#360debate: Should Rooney be a regular starter for MUFC?

Sport360 staff 07:38 01/08/2016
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  • Under pressure: Wayne Rooney.

    Wayne Rooney returned to Manchester United action in Goteborg this week with a two-goal display in the club’s emphatic pre-season victory over Galatasaray.

    The 30-year-old has endured a difficult year, spending much of late last season in a midfield role before moving back into more familiar territory as England once more failed to ignite at Euro 2016.

    The spotlight is now firmly fixed on the one-time boy wonder and many are beginning to wonder if he can still produce the magic of old.

    This week’s #360debate asks: Should skipper Wayne Rooney be a regular starter for Manchester United?

    Matt Jones, reporter, says YES

    There is no doubt Wayne Rooney is on the decline, but while his fitness and influence deteriorate, his undoubted class ensures he remains a key figure under the Jose Mourinho revolution.

    Rooney has often been a scapegoat for Manchester United’s failings during the lean years following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. That comes with the territory of being club captain and highest earner, yet his importance to the Red Devils remains significant. He has still been one of United’s best players, along with David De Gea, during the recent barren years.

    He played 42 times last season and bagged 15 goals. Admittedly, that was his second-worst tally in 12 seasons in Manchester – but that says more about United’s malaise than his own.

    Last term was also one of the worst seasons the club endured in front of goal during Rooney’s Old Trafford tenure. Their Premier League tally under the ponderous football of Louis van Gaal yielded a paltry 49 goals – their worst in 26 years.

    Despite this Rooney topped United’s charts in terms of league assists (six), was second in key passes (43), goals (eight) and also second in goals in all competitions.

    Then there’s his relationship with Mourinho, a man who has made no secret of his desire to work with Rooney.

    Unlike Van Gaal, who simply couldn’t figure out where to deploy him, the Portuguese used his first United press conference to clarify exactly where Rooney will play.

    “For me he will be a 9, a 10, a 9.5, but not a 6, not even an 8,” he said.

    With enigmatic Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic primed for the central striking role, there is no-one better to occupy the string-pulling No. 10 berth than Rooney. Juan Mata should be retained, but lacks Rooney’s pace or work ethic.

    Despite the addition of excellent Armenian artist, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, his sublime 49 combined goals and assists at Borussia Dortmund last season came from the flank.

    Mourinho has evidently already upgraded a United side lacking flair and velocity going forward in the last three seasons. With more potent weapons around him, Rooney is destined to be more devastating.

    Matt Monaghan, reporter, says NO

    The process to knock Wayne Rooney off top billing at the Theatre of Dreams should be well under way. The 30-year-old’s degeneration from vivid boy wonder to leaden-footed oaf is well established.

    Finally, after years of denial and pandering to yesterday’s man, Manchester United now have the supreme support cast and assertive manager to rid themselves of a burden.

    Jose Mourinho will not be swayed by the two goals plundered during Saturday’s 5-2 friendly win against Galatasaray. He will instead see a repeat of the bumbling play from Euro 2016 with England, or how Rooney looked so uncomfortable when tasked with the nuances of the playmaker role.

    The Portuguese will also have witnessed in the effervescence of teenager Marcus Rashford and evergreen nature of centre forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic that a new path has emerged.

    Throw in the arrival of delightful Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan and imminent record-breaking return of €110 million (Dh451.4m) Paul Pogba from Juventus, and the case for Rooney’s retention of a star role narrows.

    A calculated decision based on reason rather than reputation will follow in the coming weeks. Sir Alex Ferguson knew Rooney’s time was up three years ago, immediate successors David Moyes and Louis van Gaal did him a disservice by not enacting such thoughts.

    The exuberant striker who reached his apogee with 34 goals in 44 games during 2010/11 is long gone.

    Rooney has failed to break the 20-goal barrier in five of the last six seasons. He was outscored by Anthony Martial last term, got half of Serie A joint-leader Pogba’s 12 assists and could not dream of Mkhitaryan’s 23 goals and 26 assists.

    His face no longer fits and Mourinho was correct to state in his opening press conference that no repeat of last season’s deep midfield role will occur.

    Expect the politically-savvy Portuguese to let Rooney stutter through the early weeks of 2016/17, before calling time. John Terry and Iker Casillas can attest to this ruthless nature when judged past their best. Rooney’s fate should be no different.

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