With Rooney set to link up with Derby in December for a mini pre-season. Is Wayne just what's needed?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/10/21/wayne-rooney-report-derby-county-decemberafter-spell-dc-united/
I can think back to beating Huddersfield and thinking Cocu was the Messiah and Rooney could well come into a table topping squad, in January, and upset the apple-cart.
As we know football rarely conforms to expectations and perhaps I was getting ahead of myself with an over-optimistic assessment of our chances this term.
But I didn't expect that in 4 of our games we would be utterly rubbish. Lets be honest the Leeds draw, while satisfying, was extremely fortunate.
Huddersfield was a stroll but the rest were tight games so we in reality look a bit average this term.
Reasons range from losing all that talent to poor team spirit and more.
Does Rooney have the charisma and star quality that just his appearance on the training field can inspire Cocu's lacklustre charges?
Will Rooney be just what's needed?
posted on 22/10/19
Concur Peeder
Rooney won't accept accept anyone hiding. He doesn't want to play in a losing team. I think he's the kind of robust individual we need to steel us toward a play-off push.
It's a bit of morale fortitude required. A bit of acceptance of responsibility.
Rooney will accept the responsibility placed on him and I hoping it'll wear off on others.
posted on 22/10/19
Ferguson said he liked having bad losers in his team. He said he didn't mind when Roy Keane got himself sent off once for a horrific tackle in the last minute of a game because he was so furious that they had lost. I'm not saying we want that but we don't want meek acceptance that "it's just not our day today" either. I think Rooney is a bit like that, hopefully some of it might rub off on the others.
posted on 22/10/19
Keane, good footballer but a complete thug otherwise, give me Rooney any day.
posted on 22/10/19
Think you are all expecting too much of Rooney. Results didn't improve when Dave Mackay joined Derby results until we signed Willie Carlin to improve midfield. We need to strengthen central defence before we can start winning games.
posted on 22/10/19
I'm not expecting miracles from Rooney but I do expect him to improve the team on and off the pitch. No question about central defence though, unless there is a change in the level of performance of the current incumbents before then.
posted on 22/10/19
Rooney at CB???
🤔
posted on 22/10/19
Cracking extra time performance by TFC though to give him a bit more rest.
posted on 22/10/19
comment by I'm not Spartacus, hope springs eternal (U4603)
posted 5 hours, 18 minutes ago
Think you are all expecting too much of Rooney. Results didn't improve when Dave Mackay joined Derby results until we signed Willie Carlin to improve midfield. We need to strengthen central defence before we can start winning games.
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As I remember it we didn't click that season till Durban took the number 4 shirt. Then wow wow wow on to the promised land. Clough didn't like Taffy much because he stood up to him, but Durban was always at the back post ready to score. What a season.
I don't think Rooney will make much difference, we need a Mackay and a Gemmill and chuck is a Hector and we are motoring. That is if Cocu can get them wound up for the games.
I've been thinking.....you can't make a chocolate cake without some coco. Get it???
posted on 22/10/19
comment by I'm not Spartacus, hope springs eternal (U4603)
posted 6 hours, 25 minutes ago
Rooney will add technique, he has always had great first touch, experience and strength. He has lost some pace though. He is also someone the players have to look up to because of his achievements. I don't think this is enough to radically change our season as we are lacking quality players in most positions.
Peeder as the great Sir Brian said, I don't want runners, running gets you nowhere but the second division(old second division that is). Chasing lost causes is pointless.
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Rubbish Spart, in that there is never a lost cause in football.
The simplest back pass, as per Luton, can result in a goal.
The best of saves from a keeper can result in a back post tap in IF the striker gambles every time.
Dean Saunders chased almost every ball down because he knew that a few times each season the keeper would mess up and present him with a chance.
Football is all about fine margins and Martin, whilst a very intelligent footballer is also a lazy one who, if he put in more effort, would score more goals and be a better player.
posted on 22/10/19
Oh ye of little brain Peeder. Martin's main assets are skill and strength. Too much white muscle to chase every ball so only chase the one's that are likely to lead to an advantage. Nugent chased down everything and then was too knackered to convert the chances that came along. If you are built like Bryson or Hughes then chasing is your forte but don't expect them to mix it with the big central defenders. Football is a team game, no one can do everything.