Manchester United Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - 2013/14 Mod warning post #718

Vic Vinegar

bucketybuck wrote: »

Not to repeat myself, but how can you state the first thing above and then praise Rooney two lines later? He has a ****e midfield yes, but he is also the guy playing the position that is supposed to be our creative fulcrum. If the ball is inevitably going out to the wings, then its because of Rooney, thats his game.

Ozil - 15 games, 4 assists, 2 goals.

Rooney - 14 games, 7 assists, 7 goals.

Not too bad, eh?

UnitedIrishman

bucketybuck wrote: »

Not to repeat myself, but how can you state the first thing above and then praise Rooney two lines later? He has a ****e midfield yes, but he is also the guy playing the position that is supposed to be our creative fulcrum. If the ball is inevitably going out to the wings, then its because of Rooney, thats his game.

Reason being, when Rooney looks up after coming to receive the ball and the only players he has are Valencia and Kagawa = the former of which is not bursting to advance in behind the left back but is rather too deep. Basically our wingers don't look to get in behind the full backs enough when Rooney picks the ball up around the center circle. As a result the center backs are just going to hold their spot because they know they don't have to go cover across for their full backs - and thus RVP has two big CB's hanging around him the majority of the time.

Are we just a richer version of Stoke now or what?

So we just play with 4 defenders and throw in 6 attackers then? Right. :rolleyes: The reality of our situation is that our best midfielder is now injured. Our new signing is still finding his feet and hasn't looked at all adept at playing that role for us - bar for a bit against a piss poor Sociedad team. That leaves Cleverly and Jones to play there. If we're going to play with two wingers and two strikers then we're going to need guys like Jones to be able to give them freedom to play. Of course I'd rather we had guys who were far more comfortable on the ball, but hey.. January isn't for another few months.

Kerrydude1981

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

I think Moyes is still trying to find his feet tactically with the players he has available.

I'd sure he'd prefer to have Kagawa inside behind the striker but with Rooney there it's a non-runner for now. Instead, at home Kagawa has come inside and drifted across more and more recently leaving Evra with the freedom of the left side on his own (much like we did years ago). Maybe that's why he's looking to get Baines in there at LB because he's a bit more solid defensively than Evra and nobody could argue that he doesn't cross the ball better. However, would he have the same link up play, pace and energy that Evra has - it's doubtful. We're overloading to the middle of the pitch when the ball is down the right.

One thing I've noticed too with Kagawa, the players need to trust his abilities more. He often occupies little areas in between players when he drifts from the left and automatically Valencia/Raf or whoever look up and think 'he's marked' or that he's not going to be able to go anywhere. But he's that intelligent of a player that he's able to keep the ball on the right side of his body away from the tackler or produce a good enough turn to get away from them. For example, forward to 1.40 here - it's a run I've seen him make time and again for United this year but not get the ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dg3Kdh_rtI

I know it's only a minor thing but it's as if we're playing a really, really structured game and afraid to throw the shackles off.

There's definitely the parts there to produce really exciting football with Adnan, Kag, Rooney and RVP.. but we need to speed up the play. We look laboured going forward and then it inevitably goes out the wings.. is crossed, is cleared.. repeat cycle. Our attackers are very static receiving the ball and then when they make a run towards the ball or in behind there's no one making a second run when the defenders are dragged (that's where Rooney has stood out above all this year).

Carrick is supposedly out until Xmas now. Going to be interesting to see our lineup going forward. Certainly wouldn't be against Jones playing his 'breaking' role there.

I think the only time the team have played at speed was against Fulham in the first half,the ball was moved quickly into Rooney and RVP and it paid off,Cleverly was a big cause of that,he played well that day before he had to go off.

yabadabado

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

Carrick is supposedly out until Xmas now. Going to be interesting to see our lineup going forward. Certainly wouldn't be against Jones playing his 'breaking' role there.

Where you see that ? That would be a huge blow.Fellaini would really have to step up ,could be great for him to be given the responsibility of being the main man in CM.Sink or Swim.

UnitedIrishman

yabadabado wrote: »

Where you see that ? That would be a huge blow.Fellaini would really have to step up ,could be great for him to be given the responsibility of being the main man in CM.Sink or Swim.

Most of the news agencies and journo's on Twitter have it:

"Michael Carrick could be out for at least 6 weeks because of a persistent Achilles injury."

bucketybuck

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

Rooney - 14 games, 7 assists, 7 goals.

Not too bad, eh?

Rooney - 14 games, 7 assists, 7 goals.

Manchester United - Piss poor all season, creatively bereft.

Whats not too bad again? Or is Rooney's form more important than Manchester Uniteds?

Rayne Wooney

Stats aside you can see the difference Özil has made in that Arsenal team, it's like a Midas touch and everybody around him have upped their game.

While Rooney has been great individually and has worked very hard, the team looks like it is built around him to create and it's no use if he's creating for himself because he won't be able to do it in every game and I think that's where we've faltered so far this season.

The players either side of Rooney need to play infield, leave the wings mainly to the full backs, the main objective of the 3 behind RVP should be to get the ball to his feet with a sight of goal, Liverpool don't constantly cross the ball into Suarez and for good reason too.

I still think in the long run Kagawa may be better suited for the position Rooney is in now, it would benefit the team more in terms of chances created but it would take away the individual brilliance of Rooney, but looking at the games so far this season we can't get any worst can we? So maybe it should be considered.

Maximus Alexander

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

but looking at the games so far this season we can't get any worst can we? So maybe it should be considered.

I see your point and I think I agree with it, but at the same time, United are 5th in table. Saying it can't get any worse is not thinking things through in my opinion. It could get a lot worse.

Thatsfootball

yabadabado wrote: »

Where you see that ? That would be a huge blow.Fellaini would really have to step up ,could be great for him to be given the responsibility of being the main man in CM.Sink or Swim.

Massive loss, but how will the team line up without him?
Will it be Fellaini - Jones, maybe Jones - Cleverley? Giggs? Anderson?

Fellaini with Jones might allow Fellaini play a bit more attacking. It seemed Fellaini and Carrick wasn't working too well.

onemorechance

bucketybuck wrote: »

Rooney - 14 games, 7 assists, 7 goals.

Manchester United - Piss poor all season, creatively bereft.

Whats not too bad again? Or is Rooney's form more important than Manchester Uniteds?

Rooney plays for Manchester United! :pac:

Pro. F

The reason the attack always ends up going wide for a cross is because that is how Moyes has set up the team. You can see all the movement of all the players is focused on getting people free out wide to cross the ball. It's got no more to do with Rooney than it has with any other individual player in the team.

Maybe when Moyes buys some more players he will make this system work, but at the moment it looks very blunt. I loved the battling performance on Sunday, but it's still painful how few proper opportunities the team creates.

Pro. F

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Stats aside you can see the difference Özil has made in that Arsenal team, it's like a Midas touch and everybody around him have upped their game.

While Rooney has been great individually and has worked very hard, the team looks like it is built around him to create and it's no use if he's creating for himself because he won't be able to do it in every game and I think that's where we've faltered so far this season.

The players either side of Rooney need to play infield, leave the wings mainly to the full backs, the main objective of the 3 behind RVP should be to get the ball to his feet with a sight of goal, Liverpool don't constantly cross the ball into Suarez and for good reason too.

I still think in the long run Kagawa may be better suited for the position Rooney is in now, it would benefit the team more in terms of chances created but it would take away the individual brilliance of Rooney, but looking at the games so far this season we can't get any worst can we? So maybe it should be considered.

Are you actually suggesting dropping Rooney?

Pro. F

Pro. F wrote: »

Are you actually suggesting dropping Rooney?

I think his argument makes perfect sense. If we are playing Rooney to keep him happy at the expense of the overall team cohesiveness then playing someone who is considered a specialist in the number 10 position instead of him would make sense. At the very least just to explore alternative options. Rooney is not that great at link up play and has a strikers selfishness, he took a shot with his left foot against Arsenal instead of giving it to a completely unmarked RVP. While it might be unfair to single any one thing out I would confidently say I wouldn't expect the same from Kagawa.

I fully acknowledge how good Rooney has been but I think we can get a better team performance by changing what we're currently doing and who we're playing up top.

PhlegmyMoses

Sacramento wrote: »

I think his argument makes perfect sense. If we are playing Rooney to keep him happy at the expense of the overall team cohesiveness then playing someone who is considered a specialist in the number 10 position instead of him would make sense. At the very least just to explore alternative options. Rooney is not that great at link up play and has a strikers selfishness, he took a shot with his left foot against Arsenal instead of giving it to a completely unmarked RVP. While it might be unfair to single any one thing out I would confidently say I wouldn't expect the same from Kagawa.

I fully acknowledge how good Rooney has been but I think we can get a better team performance by changing what we're currently doing and who we're playing up top.

I agree. I don't think the number 10 spot is Rooney's best position. He's playing more like a withdrawn striker than a playmaker.

At the weekend, he made blocks, chased lost causes, cleared his lines from corners and pressed the other team well. He ran more than any other United player - only Ramsey covered more ground on the pitch - and generally played well. None of that is the job of your number 10, though.

A good example of this was when he dragged a shot wide with one of our best opportunities of the game. RVP was screaming for a slide-rule pass that would have given him a virtual tap-in. But Rooney took it on, as any good striker is wont to do. But he's not supposed to be a striker.

I want Rooney in the team - he's probably my favourite United player - just not in the role he is being asked to play.

DM_7

I don't agree with the idea Rooney is not good at link up play and that he is not creative. Creates chances and links with other players around the box regularly. At the moment he is doing what tactics ask of him.

United are not getting enough players around him to link with anyone and Kagawa would have the same problem.

As it stands Kagawa doesn't deserve a place ahead of Rooney. He wouldn't change how United play on his own unless the manager changes what he asks of the team. That change won't be made with current midfield anyway.

Giggsy11

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Stats aside you can see the difference Özil has made in that Arsenal team, it's like a Midas touch and everybody around him have upped their game.
.

That's what happens when you sign a world class player. Had Arsenal/Chelsea signed Rooney he would have made others to step up their game, just like how Arsenal played like same old with RVP whereas RVP with ManUtd made others to up their game and we had whole new confidence that we will win even though we were trailing in most games.

Giggs/SAF and many other players said how signing RVP created so much buzz in the dressing room, likewise signing Rooney would have made same impact elsewhere.

sea_monkey

Why the hate for Rooney? 7 goals 7 assists, loads of MOTM awards. gives everything on the pitch. if we had sold him this summer could you imagine the state of our season now.

homerjay2005

sea_monkey wrote: »

Why the hate for Rooney? 7 goals 7 assists, loads of MOTM awards. gives everything on the pitch. if we had sold him this summer could you imagine the state of our season now.

mixture of fickleness, short memory and a baffling sense in certain quarters that Rooneys inclusion in the team is the reason kagawa cant pass the ball and is playing poor.

sReq | uTeK

Sacramento wrote: »

I think his argument makes perfect sense. If we are playing Rooney to keep him happy at the expense of the overall team cohesiveness then playing someone who is considered a specialist in the number 10 position instead of him would make sense. At the very least just to explore alternative options. Rooney is not that great at link up play and has a strikers selfishness, he took a shot with his left foot against Arsenal instead of giving it to a completely unmarked RVP. While it might be unfair to single any one thing out I would confidently say I wouldn't expect the same from Kagawa.

I fully acknowledge how good Rooney has been but I think we can get a better team performance by changing what we're currently doing and who we're playing up top.

Problem is your basing that argument on a punt, Kagawa while undoubtedly talented has done NOTHING to warrant gaining the number 10 role from Rooney, and yes I understand the counter argument of him not being played at number 10, but still he's hardly out on the left he's more drifting inside and whilst doing that he's shown none of the quality he has done at Dortmund.

He should have transitioned better but he just hasn't but he's getting game time now so hopefully he kicks on.

homerjay2005

Sacramento wrote: »

While it might be unfair to single any one thing out I would confidently say I wouldn't expect the same from Kagawa.

Kagawa would have fallen over or given the ball straight to an Arsenal player.

bucketybuck wrote: »

Rooney - 14 games, 7 assists, 7 goals.

Manchester United - Piss poor all season, creatively bereft.

Whats not too bad again? Or is Rooney's form more important than Manchester Uniteds?

Unites poor football is down to the complete lack of creativity by players like Young, Valencia, Kagawa, Carrick, Cleverly, Giggs and playing Jones/Smalling at full back.

were it not for Rooney, we could be 8 or 9th now and not pushing for top 4.

TheDoc

Dortmund executive confirms Marco Reus does have a release clause in his contract, and is the only remaining player in the first team that contains one. The Executive indicated release clauses were something the club were phasing out as the rise in financing in World football would allow their prized assets to be poached. The rumour'd fee is reportedly €35m

When you consider the fee we nearly mustered for Herrera, and the 120m for Bale, then this Reus pursuit is looking pretty grounded, in that it's a genuine possibility

He is contracted until 2017, and odds are Dortmund will offer him a massive pay bump in order to get a new contract, and the release clause removed. However throws everything in the air if people start coming in during the next window.

Brace yourselves, transfer madness is coming

Cookiemunster

TheDoc wrote: »

Dortmund executive confirms Marco Reus does have a release clause in his contract, and is the only remaining player in the first team that contains one. The Executive indicated release clauses were something the club were phasing out as the rise in financing in World football would allow their prized assets to be poached. The rumour'd fee is reportedly €35m

When you consider the fee we nearly mustered for Herrera, and the 120m for Bale, then this Reus pursuit is looking pretty grounded, in that it's a genuine possibility

He is contracted until 2017, and odds are Dortmund will offer him a massive pay bump in order to get a new contract, and the release clause removed. However throws everything in the air if people start coming in during the next window.

Brace yourselves, transfer madness is coming

What he also said is that the release clause doesn't kick in until summer 2015.

statto25

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

Most of the news agencies and journo's on Twitter have it:

"Michael Carrick could be out for at least 6 weeks because of a persistent Achilles injury."

United's Twitter account just confirmed it:

carras16) will be out for 4 to 6 weeks with an Achilles injury. #mufc"

Huge Blow. Is Fellaini still having that operation at the start of December?

homerjay2005

Carrick out is a big big blow, time for Fellani and Cleverly to step up now.

Kylo Ren

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Carrick out is a big big blow, time for Fellani and Carrick to step up now.

Poor Carrick out for 6 weeks and you're asking him to step up.

ericzeking

I don't think anyone who is discussing the possibilities for the number 10 position is suggesting that Rooney is playing poorly or should be dropped, we're just looking at options to improve our overall play which we almost universally agree is far from great.

He's been our best player but he's been playing a role that the team would benefit more from having a midfield type player there ie Kagawa rather than a striker ie Rooney. Rooney could probably be just as effective in the wider areas, although he mightened be so happy, playing as that wide forward (Not a winger)that Uncle Woy was talking about the other day in reference to Welbeck and Rodriguez whereas the team would benefit from essentially having 3 central midfield players with Kagawa at the tip.

2 x CM

Kagawa

Januzaj/AN Other Rooney

RVP

People then always throw out the 'Kagawa has done nothing to warrant inclusion at no 10' I'd argue that the most threathening and creative we have looked (I only saw Fulham highlights) is when he has moved into that role in the 2 CL games where he did, actually behind Rooney in one case iirc.

I want to see us control games better and dominate possession and play intricate passes in and around the area. We will only be able to do this with a midfielder in the 10 role, that's the way the best teams around are playing, it may not be our traditional way but we simply don't have the wingers to play our traditional game.

I also agree that Moyes doesn't quite see it that way, at least not at the moment...he always talks about Rooney and RVP as a partnership so he clearly sees us playing 442-ish at the moment. A certain amount of that must be to keep Rooney happy but then again maybe Moyes sees the best way to get results and get the best out of the players he currently has is to play that way.

Rooney seems happy at the moment and is playing great stuff...just trying to look at a bigger picture than the goals and assists column.

Backstreet Moyes

Think people are harsh on Rooney it is hard to be creative when you need to drop so deep to get the ball. We lack creativity from midfield so Rooney needs to drop deep to pick up the ball. The problem is not Rooney it's how poor our midfield is. We don't have the quality to get the ball to Rooney where he should have it deep in the opponents half. I have no doubt Kagawa would struggle under the same circumstances of being forced to come deep.

Watching Rooney Sunday reminded me of the old Rooney running at players and going past them he looks so fired up. He will track back better, hold onto the ball better, score more goals and a similar amount of assists as Kagawa. In United's current system Rooney is the best choice.

Backstreet Moyes

ericzeking wrote: »

I don't think anyone who is discussing the possibilities for the number 10 position is suggesting that Rooney is playing poorly or should be dropped, we're just looking at options to improve our overall play which we almost universally agree is far from great.

He's been our best player but he's been playing a role that the team would benefit more from having a midfield type player there ie Kagawa rather than a striker ie Rooney. Rooney could probably be just as effective in the wider areas, although he mightened be so happy, playing as that wide forward (Not a winger)that Uncle Woy was talking about the other day in reference to Welbeck and Rodriguez whereas the team would benefit from essentially having 3 central midfield players with Kagawa at the tip.

2 x CM

Kagawa

Januzaj/AN Other Rooney

RVP

People then always throw out the 'Kagawa has done nothing to warrant inclusion at no 10' I'd argue that the most threathening and creative we have looked (I only saw Fulham highlights) is when he has moved into that role in the 2 CL games where he did, actually behind Rooney in one case iirc.

I want to see us control games better and dominate possession and play intricate passes in and around the area. We will only be able to do this with a midfielder in the 10 role, that's the way the best teams around are playing, it may not be our traditional way but we simply don't have the wingers to play our traditional game.

I also agree that Moyes doesn't quite see it that way, at least not at the moment...he always talks about Rooney and RVP as a partnership so he clearly sees us playing 442-ish at the moment. A certain amount of that must be to keep Rooney happy but then again maybe Moyes sees the best way to get results and get the best out of the players he currently has is to play that way.

Rooney seems happy at the moment and is playing great stuff...just trying to look at a bigger picture than the goals and assists column.

Just no on Rooney on the wing it just doesn't work he is a terrible winger. I do agree moving away from traditional wingers could be an option Moyes was looking at. Rafael on the right bombs forward and Baines would have done the same on the left and both have better delivery than any of our wingers. For all Evra;s bombing forward his delivery is very poor.

I think moving away from wingers could be our best option at the minute with the performance of our wingers. Maybe something like below could be worth trying out. Although again our lack of creativity would probably have Kagawa dropping too deep. Jones hovering around would offer protection to allow our full backs to play more like wingers.

DDG

Raf Vidic Evans Evra

Jones

Fellaini Carrick

Kagawa

Rooney RVP

homerjay2005

Keno wrote: »

Poor Carrick out for 6 weeks and you're asking him to step up.

Tom Clev! the days of Giggs or Jones in midfield are returning i fear.

MagicIRL

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Tom Clev! the days of Giggs or Jones in midfield are returning i fear.

Jones bossed the midfield vs. Arsenal tbf. If he repeats performances like that on a weekly basis he should be ahead of Fellaini on form.

TheDoc

Cookiemunster wrote: »

What he also said is that the release clause doesn't kick in until summer 2015.

Where did you read that? Wasn't in the transcript I read of his comments.

RVD420

With Carrick out maybe we'll get a chance to see Anderson boss the midfield.....until he gets injured again :mad:

magnumbud

TheDoc wrote: »

Where did you read that? Wasn't in the transcript I read of his comments.

its his contract ends then not that it doesnt kick in. they are trying to get him to sign a new deal to increase it.

Cookiemunster

TheDoc wrote: »

Where did you read that? Wasn't in the transcript I read of his comments.

Raphael Honigstein said it on twitter. He tweeted the Sky sports article and the tweeted this.

Raphael Honigstein ‏@honigstein 12 Nov Worth re-iterating today that Reus' release clause only kicks in summer 2015.
Raphael Honigstein ‏@honigstein 12 Nov
also worth re-iterating that Reus' release clause has been common knowledge in Germany for over a year now. (1)
Raphael Honigstein ‏@honigstein 12 Nov
CEO Watzke didn't "reveal" it, he talked about it in reference to Reus being the only player left with a release clause in the squad. (2)

Donnielighto

Could we manage with one winger? Nani out right, rooney slightly left and behind rvp. Kags in amc with 2 competent cms behind. Left fb giving with to that side and rooney covering opposition rb when needed.

Rooney and nani to swap side occasionally but keep rooney inside and nani wide with raf providing width. Would be fairly decent at unbalancing defences no?

magnumbud

Donnielighto wrote: »

Could we manage with one winger? Nani out right, rooney slightly left and behind rvp. Kags in amc with 2 competent cms behind. Left fb giving with to that side and rooney covering opposition rb when needed.

Rooney and nani to swap side occasionally but keep rooney inside and nani wide with raf providing width. Would be fairly decent at unbalancing defences no?

i would not push rooney out of position to suit kagawa in the form that he is in. if kagawa was in glittering form and rooney not so much fine but kagawa has got plenty of game time and even out of position not done enough to warrant such a move

Donnielighto

magnumbud wrote: »

i would not push rooney out of position to suit kagawa in the form that he is in. if kagawa was in glittering form and rooney not so much fine but kagawa has got plenty of game time and even out of position not done enough to warrant such a move

Rooney is out of position though already. I'd be putting him further up the pitch.

RobertKK

United need to sign the players so we can be more versatile in formations, whether that formation is a 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2, 4-4-1-1.

If Kagawa is not going to be used properly, then I would be happy for him to return to Dortmund in a deal for Reus, at least if he is played wide he is playing in a position he likes and scores from.

I don't want United to sign Baines, a younger player would make far more sense. Maybe Coentrao or Shaw though he would be expensive.
With Evra most likely returning home to France next summer, signing a player with lots of years would be the best option.

I think United could do a deal with Dortmund in January but both teams will hang onto their respective players presuming both are still in the Champions league. It would be stupid for both teams to lose a player each that can play in the CL. A sort of a Zaha deal.

As for central midfield, the Carrick injury just highlights how lightweight United are there.

Anyway, I think Kagawa's days are numbered, Klopp loves him and Reus can fix the wingers problem. So far this season for Dortmund: Reus in 20 games- 10 goals and 9 assists.
Both Januzaj and Reus prefer the left wing but both can play either wing.

Januzaj - Rooney - Reus

---

Van Persie

---

Would give one confidence. Just need to fix behind them if or if that doesn't happen.

jameshayes

not many people hypothesizing that Rooney is only playing so well to get himself back in the shop window... He was clearly undervalued during the summer because his form was poor, now he is shining he will be worth a lot more and be more attractive.

Rooney could easily hit the road in January and Kagawa could be the #10.

Pro. F

Sacramento wrote: »

I think his argument makes perfect sense. If we are playing Rooney to keep him happy at the expense of the overall team cohesiveness then playing someone who is considered a specialist in the number 10 position instead of him would make sense. At the very least just to explore alternative options. Rooney is not that great at link up play and has a strikers selfishness, he took a shot with his left foot against Arsenal instead of giving it to a completely unmarked RVP. While it might be unfair to single any one thing out I would confidently say I wouldn't expect the same from Kagawa.

I fully acknowledge how good Rooney has been but I think we can get a better team performance by changing what we're currently doing and who we're playing up top.

Never mind playing Rooney to keep him happy. I'm talking about playing him because he has been our best player by a distance this season.

Rooney is an extremely unselfish player. There's no other way to describe him. I think you are reading way too much into that one example.

I don't agree that Kagawa would make the team play better by replacing Rooney at the number 10 and I think Rooney's link up play is extremely underrated. But if you do want to try Kagawa out at number 10 then surely RvP is the one who has to be dropped and Rooney moved up top. Rooney is the one who is playing best at the moment, dropping him would be outrageous imo.

ericzeking wrote: »

Rooney could probably be just as effective in the wider areas, although he mightened be so happy, playing as that wide forward (Not a winger)that Uncle Woy was talking about the other day in reference to Welbeck and Rodriguez...

All available evidence from throughout his career shows that Rooney is terrible when played out wide. It should not be considered any more.

dahat

jameshayes wrote: »

Rooney could easily hit the road in January and Kagawa could be the #10.

You seriously think this? Not a chance of this happening, i'd have any money on it.
Rooney may go in the Summer but i seriously doubt it now and it will be to a foreign club only. Kagawa days at Utd are done likely he will be used as a make weight or to free up wages for Summer targets.

Pro. F

Donnielighto wrote: »

Rooney is out of position though already. I'd be putting him further up the pitch.

If your plan is to have Rooney further up the pitch and Kagawa central then that means nobody helping Evra defend the left flank. That wouldn't work.

Donnielighto

Pro. F wrote: »

If your plan is to have Rooney further up the pitch and Kagawa central then that means nobody helping Evra defend the left flank. That wouldn't work.

Rooney would be slightly left of centre and tasked with covering the fullback. In a 41212 formation who would you have covering the fbs? As with milans old team for instance.

Pro. F

Donnielighto wrote: »

Rooney would be slightly left of centre and tasked with covering the fullback. In a 41212 formation who would you have covering the fbs? As with milans old team for instance.

If Rooney is covering the fullback then he wouldn't be playing further forward than he is now at 10.

I wouldn't play a 41212.

Giggsy11

Pro. F wrote: »

Never mind playing Rooney to keep him happy. I'm talking about playing him because he has been our best player by a distance this season.

Rooney is an extremely unselfish player. There's no other way to describe him. I think you are reading way too much into that one example.

I don't agree that Kagawa would make the team play better by replacing Rooney at the number 10 and I think Rooney's link up play is extremely underrated. But if you do want to try Kagawa out at number 10 then surely RvP is the one who has to be dropped and Rooney moved up top. Rooney is the one who is playing best at the moment, dropping him would be outrageous imo.



All available evidence from throughout his career shows that Rooney is terrible when played out wide. It should not be considered any more.

Exactly. Also Kagawa links up well with Rooney than RVP. Kagawa moved central against Norwich last season with Rooney paying as striker, Kagawa scored hat trick and Rooney was involved in almost all goals.

ericzeking

When I talk about playing Rooney wide, I'm not talking about as a conventional winger which is what he has been previously asked to do, do a job for the team etc etc..... more playing from the left/right in a free forward role, cutting in and playing as a second striker attacking the goal that way, not unlike the way Ronaldo plays. In his current form with his pace, fitness, directness Rooney could do that.
They are kind of doing some of that now and Rooney has done some good stuff from wide areas but primarily he's playing as a central second striker.

This allows Kagawa to play in the no. 10 giving us plenty in midfield to retain the ball and give us an opportunity to create something from the middle of the park.

Playing Rooney there exposes Evra or the RB but we would be playing 2 deep MF who would cover across.

Mitch Connor

Will be very interesting to see who comes in to replace Carrick, and how the team opperates without him.

I would say Cleverley and Jones or Cleverley and Fellaini is the way to go.

DM_7

Carrick carrying an injury could be why Fellaini's surgery was held off??

Agueroooo

Rene Meulensteen is gone to Fulham 'to work with' Jol

ericzeking

Agueroooo wrote: »

Rene Meulensteen is gone to Fulham 'to work with' Jol

He'll probably 'save them from relegation' all by himself