Wayne Rooney: mortal after all?

Sir Alex hasn’t exactly been known for being a follower of the phrase ‘forgive and forget’. However, he has been known to hold loyalty and dedication above all. So when the team sheet was released last afternoon, all eyes flew down the names to see the forward line. When they didnt see the familiar name of the talismanic Wayne Rooney, minds of conspiracy theorists all over the world said one thing, EXPENDABLE. Two seasons ago, Wayne Rooney returned from a disappointing World Cup in South Africa. In January, he decided to put in a transfer request. The Rooney of two years ago felt that Manchester United lacked ambition to win anything. Every manager worth his salt had a say in the matter. Inter, City, Arsenal and big clubs all over Europe put in bids, and the United background staff went into overload trying to work out how to keep the English striker in the Theatre of Dreams. In the end, Rooney fell for the oldest bait in the book- MONEY. The striker ‘settled’ for getting paid a ludicrous 200 thousand a week and signed a new 5 year deal. Not all United fans were relieved. Most felt that the man they had bought from Everton when he was just 18 years of age, was getting spoilt. The fact that he became one of the highest paid players in the league didn’t help him.A few days later United faced City. The atmosphere was tense as always. Luis Nani put United ahead before half time with a splendid goal. Edin Dzeko’s back scored the equalizer as the newbie Bosnian deflected a stray shot into the United goal. Then there was magic. A cross from Nani needed a head on it to be of any use to anybody, but it got more than that. It got a boot. The picture of the Roo with head below heels, suspended in mid air hitting the ball into the roof of the net, is an image no United fan would ever forget. The goal was later voted as the best goal of the Premier League era. It seemed then that all was forgiven. Even the most old school supporter agreed than United were better with the Englishman rather than without.

Rooney since then has proved that he is shedding off the skin of the Rooney of the old. The Rooney that played with a mad rage when offended was fading away. For all of last season, Rooney just picked one booking playing in the Red colours, a yellow in the last match against Sunderland. Rooney was evidently maturing. It was then that an issue lurking in the dark was raised again. Were United relying too much on Rooney? A Rooney -ess United lost to Blackburn, who were the worst team of last season by a mile. United rosters boasted Berbatov, Hernandez, and the growing Welbeck, but none offered the steam to replace the talisman. Rooney had no threat to his position in the startin lineup, he was there by default. Some felt that he might take that for granted. And then came ‘The Dutchman.’

When United announced that they had signed Van Persie from Arsenal, many a opinion was cast on how will he play alongside Rooney and fellow new signing Kagawa. Others pondered on the effecty it may have on the mental side. Will Kagawa feel threatened that Van Persie would wrestle him out of his position???

When United played against Everton and lost, the defense werent the only part of the team missing. Wayne Rooney was absent. True, he was there on the pitch, but he was hardly even a shadow of the striker who struck terror in the minds of defences last season. So the next match he was benched and Persie took his place. Persie showed that he was worth every cent and wasnt going to be a high priced flop, scoring a goal that was truly brilliant. But in the undertone it meant that Rooney now had competition.

Maybe its not fair to the loyalty of the likes of Hernandez, and a little troublesome to Kagawa, but the signing of Van Persie gives Rooney something to work for. At last United have leverage over their wonder-striker. It makes quite a headline, and it definitely isn’t going to affect the Reds in anyway, but Wayne Rooney must know he is not guaranteed a position in the top ranks. He must know he, like every other player, is expendable.