rooney has had his day.
 
I've already read quotes in the media today saying he should have played in the no.10 role at the euros, yet after the Russia game (the only other team worse than England at the Euros) he was apparently a mixture of Pirlo/Scholes.

Here goes the merry-go-round again, Rooney plays poorly, not his fault, manager sacked, move position, plays poorly again, manager sacked, move back to original position, plays poorly, move to complete new position, plays poorly, back to original position.
Where does it end? Centre half.


Why is it seen as some sort of crime to say Rooney had a bad game simply because he didn't perform the tasks (even the simple ones) required of him?
It's always the managers tactics or they're playing him in the wrong position.
If Chris Smalling suddenly started playing really badly at centre half would we suddenly start playing him up front? No, he'd be dropped.
If Rashford goes ten games without scoring or even creating a chance next season, will we stick him in a holding midfield role?
No, he'll be dropped.
So why is Rooney treated differently?

It's getting ridiculous now, and until this problem is sorted we will simply stay what we are right now, a mediocre premier league team that struggles to even qualify for the champions league never mind win it.
 
Wish we had someone more marketable than him so we could flog him off to China for like 100M. I mean they're paying 50M for fecking Hulk.

Also why is he even marketable?
 
Because of past achievements and the media wanking
 
Flytan said:
Wish we had someone more marketable than him so we could flog him off to China for like 100M. I mean they're paying 50M for fecking Hulk.

Also why is he even marketable?
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Some wishful thinking there. Apparently he's tied to Manchester United for 3 more years at a cost of almost 50mil in wages. No club in its right mind will pay that much. If the Iceland game is anything to go by, he isn't worth 50p.
We'd need to give him away if we want to get rid of him, and subsidize his wages as well.
For a club to spend even 5mil to buy him, and then pay his wages in full, they'd have to be the dumbest club in China.
 
Adisa said:
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If this was some other player, he will be set for the axe on all levels. He wasn't even under any pressure at all!

Did he just lose those balls to their #9 and #10? Not even DMs, let alone defenders!
 
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