RedsUnite: a man utd blog

While there is little to be critical of in yesterday’s 6-0 destruction of Newcastle United, Wayne Rooney really struggled. The English attacker failed to score yesterday in a game that saw six goals and 31 shots. His attack partners Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez scored three and two times respectively, with Rio Ferdinand joining in late on. Rooney played admirably, with all the fervor and determination that we have come to expect and love out of him. He was treated well in all the player ratings, mostly 8’s and even a 9 or two. They noted the frustrations of Rooney, but determined that his performance was positive on the whole and deserving of some praise. I don’t know about all of that.

Can you give a player rating of 8 or 9 to a striker who fails to score in an absolute bloodbath? Wayne Rooney came out in the first half and had four quality attempts within the first 20 minutes of the match. He fired the opening salvo, smashing a shot well high of the crossbar after finding himself in space atop the 18-yard box. His failure to capitalize on this early opportunity seemed to haunt Rooney, who looked at moments as though he simply had to score. He fired away repeatedly at Shay Given to no avail. There were plays that saw him go alone when he had the support of many in scoring positions. One play saw him go for a lofted shot across the face of goal while Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs sliced down the sides and Carlos Tevez was primed in front of goal. His shot went out of bounds harmlessly, with Sir Alex Ferguson seen openly imploring Rooney to “PASS THE BALL!”

The distinctions that one could draw between Rooney and Ronaldo yesterday do not paint a pretty picture for the Englishman. They both seemed to experience similar first halves, frustrated by what they felt they deserved and were not given. Be it a shot denied or a penalty not given, Ronaldo and Rooney acted like petulant children in the first half, openly indignant and often embarrassingly demonstrative. One play saw Ronaldo fouled a few yards outside of the 18-yard box. The free kick was given, but Ronaldo did not spring to his feet to stand menacingly over the ball as he usually does from such positions. He just sat there on the ground with his back turned to referee Rob Styles, refusing to acknowledge Styles or the moment out of irritation with previous fouls not awarded. Both men carried their discontent into the locker room at the half, along with a frustrating 0-0 scoreline. Ronaldo, in the second half, channeled his frustrations into a hat trick, while Rooney remained the same.

There is a characteristic in common between the two players, Rooney and Ronaldo, that often shows itself in periods like the one just discussed. They both seem to have a sense of entitlement that can seemingly overtake them at times. They act as though they have a legal right to success and any obstacles to such favorable results are treated with disdain. Missed shots lead to flailing arms and sour faces. Fouls not given result in audible whining and temper tantrums unbecoming of anyone, much less two of footballs most admirable players. This trait seems to favor Ronaldo, however, as this sense of entitlement seems to be the fuel that propels Ronaldo to such astonishing heights. His ability to will himself onto the score sheet, as he seems to in so many close games, is remarkable. He is sometimes the most dangerous when he is frustrated. The opposite is true for Wayne Rooney, however.

Wayne Rooney’s inability to channel his emotions positively is cause for concern. While contributing positively at times, it could safely be said that Rooney was wasteful yesterday. His early match frustrations seemed to instill him with an exasperation that grew as the match went on. With every brilliant save by Given, Rooney seemed to grow more and more irritated. This culminated in a yellow card typical of Rooney, an entirely unnecessary tackle from behind in the neutral third. These acts of frustration have long been accepted as the necessary bad side of what makes Wayne Rooney special. Most have agreed that while his attitude at times is cause for concern, it is this streak of anger that gives him his characteristic edge. Well not yesterday. Yesterday it served no benefit to Rooney, only haunting him like an inner demon he was unable to slay despite all his efforts. He absolutely should have scored at least once yesterday. It would not have been out of the question for Rooney to have registered a hat trick of his own yesterday given all of his opportunities. His failure to do so is cause for concern, in my opinion, as Rooney has failed to find his form this season.

Rooney has nine goals this year in 20 appearance, five of them in Premier League play. He has struggled to remain fit this season through a fluky injury and a virus which cost him some games. Manchester United are undefeated in all matches in which Wayne Rooney appears, with his play, seemingly, a strong catalyst to the side. What causes concern for me, however, is this: Wayne Rooney has only scored once in a match decided by one goal or less. Said another way, if Wayne Rooney had not sored at all this season only one result would be different–he was the lone goal scorer in our 1-0 victory against Roma at Old Trafford. Most of Rooney’s goals this year came in games much like yesterday’s, absolute massacres against teams in the lower half of the table. In league play he has scored against the following teams: Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. 80% of his league goals come against teams in the bottom 1/3 of the league. Wayne Rooney’s link-up play is undeniably brilliant. Some of his touches, like his gorgeous back heel to Tevez earlier this season, have led to the most beautiful goals of the year. But his shooting has been erratic, failing to find the net at times when you’d swear he was destined to score.

Is this much ado about nothing or is it cause for concern? I’m not for a second suggesting that Wayne Rooney’s contribution this year has been detrimental to the team. His presence alone adds a certain amount of drive to the United side that is noticeably absent when he is missing. But we need greatness out of Rooney if we are going to reach the lofty goals set for the side this year. If the treble is our aim, we can not rely on Ronaldo to will himself onto the score sheet as the matches increase in importance. Some European sides will have the resources to make life difficult for the Portuguese, so our goals will have to come from elsewhere at times. If Rooney continues to struggle in front of net it will haunt us eventually. His inadequacy to date has been overshadowed by United’s spectacular form and Ronaldo’s individual brilliance. But as the weeks go by and the games become more meaningful, the microscope will be more intense. Rooney, if he fails to find his form, will continue to be haunted by his sense of entitlement, cursing at the goal like a woman who repeatedly scorns him. As a Manchester United supporter, I hope that he breaks through shortly, for our treble hopes depend on it.