Rooney Pencilled In For Central Role

8 August 09 by Bill

Rooney Up Front

Alex Ferguson has confirmed what every Red has known all along. Wayne Rooney is a striker. After spending time left, right and centre on the pitch, Fergie is expecting Rooney to play the majority of his football in his preferred position this season; up front and central.

Whilst Rooney is happy to play anywhere as long as it helps the team, he will undoubtedly be delighted with this latest revelation from the gaffer. But the excitement had better be short lived because the pressure will be on Wayne to deliver the goods; and there will be no room for excuses should he not.

We all know what a great player Wayne is. Now it’s time to back that up with goals.

Rooney bagged 20 goals in all competitions last season, two more than the 2007/08 season and he will be looking to improve once again. Playing more centrally, Wayne must be confident in scoring the 25 goals this season Sir Alex has called for.

“I don’t think the responsibility of getting more goals will affect Wayne at all. He’s got the mental strength. He’s proved that time and time again. He will be used as a central striker this season. He goes on these bursts of goals, but if he can do that more consistently over the season he will get to 25 and above.”

I think it is safe to say Rooney will start the season in a central role but will he really stay there as the season progresses?

United don’t have a shortage of strikers but we do have a shortage of decent wingers. Antonio Valencia looks like he has fitted in nicely and I’m guessing he will play a lot of football this season on the right wing. But who will play down the left? Park? Nani?

I’ve not seen enough from Nani to suggest he has what it takes to be a first team regular and as much as I admire Park, he’s hardly going to send shivers down the opposition’s spine. He’ a good player but that’s as far as it goes.

Rooney is better on the wing than either Nani or Park and that’s the problem. As long as we have a multitude of strikers and a lack of decent wingers, Wayne is always going to be the first called on to fill the gap.

No one else can do the job quite like Wayne. Ferguson knows it and that’s his conundrum.