As Captain, Wayne Rooney is the only member of this Manchester United team who will get preferential treatment. And only the very slightest of an advantage. Very slight. United Manager said so in similar words yesterday at this prematch press conference previewing Sunday’s contest with Leicester City. With all those great strikers and forwards: Rooney, Robin Van Persie, Radamel Falcao, who’s in and who’s out?
It’s a game we all love to play: making your Man United Starting XI and posting it online. (Feel free to do so here in the comments section below) What makes the lineup so intriguing is what do you do with the attack? How do you fit everyone in? What kind of formation do you use to fit all the people that you want in?
You can’t leave out Wayne Rooney, he has the richest contract in British football history, and the England national team captaincy.
“I’m sure it is a difficult decision for the manager, but I think it is a great problem to have,” says Rooney. “There are so many good players who can all step in and do a job for the team.
Wayne Rooney says Louis van Gaal has a dilemma that other managers would relish.
“It’s great for the team, for the fans, for the players, everyone. You are looking at the world class players we are bringing in and it is exciting times for everyone.
“For me as a player you just want to be out there playing with these players and hopefully being successful with them.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partners with Fox Sports and Yahoo. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN2