Wayne Rooney doesn’t have a clearly defined role with Manchester United anymore. Perhaps, at this point, Manager Jose Mourinho should just drop him from the first team. The fans would rejoice if that happened. At least according to one Red Devils fanzine poll.
The Red Issue Sanctuary poll showed 99.08% of respondents saying that it was time for Mourinho to remove him from the United starting XI, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Rooney is obviously not a striker anymore, and United have better, more fitting options at that position anyway. Wherever he is on the pitch, Rooney never seems to be around the area where he’s actually had most of the success that he’s achieved during his illustrious United career, and that’s the 18 yard box.
A lot of the criticism that he receives is unwarranted, as a lot of fans and social media users go over the top. On the other hand, a significant part of the Rooney criticism is very justified, as many United supporters believe the English media goes way too soft on Wayne Rooney. It’s looking more and more like a move to China or American Major League Soccer could be in the near future for the 30-year-old. Rooney is looking closer and closer to being washed up by the week.
So will Mourinho actually make the demotion?
Speaking after United’s win at Hull last month, Mourinho had said he would have “no problem” dropping Rooney from his team. (h/t ESPN FC)
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.