Is this the strike of a midfielder?
Sunday’s derby may be a distant memory to the Manchester City squad, but to many of us Reds is something that feels like only yesterday such was the euphoria of Robin Van Persie’s last minute winner, breaking our noisy ones unbeaten home record.
While much of the talk was naturally about the Dutchman’s late strike, or Ashley Young’s ‘goal’ or even Carlos Tevez’s kick out at Phil Jones, the brace by United’s former star striker almost went unnoticed.
Two goals against Manchester City doesn’t suddenly make you a top class striker -after all even Siem De Jong has managed that this season, but when your record is now 150 Premier League goals by the age of 26, it’s pretty hard to ignore the idea you may know how to find the back of the net.
For several months now, perhaps even longer the notion that Wayne Rooney is the ‘answer’ to United’s midfield problems has been mooted by many, including myself as we search for a Roy Keane shaped void to finally be filled after over seven years of waiting.
The problem with the theory that Rooney is a midfielder is like the prosecution’s case against Carlito Brigante, there’s a lack of real evidence to support it, in fact there’s even evidence to the contrary.
If you watch the way Rooney CAN lead the line when asked to then there’s little denying he’s more than capable, after all he very nearly carried us to the title in 2009-10 doing just that for much of the season. Have we forgotten all the headers we saw him put away that season? No of course not, but “he’s much better playing deep, dictating the play” is an argument I’ve even made myself. Is he though? Sometimes Rooney’s touch and passing seems to desert him, more so when he’s occupying the deeper role and while he’s never one for shirking a tackle it’s hardly a big part of his game.
Rooney as a midfielder seems to have been born from a lack of a real top quality CM all rounder at Old Trafford rather than any real talents for the role the Scouser may have- especially when compared with what he’s proven to do upfront.
The emergence of Anderson this season should have dispelled any notion of using Rooney as a midfielder because with Michael Carrick sitting in front of the back four, there was no need for both Ando AND Wazza in the centre of the park. The Brazilians injury shouldn’t really matter though as there’s still Tom Cleverley to call upon who is nothing if not a central midfielder- he’s certainly not a winger or a striker.
Rooney showed on Sunday what we’ve been missing from him, the freedom to attack crosses and through balls, without having to come deep into his own half to collect the ball in the first place. Yes, he’s a tendency to drop back whenever he plays but if we could just bring ourselves to allow him and Robin Van Persie to form an actual striker partnership – with Wazza – both of them switching the deeper role as they often tend to do, then the rewards could be unthinkable.
The idea of Rooney as a midfielder seems to be a complete waste of his talents- and dare I say something that works better in theory than it does in reality due to his own limitations.
Your thoughts would be appreciated……
Spot on, a case could even be argued the van Persie could be a midfield with his technical ability n passing but that doesn’t mean he should play there like its his best postion, Rooney always gives a 100% what ever role he plays in the team this gives the allure that he can be great in any postion he plays this with the team not having a great cm/cam or wingers Fergie will put Rooney there 2 do a job , I’m sure Fergie put Rooney as a RB or CDM n he had a couple gd games ppl would say maybe that can be his role in the future….NO! He is a front-man 150goals speaks for themselves , he seems happiest upfront, he played his BEST football upfront so y play him in midfield
Yes, I agree because I can’t wait to see Robin Van Persie and Wazza up front and the likes of cleverlay should be trained and be capable of holding the central midfield. With Wazza and V.Persie up front, I guarantee the result will be incredible because Wazza still have much to offer: 150 premiership goals at the age of 26, am sure Wazza can get to 400 premiership league goals!.
I agree with your argument….however, while we finally manage to see some consistency from Ando, all of a sudden he is injured again, can we really place so much reliance upon someone who is so injury prone?
Cleverley is maturing from last season after shaking off the injury which sidelined him most of last season, his ability to score just like Scholes did for the last decade for United remains to be seen.
Until these 2 guys have solved their respective problem, we will continue to see Rooney playing deep which surely affect his goal-scoring opportunity for United.
Your a clown.
I support your view. Rooney should better not as a deeper striker but behind the deeper striker. There he tends to have freedom to roam, pick up pieces and link play to the point man as well as damage when he sees the opening. It’ll also give room for him to shoot shorts which we’ve not seen from him lately. That was his role behind Nistelrooy, remember!
I agree with the article,well said.Rooney play’s best as a striker.I want to see him do what he is born to do-score goals.He and VP should strike and support each other.Rooney is a complete package of a player.
Yea i tink so bt he can also play in midfield n i tink we try buy dfensive midfielder or plain mifielder den rooney can continue playin his usual position as a striker wit v p 2 form d gr8test strikers in epl
Rooney will be back as a main striker soon as Kagawa is fit again!
IF we do buy Strootman, i can see United playing the diamond formation more and more.
For me, a midfield of Carrick at the mo holding. (Strootman there would be a dream)
Cleverly & Anderson in middle (when Ando’s fit again) and Kagawa at the top would be perfect to supply Rooney and RVP.
We have a great squad to rotate when we need to.
January will be interesting…
U are right. Those two strikes by wayne rooney against city reminded me of his striking pontentials. Wats is wrong wit united? Dont we have wat it takes to bring a topclass CM to our side. Using Wazza as a midfielder is wrong. What abt clev. When he played that CM role against shitty it allowed wazza to latch on to crosses. I see him as our solution to CM problems
Kagawa?