Derby County journalist Ryan Conway has been sharing his thoughts on current Rams manager Wayne Rooney and his time as a player with the Midlands club.
This comes after Conway made a guest appearance on a recent episode of The Totally Football League Show where he spoke about a range of topics concerning the Rams.
On the subject of Rooney and whether or not the team have suffered after the Englishman stopped playing for the club and started managing them or not, Conway had this to say on the matter. (9.21)
He said: “It’s not Rooney the player. Let’s just get that out there right away. He was part of the problem.
“He was a massive, massive part of the problem. I know it’s Wayne Rooney and he’s this [and that], as a player he was actively holding this team back at times in my opinion because he just didn’t really have the legs to get around the pitch anymore.”
Rooney originally joined Derby back in January 2020 as a player-coach before being appointed as their permanent manager in January.
So far this season, Derby have won just 11 out of the 45 Championship games they’ve played, drawing 10 and losing 24 in the process (per BBC Sport).
TIF Thoughts on Ryan Conway’s comments on Rooney…
Given how Rooney only managed to score one goal in the 10 Championship appearances he made for Derby this season before being appointed as manager, earning himself a fairly uninspiring season rating of 6.61/10, it’s easy to see why Conway thinks the 35-year-old wasn’t offering much for Derby on the pitch.
Do you think Rooney was an issue for Derby as a player?
Yes
No
Also, with Derby managing to lose all of their six previous league games, leaving them just one place above the relegation zone with one game left to play, it could be suggested that Rooney isn’t having much impact on the team from the dugout either.
In our view, if Rooney manages to keep Derby in the Championship for next season, this would be the best time for him to be judged as the club’s manager.
In other news: ‘When I’m at games’ – Sky Sports man issues damning verdict on Derby County’s owners