Wayne Rooney has laid down his intentions for the season after revealing he wants to play as a central striker. The United star was often shifted out to the wing last term as Sir Alex Ferguson used Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez down the middle, but with the pair gone, Rooney now sees himself as the man who can take on the goal responsibility.
Rooney grabbed 20 goals in 39 starts last season, while the season before he managed 18 goals in 39 starts, but this season the former Everton man is hoping to contribute more and fulfil his true potential.
United will have to bolster their squad, with a winger - probably Antonio Valencia - and a striker top of Fergie's wishlist, as it seems a good Premier League bet that even a pumped up Rooney firing on all cylinders won't get anywhere near the 104 that Ronaldo (72) and Tevez blasted in two seasons (34).
It's a huge void to fill for the champions, but Rooney is confident, with a little help, he can fire United to more glory in the coming season.
"We've lost two key players and obviously I hope we can get a few players in," Rooney told The Times. "Between them Cristiano and Carlos scored a lot of goals for us last season and the season before, but I would like to think I'm capable of filling that gap.
"I've said before that, if I can play in my right position, I'm capable of doing that.
"I want to play in the position where I feel I'm best.
"A lot of people think I'm best as a centre forward. To play in a Champions League final and to play week in, week out for Manchester United is a privilege and it's something I'm very lucky to be doing, but I don't think playing on the wing I can express myself as much as I like to."
damn straight, Rooney needs to play in the middle.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a little unfair to Rooney to bring up the 104 goals over two seasons and then say that Rooney won't get near that total.
(injury free) Rooney playing up the center will get you 30+ goals a season. Berbatov should, at least, replace the 15 goals that Tevez scored two seasons ago, if not the 19 goals he scored this season
you add 30+ to 15+ and you get 45+ which, over two seasons, is 90+ goals. 90+ is fairly near 104.
beyond that, you have to assume that Nani and whatever winger they bring in will score goals, and Anderson has to get one at some point right? haha
Everyone is missing the point about why Fergie plays Rooney on the wing.
ReplyDeleteFergie hasn't got a proper striker worthy of the name. Berbatov and Rooney like to drop deep and are not genuine pacey number 9s, further to which Fergie has been using a 4:3:3 formation to give the side balance, so Rooney WILL cotinue to play on the wing unless Fergie finds a genuine striker.
IF Fergie had a stronger central midfield pairing and a striker he could switch to a flexible 4:4:2 / 4:5:1 and Rooney could drift centrally up and down the park as required.