Oh grow up and read the previous post. Halloweens over. Did you forget to go witch hunting yesterday?
Is Sir Alex preparing our number 10 for a future in midfield?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Oh grow up and read the previous post. Halloweens over. Did you forget to go witch hunting yesterday?
This
I think Rooney in a 4 4 2 is not a good idea. Rooney in a 3 man midfield is much more interesting. this way he can influence the game from deep but be free to break into the box.
But id still rather see him playing as a striker
But id still rather see him playing as a striker
In some sense yes I hope he has done. What I'd like us to see is being able to convert from a 4-4-1-1 formation with Rooney in the hole to something like 4-3-3 with Rooney in midfield with ease depending on the context of the game. Perhaps by occasionally playing Rooney in midfield he'll learn to adapt his game.
No.
Ferguson has just confirmed that Rooney in midfield is short term.
Ferguson has just confirmed that Rooney in midfield is short term.
Where is Gibson? I blame him
seen him in the crowd near the corner flag with a ireland flag around his neck. by the look of it he has gained a few pounds
I only saw the highlights of the Everton game but did he play CM there as well? I thought we lined up with Fletcher & Cleverley there and then went to Fletcher and Park?
It was far from as conclusive as you're making out
Him and Cleverley were basically playing right in front of Fletcher. Park replaced Cleverley when he went off, with Nani going out wide.
Sort of a 4-5-1/4-3-3.
Thanks
Useless in midfield, completely wasted there. He passed the ball around well enough, but lets face it, there is much more to him than that. I really hope he never plays in midfield for us again.
This.
With the form of our midfeld as it stands now. No chance of that hampening...
I have a simpler solution.
Why don't we buy a good midfielder or promote from the youth and let our best player play in his best position.
Why don't we buy a good midfielder or promote from the youth and let our best player play in his best position.
This is a great solution. It pains me to see Rooney back there. He's got far too much to offer further up the pitch that we're missing out on by forcing him to play in central midfield.
Cleverly is injured. I doubt Pogba is ready.
Completely wasted in the midfield...spraying the ball around is all well and good, but the hardest thing to do in football is score and that's why he's such a good player. There is something wrong with our midfield if Rooney has to play behind Anderson and watches him from the half line fumble and bumble straight forward passes to our strikers.
Rooney is a forward, not a left winger, not a midfielder...just cause he can play all 11 positions doesn't mean he should. Hopefully we get our midfield sorted soon so our best player can play the position he's best at.
Rooney is a forward, not a left winger, not a midfielder...just cause he can play all 11 positions doesn't mean he should. Hopefully we get our midfield sorted soon so our best player can play the position he's best at.
I hope not because Rooney is the type of player who can score 30 + goals a season up front with a proper midfield behind him.
Rooney:
"I played there a lot when I was younger and it's something which means you get a lot of the ball and we had to defend at times as well tonight. The manager asked me to do it and I'm happy to do it.
"I've said before I feel I'm a good enough footballer to play anywhere on the pitch.
"I'm not being big-headed, I feel I am capable of doing that and if the manager wants me to play there, I've no problem doing that."
"I played there a lot when I was younger and it's something which means you get a lot of the ball and we had to defend at times as well tonight. The manager asked me to do it and I'm happy to do it.
"I've said before I feel I'm a good enough footballer to play anywhere on the pitch.
"I'm not being big-headed, I feel I am capable of doing that and if the manager wants me to play there, I've no problem doing that."
this.
Whether you call it a CAM, a deep lying forward, a false nine or whatever other name you care to give it - rooneys position is behind the striker, in the hole. He should have 2 core midfielders behind him and an out-and-out striker in front.
He played reasonably in midfield in a 442 last night but it seemed like he was under instruction to simply pass, and do nothing much else. He didn't really break forward with the ball or make overlapping runs (but then, this is hard in a 442), he just passed. What he could definitely have done better was finding a bit of space in the middle, but he probably found that hard as well compared to the normal freedom he is allowed in the more advanced role.
He's wasted there. He did ok last night but it was against poor opposition, and he still looked in danger of getting caught in possession far too often for my liking. Against a better team he'd have been overwhelmed. He's too valuable up front to be shoehorned into an unnatural position.
I'm not watching the match but the 5Live commentators (not Alan Green) are saying he's playing deeper in the 2nd half now than he did in the first and that he's being mis-used...
He has looked a lot better this half in my opinion.
I can't help but feel this is a needlessly over elaborate title, compared to the far more concise and legible https://www.redcafe.net/f6/rooney-midfield-307784/, which is only a page down from it.
I should be a mod really.
I should be a mod really.
He's got a very good passing range and his vision is excellent. He'll be a good option for that role when we're desperate/he get's older, but as long as he has legs we need him in attack.
I would much prefer if his passing unlocked defences and he get's more shooting opportunities.
I would much prefer if his passing unlocked defences and he get's more shooting opportunities.
I thought he played well today in that midfield role. Was comfortable spraying the ball left and right and wasn't irked to come back deep.
That being said, he's still bucket loads more effective upfront and hopefully Carrick's return can see Rooney being placed back into his normal position.
That being said, he's still bucket loads more effective upfront and hopefully Carrick's return can see Rooney being placed back into his normal position.
He was playing too deep when we were playing 4-4-2 It didn't help that we were passing the ball so slowly.
Playing him midfield just shows what a balls up it was to not buy a midfielder this summer, it's a joke really.
Whilst I agree we are short in midfield, Rooney is playing there because at the moment he's the only player we have who can switch the play or dictate the pace of the game. Anderson, Cleverley and Giggs are all injured whilst Carrick's just back from an injury and Fletcher's still recovering from his illness, I'd much rather have Rooney in midfield than Park.
Prefer him in the middle to Carrick.
Not for me, no chance
Exactly, hence why is was a balls up not to buy a midfielder.
I personally think SAF's holding Pogba back too much, he'd have thrived on the space Sunderland afforded Rooney.
Normal service will be resumed after the international break with the return of Cleverley and Carrick.
But would you prefer him playing in that midfield role to playing up front ?
I wonder if Rooney prefers being stuck in the middle. It gives him far more time on the ball and a far better hand in impacting the game. Both of which are things he's been shouting about this whole season. Now he's the one laying off the final pass and opening up the game. Knowing his attitude for the game, I think he quite enjoys it.
If we see him there long term, we're back to needing another striker as Berbatov looks completely disinterested out there now.
If we see him there long term, we're back to needing another striker as Berbatov looks completely disinterested out there now.
Rooney in midfield will only make sense long term if we can sign another Rooney type to play upfront.
Rooney the defensive midfielder...
god, I hope SAF spends some money on a midfielder next year.
It's painful watching our most creative player spending 70% of the game at the half way line.
god, I hope SAF spends some money on a midfielder next year.
It's painful watching our most creative player spending 70% of the game at the half way line.
Stevan Jovetic.
I was one of them saying he would be a revelation in midfield,he has done a good job,but after watching him a couple of times I feel we are wasting him there,He does a far better job playing up front either on his own or just behind a main striker.