Wayne Rooney

[Stulikesdrums]

All the pre-season talk of him taking on the mantle of United's main man seems a bit hollow now.
An early season goal spurt including goals at home to Birmingham and City, 2 goals against a hapless Wigan side, a penalty against Arsenal and a goal at Spurs when they were already 2-1 up and Spurs were chasing the game. Since then he has failed to score against Stoke, Sunderland & Liverpool.

Sunday was a game where United were below par and needed their big players to step up and produce a performance for them. He was played up front as the striker and apart from one tame header and the through ball for Owen, he did fuck all.

Obviously he is a good player, on his day, a great player. But can he step up to the plate and be the main creative/goal scoring force for United that Ronaldo was? Can he lead the line the way Torres does for us?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

As I've said from day one, Rooney is a great player but not a great striker. He'll never be in the same class as RvN, Fowler, Torres etc in the goalscoring department -

 

[dee]

[quote author=Stu link=topic=36784.msg973132#msg973132 date=1256722287]
All the pre-season talk of him taking on the mantle of United's main man seems a bit hollow now.
An early season goal spurt including goals at home to Birmingham and City, 2 goals against a hapless Wigan side, a penalty against Arsenal and a goal at Spurs when they were already 2-1 up and Spurs were chasing the game. Since then he has failed to score against Stoke, Sunderland & Liverpool.
[/quote]

Rooney scores when he gets time to collect, turn and play toward goal. So he needs someone to keep the centre backs and any DM busy. Berbatov is starting to be a bit more mobile but he doesn't really stretch the CB pairing so Rooney isn't getting to play the way he wants.

Can you imagine a Rooney / Torres partnership? Thank fuck he chose us!

 

[Pesam]

He's an amazing talent but if he is relying on service from the likes of nani, valencia and 49 year old Scholes he hasn't got a prayer.

 

[vikas]

Over the course of the season, Rooney will be their best player by far, will score a good amount of goals, and get a loada assists. He can only do so much for them every game, there was no way he'd match what Ronaldo did in terms of goalscoring, but he can sometimes offer the contribution of two players for them all over the pitch.

Cheeky bid?

 

[Stulikesdrums]

[quote author=Dee link=topic=36784.msg973146#msg973146 date=1256722669]
Rooney scores when he gets time to collect, turn and play toward goal. So he needs someone to keep the centre backs and any DM busy. Berbatov is starting to be a bit more mobile but he doesn't really stretch the CB pairing so Rooney isn't getting to play the way he wants.

Can you imagine a Rooney / Torres partnership? Thank fuck he chose us!
[/quote]

Yeah, he will definately score more at Old Toilet than he will away over the course of the season for that reason. The way United bomb forward at home will afford Rooney that space he needs.

 

[spider-Neil]

people always compare torres and rooney, it should be gerrard and rooney and I personally think gerrard is a better forward than rooney.

 

[Ryan]

He's not Spidey. Gerrard's a better player, not a better forward.

You could play Rooney in any forward role - striker, leading the line, in the hole, one up front, etc etc. You could plausibly do the same with Gerrard, but he wouldn't do it as well as Rooney.

 

[LadyRed]

This thread seems slightly premature. He could go on to have an awesome season.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36784.msg973162#msg973162 date=1256723246]
He's not Spidey. Gerrard's a better player, not a better forward.

You could play Rooney in any forward role - striker, leading the line, in the hole, one up front, etc etc. You could plausibly do the same with Gerrard, but he wouldn't do it as well as Rooney.
[/quote]

I guess you're right I was talking more at making threaded 'eye of the needle passes' than actually leading the line or playing with his back to goal. do you think rooney is a better finisher than gerrard?

 

[Stulikesdrums]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=36784.msg973167#msg973167 date=1256723446]
This thread seems slightly premature. He could go on to have an awesome season.
[/quote]

Well ten games have been played Anita.
I think it is clear that the pre-season talk of Rooney getting his much craved central role and him being the man to replace Ronaldo are wide of the mark.

Sure he may go on to score quite a few goals, most strikers would playing in that team at OT, but I just can't see him replacing what they have lost.

 

[Y1]

To be fair, he just came back from injury

 

[Stulikesdrums]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36784.msg973191#msg973191 date=1256724638]
To be fair, he just came back from injury
[/quote]

He only missed one league game.
Also, Torres only just came back from injury and look at his impact on the game.

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=Stu link=topic=36784.msg973180#msg973180 date=1256724145]
[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=36784.msg973167#msg973167 date=1256723446]
This thread seems slightly premature. He could go on to have an awesome season.
[/quote]

Well ten games have been played Anita.
I think it is clear that the pre-season talk of Rooney getting his much craved central role and him being the man to replace Ronaldo are wide of the mark.

Sure he may go on to score quite a few goals, most strikers would playing in that team at OT, but I just can't see him replacing what they have lost.
[/quote]

Yossi had a poor start to his season last year, second half of the season he was invaluable for us.

I wouldn't write off someone with Rooney's ability so early. His latter season form could be the difference between them winning the league and not.

 

[Hansern]

I think this is really premature. Although one of the biggest cunts in football, Rooney is obviously a great player. He's one of the players that has stepped forward after Tevez/Ronaldo left.

6 goals in 9 games. Thats not a bad start for someone who scored 12 league goals in total last season.
Sadly, I think he'll have a very good season.

 

[StevieM]

Rooney's not Man Ure's problem. He may be a c**t, but he's certainly gifted. For me his best role is operating in a deeper role and not leading the line.

Berbatov is the problem. 32m on that. F**k me. You'd almost play Owen (the real c**t) upfront instead. He'd offer more.

Happily, Ferguson still feels the need to justify his expenditure on the Bulgarian.

 

[Ryan]

Just type 'cunt' Steve.

 

[keniget]

Rooney is a great player, not the ultimate superstar of world football he was hyped up to be, but still a great player and there aren't many better.

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36784.msg973235#msg973235 date=1256726789]
Just type 'cunt' Steve.
[/quote]

I feel bad doing it though....

 

[dossena]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=36784.msg973243#msg973243 date=1256727646]
Rooney is a great player, not the ultimate superstar of world football he was hyped up to be, but still a great player and there aren't many better.
[/quote]
This.

 

[dee]

[quote author=StevieM link=topic=36784.msg973251#msg973251 date=1256727987]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36784.msg973235#msg973235 date=1256726789]
Just type 'cunt' Steve.
[/quote]

I feel bad doing it though....
[/quote]

Excellent, bit of a bonus then

 

[vantage]

[quote author=StevieM link=topic=36784.msg973251#msg973251 date=1256727987]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36784.msg973235#msg973235 date=1256726789]
Just type 'cunt' Steve.
[/quote]

I feel bad doing it though....
[/quote]
But aren't you from Australia?

 

[Squiggles]

He hasn't been helped by Fergie for not giving him a fixed position, which I think has stifled his progress.

He's got the talent to join the elite players at the very top of the game but he's still got to prove it.

 

[rebel23]

Rooney is good against poor defences, the ultimate flat track bully. If you stand off him and let him run at you and dominate you then he's going to cause problems. If you tackle, block and handle him he can be kept quiet. unfortunately, most of the league's defenders are shit

 

[keniget]

What has he got to prove? He plays for one of the big sides, has been one of their key players more or less since joining, won titles at home and in Europe.

 

[Whitey85]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=36784.msg973369#msg973369 date=1256741423]
What has he got to prove? He plays for one of the big sides, has been one of their key players more or less since joining, won titles at home and in Europe.
[/quote]

Exactly. Hes one of the few manc players who would walk into our side. Hes a top player and i hope he gets injured.

 

[LarryHagman]

Rooney is pure quality. How many players are there who would get into any side in the World? He is one.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=36784.msg973369#msg973369 date=1256741423]
What has he got to prove? He plays for one of the big sides, has been one of their key players more or less since joining, won titles at home and in Europe.
[/quote]

I agree Keniget, but it was Rooney himself who was going on about playing in the centre.
He was the one claiming he could do the business when played there regularly.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=36784.msg973374#msg973374 date=1256741804]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=36784.msg973369#msg973369 date=1256741423]
What has he got to prove? He plays for one of the big sides, has been one of their key players more or less since joining, won titles at home and in Europe.
[/quote]

Exactly. Hes one of the few manc players who would walk into our side. Hes a top player and i hope he gets injured.
[/quote]

one of the few?

 

[Whitey85]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36784.msg973381#msg973381 date=1256742265]
[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=36784.msg973374#msg973374 date=1256741804]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=36784.msg973369#msg973369 date=1256741423]
What has he got to prove? He plays for one of the big sides, has been one of their key players more or less since joining, won titles at home and in Europe.
[/quote]

Exactly. Hes one of the few manc players who would walk into our side. Hes a top player and i hope he gets injured.
[/quote]

one of the few?
[/quote]

Its hard to say because the different systems the side use. Evra, Rooney, probably Giggs and the 2 centre backs if on very top form (unlike now) would walk into our side. The rest is up for debate.