Sport
ASSESSING VAN GAAL’S INABILITY TO DROP ROONEY
Assessing Van Gaal’s Inability to Drop Rooney
Louis van Gaal’s fearsome reputation is undermined by his inability to drop Wayne Rooney.
The Dutch manager appears to have an odd rule which stipulates he cannot bench the captain when fit. Van Gaal isn’t judging Rooney like the rest of his squad and so far, hasn’t punished the versatile forward for what is arguably the worst run of form in his career.
This is made all the more jarring by the fact Van Gaal isn’t bothered by removing other big-name stars if they under-perform or don’t fit into a specific strategy.
Memphis Depay was rightly dropped against Everton due to his poor work-rate and lack of end product. This had been coming for weeks. It’s no coincidence United’s midfield played with greater intensity and pressure when Ander Herrera stepped in. He delivered on the opportunity—against one of the Premier League’s toughest midfields—and deserves a run in the team.
Van Gaal’s decision to substitute Juan Mata at half-time also amplified the curiousness of not pulling Rooney weeks ago. Jesse Lingard was brought in to track back with greater intensity and to make sure Everton’s inevitable push for a way back into the game came to nothing. Aside from a spell of dominance early in the second-half, the Toffees rarely looked like ripping David De Gea’s net after the subtle change.
The elephant in the room, of course, is that Rooney scored at Goodison Park. He should have netted a brace, and the welcome relief of hitting the back of the net was somewhat soured by his overall performance still lacking sharpness. Rooney has never possessed a great first touch or ability to get the ball out of his feet when under pressure, but his willingness to drive the team forward has historically made him an important aspect of United’s famous cut-and-thrust style.
Van Gaal surely sees his main star is underperforming. He hasn’t proven so blind with other old heads, proven by his constant switching of Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger. LvG protects both injury prone players by alternating their time on the pitch. He does what’s best for them and the long-term prospects of the team regardless of their reputation.
This is where the Rooney situation becomes difficult. The best thing for him is to play. He quickly becomes unfit when out of action, so removing him from the limelight is unlikely to provide the extra spark needed. He’s not an impact sub, nor is he someone who is used to being told he needs to improve to make the team.
He is, therefore, held to different standards. Dropping Rooney is a controversial decision, one which takes guts, as Sir Alex Ferguson found out. However, giving him a free pass will continue to frustrate fans and players within the squad.
Van Gaal added pressure to the striker’s season when he allowed Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao to leave. He didn’t protect Rooney with these decisions, a mantra which looks set to continue far into the future.
