How does LVG solve the Rooney problem?

sammsky1

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Face it: Rooney will have to play a major part this season given his status as captain and the lack of attacking options in the squad.

Given this fact, how does LVG get him to make more meaningful contributions?

Is it a case of keep playing him hoping he will find form or is there any tactical change he can also make?

POST EDIT: Dropping him is not a suitable answer as it seems LVG will not do this at any cost.
 
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The tactical change to make would be to move him to the bench. Not going to happen.
 
Van Gaal was pretty ruthless with Van Persie who was a so called close friend.....

who knows - the hard part is the squad depth and finding someone to take him on his wage
 
Strip him off captaincy because his captain always plays. Then drop him and play him in the under 21s until he gets back his match rhythm. Also philosophy lessons every other day.
 
I think we need to get someone in January or Try Wilson alongside Martial. Rooney has lost focus and making such silly mistakes. He cant even run with the ball now.... I am very disappointed, I hope he gets himself back together
 
Well dropping him seems to be the answer.

But of course that isn't what you're asking! Because we know that's what needs to be done but we've got to accept it won't.

Thing is... I'm at a loss as to how you get the most out of him now? He's effort is sadly lacking, his touch is shot and his vision and passing is one the wane (no pun intended).

Martial seems to be bringing the best out of our attack except for Rooney. And you'd think now he'd be getting more time on the ball which is what he wants? But when he gets space he doesn't use it.

In the past with Rooney he's needed a goal and he's back to the player we all know. But he's scored goals this season and not kicked on.
 
I was all for giving Rooney time to regain for but now it's clear he needs to be dropped. Bring him on pumped up for 30 mins or so and see if he can win back a starting place.
 
Rowem said:
Bring him on pumped up for 30 mins or so and see if he can win back a starting place.
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He'd more likely be red-faced and pointing angrily at van Gaal after scoring. You know how footballers are.
 
Rich_H_1989 said:
Well dropping him seems to be the answer.

But of course that isn't what you're asking! Because we know that's what needs to be done but we've got to accept it won't.

Thing is... I'm at a loss as to how you get the most out of him now? He's effort is sadly lacking, his touch is shot and his vision and passing is one the wane (no pun intended).

Martial seems to be bringing the best out of our attack except for Rooney. And you'd think now he'd be getting more time on the ball which is what he wants? But when he gets space he doesn't use it.

In the past with Rooney he's needed a goal and he's back to the player we all know. But he's scored goals this season and not kicked on.
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Thats been the most disappointing aspect for me. I think LVG has met his side of the bargain by finding Rooney a fantastic, strong no 9 who can run and run, allowing him into his best no 10 position. But he has not utilised this opportunity at all since Martial joined. Annoying as hell.
 
Cybernetic implants him.
 
Drop him for 5 or so games, Rooney often comes out raring when he has someting to prove. If nothing comes of those performances then it's time to get rid off.
 
Firstly by fecking acknowledging he has one.
 
Really the only way is to drop him. If LVG doesn't want to do it then that's it.

It annoys me that he's getting a free pass into the team for his shit performances when other players have to work their balls off to stay in the team.
 
If we're not going to drop him (and seemingly we're not going to) then I don't think we can do much more than we are at this point - pacey forward in front of him, more pace on the wing with Memphis, Mata on the right to tuck-in to do Rooney's job in the number 10 role, and as solid a midfield two as we can to support the defence.

And then hope for the best.
 
My other frustration is that SAF, Moyes and LVG have all also tried the Rooney in midfield option but his positioning and short passing isn't upto it. And we are now well stocked with excellent options in central midfield. So thats lo longer an option either.

He did well wide left years back, but I don't think he has the pace for that either any more. And early this season, no 9 proved too difficult for him too.

Im trying to be sympathetic and constructive, but I cant think what we do with him.
 
One question though - which team would want to buy him now? I don't think Chelsea is interested anymore.
 
We could always bung him in a shopping trolley and others could push him about. Although this might lead to problems on November 5th.
 
CLARiiON said:
One question though - which team would want to buy him now? I don't think Chelsea is interested anymore.
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MLS is fine. We don't really care, as long as it isn't here.
 
He needs to show the same ruthlessness that he did with Lindegaard, ADM, Rafael. Anderson, RVP, Nani, Valdes, Fletch, Evans, Buttner, Hernandez, Zaha and Cleverley.

This 'captain must play' rubbish is really boiling my piss.
 
Ive said this so many times its getting abit boring, but here it goes again.

Against bigger and better clubs and especially in Europe, WE HAVE TO PLAY 3 Man Midfield. Martial is now our best striking option so im sorry but that leaves Rooney benched. We stuggled in that last 25 mins because we only had 2 midfielders, both of which were on Yellow Cards unfairly, so worried about going into the Challenge or breaking up play. Rooney offered 0 protection other than that block he made right infront of De Gea that it looked like he would have stopped anyhow.

I just dont think we can ever really win anything major with 4-4-2 in this day and age. Especially when one of your first 11 happens to be so pointless you might aswell have 10 men. I like wayne and have supported him every step. But you cant beat around the bush. He has had it and is past it now. This isnt just a loss in form. He struggles now with nearly every aspect of the game. How he never scored that chance tonight made from martial again is beyond me. Its a nightmare because at the moment Martial is the only one good enough to take on and beat players to create goal scoring chances, but also the only striker we have who seems pretty clinical. Shame he cant be on the end of this own runs and passes aye.
 
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