Wayne Rooney, The Midfield General? Mourinho Says No.

What should we do with Rooney ?

  • Keep him as a starting XI player

    Votes: 23 6.7%
  • Sell him

    Votes: 221 64.8%
  • Keep him as a squad player

    Votes: 97 28.4%

  • Total voters
    341
  • Poll closed .

dichinero

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I am saying anyone who can't call a spade a spade has an agenda. You can admit Rooney had a good performance without wanting him to be a part of Manchester United. That is my point.
Have you ever wondered why he is the most talked about player in the last 2 seasons and hardly has it been for positive remarks? I don't consider it an agenda when majority of fans are unified on his performances. That is calling a spade a spade.
 

shamans

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Have you ever wondered why he is the most talked about player in the last 2 seasons and hardly has it been for positive remarks? I don't consider it an agenda when majority of fans are unified on his performances. That is calling a spade a spade.
Majority of fans are certainly not unified on his performances. Whether he should be a part of Man United? Yeah, the majority are (sort of) Unified on that (which is also a stretch).

I am talking performances. Those that simply deny his good performances have an agenda. They can't admit that he had a good performance, even though they don't want to see a United team go forward with him.
 

Isotope

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I think what he really lacks is brains. He always seem to drop too deep and chase the ball when he doesn't need to.
He does lack the brain of a creative midfielder, but for a striker/forward, he's more than decent. It's just his physical decline restricts his on and off the ball movements, which make him extremely not suitable as a forward for top teams.

The argument that he'll perform better with better teammates is a moot point. Unless he's so special out of norm player, good player would shine regardless of teammates.

The most people can argue is he's been playing on tactics that unsuitable to his strength. It's been proven that some players can excel on certain style/tactic (Vardy, Xavi) or they become the main man where every team movement is centered around them (Riquelme, Pirlo).

Now, the million dollar question is, do you think we should change the team tactic to accommodate Rooney? Is he worth to be the main man for a team that aspired to be one of the best in the world? Does Rooney has the consistency and abilities over a long season and years to come?
 

devilish

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He does lack the brain of a creative midfielder, but for a striker/forward, he's more than decent. It's just his physical decline restricts his on and off the ball movements, which make him extremely not suitable as a forward for top teams.

The argument that he'll perform better with better teammates is a moot point. Unless he's so special out of norm player, good player would shine regardless of teammates.

The most people can argue is he's been playing on tactics that unsuitable to his strength. It's been proven that some players can excel on certain style/tactic (Vardy, Xavi) or they become the main man where every team movement is centered around them (Riquelme, Pirlo).

Now, the million dollar question is, do you think we should change the team tactic to accommodate Rooney? Is he worth to be the main man for a team that aspired to be one of the best in the world? Does Rooney has the consistency and abilities over a long season and years to come?
That's it, he's decent. He's no Totti, Baggio or Del Piero who could use their superb football brain to compensate for their diminishing physical ability. I don't think that Rooney is finished yet and actually I would be surprised if he's not first teamer (Mkhitaryan will probably play as RW and Mata will leave, which means that Rooney will compete against the likes of Fellaini, Herrera and co for a top spot). However he wont be around for a long time.
 

harms

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I quite like Mourinho's directness. If (more likely when) Rooney as a forward won't work he won't be shoehorned deeper, he will be benched - and as a forward you have to provide decent stats, more than in any other position.

Also, I don't believe that Ibra would be dropped for Rooney like Van Persie was (not saying that we should've kept him, mind)

So, the beginning of the end? :drool:

I won't be against the scenario where Rooney suddenly reinvents himself though, but this isn't likely
 

Isotope

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That's it, he's decent. He's no Totti, Baggio or Del Piero who could use their superb football brain to compensate for their diminishing physical ability. I don't think that Rooney is finished yet and actually I would be surprised if he's not first teamer (Mkhitaryan will probably play as RW and Mata will leave, which means that Rooney will compete against the likes of Fellaini, Herrera and co for a top spot). However he wont be around for a long time.
Agreed. I don't mind with Rooney still around, but he shouldn't be guaranteed a spot on first XI.
 

Reddevildans

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I'm really happy Jose put the myth of Rooney being some sort of great makeshift central midfielder to bed. He would have been a disaster there if he played two-thirds of the games next season in midfield. He's very limited in his technique when under pressure and when things have to notch up a level, he goes missing. The intensity of the game gets to him and his passing is overrated hugely in midfield.Those crossfield balls to the right/left backs and wingers look good on tv but there probably the easiest passes you can make when opposition defenders leave space on the flanks. Everyone can see that pass, both on tv and in the stands. One thing I really like with a Jose set up is he prefers to play players in their preferred positions. For too many seasons we have seen midfielders play in defence, strikers play in midfield, wingers play at full back,and so on. This has to stop for the sake of fluidity and consistency in our football. For me, Rooney won't have a major role to play this season and I expect him to realise this by January. But hopefully he can break the United goalscoring record by then.
 

SirAF

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you have no idea what people are willing to claim on here. Not long ago I had about 5 posters telling me that Valencia was the best right back in the league when I was saying he is not even a decent one in the PL let alone Europe.
:lol:
 

Smores

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So we're back to his supporters saying he's a striker again are we?

Glad Mourinho won't shoe horn him into the team in an unnatural position. Can't imagine he'll suddenly perform up front again though.
 

Minimalist

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Seems clear he's setting up Rooney to either spark back into life (I doubt it will happen) or to provide ample evidence he's finished, making his exit at the end of this upcoming season easier to digest.

Doesn't have the legs, workrate nor technical ability for no. 10. I think he's competing with Rashford and Zlatan for no.9 if genuinely wants to prove his worth this season. Otherwise he's done.

I think both Herrera and Mata (even despite Mourinho's lack of fondness for him) would be more desirable for Mourinho in terms of the no.10 slot.
 

NJM78

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This is the best thing I took from the presser. So Rooney better get his scoring boots back on or develop the ability to be an effective 10 which requires a better range on intricate passing and nous. He fails at both he gets dropped.
 
Last edited:

Revan

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Happy with these news.

I guess that Rooney will start the season as No.10 and finish it on the bench. Mourinho isn't afraid to make big decisions that might be very unfavorable with the media as he has shown by selling Raul and benching Casillas.
 

Escobar

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How I understand is that Rooney either performs in that position or he's on the bench. Players play according to their form, and that's exactly what I wanted
 

DomesticTadpole

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What Wayne will be dreading is being sat on a beach on holiday and somebody impresses in pre-season in his position. Last three season it might not have mattered, but he is no longer untouchable.
 

Art Vandelay

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I am talking performances. Those that simply deny his good performances have an agenda. They can't admit that he had a good performance, even though they don't want to see a United team go forward with him.
No. No they do not. They simply don't think he was good. It's neither an agenda nor rocket science. Lowering your standard of what you think is good in order to apply it to one player and not others is closer to an agenda than simply not thinking someone was good enough.
 

LeftyBlaster

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Majority of fans are certainly not unified on his performances. Whether he should be a part of Man United? Yeah, the majority are (sort of) Unified on that (which is also a stretch).

I am talking performances. Those that simply deny his good performances have an agenda. They can't admit that he had a good performance, even though they don't want to see a United team go forward with him.
People don't deny his good performances. They take it with a pinch of salt. That's different from having an agenda. And they have every right to take it with a pinch of salt given that said "good performances" are far and few between, and more importantly would be considered "decent" or "to be expected" performances for any other player because of the ridiculously low standards with which he is judged. You're just a crybaby fanboy.
 

SkeppyRed

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Mourinho's explanation on the current Rooney situation was the best I've heard yet. Summed it up so well.
 

AKDevil

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Initially it seemed like a positive but it's actually the beginning of the end for Rooney.
Unlike other managers Mourinho won't shoehorn Rooney into the team.
So, he has to be better than Zlatan, Martial and Rashford to start, otherwise he is on the bench.
Is he? Will he be? I am not convinced.
After all, he was shoved back in midfield because he wasn't a better striker than Rashford or no10 than others we played there or a better striker or no10 for England.
His untouchable status, it seems, went out the door with LVG.
 

shamans

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No. No they do not. They simply don't think he was good. It's neither an agenda nor rocket science. Lowering your standard of what you think is good in order to apply it to one player and not others is closer to an agenda than simply not thinking someone was good enough.
So you're saying since 2016 Rooney has not put in a single good performance that has been coupled with posters saying it wasn't good? I disagree with both points there.


People don't deny his good performances. They take it with a pinch of salt. That's different from having an agenda. And they have every right to take it with a pinch of salt given that said "good performances" are far and few between, and more importantly would be considered "decent" or "to be expected" performances for any other player because of the ridiculously low standards with which he is judged. You're just a crybaby fanboy.
Ah, from "retards" to "just a crybab fanboy". When you learn how to argue rather than name call, come back. You are just proving my point if anything.
 

newgiz

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Just heard the complete press conference. I am quite happy and a little bit surprised as well that Jose was quite straightforward and open about his opinion on Rooney. This bodes well for us, as I can only see positives coming out of this.

If this spurs Rooney on and he starts scoring (which I might add is highly unlikely given how bad he's been for the past few seasons) then well and good, if he doesn't and throws a tantrum then Jose will no doubt throw him under the bus. We can ship him off to MLS/China or wherever he chooses to go.
 

LeftyBlaster

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So you're saying since 2016 Rooney has not put in a single good performance that has been coupled with posters saying it wasn't good? I disagree with both points there.




Ah, from "retards" to "just a crybab fanboy". When you learn how to argue rather than name call, come back. You are just proving my point if anything.
Actually if you'd bother to read the rest of my post maybe you could actually argue it. The whole part about justified skepticism. But you can't can you? Because one can't argue with the truth.
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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I don't know why most people are taking Mourinho's comments on Rooney as a negative. I bet Rooney will love those comments.

Mourinho specifically said, "the natural appetite to put the ball in the net never changes."

Rooney has a great goalscoring record, and is a few goals away from being our all time top goalscorer. He obviously feels Rooney can still contribute going forward, and I do too. There are very few 10's nowadays, who can get you 15-20 goals from the 10/9 and a half position. In my opinion, Rooney can do that, and has done so in previous seasons. Sure, his goal tally has gone down in the last few years, but we haven't exactly been brilliant in the last few years, and the quality hasn't really been there.

With the addition of Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan, and hopefully Pogba, I'm hoping we will become the team we once were - a team that creates bucket loads of chances per game, and doesn't have to dwell on one or two misses.
 

MarchingOn

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Thank you, Jose. Get someone that is meant to play the role. Thank you Wayne for your service to this club, but it's time to evolve.
 

RedElf

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Penny for the thoughts of Rooney right now. Will he roll his socks up and relish the challenge, or throw his toys out the pram?
 

PepsiCola

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Rooney has a great goalscoring record, and is a few goals away from being our all time top goalscorer. He obviously feels Rooney can still contribute going forward, and I do too. There are very few 10's nowadays, who can get you 15-20 goals from the 10/9 and a half position. In my opinion, Rooney can do that, and has done so in previous seasons. Sure, his goal tally has gone down in the last few years, but we haven't exactly been brilliant in the last few years, and the quality hasn't really been there.
And so the cycle repeats.
 

Art Vandelay

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So you're saying since 2016 Rooney has not put in a single good performance that has been coupled with posters saying it wasn't good? I disagree with both points there.
I'm saying that he's not been good enough to warrant the universal praise you're demanding for him and claiming that anyone who doesn't hold the same low standards as you has an agenda is as ridiculous as it is naive. He's been decent at best. When even his new manager is making the point that his midfield performances came whilst under no pressure and they weren't good enough to earn him a place in midfield then you have to give up the agenda fight at some point.
 

shamans

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I'm saying that he's not been good enough to warrant the universal praise you're demanding for him and claiming that anyone who doesn't hold the same low standards as you has an agenda is as ridiculous as it is naive. He's been decent at best. When even his new manager is making the point that his midfield performances came under no pressure you have to give up the agenda fight at some point.
That's exactly what I did not say. I was talking about specific performances and not as a whole. In fact, my point is saying Rooney has been poor is a fair point but there are some that will also deny his good performances when he has them.

Passing a judgement on Rooney -- that he isn't good enoug for us/has been poor/needs to leave United is just an opinion and not having an agenda. However when you blindly critisize him for every loss and discredit games in which he actually performs well, you have an agenda and aren't calling it how it is (and not talking about you here...)
 

mu4c_20le

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I think Jose will get the best out of him. With proper service and not having to rely on him to make the play all the time, he'll start scoring again. Jose won't move him at least not this year, he'll want to get him playing well again because that will also make him look good. He'll be a hero with the media.
 

derace

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you guys could also just stop saying how shit he is and just wait till the season begins. if he plays behind the striker he could still bang in a good amount of goals. if he does not he will be benched anyway. unreal how much stick this guy gets..
 

LeftyBlaster

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That's exactly what I did not say. I was talking about specific performances and not as a whole. In fact, my point is saying Rooney has been poor is a fair point but there are some that will also deny his good performances when he has them.

Passing a judgement on Rooney -- that he isn't good enoug for us/has been poor/needs to leave United is just an opinion and not having an agenda. However when you blindly critisize him for every loss and discredit games in which he actually performs well, you have an agenda and aren't calling it how it is (and not talking about you here...)
Then you'll find that there are many opinions on here and not agendas by your own definition. And once again, taking good performances with a pinch of salt based on hard evidence is not discrediting him.
 

Art Vandelay

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That's exactly what I did not say. I was talking about specific performances and not as a whole. In fact, my point is saying Rooney has been poor is a fair point but there are some that will also deny his good performances when he has them.

Passing a judgement on Rooney -- that he isn't good enoug for us/has been poor/needs to leave United is just an opinion and not having an agenda. However when you blindly critisize him for every loss and discredit games in which he actually performs well, you have an agenda and aren't calling it how it is (and not talking about you here...)
All those games he put in good 90 minute performances and we didn't praise him. Shame on us. Your standards for a good performance and other people's aren't matching up, it's not an agenda, people just expect more of Manchester United players than you. People have a right to deny he had a good performance if they don't think he had one or if it comes with caveats. He's not a sacred cow to be protected, he's a footballer that's not delivered.