AuthorBoth Outcasts They say you should never go back to your ex (I mean they are an ex for a reason right?), but after 13 years Wayne Rooney is returning to his first club, Everton. His time at Manchester United saw him achieve five league titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League and a Club World Cup. He literally won everything he could at the club! He also became the top goal scorer for United and England. Not a bad return from his 13 years in Manchester. At his peak he was one of the best players in the world and now coming towards the end of his career he will return to his boyhood club. So is it a good move? On paper the move seems good for all parties. United are freeing up $300k a week in wages, but more importantly a squad place for a likely big money transfer this summer. Everton get to bring back their former son, albeit now with vast experience which will be invaluable to a very young squad. The four England youngsters from Everton that won the under 20 world cup this past month will certainly benefit from training and learning from England’s greatest ever goal scorer on a daily basis. Rooney himself will also be able to refocus himself, now being out of the goldfish bowl that is Manchester United and attempt to help the club he has always supported.
Rooney admitted recently he is still an Everton fan and even wears their PJs. He left at 18, so there’s a certain level of unfinished business for him. He could also be part of some interesting times at Everton as they are trying to break into the top 4 this coming season having made some impressive buys already this summer. The signings of Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane and Sandro Ramirez already, with potentially Gylfi Sigurdsson also on the way has many fans (including us) thinking that Everton have ‘won’ the transfer market this off season. With the current squad including Ashley Williams, Yannick Bolasie, Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin and a host of quality youngsters things are certainly looking up for Everton. And that’s where we see an issue for Rooney. He still is only 31 years of age, however, the dynamism has been missing for some time; the power diminished; and Rooney’s tactical discipline was never a strong part of his game. So where does Rooney fit into this new highly energetic, disciplined and mobile Everton team? I genuinely don’t know and it’s been part of the problem for Rooney his entire career. What is his best position? Where does he fit into the Ronald Koeman’s high pressing system? So many questions to be answered in the coming weeks and months for the Toffees. Currently we can only see him playing as a striker, something he hasn’t done for some time. Its been proven that he does not have the mobility or range of passing to play in midfield and they will have Tom Davies, Davy Klaassen and (potentially) Gylfi Sigurdsson that could play behind a striker. So really, with Lukaku going the other way to United, the striker position seems like the logical place for him to slot in. Rumours are swirling around of Everton being in the market for Olivier Giroud from Arsenal and if Everton don’t buy Giroud it seems they will still be reinvesting the reported $75million from the Lukuka deal in a new striker, so Rooney certainly won’t be a sure start up top either (depending on who’s Goodison bound). The one area that we already touched on is his experience, 631 games in the EPL are not to be sniffed at and I think he will be expected to take the likes of Tom Davies, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman under his wing. It will certainly give those players a lift to learn from Rooney. I suspect he will act more of a calming figure (can’t believe I wrote that about Rooney!) and give players motivation and winning mentality during the season, banging in goals when he plays and also from coming on as a substitute when games call for his experience. He does provide strength in depth to a squad that was lacking in it last season and being out of the limelight of Manchester United could really help his game, where every move is scrutinised. We think this is a move that should have happened maybe a year or so ago. Jose, despite proclaiming to be a fan (having wanted him at Chelsea a few years back) never seemed to want to play him last year, and for a player of his quality it was sad to see him make token appearances and play a bit part in United’s lacklustre campaign (especially when you see an older Zlatan starting on a regular basis). Everton were touted back then as a possible destination for him, but with the big money offers from China and PSG washing around, you never really thought he’d return to Merseyside (although you could also not see the man living on the continent or the orient either!). You do forget that Wazza is only 31 – he seems older as he’s been in our lives for so long now, having debuted at a very early age – but given how out of shape he looked for most of the last campaign, you just hope the hunger and desire is there at his current age to give the Everton faithful some good years ahead, especially as they were robbed of his best years once he left for Man Utd back in 2004. There is no doubting Wayne’s ability but its really going to come down to fitness. He’s not like players such as Gerrard, Lampard and Terry who have always been slim, athletic types who even carried this on in to their mid to late 30’s. Rooney’s always had a slightly “non-traditional” shape to him, so hopefully he returns to Everton and puts the hard work in over the remainder of the summer break to ensure he’s at peak fitness for the Blues for when the season starts. If he’s fit, starts games and plays well/scores goals, then this free transfer of their prodigal son could turn out to be signing of the season. However, if he comes back from the summer break ”carrying some timber” and ending up playing a bit part role, then we may see the Wazza of last season which was underwhelming, frustrated and a slightly sad sight to behold. As an England fan (well one of us) and someone who has had the pleasure of enjoying watching his highs and lows over the years, let’s hope its “peak” Rooney that graces the Goodison pitch next season. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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