Rooney was better before Ronaldo left. But the team was worse imo. Ronaldo and Rooney were everything about that United side. Now, the team is stronger, but the brightest flames are dimmer

Minus his goals last season do you think theres something missing from his game?

Set piece ability, he really needs to improve on that

I have explained that poorly.

The team with Ronnie and Wayne in would beat the current side, but the rest of the team was not as it is currenty. Now we are much more of a team, where responsibility is more spread, though Wayne still carries the heaviest load.

He's confidence in shooting from long distances and from acute angles doesn't seem there anymore.

*His

Basically, he's not as good, but still the best player in the prem, and only Ronaldo and Messi are definitely better than him presently in the world.

He seemed like he couldn't be bothered. His body language was like that of Berbatov at times last season. When he lost the ball (which was often) he would just chuck his hands in the air and stand there

he wasn,t the best player in the PL this season.

Rooney has regressed in his overall ability, in my opinion. He's improved as a cf, but he doesn't play there. His control, dribbling, long distance shooting, passing, and his willingness to try things (he seems to just choose the safe option) are not what they were.

Rooney is a great player, but to say only Messi and Ronaldo are better is deluded.

How are we better as a team dice Ronaldo left? Our ability to keep the ball is pretty dire, not the same of an improving team. We had a better goal keeper, defence, midfield and attack when Ronaldo played for us, and had very good team chemistry.

The United side between 06-09 was on elf the best teams Europe has produced in the last ten years. Our current one wouldn't rank in the top 10.

The 07/08 team was incredible! Rooney and Ronaldo were immense that year. 08/09 wasn't the same Rooney often played out on that left hand side he was wasted there in my opinion!

Our current one wouldn't rank in the top 10.

It's called transition, rebuilding a new side. Once the youngsters peak you'll be loving this side.

Rooney often played on the left hand side in 08. He was brilliant there. But with Tevez and Ronaldo up top it was interchangeable - that's why we were so great.

09 Rooney probably played up front more than 08, he just wasn't as good because him and Berbatov didn't work, not because he was on the left. Quieroz leaving effected the team in my opinion as well.

It's a shame we bought Berba. Love him as a player, but he was never right for United. We dhow have used the same money to buy Silva instead.

Rooney Tevez Ronaldo
Silva
Carrick Fletcher

That would have been a better side than what we had.

Also, Tevez would have played more and probably stayed, Silva would have been a ready-made replacement for Ronaldo, and we could have could have lined up like this the following season:

Tevez Rooney
Silva Carrick Fletccher/Scholes Nani

Hindsight!

Arab, I'm aware that we're in transition, and I expect big things in the future, but I was making that statement in relation to the point that we are better/more of a team now than then.

I basically have been filtered and complained about due to my views on rooney

Bar a handful of games rooney was awful overall but kept scoring, this is by his standards. The goals acted as a defence mechanism and covered up his performances

Now it simply may have been tiredness due to his dual role. Whatever the reason, as some one above mentioned, he looked not bothered

Personally I dont think rooney likes attention, his role as the main man is what is the problem. Heneeds to play second fiddle to someone, like ronaldo

Redreason, I share your views on Rooney. The problem is that some people on here take personal offence to criticisms of Rooney, even though he, as the main man in the side, deserves it more than others.

Look at how badly Carrick, Young, Nani and Evra get slated on this board, but nobody says a word about the lacklustre performances of a player some believe to be world class.

I really hope we get Hazard as I feel it will make Rooney improve. More completion for the number 10 role; will take off some of the greative burden; and I feel Hazard has the ability, mentality and arrogance to be the star in this team - something Rooney doesn't excel at.

Sorry but I think most of you are talking nonsense, we rely on him so much, he scores almost all our goals and single-handedly drags us back into games when we're playing poorly, when he plays badly he usually still scores and when he's at his best he's nothing less than a tour de force, agree with 'Eric_Cantona_7 - He's just a Hazard waiting to happen (U10287)' that the only players significantly better than him in world football are messi and ronaldo, of course they are way ahead but that's because they're both freakishly good, I think some of our fans should be a little more appreciative towards someone who's done, and continues to do, so much for us

i love rooney, but if he sorted out his touch and dribbling skills like back in the day - he would be unstoppable.

i think its because he was a lot slimmer and quicker back then, now hes chunky and slow

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2009/9/17/1253187719800/Wayne-Rooney-and-Paul-Sch-001.jpg

Paul Scholes going for the cheeky foul

Rooney misses having another top class player around him like in 98 & 99.

I don't get it. Rooney was at the heart of everything united did. And the phrase 'apart from his goals' is absolutely insane. Even if he wasnt involved in the build up (which he almost always was), they dont just trickle in off your boot you know. If that's how you're going to look at then RVP had a pretty shot season didnt he.

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"his willingness to try things (he seems to just choose the safe option) are not what they were".

I think that is something to do with the fact he used to try smoething 10 times before it came off, hence his goalscoring record improving over the years.

He gets the ball, gives it wide and gets in the box, might seem pretty simple, perhaps dull, but it works better than trying to score a wonder goal.

BB

But that's what separates the good players from the great players. Not everything Messi and Ronaldo try come off. But they're capable of that bit of magic that can turn a game. Rooney doesn't seem to do this as often as he did.

I don't just mean a long shot. Beating a man or a through ball. His thorough balls rarely come off anymore. And I never understand why he need tries to beat his man anymore - especially when on the edge of the box with one or two men to beat - favouring playing it wide and this slows down a lot of attacks.

Rooney is great but doesn't perform to a high enough level as far as I'm concerned. He has games where he is unplayable, and then will have very quiet performances for a lot of the season but score a lot and people make out he's a world class playmaker - he's not.

Like I said, because when he passes it wide and makes a run, the ball comes back in probably 8/10 times. When he tried taking people on all the time, he'd lose the ball or not get a shooting oppurtunity.

He was a more exciting player when he was young, but he is a more conistsant player now.

Ronnie doesn't try as many tricks and stuff he used to when he was younger, but like Rooney he is scoring a lot more goals.