Why Chelsea should pursue Wayne Rooney

We did 5 reasons why we shouldn’t sign Rooney earlier, now it’s time for the counter argument – why we should look after him. I’m not saying he’s the greatest option available, but he is a good one despite the universal hate/dislike for Manchester United and most of it’s players that Chelsea fans have.

Chelsea have recently been linked with a move for Manchester United start Wayne Rooney. Reports suggest that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has personally sanctioned a stunning £30m move for the unsettled Manchester United star – who had a plea for a move rejected by manager Alex Ferguson a fortnight ago.

There has been growing speculation about Wayne Rooney’s future at Manchester United, pre-dating news of Ferguson’s departure, and the 27 year old has certainly played a less pivotal role in the club’s Premier League title success this term as he has in previous campaigns.

Let’s begin with the 4 points/reasons –

1) Creativity :

The most complete footballer in the Premier League is also one of the game’s most creative.

Wayne Rooney can do everything on the pitch, and his versatility is a spin-off from his incredible athleticism as a player.

His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, often plays him wide, behind the striker, as striker or in central midfield. His incredible power as a player provides the very foundations for all his good play, regardless of position.

It speaks volumes of how much we expect of the Manchester United star that we are disappointed with his return this season. He has contributed 12 goals, nine assists and 41 goalscoring chances from 21 games, with a pass completion rate of 84 percent.

Whether it was playing as striker, second striker or as a winger, Rooney has always liked to get down and always appreciated his good at ball control while hitting the target, his sense of timing and his vision.

2) Balance (in the midfield) :

Good passes: Rooney averages 61 passes per game, perfectly up to an organizer. To serve as a reference, Xabi Alonso and Iniesta averages about 70 to about 66. Their success rate in the pass is placed in the 84.5% that is higher than 90 if we exclude centers and passes between the lines, that are more risky.

Open play passes: The average contribution is 7.0, halfway the 5 Fabregas or Xavi 10. Yes, his shot passes figure is 2.0 higher than the 1.7 to 1.9 of Cesc and Xavi and slightly below the 2.1 Özil.

Defensive actions: The disparity has left the average performances in 4.9, which is much esteemed for a player of his position, again compared to the players in our league gives 3.1 for Xavi, Fabregas 3.9 for, 5.1 for Modric.

Balance: If we add the defensive actions with the opening passes we get a sum of around 12, similar to Modric so far this season and very close to the 13 of Xavi, although clearly superior Fabregas at 9 or Özil at 6.

Wayne Rooney is perfectly prepared to develop the second part of his playing career in midfield and in that case it is possible even to become a world leader.

3) Midfield Ability :

He looked fit enough to play that role consistently, which is one of the more physically demanding roles for any player in any team because of the constant movement which is required throughout a match.

It’s also a role which plays to all of Rooney’s natural urges in this current United team and compliments all of his best attributes.

His vision and his passing have always been two of his biggest assets and he was able to play balls into feet and into space, behind the Stoke defence as well as Cleverley, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs could have done.

The central midfield role is also something which allows Rooney to be the main man in the United team, with most of the play going through him. This could have been a shrewd decision by Fergie, to show Rooney that he is still a very important player for United when stories have started to appear relating to his future.

He’s always been a goal scorer and some of his best work comes in the attack of the United team but he looked very at home playing a central midfield role yesterday and it’s something he should definitely do more.

4) Statistical Data :

I collected statistics of Rooney’s performance in the selected games below :

MANCHESTER UTD 4 – STOKE CITY 2

% POSSESSION OPPONENT	36
OPPONENT SHOTS	9

PASSES	67
% SUCCESS PASSES	85
PASSES OPEN PLAY	5
SHOOTING PASSES	3
SUM defensive actions	0

Facing a tough opponent Rooney’s work is focused on becoming a prolific passer and although their opening five passes are not many, allow 3 shots to his teammates. Here defensive contribution is nil but thanks to greater ball control shooting Stoke achieved only nine times in the match.

MANCHESTER UTD 3 – Sporting Braga 2

% POSSESSION OPPONENT	42
RIVAL SHOTS	10

PASSES	61
% SUCCESS PASSES	79
PASSES OPEN PLAY	3
SHOOTING PASSES	3
SUM defensive actions	2

In this match ended Rooney struggling to control the ball in midfield (as reflected in the 79% success in the pass) and finished repositioning more difficult angle, which is reflected in his defensive contribution decreased. While his opening 3 passes seem few, but it is noteworthy that up to 6 times hung centers, opening riskier passes, and one of them found only destination. However shooting his 3 passes compensates this lack of elaborative game.

CHELSEA 2 – MANCHESTER UTD 3

% POSSESSION OPPONENT	49
OPPONENT SHOTS	16

PASSES	36
% SUCCESS PASSES	89
PASSES OPEN PLAY	5
SHOOTING PASSES	1
SUM defensive actions	6

Party organizer demanding because the Chelsea constructed from the ball, and we can say that if not for the arbitration Londoners data point to a victory. Rooney failed to take control against the Mata, Oscar, Hazard and company so Ferguson retired in 74 to destascar 2-2. We can see that as the demand increased the contribution of rival defense Rooney did accordingly.

MANCHESTER UTD 2 – Arsenal 1

% POSSESSION OPPONENT	52
OPPONENT SHOTS	7

PASSES	61
% SUCCESS PASSES	82
PASSES OPEN PLAY	8
SHOOTING PASSES	2
SUM defensive actions	11

In the second match against another rival vanity, the approach is more positive.The United snatch the ball fails to Arsenal but this converts the attack into little dangerous. Rooney with 61 passes, almost as much as playing Arteta at Arsenal with 65, and rounds out an excellent performance in the creative and the destructive. The 19 resulting from adding their opening eight passes and 11 defensive actions put him in the orbit behind players like Xabi Alonso or Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Sporting Braga 1 – MANCHESTER UTD 3

% POSSESSION OPPONENT	40
OPPONENT SHOTS	13

PASSES	69
% SUCCESS PASSES	88
PASSES OPEN PLAY	13
SHOOTING PASSES	1
SUM defensive actions	4

Party injured by interruptions and in a very difficult for visitors. It is the game that Rooney has played more delayed and more and better touched the ball and his opening number of passes are worthy of a playmaker, which does not mean that his defensive contribution again be estimable under the circumstances. Again the 17 that sum between creation and destruction reflects its weight in midfield

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Once again, I’m not saying he’s the best option, but he’s a good option and he’s worthy of pursuing, in my opinion.

Any comments or questions? Feel free to post them below in the comment section.

@ZlatanDF