Oasis007:
He is England’s captain and record goalscorer, and stands just three goals shy of boasting the same double accomplishment with the country’s most successful and recognisable club. But right now Wayne Rooney is hurting Manchester United more than he is helping them, and it is time Jose Mourinho addressed the Red Devils’ problems by dropping his skipper.

The Portuguese marked his arrival at Old Trafford this summer by proclaiming that Rooney has no place at the heart of midfield, but in attempting to shoe-horn the 30-year-old into his attack Mourinho has helped to cause issues for himself which have seen United fall six points behind early pace-setters Manchester City in the Premier League with back-to-back defeats.

For many Rooney has been living on borrowed time for a period measured in years rather than months or weeks, but it was always unlikely that Mourinho would come in and immediately cast the captain aside. It is one type of statement to exclude Bastian Schweinsteiger from his plans without a ball being kicked but it would have been quite another to sideline Rooney until he had first given the player enough rope to hang himself.

And the United number 10 has done exactly that in recent weeks, with his performances in the league defeats to Manchester City and Watford of particular concern. Demonstrating a lack of sharpness and verve in the role behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he has forced the Swede to do more to create opportunities himself. Even when Mourinho slotted Rooney into a three-man midfield at Vicarage Road on Sunday, the skipper still looked entirely out of place.

The lack of pace in the final third this term has been reflective of Rooney’s own issues, and the paucity of chances being created says much about the allowances Mourinho has made for the England man. In a position in which United have multiple options thanks to the presence of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, they have carried Rooney and are so far paying the price.

Against City last week United were plainly second best during the first half, as conceded by Mourinho afterwards, but after the interval they had enough of the game to probe more significantly than they did. Perhaps if they had selected a No.10 who could provide a new angle to the attack they may have made the most of a City back-line which on occasion looked set to implode.

But with Rooney looking slow both on and off the ball, taking many a heavy first touch which squandered several chances to look up and supply a killer pass, United faltered. The same was true of the trip to Watford, and by the end he was busy taking his frustrations out on an assistant referee as his side were well beaten.

And for as long as Mourinho persists with Rooney rather than allowing the likes of Mata or Mkhitaryan to thrive in the greater freedom the No.10 role supplies, it can only damage United further. He may well leave the former Everton ace out once more against Northampton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, but Saturday’s line-up against Leicester City will be telling in the least.
Rooney has been one of United's modern greats, but there is no use pretending he has been anything other than a hindrance in the forward line this term and his manager must act sooner rather than later.

Mourinho was brought in by United despite some scepticism in the boardroom, and partly as a response to Pep Guardiola’s appointment across the city. His record of succeeding with short-term assignments was vital in his attraction to the club's decision-makers.

But further ground lost to City could prove fatal in the Premier League title race this year, and Mourinho will never have a better opportunity to relegate Rooney to the sidelines without opposition and recrimination than he has following the last two defeats.

Now is the time for Mourinho to see just how effective United could be in the final third without Rooney.

Diademk07:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncDTiLE274g

Wingback:


Video is inconclusive...No one in their sane mind would make opinions on a YouTube video concerning a youth prospect.

eph12:

Can you imagine? And people are on Fellainis neck whereas he is currently our best player. He has more accurate and forward passes than Pogba and Rooney so how is he limiting the team? If only we have two Fellaini in that team

Oasis007:


We should stop expecting Paul Pogba to perform wonders and magic alone! He's surrounded by average Players in the Middle - Rooney and Fellaini precisely!

Diademk07:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncDTiLE274g

Above is the highlight of Josh Harrop.

Ignore his superb technique on the ball for once, take a look at his movement on the ball and when he's without it. He would get the ball in crowded areas with little option from his team-mates and in a flash, he already lost his 3-4 markers with either his quick turns or intelligent movement on the ball. He would some passes and simultaneously, he's already creating space with his movement for the return pass.

The main point is where there's no space, he kept creating the space and lot of time on the ball with either his movement (with or without the ball), incisive passes or his superb technique. That's the hallmark of every playmaker. Their spatial awareness and intelligence (with or without the ball) are just off the chart.

Take a look at where he was deployed as well, despite the fact that he was sometimes used on the wing in that clip, you can't but notice his playmaking attributes even when there were little options offered by his team-mates.

Compare that to a certain Pogba who's just dribbling upadan..

elampiro:
Didn't you watch the match. It was Shaw who stopped running towards Zunga that allowed him a free shot. Even in your screenshot, between Shaw and Rooney who is closer to Zunga? Rooney was even playing number 10 and should have no business in this zone.

This kind biased analysis dey make me dey defend Rooney. Even these English press sef wey dey want make them drop Rooney for Liverpool players in national team.

elampiro:




Rooney and Fellaini were not there against Feyenoord when Pogba had his worst day. He practically starved Rashford on the night.

Find another excuse for Pogba. Rooney was in that midfield when we won two matches in Wembley to win the FA cup. He was there playing like it was Scholes in action in our final matches last season. His fellow midfielders, Carrick and Fellaini were happy.

Danhumprey:
Mike Dean to officiate our match against Leicester City.

Funlordjnr:





Elampiro what say you to this heartless but factual advice that even features damning stats?

UniqueGem:
Shaw had an opponent behind him. If he moved to cover Zuniga, the opponent will move into the space left by Shaw whereas Rooney is still standing and watching.
The pass for the goal was even a cut back so had Rooney moved, he would have been in the best position to intercept.
Things like this are what Carrick does without breaking a sweat.

Oasis007:




I am expecting you to refute other Posts I made on Rooney, not only this one!



You like arguing with Stats, and I think I have done justice to why Rooney should be frozen out of the starting Lineup with verifiable Stats!

elampiro:


The DM should have more forward passes than the CM. Then the CM more than the AM.

Nothing so interesting about that chart by SIRcumalot. Do you want Fellaini to pass back to DDG?

elampiro:




Rooney and Fellaini were not there against Feyenoord when Pogba had his worst day. He practically starved Rashford on the night.

Find another excuse for Pogba. Rooney was in that midfield when we won two matches in Wembley to win the FA cup. He was there playing like it was Scholes in action in our final matches last season. His fellow midfielders, Carrick and Fellaini were happy.

elampiro:


Nothing wrong with the stats. If you profile Pogba you would end up with same stats.

On your poll. I don't trust it. The admin came up with the that. The only Poll I can trust is the one conducted here by you, and Rooney won.


Ayagayayagayo hei Ayagayayagayo

eph12:
Even without Rooney in our attack we will still look dumb. If we don't have midfielders that can skip past challenges and release the ball to an attacking player at the right time it will all be for nothing. If we don't have that AM that can skip past challenges and attempt through passes for strikers to run unto we are wasting our time.

OEmperor:

Trust me a player like Mata or Miki there will be 100% better than Rooney playing there

eph12:

Pogba will need to step up with his off and on ball decisions if not the both the AM and ST will be starved of action

Wingback:



Did Rooney bribe you, why are you asslicking him vigorously...If I didn't know better, I would say you are his cousin...HE'S FINISHED

Oasis007:




An AM with a very weak Shot is regarded as the best 10 for a big Club like United?!

Seems you are thrilled with his skills against the fellow Kiddos!