10 Sep 2016 18:53:22
Some people are just incapable of seeing anything good Rooney does.
Of our starting front four he was by some distance the best player today. defensively I can't remember Fernandino getting a kick until he moved out wide. Offensively he showed more promise than the others until Zlatan's brilliant volley.
I agree with a few that we should have played more of a 433, but I would have played Rashford and Rooney out wide.
Plenty thought that Lingard and Miki would cause problems for City before the game. Jesse had his worst 20mins in a utd shirt and Miki looked off the pace - which was fast even for epl.
City's back four played like world beaters first half and the strongest players in the midfield were Silva and De Bryune! They were sharper and snapped into every tackle.
I wonder if Jose regrets not buying Varane. He will surely be disappointed with both goals, maybe Smalling will get a chance.
I feel very confident for the season, but we will need some of the other epl teams to take points away from this city team. Some teams will simply sit back and counter with far more pace.
Round 1 to Pep.
10 Sep 2016 19:56:44
I agree rooney was one of our better players today. At least he showed some fight and determination to take on city.
But in a 4-3-3 there is a logical argument to say he's not one of the best central midfielders, there are better widemen and zlatan is a better lone striker. Therefore rooney makes the bench and can still make vital contributions from there.
Today was nothing more than a wake up call in that we have some great individuals who will win us a lot of games this season but as a team we look disjointed even when we were winning 3/ 3.
Paying a world record fee for pogba just to play him in a midfield two makes little sense. We should be building the team around him although his performance today was awful.
10 Sep 2016 20:16:01
He was poor, but many of the others were worse. In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king. He was far from food, others smelled far worse.
10 Sep 2016 20:17:47
And some people are just determined to shoehorn Rooney into the side regardless of form, opponent, or basic common sense.
Today we needed three in midfield, that was obvious to anyone with a brain. So no number 10, so no Rooney. Rooney is not a good winger and was poor on the wing. No player lost possession more than Rooney today. Yes other players were poor. But the truth is that playing Rooney was a massive tactical misstep today, and if a club like United doesn't have a better winger than an aging striker with no pace, then the transfer policy needs a big rethink.
10 Sep 2016 21:13:02
Gav
Rooney, lingard, mick were all rubbish today mate.
10 Sep 2016 21:33:18
Agree with xfiles.
10 Sep 2016 22:18:40
Yh I'm no fan of Rooney, but at times he showed flashes of true leadership and abit of that edge we all loved him for. He was the only one fighting in a team full of nerves today!
If he wasn't on, that game would've been completely hopeless for us.
11 Sep 2016 00:17:37
Rooney was our best winger when he moved out there. Last match he set up a goal from the wings after some good wing play. Miki and Lingard froze in the occasion - in fairness to Miki it was a poor choice to give him this game as a first start. Tough game to learn the pace and congestion of the epl.
Lingard lost the ball in the first 20 minutes more times than Rooney whole game.
Rooney looked like a big game player to me today. More like him on the pitch and we might have got the win.
I don't believe he can do no wrong. But I am frustrated when the first thing anyone can say about today's game is Rooney is old and should be benched. Sometimes I think people watch a different game.
11 Sep 2016 06:10:08
I never liked Rooney, but to be fair he's improved with more gametime.
Zlatan has got not much stick even though he missed a lot of chances.
Rashforf almost scored.
City won, only because they had KDB in sparkling form.
He seemed a level above all players, he was brilliant.
Maybe KDB had a point to prove to Jose who sold.
I genuinely think KDB is world-class and Pep is giving him more freedom.
11 Sep 2016 09:30:56
rooney was part of everything good we done .
pogba was awful.
11 Sep 2016 12:16:15
"No player lost possession more than Rooney today" Is this the same Rooney who had the 3rd best pass % today only behind Valencia and Lingard? Also Pogba and Mik were disposed the same amount of times during the game. But let's just not look at the facts shall we. Grh Rooney is so bad we lose a game blame Rooney.
11 Sep 2016 12:53:31
The way we set up yesterday jred, pogba was going to struggle to stand out. He needs support there.
I thought the front 4 were terrible and did little good at all. That includes Rooney by the way. He was also shocking again.
11 Sep 2016 13:14:39
I'd love to see something good Rooney does. Haven't for 3 years mind.