Rooney - Captain Sensible?

Article by Howard Jones

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It must have been a whirlwind two weeks in August for Wayne Rooney when he was named captain of both club and country.

But, it all made sense really.

In a decade at United, he'd won almost every honour going. Whilst, for England, he'd closed-in on a century of caps and found himself within touching-distance of Bobby Charlton's record as the country's all-time top goal-scorer.

But, we all know it takes more than games and goals to make a captain. You also have to have character and influence on the field.

Again, it made sense.

For years, Rooney had been covering every blade of grass, sliding into tackles and showing the necessary pride, passion and commitment that told his team-mates (in no uncertain terms) just how much every game mattered.

In other words, Rooney had always played like a captain. So, why change now? Or, should we ask 'what's changed now?'

Well, offensively, not a lot. He's still scoring goals and making assists. But there are cracks appearing elsewhere, that suggest the captaincy is taking its toll and, perhaps, signalling his mind is elsewhere.

For example, in six games for United this season, Rooney has made just three tackles. Not even one-a-game. Then, with the exception of Robin van Persie, he's been dispossessed more than any other United player. And, despite seeing an improvement against West Ham, his pass accuracy still ranks as one of the lowest in the squad.

So, is this really all down to the captaincy?

Well, there's certainly a correlation. After all, these aren't characteristics we tend to associate with Wayne Rooney.

On top of all this, only 3 players in the Premier League have a worse disciplinary record than him (one of which is his team-mate, Tyler Blackett).

Against Leicester, for example, it was Rooney's own fluffed clearance that led to Cambiasso's equaliser which then saw him shout and remonstrate with his defenders - not exactly the hallmark of a great captain when you're blaming others for your own mistakes.

Throughout the same game, Rooney's disappointment seemed to overspill as he directed a series of verbal volleys at referee Mark Clattenburg, who eventually booked him for dissent. Again, not what you'd expect from a leader.

So, when he was brandished the first straight-red of his Premier League career against West Ham on Saturday, it was all probably just symptomatic of the frustrations that had been creeping-in over the season.

But why? United had been in commanding positions in many games. There was no reason for the captain to capitulate before anyone else. If anything, he should have been the last.
Could it be pressure from above?

Well, when van Gaal talked recently about his captain having 'privileges' and always 'being fixed' to play, he was simply referring to 'my captain'. He didn't mention Rooney, in person.
Rooney may well be the current captain but, you only have to look at his deputy, Darren Fletcher warming-up the bench, to realise just how dispensable players (and the validity of their roles) can be, under van Gaal.

Perhaps it's this that irks Rooney? Not knowing where he stands. Perhaps he even feels threatened by the relationship the manager enjoys with Robin van Persie, his former captain for the Netherlands?

But, surely, there's been no better time for Rooney? You'd think it'd take a lot for him to be dropped or to lose his captaincy.

Could it be pressure from before?

I'm talking about the spectre cast over him by the pantheon of greats who have preceded him as club captain.

In fact, you have to go back thirty-two years to find a United captain who last failed to win a trophy. Thirty-two years. Since then, every single one of them has lifted domestic or European silverware of some kind - Robson, Bruce, Cantona, Keane, Neville and Vidić.

That's more than three decades of successful captaincy.

OK, so they all had a little longer than the single campaign offered to Ray Wilkins back in 1982. But, most of them did achieve success at the first time of asking.

No sweat then, Wayne!

Or, could it be pressure he puts on himself?

For England, Rooney found an outlet for his new burden of responsibility by calling for 'player-only' meetings to 'reflect on the players' performance and discuss how they can do better as a team'.

"We need to know and feel confident in what we're doing as a team together. In the meetings, you're having the players speak up who wouldn't normally speak up when coaches are there." he said.

Perhaps Hodgson (if you knew about it) saw this as conducive to team spirit, thinking it would help Rooney build allies and confidence within the dressing-room.

But imagine Rooney trying that technique under van Gaal's stewardship - 'speaking up when the coaches aren't there'. I suspect the Iron Tulip would be reaching for the hairdryer if players could only voice their opinions behind his back.

Particularly, if it was being driven by his own captain.

Anyway, there's a massive difference in management styles between Hodgson and van Gaal. And, there's some large cultural differences between club and country for Rooney to get his head around too.

One thing is for sure, however. he cuts a frustrated figure, at the moment, and an increasingly lonely one at that.

Saturday's clash against West Ham should have been a day-to-remember for him, having marked exactly ten years since making his United debut - that memorable night he graced the Theatre of Dreams and scored a hat-trick against Fenerbahçe.

But, instead, Saturday was a day for him to forget.

We're now entering a new chapter in Rooney's career - one that can be even greater than those before. Because, at last, we seem him surrounded by the world-class stars he's been yearning for. Players that can help to elevate his own game.

It's clear that Van Gaal appointed Rooney because he has faith in him. Yes, he's a ruthless manager who will test his players to their limits. But he knows Rooney embodies everything that Manchester United stands for; he knows Rooney has high standards; and he knows Rooney has all the traits of a great captain.

Somehow, then, Rooney needs to shake-off this self-destructive streak, enjoy his football, enjoy his new role and stop taking everything on his own shoulders.

By echoing the same calmness, patience and purpose of his boss, he too, can follow the likes of Robson and Keane and bring glory back to the club.

So, while, he may not be acting like Captain Sensible right now, by inspiring those around him with action, more than words, Rooney's got what it takes to be a great leader.
And, for me, that's why he's still the sensible choice.

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