19 Sep 2016 14:02:24
I posted a couple of weeks ago that Jose needs the press to go against Rooney to get him out the team. The written press have Called for him to be dropped, the sport radio stations have said he should be dropped. A large sections of Man Utd fans have been calling it for some time. The dressing room has other big characters in there now and the marketing team have Pogba and Rashford.
It was interesting Jose didn't slate Rooney publicly. I can see Rooney getting phased of the team very quickly and being moved on in the summer.
Can you imagine the backlash if Jose doesn't bench him now!
{Ed001's Note - Jose may not have spoken out publicly, but he has certainly been briefing his friends in the media with regards to Rooney being phased out.}
19 Sep 2016 15:35:13
I mentioned something similar below, Iv e never seen the press go for Rooney like this before, and its hard to say they are wrong on current form. The guy from the Indy with the double barrel name write today JM always intended to phase Rooney out over the first season but should accelerate that now to keep the heat off himself .
One Journo writes today Pogba is playing with a player not worthy of being alongside him - England captain Rooney, now whether you agree with it, its quite something to see it in writing in an english paper about the current England captain.
You have to say if Miki, Depay, were fit and in form would he have pulled the trigger by now, surely Herrera, spider, Carrick must probably respect and like Rooney but are also thinking I should be in the team before him so that can't be good for morale.
19 Sep 2016 17:25:30
Well that's good to hear Ed001, hopefully he could start doing before Christmas. That way we might be in with a shout at the title. Lol.
19 Sep 2016 17:32:21
It's been on the cards for three years now, as he has been declining hugely. But for the fact we have been garbage for three years, had a weak person as a replacement for SAF and tied him to a silly contract, it would have happened a lot sooner. If SAF had stayed one more year he'd have gone the summer SAF actually left.
He was an excellent player for us for a lot of years, but his actions on two occasions and lack of professionalism throughout his career meant he lost my respect a long time ago. It has also cost him and us hugely, in my eyes. He could and should have been so much better than he was at his peak around 24/ 25. Sad but true unfortunately.
19 Sep 2016 17:55:37
It will be until december that we start seeing a proper Mourinho team.
Im sure Mourinho will know how to play his cards and do what's best for the team.
19 Sep 2016 18:37:58
I think the vast majority on here can see Rooney doesn't belong as an automatic starter. He's been fairly average for a few years now and slowly declining as time goes on but the problem is coming to an end now. Fergie forseen Rooneys talent was on the wain and started the ball rolling on him exiting the club in his last season. Moyes came in and between him and the club, they handed him a ridiculous contract and didn't have the guts to get rid of him. LvG made him captain and said he was un-droppable. Every man and his dog can see that having Rooney in the team is a hindrance.
Enter Jose. For him to drop Rooney he needed a few things to happen. Jose being Jose wasn't going to come in and drop the club captain, the face of the brand from the get go. I honestly think Rooneys form has gone so far south that he'll never be the player he once was and Jose knows it.
Being the only marketable superstar at United is now gone. Pogba is a huge name, Martial, Zlatan, De Gea and to a degree Rashford can all step in for the marketing side of things. Rooney no longer holds that ace.
He needed the fans to be onside with a rooneyless team and over the last couple of years I'd say it's in the high majority of fans want him gone.
The tricky one was the media. The captain of United and England. Media and pundits have given him an easy ride for years. But the winds seem to have shifted on that one. The media are questioning his selection in the team. Something that has never happened.
And the last piece of the puzzle for Jose is simple. When Rooney is out of the team, he needs whoever replaces him to play well. If and when Rooney is dropped and we start winning football matches, then he will never get back in the team.
It's a shame it has come to this. He's been a great player for us, but if you don't leave a hero, you'll see yourself become the villain. Let's hope the end is near for him and both parties can move on.
{Ed025's Note - i will have that rooney is poor at the moment mumbles and his place should be in jeopardy every week, the problem is who do you replace him with?, without wishing to sound too harsh there is still a load of crap in this united squad and the options for a replacement very limited...do you throw spyder in there? or maybe martial or even depay?, rashford looks the best option but hes still very young and cant be expected to carry the lazy if talented ibra, get rid of rooney by all means but have someone who can fill his boots first mate..
19 Sep 2016 19:08:44
I'd of thought it's quite clear.
We have just spend £89 million on a central midfielder who works as the most advanced of a three. So play Pogba, Carrick and Herrera as a three. Martial, Ibrahimovic and Rashford as the front 3 with Mkhitaryan and Memphis as options.
19 Sep 2016 19:20:51
Personally, and this is just my thoughts, I'd have a 4231 with any 2 of Herrera, Schneiderlin, Fellaini and Carrick playing behind Pogba, with Rashford and Martial wide and one of Rooney or Zlatan up top for now. Give Pogba the chance to go forward and be creative, without too much thought of defending. I think once Rooney is gradually removed from a CM/ 10 role, we will see Pogba pushed further forward. Why spend £90m on a talented lad and play him in a position that doesn't show his talents, and just shows the weaker side of his game. Maybe Jose wants to Rooney to play his way out of the side, and then put Pogba in his place, where his game is more suited, and when he starts putting in a few quality performances people won't question Rooneys absence quite so much. Or, it could all be coincidence and we'll be watching our captain all season, and Jose will stick with him, as he really has lost the Midas touch. Only time will tell.
19 Sep 2016 19:24:22
Best post on here today Mumbles.
19 Sep 2016 19:32:41
Fair point ED025 but I think its bite the bullet time for JM -once Miki and Martial are fit again he has then :pogba, spider, herrera, Mata, miki then to a lesser extent Fellani, Carrick to add to Ibra, Martial Rashford . surely there is a combination there that an experience highly rated manager can find to play winning attractive football worthy of a top 3 side?
Raneri, Klopp, Koeman pochetino are doing it with comparable squads.
{Ed025's Note - i dont want to burst your bubble here burrenway but jose,s brand of football is not everyones cup of tea, his sides play effective but boring tactics and yes he will get you up there but it comes at a cost..and thats entertainment, pogba will come good as hes quality and as much as i admire carrick his best days are probably behind him, mata is "busy doing nothing" and miki yet to find his feet so that leaves spyder, martial (who i like) and rashford who has a great future to partner ibra, myself i would go with martial with rashford coming off the bench or even vice-versa for some games, spyder flatters to decieve though for me mate..
19 Sep 2016 19:54:30
Easy as that fresh i agree.
19 Sep 2016 19:27:43
Ed001 if Jose planned to phase Rooney out why not get rid this summer and why keep him as captain? Was it to try to keep a bit of stability during a time of big change?
I'm not sure I buy this "Jose needs the press to turn on Rooney" thing. It worries me if Jose picks his teams based on what the press say. Shows a lack of confidence and strength of character, not traits I would attribute to Jose.
Whilst I would be over the moon to see Rooney phased out, and quickly too, who replaces him? Will Miki play 10 or will IBRA with Martial or Rash taking over at 9? Or will we sign Griezmann in Jan? Highly doubtful given Atleticos ban surely.
{Ed001's Note - who would take him? No one wanted to buy him, or, at least, no one he was willing to go to wanted to buy him. A few months sidelines should see him ready to move, the question is whether it is to the MLS or Everton, if you ask me.
As for the press, that is not the issue, it is not about that. Jose needs to ensure the players back his choice to drop Rooney or it becomes a battle each week for him, like he had at Chelsea. By getting the media to talk about Rooney needing to go, it seeds it into the players' minds (as they are not very bright and easily influenced in the main) and so they accept it more easily.}
19 Sep 2016 20:58:46
Only good thing to have happened from that loss is media seems to be criticizing rooney for being poor, when was the last time rooney was singled out for criticism.