Manchester United and England skipper splits opinions like no other player. Albeit being one of the highest goalscorers in the Premier League people don’t regard him as a great, even United faithfuls have their thoughts against Rooney being called as the club legend. But maybe his stature as the player is the only thing that’s keeping him in te United and England national team.
Rooney started his first class career at a very early age of 16 and he relentless playing has maybe affected his game lately in past 2-3 seasons. Rooney of the early age was remembered as the fearless, tirless and rapid player who had the ability to play at any given place. He has earned himself too many great admirers in Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and others who played with or against him.
Wayne Rooney’s downfall as per the standards set by him started in the last season under Sir Alex where Sir Alex played him mostly in a deeper role and it got worse under the dismal and forgettable season under David Moyes.
When Louis Van Gaal arrived at United the buzz for United’s next captain left most of the people thinking that maybe Dutchman’s favour to his country counterpart Robin Van Persie to lead the Red Devils might push Wayne Rooney to leave the club but LVG knew what value Wayne Rooney held at United and he made him his captain and buried all the speculations. LVG deployed Rooney is the Scholes role and everyone immediately bought it just for his ability on the ball and his range of passing but the torrid LVG possession gameplay did no good to him and his form deteriorated even more and people started to question on his position.
Mourinho’s arrival at United came with a more forward role for Wayne Rooney and it looked as if the Portugese might be the one to get the old Wayne Rooney back but 5-6 games into the season and that thought seems to changing and there’s a growing hysteria among fans who are signing petitions and unfurling banners for Wayne Rooney to be dropped and maybe it’s time for so. He has offered nothing in his no. 10 role, he slows down the game play, his creativity is next to zero and never attempts any penetrating passes and he’s more than just liability to United. United might do well without him in the team. Rooney was dismal at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon, playing alongside Paul Pogba in a midfield three. Watford were too busy for him, and his touch and passing were shown up again. Even the simple diagonal, his nominal speciality, was flying out of play.
United have better options on their bench than Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata can be the best fit in that no. 10 role with runners on the wings and Ibrahimovic up front and Pogba and Fellaini behind doing the dirty work, Mata can work his magic. He needs pace around him and United certainly have that this season.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan might not have got his chance for United yet but the very reason he was signed up by Mourinho is enough to compliment his prowess in the no. 10 role and he could be the one to resolve United’s problems but for that Mourinho needs to do what he did at Real Madrid with Casillas and at Chelsea with John Terry by dropping Wayne Rooney from the squad.
It could be a political ploy from Mourinho to give chance to Wayne Rooney and then his abysmal performances might help Mourinho to fade him out of the starting XI without any fuss and fingers pointing at him, Rooney currently worsens United’s chances of winning a game and his omittion from United might come sooner than later.
