Wayne Rooney aims to join greats in World Cup year

dave2528

Why?

Ingerlund for the most part lack any real target up front for Wazza to play off of and he does just fine for them.

When Wayne caught fire at the end of last year he wasn't playing off of anyone in particular.

No he's not the tallest player but I don't have as big a problem with Rooney playing in front of Berbatov at times and at other times vice a versa.


I for one have little doubt that Rooney can lead our attack.

Lot 49

Imo Rooney has played his best stuff for England when he's played behind someone, either back when was Owen was good like in Euro 2004 or more recently behind Heskey. He has the odd good game for them when leading the line much like he does for us but in general he causes teams far more problems when allowed to drop deep.



You mean the end of last season when Rooney moved to the left wing because we were looking so infective with him leading the line and Berbatov playing behind?

dave2528

Heskey doesn't put the fear into anyone, and hardly draws any pressure away from Rooney. England have no real front man (don't even mention Crouch) for Rooney to play off of. The last few games (yes I know they've played absolute shit teams) Rooney has been playing almost exclusively as a number 9 type and doing a decent job.


And no, not when Rooney was shuffled out wide. I'm talking about last December early January. Right around the time we beat the stuffing out of Chelsea.


I just don't understand the fear of him playing up front at times.

BaldwinLegend

Doesn't Rooney himself say his favourite partner upfront is Heskey and that he loves playing with him?

AttackingFlair

You didn't see England vs Croatia then? The centre backs had a tough time handling the physical presence of Heskey, he kept them occupied while Rooney could pick up the ball and play the creative passes to Walcott.

dave2528

This is true. I completely forgot about that match.


I'm not saying that Rooney is the type that can lead the line in a 4-5-1. It's just that with our style of play in a 4-4-2, we end up most times with a formation that doesn't really maintain shape.


I think what i'm trying to say is that it's less of an issue of whether or not Rooney lines up as number 10 or 9, but more an issue that we need him to line up as one of those two, and not as a winger in order for him to be the most affective.

Lot 49

Imo Heskey does take quite a lot of pressure off Rooney actually, he's a rubbish footballer but just his presence allows Rooney more license to drop deep and create. Plus as I mentioned earlier I think Rooney's height counts against him when he has to lead the line and with Heskey on the pitch Rooney doesn't have to bother going for any high balls as Heskey challenges for them all and Rooney can just wait for the knock down.

You are right that Rooney has done well in an advanced role recently for England but you are also right that the teams he has playing against are complete jokes. It's obviously going to be easier for him to shine against this kind of opposition than it is playing against decent premiership and CL teams where I can only think of a handful of games Rooney had played well in leading the line.

He was alright against Chelsea but not particularly outstanding, Fletcher and Giggs, especially Giggs, dominated the game for me that day. Anyway you'll always be able to point to odd games or runs of games where Rooney played well to justify him playing in a specific position. I could turn around and say he should be a left winger because of how well he played there towards the end of last season against Sunderland, Middlesbrough, second half of Tottenham game and both semi-final legs against Arsenal.

The 'fear' of playing him upfront is just because I don't think he's that good there that's all. He's a great player and can play well in any attacking position but I don't see the same potential in him as a forward who leads the line as I did in him playing in the hole when he was very young and which he realised in 05/06 when he was one of the top 3 or 4 players in the league while in that position.

Walrus

great attitude Rooney has, great guy on and off the field (not that ive ever met him, but still)

positionally, i agree with Lot 49 - Berbatov should be leading the line and Rooney playing off him. Berbatovs qualities (first touch, holdup play and vision/passing) are all if anything better used when he is playing higher up the field. Similarly, we have seen time and time again that Rooney is at his best when playing behind a main striker, like he does for England with Heskey.

I can see Rooney and Berbatov forming a good partnership if Berbatov is played further up the field, and they can freely interchange and allow Berba to drop deep at times and Rooney push up, but Berbatov is wearing the #9 shirt and Rooney the #10, and thats the way they should play.

Anderson Searl

No doubt, and from a strictly football playing perspective you take Ronaldo.

But in terms of the overall package, why in gods name would you take him over Rooney? Especially given what's gone on the last 2 or 3 years?

Jarmon

I believe him. I think he will destroy defenders when he hit his peak!

vikram10

The fucker's lethal when on a rut. Just let him rip. He'll torture anyone on his way.