Two seasons ago Wayne Rooney looked set to leave Manchester United because he believed the club didn’t match his ambition. Since then, United have won one title and lost another on goal difference.
However, it was hard to ignore some of the truth in Rooney’s statement, with United rarely dipping in to the transfer market to secure big signings.
This summer, Sir Alex Ferguson made arguably the biggest signing of his career in Van Persie, who was last season’s top scorer, as well as the Football Writers’ and PFA Player of the Year.
Rooney has sung the praises of his new team mate as well as fellow strike partner Javier Hernandez.
“He’s a fantastic player,” he said. “He’s been a great addition to the team, scoring goals, and he’s great to play with. Not just him but ‘Chicharito’ (Hernandez) has been brilliant in recent weeks when he’s played, scoring goals, so I think we’re sharing the goals out and it’s great for the team.”
Man Utd News 24/7
Glad that Lord Wayne is pleased. United shall bathe in glory. Anything else us lesser mortals can do to please thee?
No words for his regular partner last season?
I AGREE THEY ARE BOTH GREATS FERGIE SHOULD START WITH ROONEY-CHICHA-RVP
I FEEL SORRY FOR WELBECK BUT HE’S NOT GIVEN A GOOD SEASON
Always good to hear our lads talking each other up. Who cares if it is heart felt. Still an important part of being a United players.
Can’t help but feel Wayne is happier in his own skin of late. Seem calmer. Being selected for England captain a couple weeks back can’t be hurting his maturity either.
In my view, Wayne has been playing great, best player on the pitch at times. Only thing that really needs sorting is the pens.
Some have worried that he isn’t scoring. First, I don’t think it is all that bad actually. I feel it is more to do with the deeper role he is playing this season. That and missing 3 pens.
So we’ve played 11 and Wayne has scored 3. (2 in the league and 1 in the CL). If he had put away his 3 missed pens, then we would be on 6 goals. Not a bad haul?
Last year he had already scored 11 by the 11th game of the season and went on to be second top scorer in the league. But second to RvP (then at Arsenal). Last year was an exceptional year. But this year can be good as well.
Think it would sort itself of its own accord if he started putting away his pens. Last night was a good start, even if a bit lucky.
i dont think ill ever forgive rooney for that statement, all to get a bigger contract. pure greed.
Putting it bluntly, RvP scores half chances. That’s what Utd have been missing for years.
Ever wonder why %possession numbers don’t seem to look right. For starters, they probably aren’t. And different sources calculate it differently.
I thought I was seeing things when BBC listed Celtic as 16% possession v Barca. This morning there are reports that Celtic had 28% of the ball? Well lads, which is it then?
After reading this bit from Opta, I still feel ignorant. But now, it’s all at a much higher level then before.
Feel the entire lot is grasping at straws really. Rrrrrr!
http://www.optasports.com/about/news/feature-a-ball-possessed.html
Far as I’m concerned Wayne playing deeper has solved our midfield problem and I hope he plays there for good as he can match and surpass Scoles in pinging passes and can really tackle with a fraction of the free kicks conceded.
Its good Utd will be able to rest players now and concentrate on the prem right through to the New Year that’s a big deal,fucking Rent Boys got lucky yesterday the cunts,be interesting to see if Bobby Manc throws in the towel or keeps playing 1st teamers
Whatever Utd now can become fully focused
If I’m not mistaken, our run of fixtures from now on is much easier, with the exception of City. Much have been said of their struggles but they have been quietly grinding away results when everyone had their eyes at Chelsea. Hopefully by the end of Christmas, we would have put some distance between us and Chelsea & City
Count me also among those not too concerned about Roo’s paucity of goals lately. He has, after all, dropped deeper into the pitch, and that’s suited his strike partners quite well. He creates just as well as he can put them in the back of the net.
If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say that it’ll continue to be Roo and RVP as our main strike duo for the time being, with Chicharito making it a trio occasionally–and perhaps most often when it’s late in a game and with bring the Pea on as an impact sub.
But boy does it click when all three are on the pitch together! We saw evidence of that last night (although the arrival of Rafa and TonyV being moved to his more natural position had a great deal to do with out improved play as well).
Sir Alex must start with Rooney-RVP-Chicharito … Whenever this three have played up front the team has played good football and won. As of Welbeck.. He’s a great player, fantastic first touch and sacrifice for the team but every time he plays (either on the wing which is a waste of his abilities) or chicharito is paired up front with him, it seems like he barely passes the ball to chicharito, and when he does it, it’s because there’s no other option available. It’s a shame because the team should always go first, and I believe sir Alex has realized about that.
@Parryheid – really? Rooney has played there enough times to impress me but this season theres been times he stands still and lets the game pass him by, or he loses the ball and doesn’t chase it down like a proper midfielder.
I still think he should get more games in midfield, but its far too early to say he’ll surpass the Ginger Prince. Even Scholes of TODAY is better in midfield than Rooney, he just doesn’t have the engine to go for 90 mins anymore.
Wayne would do well to surpass the old Fletcher in his prime tbh but we’ll see how suited to CM he really is soon enough. Im just glad we’ve got Carrick, Tom and Ando all fit. Rooney won’t be forcing any of them out of midfield any time soon.
People speak about united’s performance last night and yes it wasn’t up to scratch but in the champions league, home or away, there’s no such thing as total dominance. Europe is like a tactical chess game, you have to withstand pressure in moments, you’ll be hit on the counter attack, braga was a testing match last night but if you have a quality strikers then they can drag you in a game, that’s exactly what happened.
regarding the forwards, it’s the variety that they offer that united will hopefully benefit from. Van persie has had plenty of adulation but he really exudes class with his intelligent movement and technique. His first touch and close control more often than not are of the highest calibre. Great players always seem to glide across the pitch with less effort. His razor sharpness and awareness impresses me and his finishing is as clinical as they can get. He’s joined with no massive ego and subsequently well amongst his team mates. His ability to fluctuate across the final 3rd has brought real flexibiity to the attack, his goal last night was measured, accurate and clinical. I hope he continues doing well.
As for wayne, he’s taking the role he had when ronaldo was here. He’s more of a creative marksman but make no mistake about it, rooney still has the instincts for goals but generally, wayne loves the free role.
Poachers are getting scarce these days so to have hernandez is valuable. He gets isolated when we give him less support but defenders would be foolish to assume they can rest easy. He’s always on the run to sniff chances, a predator like strikers but this his 3rd season and he’s got more stronger and tougher, no such thing as bullying javier. His all round game will never reach the levels of RVP, welbeck or rooney but i’ve seen signs of improvement.
Welbeck has not been playing well but in terms of effort, he gives his all. He has great potential and will hopefully turn into a top player. Welbeck is still not a finished article. Improvements needed are better movements and more composure around the box.
The forward line really has flexibility and variety, needed in most games and hopefully they can continue playing well.
Glad to see smalling back, still rusty but hopefully with more games will sort that. Defensively, we still need to be more solid and hopefully we will see that.
People speak about united’s performance last night and yes it wasn’t up to scratch but in the champions league, home or away, there’s no such thing as total dominance. Europe is like a tactical chess game, you have to withstand pressure in moments, you’ll be hit on the counter attack, braga was a testing match last night but if you have a quality strikers then they can drag you in a game, that’s exactly what happened.
regarding the forwards, it’s the variety that they offer that united will hopefully benefit from. Van persie has had plenty of adulation but he really exudes class with his intelligent movement and technique. His first touch and close control more often than not are of the highest calibre. Great players always seem to glide across the pitch with less effort. His razor sharpness and awareness impresses me and his finishing is as clinical as they can get. He’s joined with no massive ego and subsequently well amongst his team mates. His ability to fluctuate across the final 3rd has brought real flexibiity to the attack, his goal last night was measured, accurate and clinical. I hope he continues doing well.
As for wayne, he’s taking the role he had when ronaldo was here. He’s more of a creative marksman but make no mistake about it, rooney still has the instincts for goals but generally, wayne loves the free role.
Poachers are getting scarce these days so to have hernandez is valuable. He gets isolated when we give him less support but defenders would be foolish to assume they can rest easy. He’s always on the run to sniff chances, a predator like striker, this his 3rd season and he’s got more stronger and tougher, no such thing as bullying javier. His all round game will never reach the levels of RVP, welbeck or rooney but i’ve seen signs of improvement.
Welbeck has not been playing well but in terms of effort, he gives his all. He has great potential and will hopefully turn into a top player. Welbeck is still not a finished article. Improvements needed are better movements and more composure around the box.
The forward line really has flexibility and variety, needed in most games and hopefully they can continue playing well.
Glad to see smalling back, still rusty but hopefully with more games will sort that. Defensively, we still need to be more solid and hopefully we will see that.
Nicely said and as for Welbeck, he is just not good enough IMHO. Just scoring occasional goals for United is not enough, you need to do it at opportune time in a match. Chicharito & RVP does that. Remember we still have Macheda and he should now be given a chance in the 2 remaining CL matches to prove his worth and get experience.
A couple of years ago I argued on RoM that Wayne Rooney should be played in central midfield, behind the striker(s) when going forward, screening the centre of defence when the opposition get the ball. I likened it to the role Bobby Charlton had in the later phases of his career (remember he started as an out-and-out goalscoring inside -forward before being moved somewhat reluctantly out to the left wing and only adopted his deep-lying position in mid-career. Bobby never tackled, yet never needed to, having wonderful radar for where to position himself to protect his central defenders – Bill Foulkes & Nobby Stiles at United, Jack Charlton and Bobby Moore with England (where Nobby played more of a midfield role). In the World Cup Final in 1966, Bobby was given the role of snuffing out the threat of Franz Beckenbauer, which he did with almost complete success, somewhat to the detriment of his own attacking capabilities, which rather spoiled the match for me. Anyway, Wayne should now have a chat with Sir Bobby to learn from his experience, particularly in getting forward to unleash those thundering shots from the edge of the area, something United don’t seem to do much these days.
does it matter whether or not you’ll forgive rooney? nope.
just need to give Chico more starts, as much as I like Welbeck I feel the more game time Hernandez gets the better he will become just look at his goal stats so far this season (all comps) he has even surpassed Rooney if I’ve read them right.
United Till I Die.
That’s not the Rooney I saw on Saturday disposessing the Arsenal player in the centre circle,cleanly as well.Liked your bit of comedy re our fake Brazillian taking a midfield spot.However we’ll see.
That’s what a lot of people lack, the ability to see the bigger picture. a lot of knowledgeable football observers can see the talent in welbeck, if he isn’t good enough then the manager wouldn’t include him in his quartet of strikers. He still needs to improve aspects of his game which i hope he’s working on. Composure and improvement on movements, he’ll get even better. Thankfully united have a manager that knows how to develop younger players.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/conversation?id=1218004&cc=4716
Well, it is good that SAF wish to rob the title away from Liverpool but there is much needed to be done with the squad. Currently the squad offers the attacking power that could changed any games if played with inspiration and motivation, but still lacking in the ability to defend to a very satisfying level. For optimistic people, anything is possible. UCL can be attained by any team just like what Chelsea managed to. For realistic people, we can win only if the defending are improved. For pessimistic people, this squad might not make it. Whatever the case, SAF will need a number of years to reach that goal, the players will need to step up a lot in order to achieve that. Maybe the defensive problems will need to be addressed very soon and our debts do not go over. Let us pray that we will make it to the top this season.
iacept and appreciate the role played by rio but sincerely cant sir alex get his proper replacement to solve our defensivde problem since hes caught up by age and fatige,? ithink something should be done esp on no5 anyway bravo2 all manu fans..!!!
Got to agree with you Samuel, Welbeck has got a talent in there somewhere andhe is at the right club to bring it out the same can be said for Chico but you can actually see an improvement in his game and the way he reads it, still falls in the offside trap but not as often.
Welbeck has it all, he just needs two things – more focus and composure in front of goal. He reminds me a little of Andy Cole sometimes but he whereas Andy was a poacher that had to develop his all-round game, Danny is lacking the poachers instinct around goal. He misses too many chances when he’s presented with ‘straightforward’ chances often striking the ball poorly which is a sign of getting a bit nervous. He’ll get better, there’s no doubt about that and having the other three aroudn him will only bring him on.
Hahaha, yes, let’s scrap Welbeck and “give Macheda more chances…”
Danny’s “not good enough” but somehow Macheda is? Good lord, now I’ve heard it all. The last time Macheda impressed, Greece has a solid balance sheet.
Van Persie is fucking top drawer, he really is. I didnt realise just HOW good his all round game was. A big player for BIG games.
Ian – Nail on the head pal.
samuel – spot on as usual mate. The media think United should wipe the floor with sides like Braga. Just doesn’t happen.
ididnotzeeit – Quality. Macheda is NEVER gonna be a United player. I rarely slate players but he is bobbling along in the reserves. He is nowhere near the talent of Danny.
Yeah we love em too Wayne
On topic, Wayne sorting out our midfield? You must be having a laugh. Call me crazy but he’s a tad lucky kagawa is out . He’s done a good job in there but I’ve seen better, much much better. Takes more than pinging 40 yarders to play there much less solve our very unique problem we have in midfield. Doesn’t bring much else in that area and is much rather SAF promoted someone or dip in the transfer market again.
I read on here earlier someone castigate welbeck: “the occasional goal is not good enough” he said. Never mind he’s being asked to do some serious leg work,how the fucks he gonna score regularly. For me he’s had more of an impact and shown greater improvement than Tom C.
Samuel is spot on. The boy needs to stop pussyfooting around and make a difference.This is the same thing Carrick gets stick for. Funny thing is its Carrick as a DM who should be looking to play the safe game yet he gets endless stick for it. Tom on the other hand has a more attacking role and it suddenly becomes okay if he’s just helping us “tick over”. Not good enough if you ask me. Boy needs to work harder,we all know he has it in him.
Giles, Exactly right. In my view Wayne has been itching for this role for several years and has better long range vision than anyone currently in the squad, save Scholesy ofcourse. I was rounded on by some elements of ROM when suggesting this, 2 years ago, as we didn’t have the striking threat to replace him up front and everyone just assumed Scholes would play forever. The acceptance of the Rooney in midfield is much easier to swallow today for 2 reasons:
First is RvP. Robin is the best out and out striker we have had since Ruud. Only time will tell if he is durable enough, but one can have high hopes.
Second is the increasingly obvious failure of the clube to make a move for a mature creative genius. Forcing us to look more within.
There are other options. Ando and Tom Cleverley continue to develop. But both excel in a short passing game. Roo is able to move the ball close in or with deadly effect on long crosses, such as those that openned up Braga after Rio and RvP came on.
This is an evolving system to be sure. But I very much appreciate the perspective that is has been done at United before. Maybe Sir Bobby will dust off his boots and give us some pointers.
At any rate, wonderful to get your perspective. As always!
Good to hear you KE. Always seemed to get on hours after you posted. How’s the little lad, not so little anymore I’d imagine
Give it a rest lads, I really don’t think Welbeck is a United player, he’s good but not good enough for United. I love a tryer, but I prefer a clinical striker!
You give it a rest rory, Danny is a United player and a manc too.deal with it
I think that now with Kagawa in the side, we can play Wayne in the role that Mr. Oakley talked about, with more freedom to roam, leaving the goalscoring burden on Kagawa and RvP.
@ slim
2 known facts!
Another one is, he is not good enough for first team football just yet, out of his depth at the moment.
First I wanna say, DannyWelbeck is a top drawer, he happens t oplay as a striker and at the moment, 3 strikers are on fire.
The formation should be at the moment Kagawa and Vida are back and we want to play Kagawa Rooney and RVP at the same time.
RVP CF
Kagawa left AMF free roamer and Rooney SS/ AMF Valencia RMF/Nani if in form
Cleverley Anderson
Evra Vidic Ferdinand Rafael
fast counterattacking play.
Rooney concedes he slipped on his pen. Still a quality finish!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2230060/Manchester-United-ace-Wayne-Rooney-I-got-lucky-penalty-Braga.html
Anyone have a clip of RvP goal that includes the entire foul and free kick? All the footage I find just has the flight of the ball from after the free kick. Cheers
Gary Neville said they always saw finishing as Welbecks weakness. I think it still is. He is not a net hound like Pea or an net angel like RVP. But finishing can be worked on, he over tenses and just does not seem to have that killed instinct yet. On LW, he is an OK winger, but his key weakness in his last few games is his ability to get into positions and not score or find a team member. He plays best with Rooney but Rooney can play well with almost anyone.
SAF will likely start Welbeck as striker for rest of CL qualifying games. However, can’t see him as other than 4th striker this term if others fit. Maybe 5th as Kagwa can score a beauty. Also other South American striker to come in. I still have not written of Macaeda, but his career has been all over the place and he has gone backwards from a few years ago.
Rooney is a No 10. He can be brilliant as lead striker but usually lacks discipline and drifts back to get the ball. I think he can also be an attacking mid, but that is his 3rd best position. He is a striker for me.
Also when Rooney asked to leave – his affair had come out, he was what 23? his wife separated, divorce in the air, he played shit at world cup, he was savaged and ridiculed and abused in the press, had his agent in his ear, United were not signing top players and struggling in the market, it seemed like he just wanted to get out of England. He cares about the Club, watch his face when not playing, he respects the old players, wants to be like them, cares about people at the Club and his place in history there, Is money more important? Its part of the equation, if it was all PSG, City, Ankhi and Chelsea pay more. Let’s not go to extremes and say he just cares about money. It’s not true. We were all mad at the time, but let’s get a grip. As he matures his place in history will be key for him.
Rio and Vidic, Rio in particular is by the far and away one of the world’s best CD’s when it come to initiating attacks. Evan, Phil and Smalling just do not have Rio’s passing range and vision yet and the ability to play forward and spark attacks and also help control the pace of the game from the back the way he does. Hopefully someone will develop that. Rio is just an absolute phenomenal defender, at his peak he was the best in the world IMO and is still one of the best . Rio upped the pace and screamed demands when he came on, he yells at people in a way Evra never does (as posted on previous thread).
@ unitedfanatic – up top – that was funny mate.
I know it’s very early to say but do you think that Van Persie is signing of the seaon?
Parryhied – haha @ fake Brazilian.
Thats not a nice thing to call Rooney mate. Thats our talisman your on about.
Slin – to be fair to wayne, since he has returned to the team, he has kicked on to clear out any doubt about his importance to the team. He’s proven in the premier and champions league, more so than kagawa who’s very talented but needs time to adapt to the PL. At this moment, the japanese is getting overwhelmed by more physical opponents. I don’t think he’s done much for a longer period of time to somehow deserve a guaranteed place. He’ll have to get back from injury and fight for his place. In my honest view, rooney has galvanised the team. He looks fitter and sharper. His link up play has been superb, combining with the classy van-persie.
KING ERIC – Thanks mate, good to see you on here again even if it’s as rare as a hen’s teeth. ha
I don’t see any reason why Kagwa and Rooney can’t play together. That would be a real diamond – Pea – RVP, Rooney, Kagwa. Also Kagwa is more competition for Cleverly than Rooney.
Welcome back KE ! – where have you been?
Where the hell is everybody – not watching Spurs I hope.
Ronny: “Ronaldo was glowing in his praise for his current boss Jose Mourinho, after the Special One guided Madrid to the La Liga title last season. Well, my relationship with him is perfect. I’m sure 100 per cent, 200 per cent that he is the best. Because he deserves, he shows every country who’s the best because he wins all the leagues. So, for me the best coach has to show in many places and he has shown.’
Yeah – well show us how much youth he has bought through and how many teams he has developed, he comes to big clubs, buys big players, moves on without developing the club. It’s a sugar high with Maureen – never ever do I want that vile crass gloating ego at OT (meaning Maureen, Ronny is just a bit dumb but I’d have him back).
samuel – united WE stand
after Rooney returned from our injury, I think we have played our best football. Not writing RVP’s or Chichas contributions, but the guy has fired us and give us an extra edge.
It’s a squad game this days. Not like shitty and the rentboys who keep playing the same players most of the time. Expect burnout to happen soon.
With Smalling back, we will have cover for Rafael and the CBs. Left back position could be a problem as Butner is not yet ready.
Ando and Cleverly suit each other. Carrick more suited with Scholesy.
So we have to continue to score more than our opponents every game. Chicharito can continue scoring while sitting on his backside as he did in Braga. We don’t need any 50 yards wonder strike as long as it goes in.
@NBI
Please advise who Mourinho bought when he was with Porto and Inter?
Well i just dont get people ridiculing our performance vs braga.. It was our 7th game in 21 days.. Also we were on 9 points, so it wasnt exactly a must win game either.. Players are humans, no reason why they cant be a bit relaxed about that game..
Also, i think fergie should try out a 3-5-2 formation now that we actually have 3 fit CB’s.. Buttener evra rafael are all great wing backs.. Would give us great mobility, also really good control in midfield.. Something like this..
Ddg
Smalling rio evans
Rafael/valencia clev carrick evra/buttener
Kagawa
Rooney rvp..
Im not sure how well this would work, but given our current personnel it wouldnt be such a bad idea..
Also give it a rest on welbeck. He’ll come good.. I feel he’s just suffering the same thing chicho suffered last year..
And please macheda wont be played over welbeck. He wont be played above henriquez either.
Nice to see some real discussion going…
This conversations regarding our strikers has to be cut short as there is a reason why we bought robin VP
IMO to improve our inexperienced strikers a.k.a chicha, welbz and on…
Its the same expectations putted on our wingers, coupled by some other crazy comparisons
But its up to hem though to grab firm every chance given, come it for 30mnts or more, then see how the gaffer utilize hem
Its a nobrainer and its really annoying, we should be blessed to have such an array of talent in our disposal, take pool for instance as an example, they’re fucking reliant on a certain racist scum to give them goals and its just about that, they can only pray he stays injury free
And you know we don’t wanna go through that
Selling is not the solution, we should stick with them, support hem through thick and thin the kids are going to repay our loyalty and faith we have them, that will bring the confidence in hem witch is vital.
Me just fucking happy we have them all in our side, more sweeter to know they were brought from within the system
On word: Priceless!
And leave the bitters and chavs to battle it out for the already established materials, we’ll keep on bringing those talented kids in hope we shape them up to become world bitters, and for that to happen its required patience from us fans..
It has been like that and it will continue to be
We can buy some who will slot in straight away but that is not always a must
Obviously Rooney was talking about the other strikers. Not about Welbeck or the any of the other wingers.
@ rohan
i don’t really think 3-5-2 is really cut out for us it would really need tactically aware cb’s and truth be told we don,t have that even i england see what happens when shitty tries it every time?
Spot on PROVERB
I just hope the players of this day and age stick with US as a club… too many cry they are not given chances, and become unhappy when they dont play week in week out (pogba, ravel, fryers) the time will come if the keep the heads down and improve!
You have to want to play for united, that with patience makes you a great player!
I think Rooney must play at forward position with RvP… This way he will get better chances to score goals. At presant position Rooney could not saw us his best performance.