The England striker (right) will almost certainly start at St James’ Park against Newcastle tomorrow night after being punished with a club fine and missing the New Year’s Eve match against Blackburn, when the Reds suffered a shock 3-2 defeat.
The penalty was imposed by Fergie after he deemed that Rooney was not fit to train properly last week following a Boxing Day night out with his wife, Coleen, and team-mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson and their partners. Evans and Gibson were also fined and left out of the United squad.
It was a reminder once again about who is the boss at Old Trafford and, no matter the size of the name, it’s Fergie’s Law or suffer the consequences.
Last year saw Sir Alex celebrate a record 19th title for the club, 25 years in charge and have the unique honour of having an Old Trafford stand named after him.
But even on his 70th birthday on New Years’ Eve he was in no mood to go easy on his stars.
It was a statement of intent that proves that his declaration of three more years as boss won’t see him taking his foot off the pedal in any way.
Twelve months ago, Rooney put an awful year – highlighted by injury, his self-inflicted contract bust-up and off-field headlines – behind him with a goal at West Brom to start 2011.
It was his first from open play in the Premier League that term. Now, having been chastised for his slip-up in professionalism, the hitman will be keen to provide a similar retort on Tyneside and rediscover the form that saw him score four goals in three matches against Wolves, QPR and Fulham in December.
Having dumped Wigan 5-0 when Rooney was on the bench on Boxing Day, Fergie probably felt pretty secure in dishing out his ban on the striker for the Old Trafford game last Saturday against then-bottom club Blackburn. But it backfired spectacularly as the Reds were beaten while Rooney watched from a private box.
City let United off the hook with a 1-0 loss at Sunderland but the Reds – and Rooney – must hit back in style at Newcastle. Tweet
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Its ok thinking SAF is in charge and he tells everyone what he wants, but who will tell SAF when its time for him to step aside!
because all champs take on one fight too many and risk damaging their legacy.
Yup - no doubt Rooney would have the difference against Blackburn - he is our most consistent player, even when he is not scoring, his movement is impeccable, he hardly ever loses the ball, and he inspires the whole team with his attack play but also defensively when needed.
Wigan fell apart after their sending-off, so maybe the 5-0 flatters us, without Rooney. That we should be so dependent on him is of course a worry - Nani is the only player that could reach his world class status at the moment, if we want to compare ourselves to Barcelona (Berbatov on his day, yes, but he is not consistent). So one or two top signings are needed - but only probably in the summer.
Our wonderful start to this season was in the main due to Cleverly and Anderson bossing the midfield - we must not forget what an impact their absence has meant to the club - as well as our defensive solidity (now topsy turvey with the injuries).
One cannot help thinking, had Cleverley and Anderson been playing (together - they fed off each other superbly) all this time, where we would have been on the table, whether City would have knocked us for 6-1, and whether so-called fans would have been baying for Fergie's blood, and demand panic buying.....
Hopefully, the fact that all the other top clubs are experiencing upsets will make fans look at our recent performances with more circumspection and understanding.....
Newcastle, though, will be tough, and our makeshift defence is going to be wobbly. Lets just accept that, and be happy with a draw.....
Lindegaard . Rafael , Jones , ( Ferdinand/Smalling/Carrick ) and Evra . Valencia , Rooney , Anderson and Nani . Berbatov and Welbeck . Subs : De Gea , Fryers , Gibson , Pogba , Park , Giggs , and Hernandez
Wayne Rooney is without doubt a fantastic player but he sometimes goes out of control and is not the most devoted to football to be honest.
We all know your talent, but the most important thing in professional football is not specfically talent or skill, but determination and dedication. You put in a lot of effort on the pitch, but off it you must remain calm, dedicated and straight. You must think and focus on football all the time. Don't go fooling around during non-playing time, it's vital that all the time, even when not playing or training. Only do fun things during the summer time and stuff. If our players always fool around off the pitch, it will damage their skills, their love for football and also their carrers in the long term. Not to mention that it would affect our season and results.
I love you Wayne, but sometimes you have to seriously get a grip and stop being a fool. If you stay commited, you will fuffill your full potential and do great stuff for United and England.
I hope you will get this behind you and fire us to an important victory and St James Park.
Proud to be a rag, United till i die
Disciple is the key to management
Here we go again, roll out the usual stale bread culprits,...Park, carrick, evans....
FFS,......give Pogba and Morrison a chance!
How come Giggs gets away with misdemeanours?
Is this the third or fourth re-hash of this story on MEN? I've lost track.
All is not forgiven Wayne, you embarrassed the club last year and now you have cause more hassle. Not that I think you care in the slightest. Grow up.
Wayne was a naughty boy, he has to take his punishment like a man and move on! It wasn't the fact that Rooney was missing that cost us against Blackburn there were other more relevant factors that need addressing, Sir Alex knows what they are and will deal with these issues as only he can!
We've reached the halfway point of the league season and are joint top with a pretty healthy points total so title number 20 is still a very realistic goal, here's looking forward to the next 19 league games!
Happy New Year to all fellow reds fans!
Glory Glory Man United!
Dropping Rooney and not having Giggs may have been punishment,but it backfired and its 3 points lost and an insult to fans.
Nobody in the premiership has scored as many goals per minute as Berbatov 6 goals not even 3 games
Has he just doubled his pay after this latest row?
leaving Rooney out back fired but it was the right thing to do if he broke the rules, luckily the massives couldn't take advantage.
Hopefully he'll be back to his best against Newcastle tomorrow as his record against them is great (9 goals I think!).
Just hope Smalling's recovered and can take his place alongside Jones in defence.
I thought the punishment was a bit harsh for Wayne, after all it was only a trip to Lou Macaris chippy for a meat and tater pie with Coleen who desperately misses the odd portion of 'scouse' since her exole from Liverpool.
He should be dropped for this game as well .... United without Rooney is like a car without an engine .... Going no where ..... The sooner we play them again and ABSOLUTLY destroy them the better ...roll on sunday
Do ya know I've always thought that Wazza has an annus horribilis.
The boat-race ain't too clever either!
Its star players who win games not managers.Rooney should have played Fergie should have played one of the reserves in central defence and left Carriick in midfield with Anderson and played Raphael at right back.
Wow! Thats 250k worth of hay for the horse gone for a burton. Wait a minute...theres always next weeks 250k to make up for it...
I am still trying to get my head around imagining the management meeting where Fergie said
'' OK men today's central midfield will be JSP and Raphael and I am dropping the keeper because 6 clean sheets in 7 just is not good enough at this level '' !!!!
One of his poorest decisions ever.
Rooney does not need to redeem himself to SAF. He is, and will remain, a key member of our squad and a guaranteed starter for big games. Although the 'dinner' incident has come to light, there will have been countless episodes over the years where the manager has had to impose discipline on players, which passes off without comment. I'm sure any player disciplined will accept their punishment and get on with things as best they can. Rooney is no different from any player disciplined by Sir Alex and this latest incident hardly justifies an MEN article.
Wouldn't want to be Newcastle with Roonerator bursting to get out there!
United looking very nice for this time of year, poised to progress just nicely.
Come on Liverpool, you can do it today!
Up the Reds!
On a different subject have just read L'pools statement on the Suarez ban. Absolutely disgraceful. No apology, still blaming Evra, unbelievable. It has done nothing for their reputation or standing as a major football club. Also read Suarez's statement stating he is being punished for doing nothing wrong! I nearly cried - he is pathetic. This guy deserves everything he got. Rant over.
Folks, methinks it's SAF who needs redemption. Dropping Rooney was the main cause of loss to B'burn, if not the only cause. I don't believe anyone,including SAF, is bigger than the Club and SAF's tantrums are hurting Utd big time. You can't drop your ( probably the country's) best player for a meal out with his wife. Warn him, counsel him, even fine him but drop him from a crucial match that you had to win???...
Sir Alex is the boss, he is mature enough to know when to step down, and when a suitable man is found to fill his very big space .
I think it will be either Mourinho or Pep or someone BIG ! not any one small fry . Some one who is capable of handling big egos and knows the game very very well in the UK
Rooney needs to step up and do the deed tonight