Wayne Rooney Cost United The Three Points At Stamford Bridge

Given the more than encouraging start Carlos Tevez has made to the 2008/2009 season it was a surprise to read the Manchester United team sheet for the weekend´s game against Chelsea and see the Argentinian relegated to the substitutes bench. Sir Alex Ferguson instead opted to partner Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney upfront. Tevez, looking fit and sharp in each appearance so far this season, would have had every right to feel aggrieved by his omission for such a big game, especially when you consider he was left out in favour of one striker clearly lacking match fitness, the other lacking form.

Wayne Rooney was more often than not employed as a right winger during the game, a position in which he has proved himself to be functional at best, ineffectual at worst. In pre-season Ferguson lamented his failure to maximise Rooney´s obvious potential, caused by playing him out of position for the greater good of the team. “We have to define Wayne’s role better,” he admitted. “I think Wayne’s best position is through the middle, either the front role or tucking in just behind.” You would think such an admission might come as prelude to a change of tact when using Rooney in future, but so far this season despite Ferguson´s acknowledgement of failure he continues to make the same mistake.

Regardless of his position in the team, United´s number ten has been far from impressive in a red shirt this season and Sunday´s game was yet another example of this lack of form. In many ways his performances epitomise those of the European and Premier League champions at this early stage of the campaign: scrappy, disjointed and lacking in confidence.

Rooney´s below par showings this season were brutally highlighted in a five minute spell towards the end of the game on Sunday, and his mix of hot-tempered frustration and slack play came at a high price for United, eventually leading to the equaliser that kept alive Chelsea´s four year unbeaten home record whilst costing the Red Devils a crucial three points.

5 minutes of fury

In the 76th minute Joe Cole should have been given a yellow card for a foul on Rio Ferdinand. Instead he escaped a booking. Rooney perhaps correctly took an exception to this and decided to remonstrate angrily with referee Mike Riley. Given Riley´s card-happy antics the forward was probably lucky not to be booked himself for talking back, and was instead waved dismissively away by the ref. So, faced with a perceived injustice, Rooney´s temperature rises.

In the 78th minute United are under pressure from a dominant Chelsea. On the break, Cristiano Ronaldo makes a darting run down the left wing and cuts the ball back for Berbatov. It eludes the Bulgarian however and falls to the number ten, Rooney. You imagine a more clinical striker, with time to pick his spot and the goal at his mercy, would do better in this position. But Rooney, faced with the chance to wrap up the win, shoots wide. Not even on target. The miss only adds to the young striker´s frustrations and the exasperated look he wears hints at the anger he feels. Moments later he plays an awful crossfield ball, intended for Ronaldo, straight to the opposition. Ferguson, aware that Rooney´s indignation is making him increasingly irresponsible, gesticulates frantically at the player from the touchline in an attempt to renew his focus.

The message is not heeded. Seconds after this dreadful pass, Rooney miscontrols the ball once again and, no doubt boiling over in ire after a succession of errors, the red mist descends. In an attempt to compensate for losing possession, he unnecessarily and wildly hacks Ashley Cole down and is rightly booked.

What happens from the resulting free-kick? Chelsea equalise. The game ends 1-1.

Rooney´s lack of calm, both in front of goal and more generally, ended up costing United three points. Had he maintained his cool he might have won the game himself by scoring a second goal. Instead his indiscipline led to a needless free-kick and an equaliser. He is just not playing well.

It remains to be seen as to how long Ferguson persists with playing Wayne Rooney, potentially an exceptional striking talent, out of position. But such tinkering is clearly doing nothing for the player´s confidence, form or composure. For United, right now, Carlos Tevez is the better option.

Carlos Tevez, Chelsea, English Premier League, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney