The conundrum Ferguson must get right though is in what capacity to go with. Since arriving at Old Trafford Rooney has automatically been let loose up-front, either as the furthest forward of the forwards or just off to equal effect. However, in the Reds current 4-4-2 set-up, a place in the middle of the middle may be taking things to the extreme.
For a start, the discipline of playing in such a crucial area of the pitch requires an understanding of what to do and when, and it remains to be seen whether Rooney has the mentality and temperament to play in such a position. His tackling cannot be any worse than Paul Scholes but that doesn’t mean its good either.
Also, central midfielders need to know when to press and when to stand and against better units who command possession, his exuberance and endeavours to regain the ball could have him resembling a dog chasing a tennis ball and inadvertently expose a creaking back four.
The ideal scenario would be to allow Rooney the freedom to influence from an unconstrained positionless position where his connivance would be most difficult to nullify. By allowing Rooney to assume this responsibility, Ferguson is getting the best of both worlds. His most effective and creative quasi midfield-forward can play where he wants and do what he wants without lessening any of his potency whilst also giving him more scope to dictate from deeper.
The pre-season gossip columns were loaded with United’s pursuit of a magic-man to impact games and in Rooney, Ferguson already has his fantasical Wesley Sneijder type player albeit with more hair and £40m still intact. By using resource already at their disposal, that money would be more wisely spent on the polar-Rooney enforcer which would give the side the drive and bite currently lacking.
United’s two closest competitors – Barcelona and Manchester City – have Lionel Messi and David Silva roving where necessary to benefit individually and collectively and Sir Alex Ferguson has the player to replicate what those two do for their clubs.
Call it forward or call it midfield, the tag is a technicality. Rooney has the intelligence and application to pull it off and the sooner he’s employed as such, the sooner United will see the dividends.
Written by John Baines for FootballFanCast.com
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If Fergie persists in using Rooney in midfield he needs to buy a top class centre forward for without Rooney up front we are toothless