Best goal of his career? Maybe. The rejuvenation of a lacklustre Rooney? Maybe. A stunning goal and fitting winner for a Manchester United v Manchester City derby? Definitely. Enjoy.
Wazza pens new five year deal
Chided but richer
As I sit here watching Manchester United try to overcome a resilient Stoke City at the Britannia I am still pondering the events at Old Trafford over the last week.
Wayne Rooney’s refusal to sign a new contract, citing a lack of ambition at Manchester United and a lack of quality in the current squad as the main reasons, followed by his complete U-turn and signing of a new five year contract has me puzzled.
There is a lot of conjecture surrounding who won this particular battle of nerves, Sir Alex Ferguson or Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford. Those claiming it was a fantastic bluff and result for Stretford and Rooney reckon it was all simply a case of getting improved terms than those that were first offered by United. Those on the side of Ferguson reckon…
[United score through a back header from Hernandez! Stoke 0-1 Man Utd]
…those on the side of Ferguson reckon he called the bluff, saying if Rooney wanted to go then he could but at the same time asking the questions “Where are you going to go, Wayne? Where would be better than here, who will treat you better than we have and who will continue to support you like we have?”.
Personally, I think it was a bit of both. That Rooney wanted assurances about the future direction of the club I have no doubt. That Stretford used Rooney’s worries to extract better terms from Manchester United I also don’t doubt. But when faced with the question of “Where are you going to go, Wayne?” I think Rooney realised that there was nowhere he could go after Manchester United except abroad – and that, I don’t believe, does not appeal to a man like Rooney.
No, he thought about it and decided that, no matter what, United is where he belongs. To move to Manchester City would have made his life intolerable. A visit of 30 or so supporters to his Cheshire mansion during the week and the graffiti reading “SIGN FOR CITY AND YOU’RE DEAD” spray painted on an advertising hoarding outside Manchester’s Nike store were enough indication of that. Chelsea would have been an option but Chelsea are a cosmopolitan club in the heart of London, not quite the place for a lad with the public and private issues he has right now, not the sort of place that would help him out when he needed it.
In the end, Rooney decided he was better off where he was. During that meeting with Ferguson and United chief executive David Gill on Friday morning I’m sure he was strongly reminded of that. Sure, he might have got a few extras in his new contract as well and he definitely was given the assurances he required over the future of the club and its ability to attract the top players – through reputation and money – but Rooney knows Old Trafford is home.
The United and England striker has since been ruled out of action for the next three weeks with, you guessed it, an ankle injury. You would imagine an injury keeping you out for three weeks would require some sort of treatment at Carrington, United’s training complex. Interesting, then, that I have it on good authority Rooney flew out of Manchester Airport on Saturday morning to Dubai with wife Colleen.
Injured? No. Told to take three weeks off, clear his head, sort his personal problems out and return refreshed and ready to get back to his football and playing at the level to which we have all become accustomed. And this time, you can bet Rooney won’t pretend to be confused why his manager has said he’s injured. He now knows who is boss and he has been adequately put in his place by that man.
If this was a battle with a winner, then that winner was, as it always is, Sir Alex Ferguson. Rooney has another battle ahead of him – winning back the support of the fans, who have been infuriated by his actions over the last week. Fans who now view him as an ungrateful, greedy and disloyal Scouser. Fans who had taken him, a Scouser, to their hearts and loved him regardless.
This is the battle before him now and it’s one he must win if he is to find happiness at Old Trafford again. It’s a battle he can win but he’ll have to do it on the pitch and stay away from anything off the pitch. Bad publicity off the pitch will no longer be tolerated by the United support, just as bad performances on it won’t either. Rooney has used up whatever leeway he had with Ferguson and the fans, you have to believe.
It’s time he got back to what he does best. Play football, score goals and make people happy.
Rooney: No promises? I'll be off then.
Wayne Rooney has issued a statement in which he outlines his reasons for wanting to leave Manchester United. In the statement he confirmed that he and his agent, Paul Stretford, had had meetings with Manchester United chief executive David Gill during which he did not receive the assurances he asked for regarding the club’s ability to attract the world’s top players.
Rooney went on to say that, given his commitment and performances for United over the last six seasons, he felt he was entitled to ask for such assurances.
“I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad.
“I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract.”
On manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the club itself Rooney appeared to want to make a point but also underline his feelings towards both.
“I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it.
“It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world.
“I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?
“For me its all about winning trophies – as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified.”
Because of the lack of satisfactory answers to those questions Rooney confirmed he would not be signing a new contract and will leave the club. His current deal runs out at the end of the 2011/12 season but it is highly unlikely he will be at the club that long. It’s more likely he will be sold in January but where he will end up is still open for debate.
Manchester City were being touted as a likely destination but manager Roberto Mancini has said there will be no more signings this season and that he considers Rooney to be a Manchester United player only.
What truth there is in that statement will be revealed in January. There are very few clubs that can afford the England international, City being one of them. Chelsea remain a possibility in England, otherwise you have to look abroad. It’s difficult to see Rooney playing in Spain for Barcelona or Real Madrid – though Jose Mourinho has been quoted as saying Rooney should give him a call – and Italian clubs are unlikely to be able to afford what is likely to be a transfer fee in excess of £40 million.
More twists and turns to come, for sure, and I wouldn’t rule out a U-turn by Rooney if the club reacts in a positive manner towards his now public concerns. How the fans react to this honesty and whether or not they’d accept an about face only time will tell.
Fergie: "shocked" and "disappointed"
Sir Alex Ferguson has just confirmed in a press conference at Old Trafford that Wayne Rooney wants to LEAVE Manchester United.
Apparently, David Gill, United’s chief executive, has spoken to Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford and was told the player wants out. Fergie says he’s ‘”bemused” but has not shut the door on the player staying.
There is a contract on the table that Rooney is free to sign if he changes his mind. Basically, the ball is in his court.
It was a masterful performance from Ferguson, offering full disclosure on the situation. How Rooney can make a U-turn on his decision now and still be made welcome at Old Trafford is unclear, however.
Facebook and Twitter are already full of angry Manchester United supporters saying if he wants to go, just go. Nobody is bigger than the club is the general consensus.
In a pre-recorded interview with MUTV Ferguson has said he is “shocked” and “disappointed”, he’s had a meeting with Rooney in which the player repeated his wish to leave. Ferguson asks only that Rooney respects the club but isn’t sure that’s happening with what has been said in the press about a falling out.
No doubt more to come on this from the Rooney camp but it seems like Manchester United and Ferguson have said all they are about to say and it’s down to Rooney now.
Wayne Rooney looking out for himself?
What is Wayne Rooney thinking? He’s going toe to toe with one of the most ruthless managers in the game, one who cares not a jot for a player’s reputation, status or even, in the end, his ability. There will only be one winner and it will be Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson made the decision, based on Rooney’s poor form, lack of fitness and personal problems, to take him out of the limelight. He ‘invented’ an ankle injury to do so, which he has done in the past with little or no argument from the player in question, but for some reason Rooney took it upon himself to announce that he has no such injury and can’t understand why his manager said he did.
Inventing injuries for media consumption is perhaps not the way to go about these things but the reasoning for it was sound. Rooney needs a break for a number of reasons and there’s very few Manchester United fans who have said different in recent months. Clearly Rooney disagrees as you would expect from a man who just loves to play football.
What the striker needs to understand, though, is that he is a player and Ferguson is the boss. You do what the boss says or you run the risk of paying the penalty. That penalty, if you believe the media, is the Old Trafford exit. There’s more to this than a disagreement between player and manager over whether or not he should play though.
It is reported that talks on a new contract have broken down and with just 18 months left on his current deal that will be a worry for Ferguson and the United board. They won’t want to lose Rooney on a free to anyone, so a fast resolution or a fast sale is the only outcome.
I got this in my inbox the other day:
Rooney is generally unhappy right now. Home situation, teammates who he thinks aren’t pulling their weight for different reasons (Rio’s injuries don’t convince Rooney, Scholes is delusional about his age, Carrick has lost his spine, Anderson only thinks about getitng laid, Evra is still screwed up by the WC), guys who aren’t performing (Chicharito tries hard but not contributing enough, Evans confidence shot, Van der Sar too old) he just feels the team is a mess and he has spoken to the senior players he likes (Berba, Vidic, Fletcher, Giggs) but found little support. And little support from SAF too. That said, I don’t think the situation is beyond repair. I think real problem is his contract. An intermeidary claiming to represent his agent has approached a number of clubs (including City) alerting them to the possibility he may come up for sale. That information was given to me directly from City themselves.
This, the email claimed, comes from a representative of a first team player. Make of it what you will, these things have to be taken with a pinch of salt but I’m a firm believer in the old adage that there’s no smoke without fire.
Then we have Roy Keane talking on Sky Sports News about the situation, telling Rooney to look after himself, that he was told a “pack of lies” when his time was up at Manchester United and various other claims. The trouble is, his comments have a ring of truth and if Rooney has been lied to then he won’t take kindly to it. Even if it’s true, not even Roy Keane will tell you he won that battle. Ferguson always wins. The contract is a real sticking point, clearly, but what the issue is there is hard to say. Money just doesn’t seem like the sort of problem that would concern Rooney but what else could it be?
Whichever way you look at it, the situation will come to a head fairly soon and it will be Ferguson that wins – either by talking Rooney round and getting him back on the right track at Old Trafford or by a sale netting millions and a settled dressing room once more.
The suggestion that he would move Manchester City is, surely, ridiculous. Rooney would be well aware of the backlash he would receive if that was his destination of choice and there’s no way United would let one of their best move across town to their fiercest rivals and potential title challengers. Yet Rooney has the power here, doesn’t he.
If money talks for Rooney these days then City will be a very attractive proposition and, with his current contract so close to being up, he could hold out for that move, ensuring United are forced to sell before losing him anyway for nothing.
It’s a sorry state of affairs for Rooney and United and quite how it has come to this is a bit of mystery. For me, as a United fan, I can only say that Rooney should buckle down, focus on his game, regain his form and recognise that he is privileged to be at Manchester United. He should also realise that as much as he may disagree with Ferguson’s actions with regard to him personally, they were taken with his best interests at heart. As far as his opinions on the team goes, frankly I run out of patience here. Ferguson is the boss and that is the end of it.
Wayne, we love you at Old Trafford, we really do. But you’re one man, you’re not performing and you are NOT bigger than this club. Focus on your game and score us goals, it’s all we ask. Or, if you really can’t do that and you want to leave, then f*ck off now. The club doesn’t need you spitting your dummy and we will be better off without you if you don’t want to be here.
Following my rather damning view on Manchester City’s chances of success this season, I thought it only fair I redress the balance by taking a long, hard look at my own club, Manchester United and be as honest as possible in my assessment.
We’re three games into the season now and, as ever, United sit comfortably just behind leaders and reigning champions Chelsea. Two comfortable wins against Newcastle United and West Ham have been countered by a 2-2 draw with Fulham, fast becoming our bogey club.
Having attended both the Newcastle and Hammers games (thanks to @naturalbornred), my initial view of the United team and squad is this; it’s as good as ever but is becoming increasingly reliant on veterans Giggs and Scholes as there appears to be a gap between them, the young talent, and the lack of highest quality from those who should be doing better.
Now, I’m not complaining. Giggs is and always will be my personal favourite and watching Paul Scholes is a joy. They cannot, I’m sure, play a 50+ game season, however, and as it stands they are the only ones providing the real guile and creativity to create goals.
Nani is getting there, Valencia stars in patches, Carrick appears to have forgotten how to play, Park is a battler and Anderson is yet to return. Only Darren Fletcher currently deserves a permanent place in the team alongside Scholes. We’re not short of players in the midfield, far from it, but none of them are as good or as consistent as the old men.
Returning to that Fulham game, it shone a light on a certain fragility in the United squad. The defence is not as settled as I would like. They days of Bruce, Pallister, Parker and Irwin are long gone but I look back at those times with fondness. I would love to have that stability right now.
I’d also like to not see Jonny Evans so often too, his positional sense is appalling. Thank God for the rock that is Vidic. Evra is right up there with the best left backs in the world, so no worries there but the choice for Vidic’s partner and a right back really is up in the air. I fear for Ferdinand’s footballing future, though it looks like he’ll be back very soon, and we need him. Chris Smalling, signed from Fulham last season, is promising so maybe there is reliable, solid cover there. At fullback either of the Brazilian Da Silva twins are great going forward, not so much defending. The less said about John O’Shea the better. Do we have to hope for the return of yet another veteran in Gary Neville?
Right now, I’d take it.
Finally, up front, where we are supposedly blessed with an embarrassment of riches. If Rooney was fit and in form, Owen could find his golden touch (and stay fit) and Hernandez prove to be the star we think he is capable of, we are indeed blessed. But right now, the only in form and reliable striker is…wait for it…Dimitar Berbatov!
This is a pleasing thing for me. Berbatov is a footballer to be indulged, no question, but such is his talent he should be and I’m pleased to see Ferguson trusting him.
And then there’s Bebe, who has made the 25-man squad despite not having played a minute of football for us, either at reserve or first team level. A £7.5m gamble of epic proportions…
That’s the team and I am naturally pessimistic when it comes to my club. I know full well this is a squad that is perfectly capable of challenging for honours on all fronts but you can’t ignore the weak spots. It was those that cost us the title last season, after all.
So how do I think we’ll do? Well, the League is Chelsea’s to lose, it really is. They are powerful, clearly full of goals and have the belief of champions. United will run them down, right to the wire and MAY pip them to the title should they suffer injury or crisis of confidence. But in all honesty, I think we’ll finish runner up to Abramovich’s toy once again.
In Europe we need Rooney back to his best to really challenge for the Champions League. His form will come as the season progresses, but he’ll need a rest at the right time – around Christmas, no doubt – and when it does I think we’re capable of reaching the semi finals. From there on, a huge slice of luck is required. Win it? No, probably not, not when Barcelona and Chelsea are looking so very strong.
In the Cups we’ll be looking to retain our League Cup with a combination of youth and a sprinkling of experience. Entirely possible while the rest of the Premier League dismisses the competition as a training ground or a distraction. The FA Cup is, of course, taken more seriously and is therefore harder to win. Chelsea will want to retain it and they consistently play a strong side in it. The likes of Spurs, Everton and Villa will want to win it too, so it’ll be a tough one. Possible…but unlikely as we chase the League and Champions League as a priority.
Fact is, we have one of the best teams in the country but it’s a fragile one with Rio made of glass, Rooney so vital and the world class players now facing their 40th birthdays in the not too distant future! There’s a slim chance of winning the League, but that’s more of a chance than Arsenal, Manchester City or Tottenham have.
One thing is for sure, United will be fun to watch. This is not a team or squad either used to or even capable of playing defensively so I expect goals at both ends, last gasp winners and a breathless end of season chase that will, sadly, end in disappointment. It’s all part of being a Red. And I love it.
If England’s inept, inadequate performance against, with no disrespect to them, the lowly Algeria in last night’s Group C tie was not enough to convince you that there are serious problems in the camp then Rooney’s inexplicable on-camera rant aimed at England supporters surely is.
I’ll get to Rooney later, England’s poor display must come first. Coach Fabio Capello said after the game he was “confused” by his team’s performance. I’m starting to think the Italian is confused full stop.
The side he put out is supposedly England’s best. David James back in goal, Terry, Johnson and Ashley Cole in defence, Barry returning to a midfield boasting the talents of Gerrard, Lampard and Lennon and Rooney up front supported by Heskey. Only the unfortunate Rio Ferdinand missing, replaced by Jamie Carragher.
Yet it wasn’t a team that walked out to face Algeria, it was a collection of individuals who played like they’d never seen each other before. They were unable to apply a single bit of pressure on their opponents and looked tactically weak and bereft of any ideas going forward.
There was never going to be a danger of Algeria scoring – they haven’t in their last six, now seven, games. You would think, then, that England could concentrate on passing the ball around their inferior opponents and creating chance after chance for Rooney and the midfield.
It didn’t happen. Passes too often went astray, the midfield dawdled too long on the ball too often and the supply to the front men was non-existent. Every player, bar perhaps James, had a bad game. Heskey, picked for his ability to win the ball, hold it up and lay it off to Rooney or an on-rushing midfielder, found the ball bouncing off him to an Algerian throughout the match.
The usually precision passing from Gerrard and Lampard was not in evidence, nor was Lennon’s ability to speed past defenders and deliver telling crosses. The best attacking player on the pitch was left back Ashley Cole.
Capello’s substitutions were bizarre. Lennon was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Heskey by Defoe and far too late on, Barry by Crouch. Why Capello thought Wright-Phillips would have better luck then the far better Lennon is a mystery. Why he felt that Defoe might have better luck keeping hold of the ball than Heskey is another and why Crouch, England’s lucky talisman in so many games previously, had to wait until the 84th minute to try his luck is yet another.
And what of Joe Cole? His trickery and ability to open up defences was left to sit on the bench when the game was crying out for someone different, someone with something completely different to offer. Capello, though, clearly doesn’t appreciate what he has in Cole.
If we’re to be completely honest about our national team, and I accept it is not often easy to do, we must accept that our only two world class players are Rooney and Gerrard. The team must be coached and built around those two. Rooney should not be left isolated by his inferior team mates and Gerrard should not be left out wide on the left to scrounge for what little possession he can.
If that means some big name players are left out, so be it. Lampard should not have a divine right to a starting position if it means Gerrard has to play on the left, for example. It is a team game.
England are not good enough to win a tournament, no matter how much we want them to be. England ARE good enough to leave their mark on one, however – IF they are set up in such a way as to maximise the talents of their better players. Right now, Capello has fallen into the same trap as McLaren and Eriksson before him – he feels he must pick the best individuals, not the best team.
What that means is that England’s best player was the worst player on the pitch last night. Wayne Rooney, his frustration with himself and his team mates growing as the match wore on, could do nothing right. It was perhaps fortunate for him and England that he finally boiled over at the final whistle and not during the match.
As he walked off the field to a chorus of boos from the England supporters he let loose to a camera:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sdg_6kBiT4[/youtube]
“Nice to see your own fans booing you…that’s what loyal support is.”
The supporters have every right to vent their frustration, though you have to question what that sort of reaction will do to the confidence of the players already feeling bitter disappointment. For Rooney, it led to anger.
There is no excuse for what the England striker did or said, but you can understand it. Angry and frustrated with himself, his performance and the result – which leaves England’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread – he released it all at the fans he felt weren’t helping the cause.
He will, no doubt, regret what he did today but there’s no taking it back now. We as a nation should not come down too hard on him either. He remains our best hope of continuing in this World Cup and he and the rest of the players should get our full support.
The problem in the England camp is one of confidence. It always has been. For a while it looked like Capello had managed to restore it, the qualifying campaign providing ample evidence. On the biggest stage of them all, however, it has abandoned them again. If Capello can’t nurture confidence then the supporters have to – booing is clearly not the way to go about it.
On Wednesday we have to win. A draw might be good enough, but that’s a dangerous way of thinking. No, nothing less than a win – preferably with a healthy goal tally and a good performance – should be the target. Rooney can redeem himself with a goal and the team and fans can get back on track.
I actually believe that the pressure of having to win brings out the best in England anyway, focuses the players and improves individual and team performance. The tournament is not yet in to the knock out stages, but England are.
They now know that defeat in the next game, and the one after that and so on means elimination. If that isn’t enough for England to play better and win, then they quite simply don’t deserve to be there and the World Cup will be better off without them. For Gerrard and Rooney that will be a shame. For the rest, it will be what they deserve.
You want a happy note to end on? I have one. Carragher picked up his second booking and will miss the Slovenia match. Matthew Upson will no doubt get the nod to partner Terry. For me, that’s the only upside to a dismal night in Rustenburg.
England continued their preparations for the 2010 World Cup with a wholly uninspiring 3-0 defeat of South African Premier League side Platinum Stars.
As BBC Radio 5Live commentator Mike Ingham put it during the second half, it was more tin pot than platinum. But let’s focus on the positives shall we?
Rooney scored one and made one, a happy return to form. Joe Cole looked lively. There we go, that’s that done.
Negatives included Glen Johnson giving away a penalty shortly after Jermaine Defoe had given England the lead in the third minute, assisted by Stephen Gerrard, Rooney getting himself booked for petulant dissent after a flare up with a Platinum Stars player, neither Crouch nor Heskey doing anything to promote themselves as Rooney’s partner on Saturday and neither Joe Hart nor Robert Green able to press their claims to start against such lacklustre opponents.
It begs the question what the point of the match was as it could have given Capello no answers and wasn’t treated as even a warm up by the players.
England fans shouldn’t be too disheartened though – in the last seven days we’ve seen Italy draw with Switzerland and lose to Mexico, France lose to China and tournament favourites Spain only narrowly defeat South Korea.
None of those sides are panicking due to their results, treating them simply as experimental warm up exercises, which is exactly what this game against the Platinum Stars was. You would, however, have expected the players to be more up for it and take the opportunity to cement their place in the starting XI with a strong and more importantly goal-filled performance.
Again I wonder at Capello’s suitability for the England job when the players can’t seem to raise themselves for him during the most important week of their lives.
Perhaps I am being a little harsh and this is all part of the big plan, a gentle run out against modest opposition to fine tune skills and fitness rather than an opportunity to plunder goals and humiliate the opposition.
Either way though, this was not entertaining in the least and Rooney’s dark side surfacing in a game such as this raises serious question marks over his ability to remain calm when the pressure is really on. He will have to be watched and watched closely.
Just four days until the opening ceremony now and five until England’s opener against the USA in Group C. Excitement and trepidation in equal measure are starting to grow.
We recently received this via email from the Corrigan Brothers. Big fans of the Wayne Rooney, it seems, the Corrigans. They, along with Shay Healy, have done their own World Cup song in praise of England’s great hope…with a cheeky swipe at the man who ensured the Irish didn’t make South Africa, Thierry Henry.
There’s a hint of sarcasm and it’s very funny. Check it out:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CitHVZHQUmg[/youtube]
So this is what that was all about. Brilliant!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqME-3dwoGs[/youtube]
If you know, let us know in the comments, will ya. Thanks.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSr4QnwOePQ[/youtube]