Manchester United's Best Formation: Play Wayne Rooney in the Midfield

One position that Manchester United fans want Sir Alex to invest in is the position of a creative midfielder. It is a position–behind the striker–that is more famously known to the United fans as the Paul Scholes position.

With Ferguson content in playing Scholes as a holding midfielder, United have lacked a player who could play as an attacking midfielder, aiding the strikers.

Anderson, once marked ‘the next Ronaldinho,’ was signed in 2007 as a replacement for Scholescy but hasn’t shown the potential that he once promised as a teenager at FC Porto.

Saturday, March 13: Manchester United beat Arsenal to march on to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The man who played in the Scholes position and in the heart of United’s midfield was United’s last season top scorer, Wayne Rooney.

He netted 34 goals for United last season, but his dip in goal-scoring form has been under enormous scrutiny, as he has bagged only four goals this season.

However, Rooney's performance and overall play against the Gunners on Saturday was acknowledged and well appreciated. It was probably his best performance of the season so far.

Rooney’s commanding display included him working hard going forward and rushing back on various occasions to help out the defense, leading to United dominating midfield for certain periods in the game.

His role in the center of midfield also provided an additional support for O’Shea and Gibson, who in reality, went missing for several minutes in the game.

Wazza playing in Scholes position, with all his energy and pace, also made Manchester United look like a better counter-attacking unit.

So, my point is: why not play Rooney in behind the two strikers, supporting them, thereby, providing cover for the midfield and letting him occasionally burst into the box?

Reasons

1. Hernandez’s form

Chicharito, the green-eyed Mexican, has been in red-hot form, having scored 10 goals in 20 appearances in his first season at Old Trafford. Hernandez’s blistering pace and his partnership with Rooney has seen United play better than they have ever played this season.

He has also combined well with Berbatov (the game at Blackpool comes to mind), the mark of a quality player in the making. Chicharito’s darting runs forward beating the offside trap would be aided by Berbatov playing alongside and Rooney in a supporting role.

This would lead him to more chances of scoring goals.

2. Berbatov's netting goals

Having scored 19 goals in 33 appearances, Berbatov is the leading goal scorer in the premiership. He lacks consistency, agreed. But to achieve consistency, what he also needs is suitable game time.

Using him as a substitute and asking him to come on at 75 minutes is just wasting his talent. It took him two complete years and now that he has finally found his touch at Old Trafford, United must play him and not wait for him to drive himself out of form again.

The problem with Berbatov though, is that he prefers to play off the striker. Thus, he can’t play with Rooney, as they play in exactly the same position.

But this season has suggested that with Rooney on the pitch, Berbatov seems a better player. Thus, play Berbatov upfront with Hernandez, with Rooney supporting the front two.

3. Overall balance of the team

With Anderson out for the season and Carrick prone to making blunders now and again, Rooney alongside Darren Fletcher/Paul Scholes can do a brilliant job.

Rooney’s work ethic has always been one of the reasons that has led to him be a fan favourite. He has been marked as a man who “plays with his heart on his sleeve.”

Apart from Fletcher, United has been struggling to find a central midfielder since the time of Roy Keane, who can play with an everlasting energy and provide the team with a mammoth work ethic that a central midfielder must possess.

Rooney is also a perfect mould to play as a box-to-box midfielder. Thus, Rooney fits the bill perfectly.

How many times over the years has he sprinted to the opponent's D carrying the ball over 70 yards and then, come charging back to retrieve possession for United? Often enough to suggest that he is perfect for that position.

4. Relieves Pressure

The press has scrutinized Rooney recently, branding him “overrated” after he has been unsuccessful in achieving his feats of last season. Playing him in a deeper role would take that pressure off Rooney of scoring 30 goals each season.

We all know how good a player he is and according to me, he will get goals irrespective of where he plays.

Cristiano Ronaldo did it during his time at United, so, why not Rooney? Rooney for sure can get 30 goals a season playing him behind the strikers.

Thus, according to me, Rooney must play in Scholes’ position: CAM. It will give United a better system to play with.

This system will help United be more attack-minded in their approach; be stronger while defending and more lethal while counter-attacking.

Thereby, it will allow Manchester United to dominate midfield in most games. What it will also do is, give Rooney a freedom to float anywhere on the pitch.

Rooney running behind the strikers and supporting Hernandez and Berbatov will rectify United’s problem: the lack of a creative midfielder.

The best line up according to me:

Van Der Sar (GK)

Rafael/O’Shea (RB)  Vidic (CB)  Ferdinand (play Smalling if injured) (CB)  Evra (LB)

Valencia (RM) Fletcher (CM)  Rooney (CAM)  Nani (LM) 

Berbatov

 Hernandez

Cheers :)

Kratik

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