Does Ferguson regret dropping Rooney from Manchester United’s 3-2 loss to Blackburn?
When Manchester United look back on their season and look at the dropped points, they will see a few notable slip-ups.
The most ‘avoidable’ one – surely, was the loss on New Year’s Eve to Rovers, when United paid for failing to field their strongest side.
It sums up the club’s biggest problem this season – complacency – evident in the Champions League, and a 4-2 up against Everton, and it is clearly an attitude which comes from the top.
Against Rovers, United dropped Rooney for disciplinary reasons, after he went out drinking over the festive period and turned up for training worse for wear.
Ferguson was well within his rights to do so, any breach of club discipline must be dealt with.
If United had won the game against Rovers, there would be little to discuss, but their star man’s absence helped cost them the game, and with it, crucial points that would have made the difference to their season.
It was a talking point then, and with United failing to win the league, pipped on goal difference, it is even more of a discussion point. Was Sir Alex wrong to drop Wayne Rooney?
There are two sides to this argument, and then some. First of all, United as a whole that day were poor, defending especially poorly, and there is no guarantee Rooney’s presence would have inspired the win.
The second point to consider, is if Rooney being dropped like that, galvanised him for the second half of the season.
After a storming start, his form from October to December had been mixed, but in January he found his spark, scoring goals against Manchester City in the FA Cup, and continuing to rattle them in in the Premier League, including what could easily have been a title winner against Sunderland yesterday.
Truthfully, the effect the axe had on Rooney; we will never know, only wonder. He could and would have found his form eventually any way.
Sir Alex Ferguson – a stubborn man – will never publicly acknowledge his decision as the wrong one, and as many have learned over the years, you don’t mess with the manager.
As he sips his wine and digests the season that was, the manager may privately regret his tough stance. He could have dealt with it differently, imposing a fine or extra training on the player.
Rooney will also regret his late night out, but also be angry at his treatment, especially right now when he considers the fine margin the season was decided on.
You get the feeling the incident was a second chapter of three clashes between Rooney and Ferguson; and the third is yet to take place.
The first of course was back in 2010, and was huge- with the player announcing his intent to leave the club before making a dramatic U-turn.
Rooney was convinced to stay amid promise of big investment in new signings of a world-class nature. Looking over to City’s multi-million pound stars enjoying success will give him food for thought.
The future of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United, depends on the club’s ability to meet the promises it made to him.
The club spent a fair amount last summer, on David de Gea, Ashley Young, and Phil Jones, but it clearly wasn’t quite enough, and City are only going to get stronger next season.
If United fail to strengthen adequately, Rooney could just kick up another big fuss- and ask just why the club aren’t buying big, and that is a scenario no United fan will want to see.
Did Sir Alex cost United the title by dropping Rooney for the Blackburn game? What does the club’s future hold?
image: © nasmac
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
