Given hes a striker, tbh, Id rather he just score in every game until the end of the season (even if hes shit for the rest of the game) than be playing well / good.
Rooney's form - improving?
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Its not just stats, I was there in the ground to see how crap he was against Soton - I remember he had a similar position to the one he scored against Derby and hit woefully wide plus he lost the ball far too often when in posession.
Clearly he has been better but I think you are going too far - Aguero, Kane, Vardy and probably a couple of others have been better since the turn of the year.
I do agree that he is vital to our top4 chances though but hes going to have to improve further still for us to make it.
Against Stoke, do you remember him barging that defender out of the way and scoring a disallowed goal?
I loved to see that. Power/pace - he was like a hurricane in that game (scoring another goal within minutes of that incident).
He basically forced the ball into the net, by any means necessary and we have been lacking that since LVG took over.
He is definitely playing better than he was at the start of the season. Absolutely no question about it.
I loved to see that. Power/pace - he was like a hurricane in that game (scoring another goal within minutes of that incident).
He basically forced the ball into the net, by any means necessary and we have been lacking that since LVG took over.
He is definitely playing better than he was at the start of the season. Absolutely no question about it.
You do realise that nothing came off for Martial against Southampton as well right?
He's scored 7 goals with 2 assists in 7 games since the turn of the year. It couldn't be more obvious that his form has improved. Statistically, he's been the best player in the league since Jan 1st.
There were big signs of improvement before he started scoring as well. If we've really turned a corner, and Van Gaal is going to let them play proper football from now on, I can see Wayne having a big end to the season.
There were big signs of improvement before he started scoring as well. If we've really turned a corner, and Van Gaal is going to let them play proper football from now on, I can see Wayne having a big end to the season.
Hopefully this is like the 2010/2011 season. Rooney was abysmal in the first half, and then returned to lead the team to the title and CL final.
Title and CL final under SAF = 4th place and EL under LVG
Title and CL final under SAF = 4th place and EL under LVG
Surprisingly he's not even made the 6 man short list for POTM in the PLHe's scored 7 goals with 2 assists in 7 games since the turn of the year. It couldn't be more obvious that his form has improved. Statistically, he's been the best player in the league since Jan 1st.
There were big signs of improvement before he started scoring as well. If we've really turned a corner, and Van Gaal is going to let them play proper football from now on, I can see Wayne having a big end to the season.
Wayne been very good of late. It's easier when everyone is of the same mindset. I would feel for any striker, playing for us much of last season and this. The quality hasn't been there and because of the negativity going forward, it's hard to keep making runs knowing the ball won't be coming to you. What's pleasing is that, he's getting in efforts on goal. We've finding him higher up the pitch and he should break Charltons record this season. We're good enough to win trophies this season if we get some luck and if we stop worrying.
You could suggest his form coincided with rumors of Chinese interest. He'll certainly be thinking of the future but right now, he's leading from the front.
You could suggest his form coincided with rumors of Chinese interest. He'll certainly be thinking of the future but right now, he's leading from the front.
Yes, I do. I do realise as well that Martial's close control is far better than Rooney's and he has shown it against Arsenal, City, Liverpool, etc. Is there a single Rooney fan who would deny it?
Hopefully, Rooney is going to be as good till the end of the season as he has been since the start of the year. Maybe the long months of frustration in 2015 will give him enough energy and ambition to play well in 2016. I doubt it but no-one fully knows what is possible and what is not. We are toying with probabilities here.
May 2016 be his best year ever. I think he lacks the tools to maintain an excellent form for more than 2-3 months (i.e., ability in tight spaces, explosiveness, strong physical presence in the box, etc.) but let's hope that he will do it and prove his doubters wrong.
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Why is it improving:
- Rooney has finally got bored of being sh**
- Rooney wants to move to China on big money
- Rooney doesn't want Roy to look like a fool when he picks Rooney to play Euros ahead of Vardy and Kane
Make your choice
- Rooney has finally got bored of being sh**
- Rooney wants to move to China on big money
- Rooney doesn't want Roy to look like a fool when he picks Rooney to play Euros ahead of Vardy and Kane
Make your choice
Could be something to do with the birth of his son?
Well, he didn't have it did he? So he should be fit enough
He has been our player of the month in January, but the long term concerns over his consistency remain. We still need to make finding and acquiring his replacement a priority
Or the more likely reason that the senior players have spoken to van Gaal and he's been open to some change in his tactics making us slightly more open. The increases pace of lingard and martial outside is allowing Rooney more space and the team has started creating more opportunities. Sometimes form isn't just about the individual it's about the team and Rooney has been greatly affected by the teams lack of form.Why is it improving:
- Rooney has finally got bored of being sh**
- Rooney wants to move to China on big money
- Rooney doesn't want Roy to look like a fool when he picks Rooney to play Euros ahead of Vardy and Kane
Make your choice
Absolutely. I was just trying to consolidate the list from what some on caf assume.
Yeh of course, and while I'm not sure if Rooneys form will last all season there's no way he's a shite as he shown at the start of this year
If his form carries on like this we might be able to flog him to China for £100m
he is well and truly back. He and Mata
His touch is sharp, his control is top drawer and he clearly thinks he can pull great strokes again. The matchly chip nearly went in this time and it took strength and top quality to carve out the chance. A completely different sportsman from the clot who played away at Villa in August.
Even if he didn't have a great game yesterday he looks so much better now. On an average day he is now at least somewhat of a threat again and not a complete waste of space. Hope he can hold his form for the rest of the season, could be vital in our race for 4th place for us.
He resembles a striker again. So yes, his form is improving. On the other hand, he's also in decline.
Who's back though? Rooney of 2011? Or Rooney of the first half of Moeys's season? Or Rooney of last season? And for how long?
He doesn't make me swear at the TV as much. Still want him gone at the end of the season though.
I'll go with significantly improved (needed to be), looks more competitive & confident, technique & finishing back up to acceptable level.
Not convinced overall, though, that he should be our 1st choice forward. He needs to drop off the front, he isn't a Big Club top top sole striker anymore for me.
Not convinced overall, though, that he should be our 1st choice forward. He needs to drop off the front, he isn't a Big Club top top sole striker anymore for me.
We shall find out
He's improved. I still think he needs to be a rotational striker at United, though. He hasn't got the tools anymore to be a top centre forward like Aguero, Suarez or Costa (in a good environment). He's got the ability to finish, but hasn't got the general play, physicality, mobility etc we need from our striker. It would be a mistake to rely on him for next season as our number 9 (role-wise) as we did for this season. We'd again end up with egg on our faces as we did this season.
Would be suicidal to make him the main man next season although it will probably happen. He is nowhere close to being a top tier player.
you almost got me there.Rooney always had these games where he was below his norm. But I think that van Gaal's 'style' and tactics did drain his confidence and made him a poorer player.
He held up the ball very well vs Chelsea, however, he really was never a threat to score. I don't think he'll ever be a big time striker again because he can't beat defenders and has trouble creating space for a shot. We need a new striker next year.
At this standard, everyone barring De Gea and Martial would be Squad players
Either your standards are too high or you're following the wrong league.Slightly.
Spot on. I think he's shown recently that he's still got plenty of technique and ability going for him. The Newcastle game was the perfect example. Two goals and an assist, but with a moment where he was taking on an opposition defender and looked hilariously hopeless at the mere prospect of trying to run past another footballer.
I'm fine to keep him around, but unless we really feel that Martial is ready to play as our main, most reliable goalscoring striker, then we probably need another option.
Not to go on too much of a tangent, but it could be one of the benefits to Mourinho coming in. I feel like he'd probably be willing to sacrifice Rooney if we felt it was beneficial for the side, while I'm not sure that the same would happen with someone who already has a history of working alongside him.
It'll be interesting to see how he's used next season, though. The expectation of how he'll perform will be very different, in that we'll be surprised if he's at his highest level, yet still frustrated if he isn't considering any side with high aspirations tends to need a top striker.
I agree with the bit about Mourinho. Say what you will about him, and I know I do, but he's someone who is unafraid to make difficult decisions and drop big names if needed. He did it with Terry, he did with Casillas and he did it with Hazard. There won't be much of the "privileges" nonsense we've seen from LVG regarding Rooney.
I honestly think Rooney's problem is his off season. I think he lets himself go so far in the offseason that it takes 6 months to play his way back into form. This isn't a one off thing either. This has been the norm for Rooney for years.
If he wants to prolong his years at the club, I think he needs to get on the Giggs program. Year round training, keep himself tip top during the off season because the older he gets, the further his body declines each off season and the harder and longer it is for him to get back to where he should and can be.
If he wants to prolong his years at the club, I think he needs to get on the Giggs program. Year round training, keep himself tip top during the off season because the older he gets, the further his body declines each off season and the harder and longer it is for him to get back to where he should and can be.
He has scored goals lately, but it's really too late to start now. Where was he in December? A similar form next season is not going to be acceptable for a club aiming for trophies. If he stays, we definitely need some options up top so it's possible to bench Rooney. If that option is Martial, then we need someone on the left wing (and right), because 1 attacker of an acceptable level is not enough.
Well, last year he was rubbish from March onward , i.e. months before the off season. He hasn't had a great season since 11-12. Surely, the problem goes much deeper than simply the off season.
he still looks like he's past his best. but Iam glad to see that more recently he has shown that isn't completely useless like he was in 2015 and still score some nice goals.
maybe I'm being too generous on him though, after giving him loads of stick when he was grossly underperforming.
maybe I'm being too generous on him though, after giving him loads of stick when he was grossly underperforming.