How does LVG solve the Rooney problem?

[Rowem]

He'd more likely be red-faced and pointing angrily at van Gaal after scoring. You know how footballers are.

Quite possibly. If he didn't accept that his form is shocking and deserves to be dropped then frankly he can move clubs. I don't think even Rooney's biggest apologists (of which I'm probably one) would side with Rooney of van Gaal.

That said I can't see him being dropped against Arsenal. It will be against a weaker side at first so it can be disguised as mere rotation.

 

[Borys]

His touch has been incredibly shit for a long, long time now. It's shocking. I don't even know what van Gaal is counting on.

I’d give the armband to Smalling and drop him in a heartbeat. We won’t miss him.

 

[MV12]

If I was LVG i'd get my gonads out, wave them in Roonys face, whilst at the same time telling him that his will be well and truely amputated if he doesn't sort himself out!

 

[Steven Seagull]

Wait until it's beyond all doubt that his day has come. Probably wait till Rooney realises it too and maybe starts to think about life elsewhere. Confidence is none existent at the moment which is making everything even worse

 

[2 man midfield]

He'll probably move to the MLS soon. End of this season, maybe next. Smalling becomes captain, Mata goes to number 10. Can't see him staying much longer.

 

[NinjaZombie]

Im baffled that nobody in this or the post match thread is mentioning Valencia also.

He is not undroppable, unlike Rooney. If not for the Shaw injury, I doubt Valencia would get a look in at this stage of the season.

As for Rooney, I don't think Van Gaal will drop him for Herrera while we're doing relatively well, which is what should be done, so we'll just have to try to play him back to form.

I foresee us dropping him when we inevitably lurch into a media narrated crisis (a couple of losses in a short space of time) though.

 

[Srz]

There is nothing Van Gaal can do to improve his performances. It's the basics he is not getting right. Mata took the PK, I guess he is relieved of his duties there unless he decided not to take it. Ander in Rooney's position would benefit the team a lot more. It is difficult for van Gaal to just drop him and big name players do get preferential treatment. He could, for a start, begin to substitute him. If his replacement does better Rooney has to respond or get used to it. RvP did start games when he waas not at his best, last season, until his injury and the team performed better without him. The message was clear to him and to Falcao too who was limited to a substitute role.

 

[JPRouve]

It's like getting rid of Raul, it's easy for us to talk but it's an other story to actually do. When you think about it, he is only 29 years old.

 

[clarkydaz]

its embarrassing how Martial and Memphis are showing him up for doing what he should be, (Or what he used to be like). this is a new team ready to move on without him, its not a case of not being the player he was, he is actually standing in the team's way

 

[Lewis.no.9]

His touch has been incredibly shit for a long, long time now. It's shocking. I don't even know what van Gaal is counting on.

I’d give the armband to Smalling and drop him in a heartbeat. We won’t miss him.

million percent yes. Its my view now and Ive loved Wayne. But he is holding the team back now sadly. I dont think he can break the scoring record either. 3 man midfield supporting Martial as the 9 is the way to go.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Im baffled that nobody in this or the post match thread is mentioning Valencia also.

Valencia is backup, Rooney is our captain. Only injuries keep Valencia in the team, Rooney is there regardless. The difference with RvP though was that we had someone willing to take him off our hands. I seriously doubt any club in Europe that could afford Rooney is interested in wasting a fecktonne of cash on a hasbeen.

 

[sincher]

It is becoming a real worry now. He should be ok by now but I wonder if his legs have gone a bit.

 

[Sylar]

He doesnt. Basically he needs to get an injury for it to happen.

 

[K2K]

One question though - which team would want to buy him now? I don't think Chelsea is interested anymore.

Swap deal, your no. 10 for our no.10....they are on similar wages too so less negotiations

 

[hbgreg]

It'll be very hard to get Rooney for the commercial reasons also, Rooney has basically been the face of Manchester United outside of England - even if they only know one player they know Rooney.

That being said I think Rooney will come good. Has 5 goals and his performances will improve.

 

[Jerch]

Anyone with a gif when Rooney wasted his chance and LVG immediately grabbed a pen and wrote something. @GifLord

 

[NextSeason]

Anyone with a gif when Rooney wasted his chance and LVG immediately grabbed a pen and wrote something. @GifLord

You hoping to work out what he wrote down?

 

[stevoc]

Dropping him would perhaps be the best thing for the team short term.

But it's possible Van Gaal thinks he needs to play to regain form. And an on form Rooney is an asset, so it's sort of catch 22.

I personally doubt he will get back to his best on the bench or in the U21's.

 

[sammsky1]

Ive said this so many times its getting abit boring, but here it goes again.

Against bigger and better clubs and especially in Europe, WE HAVE TO PLAY 3 Man Midfield. Martial is now our best striking option so im sorry but that leaves Rooney benched. We stuggled in that last 25 mins because we only had 2 midfielders, both of which were on Yellow Cards unfairly, so worried about going into the Challenge or breaking up play. Rooney offered 0 protection other than that block he made right infront of De Gea that it looked like he would have stopped anyhow.

I just dont think we can ever really win anything major with 4-4-2 in this day and age. Especially when one of your first 11 happens to be so pointless you might aswell have 10 men. I like wayne and have supported him every step. But you cant beat around the bush. He has had it and is past it now. This isnt just a loss in form. He struggles now with nearly every aspect of the game. How he never scored that chance tonight made from martial again is beyond me. Its a nightmare because at the moment Martial is the only one good enough to take on and beat players to create goal scoring chances, but also the only striker we have who seems pretty clinical. Shame he cant be on the end of this own runs and passes aye.

As a young boy he was a physical genius/freak which meant he was able to things 99.9% of people (athletes included) could not.

But he seems to have lost all attributes and become 'normal'. And without these physical gifts, well he is abit shit. I cant even see him as a quarterback type defensive midfielder because his short passing will let him down.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

It really shouldn't be a problem. If LVG is afraid to drop him for anything other than pure footballing reasons, then he needs to man up.

I don't think that's the issue, however. LVG is probably more pleased with Rooney than most on here. Not chuffed, but pleased enough to keep playing him. Part of it may be down to LVG - simply - wanting him to hit a patch of form too.

You can't reasonably claim that Rooney's underwhelming start to the season has cost us greatly in terms of results.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

I agree that Rooney has been seriously underperforming, but I don't understand why people keep saying he'll be dropped.

LVG isn't going to put his captain on the bench, that simply will not happen - as unfortunate as that may be.

 

[sammsky1]

There is nothing Van Gaal can do to improve his performances. It's the basics he is not getting right. Mata took the PK, I guess he is relieved of his duties there unless he decided not to take it. Ander in Rooney's position would benefit the team a lot more. It is difficult for van Gaal to just drop him and big name players do get preferential treatment. He could, for a start, begin to substitute him. If his replacement does better Rooney has to respond or get used to it. RvP did start games when he waas not at his best, last season, until his injury and the team performed better without him. The message was clear to him and to Falcao too who was limited to a substitute role.

And Perreira took the free kick, relieving him of those duties!

 

[Loon]

I'm starting to wonder if he has a play clause in his contract. Just when you think he's back, he isn't.

 

[Lewis.no.9]

As a young boy he was a physical genius/freak which meant he was able to things 99.9% of people (athletes included) could not.

But he seems to have lost all attributes and become 'normal'. And without these physical gifts, well he is abit shit. I cant even see him as a quarterback type defensive midfielder because his short passing will let him down.

totally would. Couple of seasons ago when his long range passing really came on and he was hitting long passes everywhere (usually to Valencia or whatever granted) I was one who thought that PERHAPS he could then have a role in midfield. But what we see now, there is no way in a million years he can play midfield. He exploded early, he peaked early, he faded early. I guess it was to be expected. MLS would be a great switch for him and his family. He could do the Beckham thing. I genuinely now believe, for the first time in a long time, we are not reliant on Rooney and can and likely will look better with him out of the team.

 

[JackXX]

It's getting to the point where I wonder what's written in his contract. I want to see him play well for us and it's gone beyond me getting pissed off with him. He looks mentally & physically incapable at times. Maybe a break out of the team would do him some good?

 

[Jerch]

You hoping to work out what he wrote down?

No of course not but it was similar type of reaction as a look he gave when Hernandez missed that penalty.

 

[JPRouve]

I agree that Rooney has been seriously underperforming, but I don't understand why people keep saying he'll be dropped.

LVG isn't going to put his captain on the bench, that simply will not happen - as unfortunate as that may be.

One day LVG will tell Rooney that he is shit, Rooney will angrily disagree and LVG will drop him forever.

 

[RU Devil]

Considering the "Burn Out" thread & Martial maybe getting tired, maybe it's time to put Rooney as a #9 occasionally to get the juices flowing. That would allow Herrera to play #10. Otherwise, it's time to rotate Rooney & Herrera, as Rooney has become a liability. He's where counters go to die.

 

[rotherham_red]

To think what this team could achieve if it had a proper 10 playing in his natural position

 

[royboy16]

Thats been the most disappointing aspect for me. I think LVG has met his side of the bargain by finding Rooney a fantastic, strong no 9 who can run and run, allowing him into his best no 10 position. But he has not utilised this opportunity at all since Martial joined. Annoying as hell.

Surely that partnership deserves more time to develop ?

 

[Sam]

Dropping him would perhaps be the best thing for the team short term.

But it's possible Van Gaal thinks he needs to play to regain form. And an on form Rooney is an asset, so it's sort of catch 22.

I personally doubt he will get back to his best on the bench or in the U21's.

I've been hearing this a lot, both on here and in the media, but to me it just sounds like a cliche with no substance.

Because, what is an 'in form' Wayne Rooney? When was he last in form? When was he last a top top player? His last outstanding season was 5 years ago. He's been patchy ever since then, and getting worse and worse. When did he last have even a good season? Fergie's last season he got dropped by the end, he had a good start to Moyes' season then tailed off and became as crap as everyone else, last season he was decent at best with the odd very good performance, thats three years right there.

I don't think there is such thing as an 'in form' Rooney anymore tbh. Because even a in form Rooney isn't that great. You'll get a handful of good performances, and that's about it.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

One day LVG will tell Rooney that he is shit, Rooney will angrily disagree and LVG will drop him forever.

Not sure what it will take, another 50 terrible performances maybe? He's practically undroppable.

 

[Crackers]

I say we drop Rooney, put Herrera or Mata in his place. Martial is fantastic and I'd rather risk trying Wilson than Rooney.

You hoping to work out what he wrote down?

We've got enough "cafexperts", I'm sure we can figure it out. Something to do with his hold up play I'd imagine.

 

[clarkydaz]

Considering the "Burn Out" thread & Martial maybe getting tired, maybe it's time to put Rooney as a #9 occasionally to get the juices flowing. That would allow Herrera to play #10. Otherwise, it's time to rotate Rooney & Herrera, as Rooney has become a liability. He's where counters go to die.

 

[Borys]

Actually saying "we don't need him" is 100% true at this particular moment in time. It seems Memphis (in poor form too) is getting in better goalscoring positions, while both Martial and Mata are undroppables on current form.

Unlucky though, the one player that could replace him is out injured but even when ready to play, isn’t rated by van Gaal.

 

[soapythecat]

Regardless of what he has done in the past, he his not worth a place on the bench this season. He has been shocking yet still finds himself in the pitch. It's embarrassing.
How long do we have to put up with his poor performances - especially given how well the rest of the team are playing? He has no excuse.

 

[Ananke]

Didnt get a chance to see the match tonight. How bad was he? Worst in the team or just playing average?

 

[NinjaZombie]

Anyone with a gif when Rooney wasted his chance and LVG immediately grabbed a pen and wrote something. @GifLord

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[SteveJ]

Anyone with a gif when Rooney wasted his chance and LVG immediately grabbed a pen and wrote something.

Might've been a poem.

 

[Brightonian]

The answer would seem to be to start to rotate him. Herrera is screaming out to be played in that position anyway, so mix them up. Rooney's not playing so terribly that he needs to be completely dropped, but nor is he playing well enough to have any grounds to be pissed off if, for example, we benched him against Arsenal. LVG can simply meet any media scrutiny with the line that 'Rooney played 90 hard minutes against Wolfsburg and we needed to give him a rest.'