The Wayne Rooney conundrum: what next for the former lynchpin?

As the transfer window closed, everyone was salivating over the deadly combination that Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney would form. But it looks like Sir Alex has had different plans until now. Kagawa’s arrival meant United are evolving from a traditional 4-4-2 to a more focal point of attack with the midfield fluidly supporting creative gaps.

The media just wanted to (apparently) garner attention. As soon as Rooney was benched for a home game, stories began to flood the internet over Rooney moving elsewhere. At the very moment, Rooney rubbished this, suggesting he wanted to end his career at Old Trafford. In the midst of all these tidings and Rooney’s injury, Robin Van Persie has made a thunderous start with his goal-scoring exploits and fitting into play so effortlessly.

It is hasty, then, to think about this examination of the current setup. Nevertheless, this is a great scenario in the realms of possibilities ahead.

Is Rooney’s role threatened by the arrival of United’s attacking options?

With Rooney no longer assured for a starting berth, what situation will develop? Will Rooney be part of the United transition?

Signing RVP takes the pressure off Rooney in terms of scoring those innumerable goals during crunch situations. Rooney, being mobile can have the license to roam around playing with Kagawa and can wreck havoc for opposition defenses. Rooney will have a substantial role in the course of the season and is a team player who isn’t just a poacher and deserves more credit.

What it is understandable and palpable is how hard it is for strikers to be consistent in the top flight. Something that justifies Rooney’s place in United’s team. With the plethora of goals last term, it is unjustifiable to completely disapprove the talisman, considering RVP’s position as the target-man. He has been the lynchpin and the man to score the best goal Old Trafford has seen, and therefore disastrously unwise to write him off at our own peril.

Imagining him moving to other pastures is simply unimaginable. Hopefully, his unhappiness with the secondary role behind van Persie doesn’t spell the end of his United tenure. Looking at the sunny side, a competitive spirit for the attacking forces can serve as an astounding partnership for the deadly duo.

Or can Rooney make the grade as the solution to United’s ever growing midfield quandary?

Nick Powell is a secured talent for the future, but looking at the current scenario, there are no concrete answers to the obstacles presented by United’s midfield. Fletcher’s illness, Scholes’s tiresome legs (but still awesome), Carrick’s super inconsistency, Anderson’s injury worries and lackluster play continue to hog the limelight as we go into the season. Only Tom Cleverley has been a promising revelation this year and Red Devils fans will be hoping he continues this artistry for more years to come.

In Rooney, United have an in-house figure of guile, incisiveness, influence, hard work, passing range, strength, ball control and the attributes of a central midfielder, along with being a prolific goalscorer himself. This does augur well on paper, but Rooney can be utilized as a play maker. His position on field United’s ability to harness his attacking instincts remains to be seen. Replacing Scholes is one of the possibilities.

Only time will tell where these brain teasers lead us. It’s a matter of patience and a belief in Sir Alex’s ways. Till then, we can sit back and hope for collective exploits from the RVP- Rooney combo. Inexorably, with Wayne and Robin – Sir Alex being Alfred the butler has to get the act right, conquering the pinnacles of superiority in the process