As much maligned as Manchester United have been lately, they’ve actually now won three of their last four across all competitions. They’ve also lost only once since Boxing Day, with Wayne Rooney leading the charge. He scored again today as the Red Devils emphatically beat Stoke City 3-0 at home.
The United and England team captain has scored seven goals in his last seven games propelling him to the record for most Premier League goals by any one player with any single club.
Rooney next has his eyes on the most total goals with United, held by Sir Bobby Charlton. Rooney needs just five more.
“I hope for him and it is also good for me then because when he scores, we win,” United manager Louis van Gaal said in his post match news conference today.
“Everybody has forgotten he was a substitute against Stoke City away. It is for everybody always the same with me. You have to prove it every game, every training session and then you play. When he plays like this, I cannot say to him: ‘Go to the bench’.”
That’s right, Wayne Rooney has been declared undroppable by LVG.
United remain in fifth place with 40 points. The goal for this season is now a top four finish, and that’s the least we should expect given all the money spent to construct this team. You have to applaud the dormant attack for finally waking up though. United’s struggles to score have been well documented this season, but they’ve scored six goals in their last two games.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.