Originally Posted by
DollyLongstaffe
Rooney is part of the problem, not the solution.
Nothing against the big man, a good professional, honest trier and tough as old boots, but he is so limited as a player that he has to be scoring in a high percentage of his games to justify selection. He hasn't done that for at least a season and a half. Some blame that the loss of McGinn and Hayes, but he scored 4 times in his final 17 games in the 2016/17 season when they were both here. That's 13 games out of 17 where we were carrying a near passenger.
To be fair to Deek, he recognises the problem. Unfortunately we can't just go out and buy a guy who's guaranteed to score goals on our budget. Every striker we sign is a punt. Maynard: guy used to be good, maybe can be again. May: injury problems and dents to his confidence hopefully haven't finished him. Cosgrove: raw and behind the curve in terms of his development, but maybe could be the big target man we couldn't afford otherwise.
So far the only punt we've taken that's actually worked is Rooney himself. But he's no longer the answer and we have to keep trying other things.