Well the papers had speculated and ABUs had hoped for it but now its happened how will we cope without Wayne Rooney? Although nothing has been confirmed, it is thought Rooney will miss 2 to 4 weeks with a sprained ankle and frankly it couldn’t have come at a more inconvenient point of the season.
With the title run in as close as ever and us trailing Bayern Munich following the first leg of the Champions League quarter final, we will need everyone especially the strikers to stand up and be counted.
Despite the victory on Saturday without Wayne, the talk of United being a 1 man team persists so now would be the ideal time for the rest of the team to put such a notion to bed.
Dimitar Berbatov has borne the brunt of many fans as well as the media ire but now is the perfect opportunity for him to show his worth and silence his critics in Rooney’s absence. His performances have been vastly improved this season and he showed on Saturday against Bolton that he can lead the line with his two goals. His performance drew the praise from his team mates specifically Gary Neville and last night following Rooney’s injury Nemanja Vidic also nominated him as the man to shine during Wayne’s spell on the sidelines.
Yesterday Sir Alex expressed his delight at having Kiko Macheda available again following the young Italians injury hit season. Macheda earned his place in United folk lore last season with a late winner against Aston Villa and then a goal against Sunderland in the following game so he has been in the spotlight before. Although just 18 he has shown he can handle the pressure and we hope that if called upon again this season he can answer in a similar fashion to last season.
We are not left completely bare without Rooney, as well as Berbatov and Macheda there is also the untested Mame Biram Diouf showing that there is still quality in our striker department. It’s just a matter of these players forgetting the circumstance in which they are called upon and playing as well as we know they can.
One man team definately. Now it will be seen that rooneys absence will find you out. Without him u are top 10. Blue moon!!!
out of pure instincts and gut feelings guys overthere take this: the only one to get united out of this mess is ‘Mame Diouf’! He is strong in the air, on ground and has very good striking rate; just look at his rate: first match nearly first touch and goal!!! Nearly in every reserve game he has scored, the only problem the gafer has little trust in him. Given the chance he will kill the opposition and he is raring to take his chance! So please Sir Alex replace Roo by Mame…An urgent plea from a desperate fan…
dil what are you on about the gaffer has no trust in him? Are you Dioufs boyfrend or something?
Loving how Chelsea fans think they’ve got this game sewn up now. Rooney getting injured could work in our favour in my opinion. Nobody knows much about Diouf or Macheda, they could really catch teams out because nobody knows how to play against them apart from our own defenders. I’m backing them both to do well.
The issue will not so much be Rooney’s goals but our formation.
This side has been built around the 4-3-3, last season we had Tevez to fill in but it is not a role which Berbatov could fill.
We need to rebuild our team around Berbatov.. very fast, any ideas ?
If Berbatov is willing to stay up top rather than falling back to get involved in build up I’m pretty sure it can work.
He should get enough service as we have the players to do so but the sad fact is he probably won’t.
That explains why up to now such a promising talent has been given very little action in first team! Ofcourse out of form Macheda will be given the chance; and how would you explain that? Also why to sit out energetic Gibson and put no leg scholes throughout the last game? Any explanation to that? The Gaffer got it wrong again!
Dil in all the posts I have ever read yours are probably the most ridiculous ever!
A) Diouf has only been here for what four months? Young, new to the prem, learning his trade at the biggest club in the world. It will be a while before he is a first team regular.
2) Out of form Macheda? What form? He has been injured and only come back last week.
3) Energetic Gibson? have yuo ever seen Gibson play, because energetic is not a word I would use for him, technical and talented yes but certanly should not be in the side at the moment with the midfield options.
4) No leg Scholes? You cant be a real fan to abuse the ginger prince! Scholes has been class for years and this season has been majestic.
5) The gaffer got it wrong? The gaffer has just won three championships back to back in a time when the premier league is meant to be the best in the world. Back to back european cup finals, winning one!Currentley top of the table, has 12 premiership titles to his name, and 26 major honours in 24 years so I find that comment completely ridiculous.
Can you explain that!
Giggs i agree with you, however I do think for the first time in his life Fergie got it wrong pulling off a midfielder to put Berbatov on, I could see what he was trying to do – (Berbatov to hold up the ball keeping the ball for United) but he had no impact at all, infatc we were over-run furhter in the centre of the park. no chance will he start with macheda or diouf. He’ll play Berbatov supported by park/giggs with macheda+diouf on the bench.
Jamie I would completeley agree with that mate but hindsight its easy for us to say that after the event. They were pressing us from the back with Van Buyton and Demechelis just walking out of defence with the ball for fun!
You are right about leaving a mid on as I thought it would have been better as well but Dil’s comments are just insane about Diouf, Gibson, and SAF.