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ROONEY'S DAYS AS A TOP STRIKER ARE OVER

PERHAPS it may read like the most cheap, forlorn search for a punchline to his portly past to portray Wayne Rooney as Louis Van Gaal’s elephant in the room.

Yet even if the Manchester United captain were to grow tusks, change his name by deed-poll to Nelly, and hose Van Gaal with spray from his trunk, there could hardly be a metaphorical idiom more appropriate to his diminished self.

Or to depict the sustained attempts to gloss over Rooney’s precipitous fall from paradise, the desperate lunges to which the ex-players’ union will resort to ignore a truth that is now as self-evident as his resurrected hairline.

Van Gaal presents himself as a fearless brigadier, yet with his field-marshal he appears meek, enslaved by ancient reputation.

If the manager was serious about making a bold declaration, if he genuinely wished to seize momentum from Manchester City, he would evict the player who decorated this fixture with a moment of authentic genius in 2011.

Some 56 months on it would be the Dutchman delivering the unforgettable bicycle kick, one that would propel the waning, shrunken giant of yesteryear to the very margins of United’s season.

There is a reluctance, a fundamental delusion, a dishonesty in the refusal to declare Wayne’s enfeeblement as anything other than some momentary blip, like the temporary loss of pictures from a live television broadcast.

In fact, the days of high definition are over, the rights to the glory days are lost: Infrequent, underwhelming flickers side, Rooney is now a blank screen.

The truth – that he has exhausted all but the remnants of his stardust, become an obstacle to progress under Van Gaal, that the reel is run – is avoided, even when the verbal detour carries the narrator into the territory of farce.

This clumsy hike up the Matterhorn of absurdity is one Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves rather foolishly undertook this week as Rooney’s downgrade continued apace in Moscow.

Their consensus was their former team-mate - £250,000-per-week, captain of club and country – was “undervalued”, that he remained the “most important” player at Old Trafford, the leader around whom United must rebuild.

Comical Ali, were he still spinning fantastic fairy tales of Saddam’s great glories, would have immediately recognised fellow shameless weavers of the outrageous and seconded the trio to the Iraqi propaganda ministry.

By the end, the BT Sport’s Champions League comedy club had stretched the borders of credibility to those distant, one-eyed territories where they could legitimately have nominated Steve Coppell for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Rooney, his powers eroded by the onslaught of the years down to a powdery nothing, has become an evident hindrance to progress.

He has not scored in the Champions League proper for two years. Last week’s goal at Everton was his first in the Premier League away from home for 11 months.

There are box-sets shorter than his Sahara-like dry spells which have reduced his 2015/16 vital statistics to a pitiful league goal every six hours.

His pace has gone: Stripped of the old certainties, a player who was for so long a triumph of touch and technique has become clumsy, helpless.

Rooney – who turned 30 yesterday but seems so much more antique - has been reduced to a lavishly rewarded bystander.

That his career returns are otherworldly – he is on the shirttails of Bobby Charlton’s all time United scoring record – is as indisputable as it is insignificant.

Those figures were compiled by a player who no longer exists: Lester Piggott is the greatest of all flat jockeys, the emperor of Epsom, but that doesn’t mean Coolmore would prefer this titan of the past to Ryan Moore next June.

Time is the river that flows forever on without pity or sentiment.

Rooney may continue to scalp non-entities like Bruges, he will likely overhaul Charlton by feasting on minnows; on the bigger days, perhaps even today, there may yet be one or two last powerful stings of the dying wasp.

But Manchester United cannot, will not, be restored as a major force with this shadow of a lost past as their lead striker.

In 2010 and 2012, at the peak of his powers, Rooney harvested an impressive seasonal return of 26 and 27 league goals. In the three years since the field has turned fallow, respective returns falling to 12, 17 and 12.

These are not remotely world class numbers.

A mitigating argument about his midfield or wing deployment can be made, yet Messi and Ronaldo – equivalent leaders on teams with which United wish to compete – deliver an abundance no matter their nominal position.

The frequently lampooned Olivier Giroud outscored Rooney last season.

Against United’s apparent peers, the gap became ever more stark. The Englishman’s return was less than half of Sergio Aguero. Diego Costa’s goals per game return was twice as good.

And the graph, like a doomed aircraft, is only moving in one downward spiral. The very opposite to the thesis presented by BT’s United old boys club appears true: Rooney is overvalued.

Rewarded as a superstar, feted as a giant of the game, while performing like a beaten docket, a player futilely grasping for old glories.

United plainly need a new figurehead. They may hand the baton to Anthony Martial. They will continue to drill for superstars, hoping that they might eventually strike Neymar, Bale, Lewandoski, Muller or the return of Cristiano.

If they are again to dine at the top table, to again look across Manchester without a sense of inferiority, this is the only choice.

The Rooney issue is mammoth, elephantine, yet Ferdinand, Scholes and Hargreaves choose to see no evil, hear no evil.

Their tactic – before, during and after another Rooney masterclass in accelerating decline on Wednesday - was to ignore or deflect; to hide behind a narrative that is built on bluster, on ancient numbers.

To contradict one of nature’s laws: The one that says that elephants run terrified from mice; this time it was BT’s timid rodents charging away from the mammoth creature standing broken in front of them.

finally, the journos are waking up!

elampiro:
Leave all these tales by moonlight from your dream. Jones was very calm, collective, tidy today. He even had the highest pass accuracy behind Valencia. Always a good interceptor of the ball. He anticipated threats and delt with them decisively.

Plenty people dey support your observation say Jones did well today u no go use your normal YOU ALL DON'T know how to watch ball mantra now. Abi u go soon talk say leyqute opinion na everybody own.


I agree with all you said about jones today sha.

On a serious note LVG has a problem ooo, if Rooney must play, must it be upfron or 90mins? This same Rooney has played on the wings for United before why didn't el Jefe try him there today.

Martial could have caused problems for the City defence today.


Can't still wrap my head around playing Martial on the wings while we have a Rooney who is obviously really not suiyed for a top striker position now. He has had enough chances to turn things around, yet Nothing!

Its painment!

Asked how he would rate his captain’s form, Van Gaal said: “I have to talk every week about Rooney, why?”

When it was put to him that this is because of the 30-year-old’s stature in the game, Van Gaal was equally unimpressed. “Then you have to write it. It is your opinion. I don’t give any more answers about Wayne Rooney. I am sick of them.”

This man talks funny sometimes

SIRcumalot:
Martial take on was that high because he mainly faced Sagna and whichever help defender city throws at him if he played as a CF otamendi and kompany go be like him 2nd skin.
My point is simple.
Martial would've done better than rooney but considering our lack of attacking option martial has to continue playing from that position until young is fit or Memphis shows some promise.

You know that Kompany was already on a yellow card in the first half courtesy of this same Martial, making Kompany to be on a tight rope of a red card. If Martial had been switched to the center, Kompany will be very cautious in his handling of Martial. This would created room for more movement from him and spaces opening up for others to exploit.

Chelseafan1:
Our season is starting proper this week

Old things have passed away with the Intl break, can't u see Eden has been scoring for fun for Belgium....

Hmmmmmmmm

Van Gaal on Rooney in his press conference: "I don't give any more answer on Rooney because I'm sick of it"

55% passing accuracy for Wayne Rooney. No shots on target. No chances created. Lost possession five more times than any other player.



please someone put ds guy on OLX

Jaypea98:
Van Gaal on Rooney in his press conference: "I don't give any more answer on Rooney because I'm sick of it"

sick of d questions or Rooney's performance

I think we should consider what someone said on this both. Let hold night Vigil with serious praise and worship and pawaful prayer sessions for Rooney to grow a conscience.

LVG will also need some of the prayers!

codedguy1:
I think we should consider what someone said on this both. Let hold night Vigil with serious pace and worship and pawaful prayer sessions for Rooney to grow a conscience.

LVG will also need some of the prayers! >

Fixed!!!

At this rate ehn na to place bounty on top Wazza head. ..

LvG still in fool's paradise

codedguy1:
I think we should consider what someone said on this both. Let hold night Vigil with serious praise and worship and pawaful prayer sessions for Rooney to grow a conscience.

LVG will also need some of the prayers!

na to carry their pictures go do fasting and prayer for MFM headquarters

SIRcumalot:
Martial take on was that high because he mainly faced Sagna and whichever help defender city throws at him if he played as a CF otamendi and kompany go be like him 2nd skin.
My point is simple.
Martial would've done better than rooney but considering our lack of attacking option martial has to continue playing from that position until young is fit or Memphis shows some promise.

guy forget this yarnings honestly. Compare the goal ratio before Martial arrived & the games he led the line. Now compare to the present. Somethings sef doesn't need statistics, we can weigh contributions by seeing these games.

The Memphis you are even pressing has not been as bad as Rooney playing on the left so far. Memphis - Martial - Mata (like the BMW M3 ) will definitely be a tougher nut for opponents, make we keep sentiments aside.

Every other player deserve their place in that squad right now except the captain EOD

chrisley024:
This man talks funny sometimes

So you'd rather he threw him under the bus Mourinho style abi?

Personally, I didn't really care for who won, just wanted to see a good game.

Yaya Toure (City) and Wayne Rooney (Utd) had absolutely no business being on that pitch... at a point, seeing those two became so annoying. With those two out of the way, I am very sure this would have been a far enjoyable, attacking game.

I lost valuable hours of sleep to be served up that B.S, darn

[img]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/soccernet/design05/images/2015/1025/totw_oct24-25_800x450.jpg&w=350&site=espnfc[/img]

SailorXY:
guy forget this yarnings honestly. Compare the goal ratio before Martial arrived & the games he led the line. Now compare to the present. Somethings sef doesn't need statistics, we can weigh contributions by seeing these games.

The Memphis you are even pressing has not been as bad as Rooney playing on the left so far. Memphis - Martial - Mata (like the BMW M3 ) will definitely be a tougher nut for opponents, make we keep sentiments aside.

Every other player deserve their place in that squad right now except the captain EOD

Its funny how much revisionism is going on here regarding Memphis' performances. I know most of us cant stand Rooney's form at the moment but Depay has been total pants whenever he has played, so much that I'd rather have Rooney on the left, at least he puts in a shift.

Memphis would have frustrated us as much as Rooney today, and Sagna would have had alot of joy playing against him, and maybe even been an attacking threat, $omething that could have cost us dearly.

RuuDie:
Personally, I didn't really care for who won, just wanted to see a good game.

Yaya Toure (City) and Wayne Rooney (Utd) had absolutely no business being on that pitch... at a point, seeing those two became so annoying. With those two out of the way, I am very sure this would have been a far enjoyable, attacking game.

I lost valuable hours of sleep to be served up that B.S, darn

You not the only one, i woke up very early to watch the borefest too, almost missed church sef because of the yamayama.

SailorXY:
guy forget this yarnings honestly. Compare the goal ratio before Martial arrived & the games he led the line. Now compare to the present. Somethings sef doesn't need statistics, we can weigh contributions by seeing these games.

The Memphis you are even pressing has not been as bad as Rooney playing on the left so far. Memphis - Martial - Mata (like the BMW M3 ) will definitely be a tougher nut for opponents, make we keep sentiments aside.

Every other player deserve their place in that squad right now except the captain EOD

But Oga won't bench rooney,dreaming of man utd squad without rooney na pure waste of time. Just try to fit him in a position where he won't hurt the team so much.

tess1:
You know that Kompany was already on a yellow card in the first half courtesy of this same Martial, making Kompany to be on a tight rope of a red card. If Martial had been switched to the center, Kompany will be very cautious in his handling of Martial. This would created room for more movement from him and spaces opening up for others to exploit.

I agree with you but if Martial plays as a CF do you trust rooney on that LW ?
One of the reason why Sagna couldn't bomb forward na simply because Martial.

Rooney is better than Memphis abeg . At least we know Rooney is -1 as a player , Memphis will render the entire left side of our game useless.

SIRcumalot:
I agree with you but if Martial plays as a CF do you trust rooney on that LW ?
One of the reason why Sagna couldn't bomb forward na simply because Martial.

They would`ve both slugged it out there. Rooney would`ve used his pace & pawa to keep him in check na.

What other better way is there to start the day / week than by with a dig @ your rivals? Enjoy.....

https://fbcdn-video-b-a.akamaihd.net/hvideo-ak-xtf1/v/t42.1790-2/12180335_10153052910996529_659747322_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjQyOCwicmxhIjo5OTIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoic2QifQ%3D%3D&rl=428&vabr=238&oh=70c3c8c735f95984eff4751f8d70f01e&oe=562EFCD6&__gda__=1445987815_4c0ec1b251d089d840609645b759ef47


Aarekakanfo come translate for expatriates abeg!

darefestus:
Its funny how much revisionism is going on here regarding Memphis' performances. I know most of us cant stand Rooney's form at the moment but Depay has been total pants whenever he has played, so much that I'd rather have Rooney on the left, at least he puts in a shift.

Memphis would have frustrated us as much as Rooney today, and Sagna would have had alot of joy playing against him, and maybe even been an attacking threat, $omething that could have cost us dearly.

So what happened to Pereira? What happened to Wilson? What about Lingard? Are these guys paid not to start games? If a player consistently underperform he should fall to the bench like we're seeing with Memphis & Carrick.

The point is that Memphis or any of the aforementioned players will be better than Rooney if it's about the left wing & the reason is simple - they are all developing lads, Rooney is finished whether we accept the notion or not!

Do you think the return of Young will change anything based on evidences so far? He'll either be on the bench or Herrera/Mata falls to bench & Martial sent to the right wing. It's all nonsensical!

My birthday guys...Drop ya wishes here...GGMU

patrickmuf:
My birthday guys...Drop ya wishes here...GGMU

HBD

patrickmuf:
My birthday guys...Drop ya wishes here...GGMU

Happy Birthday. Wish you the best.

I woke up this morning cursing LVG. Reminiscing yesterday's game. How can a coach open his eyes and play our best CF on d wings then put up a zombie in the form of rooney play as CF ? Its still baffling. Rooney do jazz for LVG say him must no bench am ? despite dishing out shyt week in week out ?

If Martial had mained the CF, walahi, we wud have had a penalty yesterday in our favour yesterday.

Rooney is a curse to the United Team and LVG is the channel through which d curse is having effect on the team.

e dey pain me gan o! Just imagine herrera playing behind martial and mata on the right wing. Since the left wing get as e be, memphis need to learn fast and step up. Rooney needs sometime on d bench, but I know say e go easy for camel to pass through the needles eye than to have rooney on d bench.

I'm still pained

parrotibaba:
HBD Happy Birthday

this is laziness

Why Anthony Martial should lead Man Utd
attack


"..... Rooney slowed play down because he is no longer a player who can get
the ball, face up to a defender and fly by him. That is the bottom
line.
United do have someone who can do that in Anthony Martial. Just by
playing him in Rooney's position against City would have meant they
were far more of a threat. Instead, Martial was kept out on the
left.
Rooney turned 30 this week and he has got to the stage in his career
where his options are limited when he is so far up the pitch because
he does not have the pace to run at defenders or behind defences
anymore.
United struggled going forward for long spells against Manchester
City, and did not manage a single shot in the first half.
Their problems in attack were not down to a lack of ambition, more
that they had the wrong player as their centre-forward...."

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/34633786

patrickmuf:
My birthday guys...Drop ya wishes here...GGMU

Happy birthday.
Best wishes and regards