Riddle me this:
What EXACTLY does Rooney do on a football pitch to earn one cent or a single kobo? I find it incredible that there isn't more uproar over the "performances" that Rooney has been giving over the past few months. It's as if the media, paid to report on all matters, are simply ignoring the fact that Man United's captain is easily their worst and most ineffective player.
Yesterday was a big match. Arsenal is always a fixture that United fans look forward to due to their intense rivalry back in the Henry era. When you add to the fact that United were on a good run and were top of the table, this was a game that they were looking to win. Oh, and did I also add that Arsenal had lost to Olympiakos in the same stadium? A team from the road who scored three goals for the first time against Premier League opposition?
This was the kind of game where you look at your captain to inspire and lead the team forward. After Arsenal went into a ridiculously amazing start, United had to respond somehow. Whilst Martial was again being the best player for United and everyone was trying to get in the game, the best paid player in the whole of the Premier league was nowhere to be seen. Actually, scratch that, he was seen falling over or passing the ball sideways and backwards. Remember, this is the captain of the team playing in a very important position which is in the hole.
There's a strong case to be made for Rooney to be dropped. If Mourinho was the manager, Rooney would probably lose his place. I don't know what special agreements with sponsors that United have which means Van Gaal is forced to play Rooney, or if he the Dutch coach is himself benefiting monetarily from starting such a worthless player. Suffice to say, it's just straight up wrong that a player who has performed so badly on a consistent basis, is put in a game of this magnitude. United were playing with ten men because an invisible man would have been more present than Rooney in that match.
Going forward, United don't need to panic. Martial looks a really good player, and it's just one of those games where Mata just couldn't find his rhythm and I am still giving out hope that Depay will get into how the Premier League works. Smalling is still improving a lot as a defender and there wasn't much he would do when his midfield were totally overrun and pimped up. As for Rooney, I have no confidence whatsoever in him suddenly improving. For someone who has been so bad for so long, why the hell should he suddenly start playing like Robben all of a sudden?
BENCH HIM!
HH
