Wayne Rooney heavily criticised for his performance in Manchester derby

THE stats don’t lie — Wayne Rooney had a shocker in the Manchester derby, leading fans and pundits alike to question his place in the United side altogether.

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ZERO shots on target. Zero chances created. Infinite condemnation.

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney copped a barrage of criticism from fans and pundits alike over his performance in Sunday night’s derby against City.

The Red Devils captain cut a forlorn figure in front, completing a largely ineffective shift deployed as the sole striker by Louis van Gaal.

Despite being the all-time leading goalscorer in Manchester derbies with 11, many believe that father time is beginning to catch up with Rooney, who turned 30 on Saturday.

“It certainly wasn’t a birthday to remember for Wayne Rooney,” wrote Eurosport’s Chris Hassall.

Wayne Rooney’s game by numbers vs. Man City: 55% pass accuracy 0 shots on target 0 chances created 0 take ons pic.twitter.com/5abBiivr2z

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 25, 2015

Everyone can see that Rooney is holding the team back except the manager.

— UnitedReview (@TheUtdReview) October 25, 2015

Wayne Rooney is the problem that won't go away for #MUFC. No presence, slow and kept losing the ball today. A glaring weakness

— Sam Pilger (@sampilger) October 25, 2015

Instead, he can't quite get there and is forced into a meek ball across. Amazing that is was a player who made his name on physical force.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 25, 2015

“The England forward enjoyed a low-key celebration with his family for his 30th at the start of the weekend – but ends it with many questioning his role in the Manchester United team after an insipid display in the 170th Manchester derby.

“The contrast in fortunes between the lively Anthony Martial and the peripheral Rooney was excruciatingly obvious; two players at opposing spectrums on their footballing journey.

“Once upon a time Rooney was the talent-rich youngster swaggering around the Old Trafford pitch, now his contribution in the attacking third pales in significance to that of Martial whose performances continue to propel him on the path to stardom.

“The facts don’t lie and with Rooney leading the line the home side failed to register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes for the first time since 2003-04 – and that date only stands because that was when Opta first started compiling such stats.”

Martial was deployed as a left winger in the derby by van Gaal, a stopgap measure filling the void left by the injured Ashley young and out of form Memphis Depay.

But just how long that can be allowed to continue was questioned by Arsenal and Leicester City legend Alan Smith in his column for The Telegraph.

“With more miles on the clock than most newly turned 30 year-olds, Rooney clearly doesn’t have the legs for such an energetic role requiring plenty of pace in the modern game,” Smith wrote.

“Martial, on the other hand, most certainly does. Not only that, he possesses the strength and ability to quickly develop into a centre-forward of real menace.”

BBC Match Of The Day pundit and former Premier League midfielder Jermaine Jenas said that the reaction to Rooney’s performance was “more evidence that he should not be leading Manchester United’s attack,” but was quick to clarify that does not necessarily mean he should be dropped.

Vincent Kompany returned to the Manchester City line-up and marshaled his defence to nullify Wayne Rooney’s impact to perfection.

“I am one of Rooney’s biggest fans and would always have him in my team even if he is out of form because of his influence on other players and ability to change the game with a piece of magic,” Jenas wrote.

“But it is clear that playing him up top on his own, often with his back to goal, is not working. He should have been in Ander Herrera’s position, as United’s number 10 behind their main striker, not their number nine.

“Rooney slowed play down because he is no longer a player who can get the ball, face up to a defender and fly by him. That is the bottom line.

Jenas suggested that playing Rooney s a lone striker meant Manchester City were able to predict and nullify the limited attacking threat United were now able to pose.

“Centre-halves don’t like having to guess whether the opposition striker is going to come short to look for a pass to feet or make runs on to balls behind the defence, especially if he is faster than them.”

“But City defenders Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi knew they were quicker than Rooney, and they also knew he was always going to want the ball played to his feet.”

“It meant they could squeeze up the pitch keeping a relatively high line and, with Fernandinho and Fernando almost always in front of them, Rooney was denied space in the area of the pitch he loves to operate in, between the halfway line and the edge of the area.”

But all of this logical information did little to pacify journalists eager to press Van Gaal on his selection – and the conundrum that is his captain – after the match.

It was just the line of questioning van Gall dreaded and unsurprisingly he bit back.

“I have to talk every week about Rooney, why?” Van Gaal asked.

“I don’t give any more answers about Wayne Rooney. I am sick of them.”

But van Gaal is not the only one being asked questions about Rooney, with even Roy Hodgson admitting he could not guarantee the national captain a starting place in his England squad for the Euro 2016 tournament.

While it seems unlikely Rooney would be dropped from either side, it appears clear that either a formation change or a positional switch must occur in order for his club and country to thrive.

A lack of change may also further frustrate an already unsettled United fan base.

Remember how LVG would drop players when they lost the ball too much? Rooney 55% pass accuracy but will still start every single week

— Jay (@Thanki91) October 25, 2015

Martial spending the whole game on the touchline is a crime against humanity.

— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) October 25, 2015

Wayne Rooney is now stealing a living at United. Martial is wasted out wide and needs to be played up front. #ManchesterDerby

— bigred19 (@bigred193) October 25, 2015

Originally published as Wayne Rooney heavily criticised for his performance in Manchester derby