Wayne Rooney: Top Three Manchester United Players to Pick
Wayne Rooney: Top Three Manchester United Players to Pick
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has had his say on the mess that is Manchester United football club. Despite the news dropping earlier today that Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, will be given time to try and turn around his fortunes at Old Trafford, Rooney didn’t hold back in his criticism of the players.
Speaking on his podcast ‘Stick to United‘ alongside Mark Goldbridge, Rooney gave his opinion on the players and their performances following a dismal display at home to Bournemouth which saw his old team slump to a 3-0 loss.
After the game, the players were booed off the pitch and the sentiment of the fans is very much echoed by Rooney’s comments.
Wayne Rooney Slams United Players After Dismal Display
Rooney Doesn’t Hold Back
Speaking on the match itself, Wayne Rooney said “The performance was just diabolical” and described the performance by saying “a lack of movement, a lack of hunger, a lack of desire, a lack of everything.” He also admitted that he didn’t feel any kind of connection to the Manchester United team that he saw on the pitch on Sunday.
He gave the fans huge props after they cheered Carrick off, only to quickly turn their cheers to boos after the players were left on the pitch.
On the players themselves, Wayne Rooney certainly didn’t hold back. “These players think they’re better than what they are. I think what happened at the start, what happened when Carrick first came in gave the players and the board false hope that they are good enough” and “You’re deluded if you think the front three that have been brought in are good enough”. A damning statement that he made was “to take this current group of Man United players, for the signings to take this team into the next level, into the Champions League, you know, you’re living in cuckoo land if you think they’re going to achieve that.”
Leeds United vs Manchester United
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Specific Players and Overall Attitude
No one was safe from Wayne Rooney’s rant and rightfully so. The whole team has been abysmal all season.
Speaking on players attitude, the former Manchester United captain said “Be front and centre. Be there. Go and stand up and show… you know, you question the manager? Go and show yourself. Martinez, go and show yourself. Where’s Rashford now? Things get tough. Where’s Rashford? You need to play through a pain barrier.
You need to be ready to give everything for the club and they’re not doing that. And the fans. I was really pleased when they switched from clapping Michael off the pitch it was almost a sympathy clap, if you like but when they clapped him off the pitch and then turned on those players because they’re not fit to wear that shirt at the minute, well, I don’t think they ever will be.”
He went on to say “Who’s looking at these players and realistically saying ‘I think these can play for Manchester United’?”.
On the squad as a whole, Wayne Rooney made his views very clear “They can’t hold the ball up, again, basics of being a centre forward is holding the ball up and bringing your midfield players into play. The midfield players are just getting over run, they’re trying to take the ball on the half turn right outside their own penalty box and getting caught a lot of the time. The goalkeeper has looked a little shaky this season. Full backs no where near good enough. The whole squad.”
It isn’t all bad as Rooney noted his pleasure in seeing Shea Lacey finally realise some first team minutes.
He also said “No one is willing to put that shirt on and say you know what, I’m going to go and fight for my place in the team, I’m going to fight for this team. You’re going through a tough moment, roll your sleeves up. The Bournemouth players ran all over them, it’s an absolute disgrace.”
Worrying Signs
Talking about the players still, Rooney commented “What’s not fair is players walking around the football pitch. You see Martinez yesterday when Rayan ran around him. when they’re just not getting to the ball, it’s so frustrating as a player and I was a player who yeah, I obviously I could score a goal and had ability or whatever but at least I f**king ran and worked hard and put myself about for the team even when the going’s tough. These players aren’t doing that.”
On what he would do if he was in the dressing room he said “I’d love to go in that dressing room, I’d love to walk in that dressing room, f**king sit them all down and say ‘What the f**k are you doing? what type of performance do you think this is? Do you think you deserve to wear that shirt with how yous are walking around the pitch? Put a f**king firework up their a**e because they’re not doing anything.”
The Last Word
There’s little else to say on the matter – Wayne Rooney couldn’t have said it any better, Michael Carrick isn’t the problem. Some of the players at Manchester United have seen five managers come through the door and yet, still start every week.
It isn’t Carrick’s fault, the mess at Old Trafford lies with the owners and the poor attitude of the players. Nothing changes until the owners sell up and leave and take the majority of the hierarchy with them. The soul of Manchester United is deteriorating one poor decision at a time.
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