12/18/24
August 31, 2004
Everton sells wunderkid Rooney to Man U.: In the battle of the currently lackluster Uniteds, Manchester apparently beat out Newscastle for the deal. Will Rooney be enough to get Man U back up to one of the coveted top three slots (well, you know, once he heals and all)?
posted by Ufez Jones to soccer at 04:06 PM - 13 comments
Maybe Saha or Smith drops back to attacking midfielder once all three injured forwards heal? Scholes dropping back to holding MF as part of it. What surprises me is that with MU taking RooneyPotato Head is that that the Toons didn't try to buy O'Shea from ManUre. Though perhaps they did and got turned down.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:31 PM on August 31, 2004
BTW, did you guys notice the Rooney meetup ad? Now that says something about the boy.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:33 PM on August 31, 2004
For the last decade or so, Man United has been a revolving door for strikers. They have a higher turnover rate than the Yankees pitching staff.
posted by molafson at 09:55 PM on August 31, 2004
An interesting view on Newcastle: Newcastle kicks up coal dust to block bleak view
posted by billsaysthis at 10:58 PM on August 31, 2004
Everton for the drop, then?
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:26 AM on September 01, 2004
I think the fiver put it best: With Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the way down faster than Blackpool's Big One, signing a world-class midfielder rather than an 18-year-old with only nine goals last season may have been the better bet. People have been tipping Everton for the drop since the beginning of the season, but I don't think they're that bad - they'll survive I think, perhaps only just, but they'll stay up.
posted by BigCalm at 04:10 AM on September 01, 2004
Meanwhile Dwight Yorke goes to the Blues. No, surely this must be made up? Imagine the abuse he'll get! And not just from me!
posted by BigCalm at 04:13 AM on September 01, 2004
Shite Yorke. :-(
posted by squealy at 04:30 AM on September 01, 2004
I'm with most of the rest of folks here. ManU needs midfield help. I think bringing Rooney in could possibly cause morale problems. There is already some apparent bad bllod between Saha and RVN. Or maybe Sir Alex and the lads were hoping Rooney could help them get some? ;)
posted by scully at 08:10 AM on September 01, 2004
and ...errr... blood too
posted by scully at 08:26 AM on September 01, 2004
"United's boss also said he was likely to play Rooney, who he said was two to three weeks away from fitness, behind a striker." So wouldn't that put him on the field with RVN and either Smith or Saha as a MF?
posted by billsaysthis at 10:09 AM on September 01, 2004
An interesting view on Newcastle This season has started out horribly for the 'pies, and doesn't appear to be getting any better. If/when Shearer does leave at the end of this season, it'll likely signal a time to blow up the team and start from scratch, even if that means a year or two in the First Division. Not a pretty time to be a Newcastle supporter.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:28 PM on September 01, 2004
I'm of two minds about this. On one hand, MU's problems are not at forward. With Smith playing the way he is, Saha, and RVN back soon, they have a strong forward line as it is. The issue with them is really in midfield right now, with Keane and Giggs fading, and no one to really take over the right side. On the other, they just bought the best young English player to come along is ages. That's never a bad idea. Newcastle never had a chance, and making a bid was a mistake by whoever did it.