Hope so.Rooney is the playmaker we need... i love his composure... his passings are sublime. And he can score too. The perfect Scholes replacement.
That's actually disrespectful to Scholsey if Rooney sitting in his own half popping passes about with Stoke putting zero pressure on our midfield actually warrants a comparison to him. Rooney should never be starting in midfield ahead of the likes of Cleverley evem, forget being compared to Scholes.Rooney is the playmaker we need... i love his composure... his passings are sublime. And he can score too. The perfect Scholes replacement.
as was I. in fact at the start of this season I even suggested Rooney would end up playing in central midfield this season because of RVP. i was laughed out of it then. its nice to be right.I suggested years ago that rooney could convert to midfield for us as he gets older and I was laughed out of the place.
I don't think playing a couple of games a season in centre mid really counts as him being converted into a centre mid. Even Rafael's done that. I actually didn't think he played that well, took too many risks with his passing and needed a few touches each time. Most of the time these risky passes came off (without really achieving anything) and he definitely imposed himself on the game more but he still looks at least a dozen games away from being a good option there, IMO.as was I. in fact at the start of this season I even suggested Rooney would end up playing in central midfield this season because of RVP. i was laughed out of it then. its nice to be right.
I've seen this said a lot, but let's be honest it's completely different in CM isn't it..the less critically acclaimed off-form Wayne Rooney would be a walking disaster zone in midfield (with added restricted opportunity to bag a goal to mask over the terrible performance).
Good post this Rowem.I've seen this said a lot, but let's be honest it's completely different in CM isn't it..
In CM he would be asked to perform a different set of tasks - to keep it simple for the most part, attempt less risky passes. It's far more common for an attacking player to have games where nothing comes off form them than CMs. This happens because their duty is to be creative and to make things happen. Their markers are tighter, the gaps for their passes are smaller. There is less margin for error in the attacking third. They are also less involved, which leads to a loss of rhythm.
Less risky passes.....like the simple 5 yard passes he fecks up repeatedly when having one of his days....In CM he would be asked to perform a different set of tasks - to keep it simple for the most part, attempt less risky passes.
Is there any point in anyone replying to you if you're going to take one part of a response, quote it out of context, and make a snarky, pedantic comment?Less risky passes.....like the simple 5 yard passes he fecks up repeatedly when having one of his days....
Certainly is. Why would Sir Alex move him away from AM and into midfield to gain confidence? He looked a lot more comfortable with everything in front of him. Some of his mistakes as an AM comes with his back to goal and allowing the opposition to step in and nick the ball from him. You have to earn the space and steal a march on those around you and be ready to move with the ball once you receive it. As is the case with any position Rooney plays, it depends on how he applies himself. His energy levels were good and he played on the front foot.Good post this Rowem.
You wouldn't think it, looking at some posts around here. A decent performance against possibly the worst team in the league at the moment who's entire football philosophy is hoofing it from one box to the other, completely bypassing midfield and sitting back.Even an on form Rooney would probably not fare very well against top midfields/midfielders. A bit of context is needed because playing against Stoke isn't how we measure players at United.
exactlyEven an on form Rooney would probably not fare very well against top midfields/midfielders. A bit of context is needed because playing against Stoke isn't how we measure players at United.
Are you joking?I hope so, I've always felt Rooney's abilities are more suited to midfield than attack, he lacks a bit of flair. For example, that backheel shop RvP did for the penalty, we will never see Rooney do stuff like that, i.e. creating something out of nothing. I think he might enjoy the added possession that comes off it.
Good points. He naturally has a different focus when he plays deeper. Throwing away passes as an off-the-boil striker doesn't equate to doing the same as a CM. Many CBs complete nine passes out of ten on their day - doesn't mean I'd play them anywhere else on the pitch. It's apples and oranges, really.I've seen this said a lot, but let's be honest it's completely different in CM isn't it..
In CM he would be asked to perform a different set of tasks - to keep it simple for the most part, attempt less risky passes. It's far more common for an attacking player to have games where nothing comes off form them than CMs. This happens because their duty is to be creative and to make things happen. Their markers are tighter, the gaps for their passes are smaller. There is less margin for error in the attacking third. They are also less involved, which leads to a loss of rhythm.
I think we'll see Rooney in midfield in a few years time.
Its not a snarky pedantic point, its a perfectly valid point. Moving his position is not going to have any effect on his off form days. I simply cannt see how having a player who cannt find a teammate five yards away directly in front of the defence is in any way a good idea. It would be fine if people could get out of this "He must play regardless of form " crap that seems to surround him but apparently the team isn't picked on form anymore.Is there any point in anyone replying to you if you're going to take one part of a response, quote it out of context, and make a snarky, pedantic comment?
This isn't the first time he's played there though, is it? He's excelled in that position before.You wouldn't think it, looking at some posts around here. A decent performance against possibly the worst team in the league at the moment who's entire football philosophy is hoofing it from one box to the other, completely bypassing midfield and sitting back.
When? (Not having a dig, I genuinely don't remember)This isn't the first time he's played there though, is it? He's excelled in that position before.
Yup... Even then Rooney managed to make a few extremely awful passes, which a better team would have exploited. He was fine overall but it's not his position - especially as his control and short passing goes to shit when off-form... Can you imagine Rooney against Madrid? We'd get counter-attacked to death.You wouldn't think it, looking at some posts around here. A decent performance against possibly the worst team in the league at the moment who's entire football philosophy is hoofing it from one box to the other, completely bypassing midfield and sitting back.
Played there a handful of times last season and was very good each time. Think it was during one of our many injury crisis.When? (Not having a dig, I genuinely don't remember)
Cheers, I still cannt remember though Must be getting old.Played there a handful of times last season and was very good each time. Think it was during one of our many injury crisis.
Never against proper top oppo though I don't think but he got MOTM in at least 1 of the games.
EDIT: Or it may have been the season before.
I thought that many, myself included, thought he did ok but looked like a striker playing in midfield, as opposed to replacement for Paul Scholes.Played there a handful of times last season and was very good each time. Think it was during one of our many injury crisis.
Never against proper top oppo though I don't think but he got MOTM in at least 1 of the games.
EDIT: Or it may have been the season before.
Yeh he doesn't look a natural there. I don't think anyone's suggesting anything other than that. That's not to say he couldn't develop there though.I thought that many, myself included, thought he did ok but looked like a striker playing in midfield, as opposed to replacement for Paul Scholes.
I agree 100% with this.Rooney on paper seems to have all the right attributes to play in CM. Drive, passing, good engine, good vision and has a very good shot - so offers an extra goal threat. Positional sense will come quite easily to him.
If SAF plays him there for the remainder of the season, we could then have a better understanding of how he would cope with it in the future. Signs are good though from the little of him playing in a 2 man midfield.
Tongue in cheek, man. Tongue in cheek.Good post until the muppet finale.
Definitely at least once in Europe last year.Played there a handful of times last season and was very good each time. Think it was during one of our many injury crisis.
Never against proper top oppo though I don't think but he got MOTM in at least 1 of the games.
EDIT: Or it may have been the season before.
Definitely at least once in Europe last year.
How come? Isn't it mainly wingers, fullbacks and attacking midfielders who "get old" too quickly? Centrally, experience and versatility is gold. It's not like Rooney is completely fresh to the CM role either, nor is it far out of his reach in terms of skill set.that ship has surely sailed by now.
October/November 2011 he played in midfield and did very well.Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Wayne Rooney's masterclass in an unfamiliar, central midfield role against Otelul Galati.
Rooney was man of the match in United's 2-0 win at Old Trafford that moved them to the top of Champions League Group C.
Ferguson said: "He was our best player. He showed great awareness of that role.
"His selection of passes at times was very good and he showed great energy and determination. We got a really good performance out of him."
The England striker had played in a withdrawn position in Saturday's 1-0 win at Everton and found himself alongside Anderson for the match against Otelul.
The chance to play in central midfield came because of injuries to Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, while Darren Fletcher is working his way back to fitness.
Rooney responded by dictating from deep. His long diagonal pass started the build-up to Antonio Valencia's eighth-minute goal and he rounded off a laboured team performance with a deflected goal seven minutes from time.
Ferguson added: "It was an option for us and a good option because he has all the qualities you need to be a central midfield player.
"The first thing you have to say about him is that he receives the ball very well. He is aided by the fact he plays in a forward role, when receiving the ball is more of an issue, but that was an advantage for him [against Otelul]."
Rooney said: "I feel I'm a good enough footballer to play anywhere on the park. That's not being big-headed. I feel I am capable of doing that. If the manager wants me to play there, I have no problem in doing that."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15567076
Well, I'd argue that it is outside his skill set, but I can't be bothered going into that again.How come? Isn't it mainly wingers, fullbacks and attacking midfielders who "get old" too quickly? Centrally, experience and versatility is gold. It's not like Rooney is completely fresh to the CM role either, nor is it far out of his reach in terms of skill set.
Rooney has played several games in a midfield-two and countless games in a midfield-three(which isn't THAT much different). And he's already a versatile player. Do you really think it would take him that long to "learn" the positional sense? If so, then I think you underestimate Rooney.More to the point, is he really going to suddenly learn the positional sense and discipline needed to play midfield at the age of 27?