UNITED striker Wayne Rooney is confident the Reds will become more clinical in front of goal in 2009 after another narrow win against Middlesbrough.
Dimitar Berbatov’s solitary goal against Boro on Monday night was only the club’s fourth in their last six league matches.
But despite converting just one of an incredible 25 chances against Gareth Southgate’s side Rooney believes it is only a matter of time before United start firing on all cylinders again.
“I thought we played well, created a lot of chances and could have scored four or five goals,” said Rooney.
“If those chances go in everyone speaks differently. If we don’t score it is a worry but we got the goal that mattered.”
Ferguson warned his players after the match that they have to start turning their dominance into goals on a more regular basis if they do not want to slip up in their attempts to haul in the top two.
Chelsea have scored 40 times in 20 matches and have a goal difference of +31, well in excess of their two main rivals.
Rooney admits it is something which the players are conscious of and are trying to rectify.
“Of course we want to score more goals. Going into the last game of the season last year goal difference could have won the league,” he added.
Goal difference
“We want to try to get our goal difference up but this stage of the season is a difficult period and you are just looking to get points on the board.
“We missed some good opportunities against Middlesbrough, the keeper (Ross Turnbull) made some good saves but that is football, it happens.
“It has happened a bit more than we would have liked this first part of the season so hopefully we can start taking those chances.”
With Carlos Tevez having returned home to Argentina to deal with a family issue, Berbatov seized his opportunity with a timely goal just as it was looking as if Middlesbrough’s packed ranks had done their job.
It was the club-record signing’s first goal in five matches and only his seventh of the season after Ferguson shelled out £30.7million on transfer deadline day in August.
However, the former Tottenham striker shrugged off concerns about United’s form in front of goal.
“It was obvious we were the better team. Sometimes you miss a lot of chances but 1-0 is enough. Three points is the most important thing,” he said.
“I’m not worried. Maybe we have to work on our concentration in the last third of the field but as long as we create chances it is good.
“I have plenty to show but I will keep working.”
Berbatov was also bullish about their chances in the title race.
“If we win our two games in hand then it is good for us. In the end it is in our hands,” he added.
Why are United struggling to score? Have your say.
Rooney reckons goals will come
December 30, 2008
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When Mr.Rooney? Pray tell please.
Some misses have been terrible no more so than The one by Park shocking and Gary only scores in his own net Neville.
Heard this a lot from many of our players already this year! Walk the talk time.
What a suprise that Dunce from Wit Slow is one of the 1st to jump on this band waggon. Lets look at the goal difference in May.
Don't worry Dunce there is a new beano out on Thursdday for you.
Leave the Red sites for Real reds
Cheer up, folks. If we were third from bottom I could understand it.
Think Giggs' goal against Wigan, think Man United's players running to mob VdS after snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Chelsea, and think Rooney's World Club winning goal.
Also think of Berbatov's goal yesterday to light up an oh-so-dull game and give hope for 2009.
Happy New Year, everyone, and thanks for all the great comment and insights.
We need a proven goal scorer with class someone like Robinho then watch us go
Rooney is not mystic Meg,but I think he's right goals will come.
The title run in is about to begin.The FA Cup about to begin and should we beat Derby the League Cup Final,the knockout stages of the champions league too.UNITED face a very hectic and competitve fixture list.They scored the goal that was needed and apart from one glaring miss the last 15 minutes would've been more relaxing.How many times have people wound themselves up in the first half of the season only to realise at the end SAF did the job? We don't always win everything,and if UNITED finished second I won't be jumping on the team like a rabid dog.Personally I think the season is going nicely for UNITED.I'm sure more goals will come and I'm sure that the team will fight tooth and nail to win all they can.Chelsea,Liverpool,Arsenal are among the top teams in Europe not just England.So far I think the squad is doing a good job.The trophies are not guaranteed but I've enough faith in the players and staff to believe they will do their best for us.World Champions is not a title won by no hopers.
Ping Pong Park couldn't hit a cows posteria with an Ektara (it's a Bengali stringed instrument, a bit like your banjo). He is without doubt a player without an end product. Our cutting edge last year was Ronaldo, but this year he's as blunt as the blades on my plough (just ask the wife, it's killing her back). With Ronaldo missfiring, we are just not the same goal threat. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. Carrick is pulling the strings like a consumate puppeteer, but our forwards are performing like Pinocchio with woodworm.
The goals will come in the end. Yes, I would love to see score lines of 4-0 and 5-0, who wouldn’t.
The team is creating the chances and the work rate is very good. It isn’t as if many teams come to Old Trafford (or even when we play away) without packing out the defence and midfield to stop United scoring by whatever means they can. They play to stop United scoring, and not to try and win the game; which in turn leads to a scoreline that are generally narrow victories. Teams are afraid to attack United because that leads to a defence of only four or five. They would rather sit back with ten men behind the ball and just try and contain United and stop them scoring. We are seeing this more often than not and it seems to be the norm now for the opposition.
Some games we have been wasteful in front of goal and that cannot be argued. We do need to be more clinical and as Rooney says, the goals will come!!!
Theres something just not right in the squad, we lack a leader, someone with a big mouth to control the team. Is it just me or does Ronny just care anymore? He seems to be faking more injuries every game. Id drop him now and give Nani a run out in the squad, let Ronny sit and watch from the bench.
Be patient, goals will really come. But as Berbatov said, 1:0 is enough for winning the 3 points. And since we want trophies and we're also struggling in every possible competition, we should accept that this is far from the las 1:0 victory. They're not spectacular, they make me shake in fear all the time, but if this helps the team save their strenghts for the vital and most important and difficult games - then let it be!
its fairly obvious t me.scholes stopped shooting on a regular basis a long time ago, why, when he has 1 the best shots in soccer.ronaldo carried the scoring last yr'the midfield great at square passing passing the buck etc,sorry to say it but look at the way liverpool are having a go at every opportunity.we need a robbo i.e. a goal scoring midfielder.fletcher too weak
JUST LIKE THE ELBOWS HEY???? one rule for one another for the rest ------
Last year we ended the season with a goal ratio (for/against) of 3.64, with Chelsea on 2.5 and Liverpool and Arsenal on 2.39, and that was the order of finsih.
This year so far we are on 2.9 with Chelsea on 4.44 and Liverpool on 2.69 and Arsenal way down on 1.43 although Chelsea are not on top, yet.
We are conceding at approximately the same rate and scoring at .75 of the rate so its not as different as it feels, howver to get back to where we were last year we will have to score 48 goals in the last 20 games assuming we concede at the same rate. 2.4 goals a game, not unrealistic perhaps especially as we still have to play City at Home :-)
What we need is some goals for central midfield and a few more from defence, and a central midfielder who can shoot from distance to drag the opposition defence out a bit (note thats not Anderson, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs and no longer Scholes) Rooney in the Scholes position would be very interesting to see (to me anyway) .. the Cm could make some more room for the forwards like Scholes used to do.
Keep at it. If this team wins trophies this season it will be because of a combination of a good defence and plenty of goals going in at the other end. Therefore, I will be happy when we win trophies and while we are in the process of winning them!
Well said GC Northstand, Danny from Wilmslow you really need to gain an understanding of the game before cluttering up sites like this.
Wazza is totally right in saying the goals will start flowing, keep the faith. We had a streak of 1-0's start of last season, so hopefully this is just another one and we'll start burying our chances sooner rather than later!
Yeah Dandy, get the Beano!
The media are manipulative and bias. Nowhere is there a word wasted about Pogatetz possibly getting a ban for attacking Ronny...
There would be headlines all over if Ronny (or Rooney) had done half as much...
Sky Sports reported Pogatetz had "blocked" Ronny out during a corner kick, and that Ronny started the issue as the players were leaving for half-time...
Pog nearly strangled him, he didn't think about where the ball might or might not be, he should be BANNED.
I hope'Boro get relegated, and take the Pog down with them, cos that's where he belongs.
After winning the world club championship game in Japan, United have now reached their zenith, from now on a gradual decline in there fortunes is about to occur. The defence is at the moment able to camouflage the inadequacies for the dearth of scoring chances and goals, but eventually that will be severly exposed has United fade. The twilight of the gods is about to play itself out.
I don't understand the mentality of a lot of you, a win is a win, if we were in the bottom 5 then fair enough, but then again, just imagine all the moaners.
Obviously the goals will come, why is everybody panicking ?
I cant believe I was gullible enough to believe danny, WILMSLOW supported United!
Didnt think a City fan would stoop so low, but then again, kinda inevitable.
As for the goals, I for one am not worried. I no SAF is, but for me with the amount of chances created and the quality we have, it will be sooner rather then later we start banging in the goals and one time will surely pay!
A change of environment for Ronaldo to "recover his form". I suspect the boy wonder will sulk his way out of Old Trafford and achieve his long desired ambition of a move to Real Madrid. Subconsciously Ronaldo has already deserted the club, we are now witnessing the final act, a twilight is beginning to descend over this whole soap opera.
ok i know i might get slatted here for saying this...but as i watch ronney playing and wat he does for the team,all round play and all that but do u guys see him as a number 10? im a big as fan as anybody on here but he will not get you 25plus a year.just misses 2 many,tevez big fan hard workin but in front of goal brill,1/1 excellent. correct me if im wrong but does anyboby fell he is bn hard done by
Nothing to do with this story
but I'm happy to report the
Man City bar that opened across from Cafe Trieste in
North Beach - has closed!
San Francisco has several United pubs around town but never has a place where City
fans went. A fine Chinese
resaurant has taken over the
location. Good ridance.
Up the Reds,