The striker playing in the centre smacks of desperation and says everything of the poor quality of Manchester United’s midfield.
The team selection chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson brings back bad memories of Alan Smith’s ill-fated spell in midfield.
Manchester United have never replaced Roy Keane.
Options bought to replace him have either flattered to deceive; Anderson, started strongly but faded; Carrick, or been ruined by injury; Hargreaves, while Paul Scholes was in his twilight years.
And let’s not mention Eric Djemba-Djemba. Or John O’Shea in the centre.
Wayne Rooney playing in central midfield is not a sight Manchester United fans want to see.
OK he didn’t play badly, even creating and scoring a deflected goal against Otelul Galati last night.
The point is if you take Rooney out of attack, the attack suffers.
The year before last he scored 34 goals as an out and out striker.
That is a threat too good to waste, and he needs support from a genuine world class midfielder, even two.
United’s midfield is pedestrian as shown in their demolition by City, Tom Cleverley is the bright hope, but too much pressure too young could break him.
The fans demanded signings this summer which did not arrive, and there are now growing calls for Ferguson to acknowledge the error of his ways.
United need answers to solve what could become a central midfield crisis.
Wayne Rooney is not it.
image: © nasmac
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