Wayne Rooney Reportedly Feared to Be at 'Tipping Point' at Manchester United

The pressure on Wayne Rooney's position with Manchester United continues to mount after a series of disappointing performances dating back to last season, with more and more pundits believing the England international and club legend is nearing a “tipping point.”

The 29-year-old has now failed to find the net in eight consecutive matches, and per the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel, manager Louis van Gaal's constant tinkering with his position isn't helping. Samuel wonders whether the club captain needs some help in attack after his non-existent performance in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa:

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It was only one game, and Manchester United won it anyway, but even so there was something deeply troubling about Wayne Rooney’s performance at Villa Park on Friday. One touch inside the opposing penalty area in over 90 minutes, and that to kick the ball into touch to waste time, having chased it fruitlessly down a channel. No shots at goal, no chances, no impact whatsoever, really.

[…] Does Van Gaal even know his best position any more? Every time Rooney finds a new role, the club invest heavily in that area. He plays No 10, support striker or high attacking midfield: United pay top money for Juan Mata, Angel di Maria, Memphis Depay, Ashley Young and, possibly, Pedro, who can all play there, too. On Friday the job even went to Adnan Januzaj.

[] Some who know Rooney well fear he is near to the tipping point. He is a thoroughbred with the ethic of a dray horse and looks increasingly exhausted by it. Van Gaal must be careful from here. Going it alone for a whole season at United might leave Rooney ready for little more than the glue factory.

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Samuel isn't the only pundit openly questioning Rooney these days. Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst has even suggested benching the prolific forward:

The former Everton star was forced into an unfamiliar role following the arrival of Van Gaal in the summer of 2014, with the Dutchman pushing him out of the forward line and into midfield. He responded by scoring 12 goals, his lowest output since the 2010-11 campaign, and adding just five assists, via WhoScored.com.

With Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie now gone and midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin arriving during the summer, Rooney has moved back up the pitch, but through two Premier League matches, he hasn't looked like his old self.

His positioning in and around the box has been off, and Rooney just hasn't been sharp in the danger areas. This particular fan made the unfavourable comparison to Manchester City star Sergio Aguero:

The Red Devils are relatively light on attacking options, and Rooney will have to be at his best for the club to challenge for silverware in 2015-16. But perhaps more importantly, he's been the face of the club for the past few seasons, and his loss of form has been eerily similar to the negative evolution the Mancunians experienced before the arrival of Van Gaal.

After the struggles of last season, which ultimately ended with a top-four finish and a chance to play in this year's Champions League, a return to his preferred position up front should have been a blessing for Rooney. Luckhurst doesn't believe he has the physical attributes to play elsewhere on the pitch and be truly successful:

With Juan Mata and Memphis Depay expected to slide into the forward spots behind the No. 9 role, there really aren't any other options available to Rooney. And with the summer transfer window coming to an end in a matter of weeks, Van Gaal has to decide whether he needs to spend on another quality option, should Rooney's poor run of form continue.

The 2015-16 Premier League season is just two weeks old, and perhaps all Rooney needs is a little more time to kick into gear. The evidence on display suggests otherwise, but for forwards, scoring tends to solve the multitude of their problems.

The Red Devils host both Belgian side Club Brugge and Newcastle United this week―for the sake of Rooney's mental state and early-season form, Van Gaal better hope his captain finds some kind of success.

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