Wayne is he a better playmaker than a forward? You decide.

Last night just before kick off against Otelul Galati on a Champions League night at Old Trafford, I sent a sms to my cousin brother who’s a scouser saying ‘Bro, Rooney’s playing midfield like you always suggested, i don’t know how it will turn out though’. Yes, i was skeptical, but by the end of that match i was amazed by the ease with which United’s best and selfless player just fit into the role like a perfect glove…and when the cameras zoomed in on Paul Scholes, the look of appreciation on the retired midfield maestro’s eyes were enough.

My brother always said the same thing ‘Wayne is your solution to the midfield equation!’. And i was always like ‘You would want that wouldn’t you, the goal scoring threat that WR10 possesses would go down considerably’. But since the Manchester City game where he was forced to play midfield, almost a defensive midfielder at times, no thanks to Jonny Evans, i decided to observe him in a couple of previous games he’s played as a forced midfielder. Then came the Everton game, Wayne played the Xavi-ish midfield playmaker’s role, which allowed Tom Cleverley to bomb on. While i though it would be something like 4-4-1-1 with Hernandez upfront with Wayne playing as the ‘False 9′, with the wings being occupied by Welbeck and Park. But it was not the case most of the time as Sir Alex needed some grit as well as vision in midfield. We had to plug the holes so that 6-1 never happens again and also not compromise on passing quality, since everyone knows that goals wins you matches.

Wayne Rooney reveling in his midfield role.

Otelul Galati – Romanian minnows they might be but last night they gave us a gutsy approach to deal with and at one point I feared they might just snatch a point. But no offense, I was actually expecting a trashing as the team Sir Alex sent out was bristling with attacking potential. Sadly Michael Owen had to leave with another god damn injury, but we had a like for like goal poacher as replacement in Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. But two characters stood out on the night for United, Phil Jones and of course who else but Wayne Mark Rooney, playing midfield again alongside Anderson due to injuries to regular midfielders Carrick, Cleverley and Fletcher. Now if this was a deliberate SAF ploy or a forced decision we can never exactly tell, but Wayne went about the job like a happy kid who just wants to play, doesn’t matter if he has to take David De Gea‘s role someday.

Berba rueing a missed opportunity to score…he had quite a few courtesy of Wayne Rooney

The Englishman’s bulldog like approach and a work ethic that is unmatched alongwith an engine that’s seems to run endlessly is what seems impressive about his physicality. Now, he may never get all the accolades that he deserves as much as his previous partner in football crimes Cristiano or Barca’s magician Messi does, but no one can disagree about his selfless approach to the game. Would Cristiano go down and play defensive midfield if his team goes down to 10 men? Doubtful. Playing central midfield may not be his position but, Wayne can play 50-60 yard field passes and diagonals like any other good midfielder. And his passes do reach their intended targets and sometimes those incisive through balls to pick out players making runs, like an Iniesta or Xavi or Xabi Alonso do as if they have eyes at the back and sides and GPS co-ordinates given to them. Then again play the unsung role of a destroyer like a De Rossi or Mascherano. He has boundless energy to do the running required to do all that and even then go up and score like a Sneijder or Kaka. Though last night’s goal was harsh on the Galati defender of whom it took a wicked deflection, but it was a deserving icing on Wayne’s cake of midfield efforts.

Rooney, himself, enjoyed the role, saying: “I played there a lot when I was younger and it’s something which means you get a lot of the ball and we had to defend at times as well tonight [Wednesday]. The manager asked me to do it and I’m happy to do it.”

Rooney scores the 2nd – If only some of the other chances had fallen to him.

Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, even a Center Back at one point when he had cover for Jonny Evans bombing on or a full back when Fabio made that impressive attacking run weaving past existent but non-existent defenders. But frankly speaking if this was a conscious decision and if Wayne is to become a midfielder now, I would say ‘No‘, Wayne Rooney can do everything on a football pitch and with a football but, he is best when played as the in-the-hole number 10. He has freedom of movement and exceptional playmaking ability to create and score goals. Though last night’s game gave an insight into Wayne Rooney – The out and out midfielder. But Manchester United‘s other forwards were unable to finish off chances which at one point the commentator remarked – ‘If only it had fallen to Wayne Rooney’.

So even though my scouser brother is absolutely right about Wayne’s quality as a midfield playmaker. But then so am I about his qualities as a finisher. We can by a playmaker, but the chances that were created by Rooney and not taken with aplomb by his mates is the problem. Passes create chances but someone has to take them and not waste them right?