The name ‘Wayne Rooney’ seemingly never ceases to drift far from our collective footballing consciousness in this country. For one reason or another, the current Manchester United and England captain seems to be an easy target for those wishing to discredit the 29-year-old in the latter stages of his career.
Perhaps it’s because of his past transgressions that we no longer consider him a support-able figure in the modern era, or maybe it’s simply because Wayne Rooney ultimately isn’t the world class star he once was just a few short seasons ago. Either way, the former Everton striker is simply having a somewhat difficult time in the Premier League at this current moment.
We may admittedly only be two games into the 2015/16 campaign of course, but the warning signs nevertheless remain present in regards to the Old Trafford faithful’s marquee front-man.
However, here are five significant reasons highlighting why Wayne Rooney could in-fact return to his very best form this season and finally prove his doubters wrong…
Captain’s Responsibility
Although many fans, managers and pundits alike may see fit to question Wayne Rooney’s credibility as the current skipper of Manchester United, you simply don’t get made captain at Old Trafford without a solid reputation deserving of such an illustrious position.
Rooney certainly doesn’t seem like an adequate selection of the surface however. His past behaviour on the pitch seems to paint him out to be completely unworthy of wearing the captain’s armband with all things considered – but seeing as the 29-year-old also skippers the England national team in the modern era – perhaps there is more to this situation than initially meets the eye.
As fans we rarely get to glimpse the action behind the scenes at clubs such as Manchester United, so perhaps Louis van Gaal has seen something in Rooney to indicate that he’s now ready to take on the responsibility of being captain at Old Trafford for good.
Past Glories
Whilst operating in his heyday amongst the English top-flight, Wayne Rooney ultimately proved one of the standout players of his generation – not just in the Premier League – but across the whole spectrum of world football in general. There’s simply not much doubt surrounding such a poignant statement.
Even though the last few seasons have been far from plain-sailing for Rooney at Old Trafford, Manchester United could once again regain their dominance over their rivals should the 29-year-old rediscover his scoring boots in front of goal. The former Everton man deserves to be issued with another chance simply based on his past glories alone.
With the likes of Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger now in place though, the current Red Devils skipper could soon be blessed with the adequate ammunition allowing him to return to his very best form in the Premier League. Having said that however, perhaps the very same statement could have been made last summer about Rooney’s form in regards to playing alongside Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao as well…
Not all about the goals
Despite distinctly failing to do the business for his side in the striking department at Old Trafford over the last few seasons, Wayne Rooney now arguably doesn’t even play the goal-scoring role for Louis van Gaal and Manchester United in the modern era.
Instead, the current England international has somewhat altered his game to provide assists and movement for his teammates rather than simply putting the ball in the back of the net. Rooney now sits a lot deeper than he previously would have, indicating that his overall game involves a lot more than just scoring goals.
If the Red Devils potentially land one more marquee signing in the striking department this summer, the rest of the Premier League in general could in-fact witness a further renaissance within Wayne Rooney’s game. Assists and well worked plays mean just as much as goals after all – such concepts simply remain a great deal more subtle than their impact perhaps deserves.
Still in his twenties…
Ok, perhaps this point may admittedly be somewhat David Brent-esque in its approach – considering that at 29-years-old, Wayne Rooney is a lot closer to thirty than twenty – but that still doesn’t discredit the fact that the current Red Devils captain still has a good few years left in him at the top.
Certain Premier League greats have managed to do the business for their respective sides well into their thirties with all things considered. Now that Wayne Rooney has certainly reached an age worthy of full maturity, maybe now we will start to see that bit more from the striker when many were already considering writing him off.
To do so now however, would be completely premature to say the least. Wayne Rooney has enough time to turn his recently declining Old Trafford career around, despite what his doubters may wish the rest of us to believe.
Louis van Gaal still has faith
No matter what us fans have to say about the fate of Wayne Rooney, or what the game’s pundits continuously throw out surrounding his recent plight in the English game – as long as Louis van Gaal still has faith in his marquee front-man – then the player himself can still viably turn out a success in the Premier League.
LVG has dealt with a whole manner of different world class stars throughout his career. He knows all too well what it takes to make it at the highest level, so he must ultimately still believe in Wayne Rooney by issuing him with the captain’s armband at Old Trafford.
In continuously going down as a first team regular for Manchster United – even in light of his recent poor form in front of goal – Louis van Gaal is making a clear statement of intent in regards to his 29-year-old striker. Wayne Rooney therefore has everything in place necessary to return to his very best form, it’s just a matter of when, not if.