SAF Aims To Improve Rooney

KeyserSoze

Can see Rooney having an even bigger impact this year, especially if he has someone to play off or Saha can stay fit for part of the season.

ZIDANE

Is it just me or does that have Berbatov up top and Rooney behind written all over it.

Dippersripper

I have a feeling that the current team will be built around Rooney and Anderson instead of Ronaldo

afrocentricity

Sounds good to me...

Rowem

Rooney still has the potential to become the BPITW.

Thankfully we also have the current BPITW for the time being

Younited.7

I have seen that for months - who better to bring out the talents of Rooney?

BillyBob

Totally agree, and have said so more than once in this Forum (to the derision of certain non-believers, I might add).

Here's what the Guardian Online says:

Rooney should be front and centre, admits Ferguson
A reflective United manager says the time has come to play the striker where he belongs
• Mark Ogden
• The Guardian,
• Wednesday July 23, 2008
• Article history
Sir Alex Ferguson has pretty much seen all football has to offer so when a moment on the pitch causes him to laugh in bewilderment, as he did yesterday, it is fair to say something special has just happened. The Manchester United manager was sitting in a dug-out in Durban when the crowd of 500 people watching his team train roared in approval. Ferguson looked behind him to see what all the fuss was about and realised Wayne Rooney had just struck a shot from the halfway line with such power that it caused the crossbar of the far goal to shudder. Cue the chuckle and a shake of the head.
That Ferguson should be surprised by Rooney's talent is perhaps in itself, no surprise. Since arriving from Everton four years ago the forward has rarely been deployed in the central attacking role most observers agree is his best position, instead being pushed wide with Ferguson consistently justifying the selection as being the right one for the team. But relaxed by the warmth of a beautiful South African day and having witnessed Rooney's goal-scoring potential at its most vivid, the Scot has finally admitted he may have made a mistake.
"I think Wayne's best position is through the middle, either the front role or tucking in just behind," Ferguson said. "He is aggressive, has good pace and the courage to go in the box. There's no reason why he can't get a good supply of goals. But he may have benefited by having someone with more experience with him. That always happens with young strikers."
Rooney has been prepared to adopt unfamiliar roles to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to torment opponents, but last season the sacrifices undoubtedly blunted his edge. Despite scoring 20 goals for club and country, Rooney rarely stole the show for United and his England form suffered subsequently. Ferguson admits the time has come for him to stop taking advantage of the 22-year-old's versatility.
"We have to define Wayne's role better," he conceded. "He has never complained, which says a lot for the lad. He would play centre-half if I asked him to."
But Rooney was clearly annoyed at being deployed on the flanks to facilitate United's 4-3-3 formation last season and this was evident on those occasions when his frustrations resulted in the kind of flashpoints that leave him walking a disciplinary tightrope. The player once again allowed his temper to come to the fore on Saturday when he was booked for kicking out at an opposing player in a friendly against Kaizer Chiefs in Cape Town.
"At 22 he was never going to be the finished article. When you sign players at 18 it's for the long view," added Ferguson. "In a few years' time we will be saying that was brilliant business."
That Rooney's development, along with the rest of the United squad, will not be overseen by Carlos Queiroz clearly remains a matter of significant regret for Ferguson who yesterday spoke of the "legacy" the new head coach of the Portuguese national team has left following his two spells as assistant manager at Old Trafford.
"He was a great organiser and he was serious in his coaching. All the changes at the club in terms of sports sciences over the last few years have been down to Carlos," said Ferguson.
Looking ahead, he added: "Our coach Mike Phelan couldn't do much last season because of a knee problem but he's back now so the coaching side is no problem. What I have to decide is whether to bring someone in who is more experienced and can be there if I'm not. It is possible that person will be foreign because we have many Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking players. But whatever happens, Carlos's legacy must not be forgotten."
Asked if Queiroz could ever return, Ferguson said that having signed a four-year contract with the Portuguese FA such a scenario would be "difficult". It is of course conceivable that in four years' time Ferguson will himself no longer be at United and among those spoken of as a successor to the 66-year-old is the club's former striker, Mark Hughes. That seemed a real possibility while the Welshman continued to excel at Blackburn but, following his move to Manchester City, now appears less likely. Nevertheless, Ferguson is convinced "Sparky" made the right decision.
"He has left Blackburn at the right time because all the contracts are up next year," he said. "It was time for him to move on. He's proved himself there."
And what about Ferguson, what has he got left to prove? Having taken his trophy haul at United to 20 in 22 years, it would appear to be very little. But, in that respect, the club remains in the shadow of Liverpool - with 18 league titles and five European Cups to their name against United's 17 and three respectively - and it seems inconceivable a man as ambitious as Ferguson would be content to retire without having moved past them.
"There is no particular pressure in terms of trying to beat Liverpool," he insisted. "We proved the point about overcoming Liverpool when I came to the club. That was the time to do something about it."
Keep winning trophies and it will only be a matter of time before United establish all-time supremacy, is the message. And if the shaking frame of a Durban crossbar is anything to go by, that moment could come sooner rather than later.[/size][/size]

Alex

How can you not love Wazza. The man played his heart wherever he was played, don't get me wrong so did Ronaldo who had to play a few positions himself. People forget he broke his foot in the first game of the season as well. Reckon #10 will be back to his best next year, good bet for 30 goals, because despite playing a variety of roles he is as untouchable as Ronaldo and Rio

KeyserSoze

He wants a player that can give us that option thats for sure, whether we sign someone remains to be seen. I have a feeling it will be Berbatov or nobody especially with the problems that have arisen with Spurs now.

Maybe Saha can stay fit all season long

hycool

Rooney had been experimented to play at different positions last season, which for me I think that is was the reason why he failed to score much goals. But Rooney always is a source of inspiration with his never-say-die attitude. Maybe when Ronaldo leaves, then SAF will not build his formation around Ronaldo, which he might be able to let Rooney play at his most deadly position.

GusHiddink

hycool

There is no need for mocking seriously. Time will tell eventually and mindless speculation about the future is really pointless because everything has the same chance to happen. If it comes true then good for you, if it doesnt then we move on. Really, I see no point in emphasizing too much on the future where everything is only a matter of probabilities.

Tibs

If Rooney just has a kid, he'll be sorted!

Anderson8

Good to know SAF has let us know that he hopes to play Rooney behind the main striker......(Berbatov). I really want to see Wayne bang in 30+ goals next season.

Doevle

KeyserSoze

That does not get old hey?

He did play in 24 games last year.

edmundo

Can't think of a player that has played that well in so many different positions and never complained once, he just loves playing football. Wouldn't be worrying about Rooney too much,we're the best club team in the Europe and are only getting stronger. He will improve, he's at the best club to do so and with the possibility of an out and out striker coming in to the squad, he will benefit. His unselfishness nearly works against him sometimes!

charlenefan

That'll be added to Levy's dossier then

Sylar

He can only improve if he plays in his position, which has been alluded to. Rooneys time can only be deemed a success though despite not scoring off the charts like some expected.

Hes sacrificed himself for the good of the team when needed (eg Barcelona last year), has scored important goals, has been an important player (not losing whilst he played the full match or something crazy like that) and of course, has helped us win important trophies.

rotherham_red

Not to the extent that Rooney has though, and he has never put in a shift like Rooney has..

Fergies Formula

rooney deserves to have a team built round him, he shouldn't be filling in the cracks if we are honest, that said he does a great job doing it but i want to see him fulfill his talents and show exactly what we know he is capable of on a consistent basis in a position which is natural to him

Sylar

Ronaldo had to play on the left.... play on the right..

Well yeah

Alex

I have to disagree about the second part of that statement. Ronaldo has put in just as much effort as Rooney, he just does in different ways. He might not wear it on his shoulder as much as rooney or do it for the team as much, but he tries to score goals as much as anybody and well those win games and the lad got 42 last year from a wing/attacking mid position, which is Special. That said I reckon Wazza will get at least 30 this year if for no other reason than a player woth that much talent and desire is due some good luck