We would be lying to ourselves if we said Wayne Rooney has been firing on all cylinders this season, revelations about his personal life as well as possible injuries can be cited as reasons.
Although looking better than he did in South Africa, Rooney just hasn’t looked the same. It was thought his goal against West Ham would reignite him but he still didn’t spring to live as expected and if we are being honest has looked at around 60%. The timing of the stories about his extra marital activities couldn’t have come at a worse time and it appears it has further hampered Rooney’s efforts to get back to his brilliant best.
Last Sunday against Liverpool despite his less than spectacular form there were alarm bells when Rooney appeared to roll his ankle against Liverpool and against Bolton yesterday after coming off Rooney immediately iced his ankle. I always felt injury may have been playing a part in Rooney’s lack lustre performances as he hasn’t really looked the same since doing his ankle against Bayern Munich last season and Mike Phelan confirmed this stating,
“He has been playing with it for a couple of weeks…”
When the story of Rooney and the call girl hit the papers he was withdrawn from the game against Everton to protect him but he was brought back for the game following against Liverpool. Bolton fans were especially vocal with their taunts and jeering and this as well as the injuries could have played a part in why Rooney looked a shell of himself. Last week Sir Alex himself stated that it must be difficult for Wayne being under intense scrutiny so now with this injury Wayne will be taken out of the harsh spotlight as well as allowed to heal, killing two birds with one stone
With Berbatov and Owen both firing at the moment, this could be the best time for Rooney to take a step back, get fit and clear his head.
Rooney at full force is more than most defences can handle as he showed last season so if this ankle injury allows him to get back to this, I’m more than happy to see him out for a few weeks.
i think fergie is loosing the plot. is it his old age or what. first he is like a s school being bullied at school coming crying to his mother. the reason boycotting press for god sake would evere get over it. so what if the press saying he called torres a cheat. what does he expect. its embrassing. what he is doing. and then he dropped rooney for velencia gsnme we need the win badly. whats he ganme. rooney is not injured i watch the ganme twice i nevere saw rooney get belt our fall over. fergie is loosing the plot. when cantona did far worse thing than rooney and yet he plays straight he conmes back from ban. conme on fergie grow up. short you defenvise out . our club is a shanmbles.
There certainly doesn’t seem to be the ‘it’s Rooney or nothing’ feel now as there was at the end of last season. Dimitar is having a cracking spell and Hernandez has given us such optimism.
I guess it would smack of denial if we didn’t expect Wayne’s form to suffer after an appauling South Africa followed by his (not so) personal problems. But there’s not a cell in my body that doesn’t believe he is going to back, soon, and with devastating results for many hapless defences.
Totally agree Glutten so to hear Collymore say Rooney is done is laughable. The second he is back banging in goals everyone will love him. It’s just a fickle few who believe he is done for at the age of 24.
Right now with Rooney there is a mix of personal life issues, game confidence and fitness problems which is a terible mix. Even when he hasn’t been looking good, his unique abilities are apparent and the fact that he inconsistent spell is so little in light of his career means I’m not very worried. I will say though that Fergie playing him way before he was healed was one of the few foolish things we’ve seen from him.
But this is why we have Owen isn’t it, and the guy’s been looking terrific. He should be given a chance to start, though I’m not sure what his chemistry with Berba would look like.