Rooney...

[D_murph0278]

His general play is good enough to be in the team at the moment but he is one of the main reasons why we are struggling upfront. He is way too deep and on way too many occasions. Basically he is in the side ahead of Sigurdsson, Klassen, Vlasic or Sandro and none of them would dream of dropping as deep and as often, leaving DCL on his own up top. It's a thankless task for DCL as it is at the moment, but Rooney done this for the last 2 years he was at Old Trafford and under Van Gaal it was one of the main reason they were so poor under his tenure.
Someone has got to either get hold of him and tell him to stay in the hole and create space for the team or he needs to be replaced and now!

[KoemansNumberTens]

Think he does okay but every fucking game he plays 1 utterly horrendous ball. Something thats not on and then executes it like hes drunk too

[Jimmywhack]

Crested two chances today
Anyone else create anything?

[Silas]

I think there's a clear line in the sand when it comes to people's opinions of Rooney and that won't change. He shouldn't be playing week in week out no but he is our most creative player right now and was the only person creating any sort of threat. If someone else can do that then great but for all his flaws, right now it's difficult to see who comes in and does better.

[Heisenberg]

Crested two chances today
Anyone else create anything?

He's playing the number 10 position. The most important position as it links midfield to attack. Barkley was about 3rd on the list of chances created last season I think. He's a massive hindrance to the team. Good player still in isolation, but not as a team player. Our 3rd best number 10. Should be nowhere near the starting line up

[Ell Capitan]

There's this bizarre impression people have that if Rooney somehow stayed up top, we'd be scoring way more goals.

Never mind the fact we had DCL doing exactly that, and only had one chance the whole game. A chance that came about because Rooney had dropped deep.

The reason Rooney comes deep is the help create play that leads to chances. Him standing up top whilst our midfield fail to string two meaningful passes together and retain possession won't do much good.

[Heisenberg]

There's this bizarre impression people have that if Rooney somehow stayed up top, we'd be scoring way more goals.

Never mind the fact we had DCL doing exactly that, and only had one chance the whole game. A chance that came about because Rooney had dropped deep.

The reason Rooney comes deep is the help create play that leads to chances. Him standing up top whilst our midfield fail to string two meaningful passes together and retain possession won't do much good.

We dont have the width though. He drops back picks it up looks forward and he has DCL isolated up front alone. Just doesn't work. Didn't work with him for utd over the past couple of years, and It wont work with us. He's playing a free role if anything. We cant afford that. We need discipline

[KoemansNumberTens]

Rooney is 1 of our better performers. The worry is he's still 1 of our problems.

Christ we have issues in almost every part of the field. Full backs, centre halves, wingers, strikers all come before a 10 who's indisciplined. There's very little we are actually getting right. Keeper looks okay

[Ell Capitan]

We dont have the width though. He drops back picks it up looks forward and he has DCL isolated up front alone. Just doesn't work. Didn't work with him for utd over the past couple of years, and It wont work with us. He's playing a free role if anything. We cant afford that. We need discipline

What would you prefer him to do? Stay up top and be isolated?

[Mayor Farnum]

He's playing in a poor team and probably gets drawn into other parts of the pitch because he is desperate to influence the game where no-one else is doing it.

[Heisenberg]

What would you prefer him to do? Stay up top and be isolated?

How does that work? If he played up top he'd be close to the striker. They cant all pack the centre out

[Ell Capitan]

How does that work? If he played up top he'd be close to the striker. They cant all pack the centre out

Let me try again.

You're criticising Rooney for his movement on the pitch.

What specific changes would you like to see him make and why would that improve how we play?

[Heisenberg]

Let me try again.

You're criticising Rooney for his movement on the pitch.

What specific changes would you like to see him make and why would that improve how we play?

Sorry if it wasn't clear.

Id like him to have discipline and keep his position. This would stop DCL being isolated and when the ball is in the centre, there would be a forward pass available, thus linking midfield and attack.

[Risky]

It's swings and roundabouts.  Yeah he does put in some good balls from deep at times, but it's very odd in this day and age that a player is allowed to play like he does and it does leave DCL isolated.  It also seems as if he drops deeper and deeper the more frustrated he gets, which suggests it's not something that's tactical but rather just something he does.  Obviously being who he is he is being allowed to do it.

I don't think it can help a manager who's trying to maintain a particular setup that Rooney seems to play where he fancies at any given point in the game.  But it's entirely possible that he's been told it's fine for him to do it.

[bluenuck]

It's a tough one. He's a contradiction.  He's actually scoring, and creating. But at the same time he does seem to not help our attacking play or overall performance.