Since joining Manchester United as a teenager in 2004, Wayne Rooney has been one of Fantasy Football’s best assets. With a staggering 170 goals across 340 appearances in all competitions, his attacking threat is undeniable but, in recent years, he has proved a frustrating Fantasy pick at times, scoring 27 goals in 2011/12, only to muster just 12 strikes the next season and again in 2014/15. With that in mind, we ask the Burning Question: Can Wayne Rooney re-emerge as a heavy-hitter?
Ryan says…
It has been a long time since Rooney had a full season up front for United, a very long time. As a United fan, I have grave doubts about his prospects this season; a lot has changed since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge and I think Rooney will find the striker role a very different beast under Louis van Gaal and his “philosophy”.
No longer on penalties and a reduced role as a free kick taker thanks to the arrival of Memphis Depay, Rooney’s title as a big hitter is greatly reduced. Add to the fact he’s spent the last three or four years learning to be a midfielder and he could be forgiven for losing a little sharpness and killer instinct up front. He’s become more of a playmaker these days and I don’t think he can suddenly flick a switch and become a finisher again. It’s been too long and I don’t think he’s a 20 goal a season striker anymore.
Jonty says…
Wayne Rooney has been in the Premier League as long as the oldest veterans of Fantasy Football. They remember his impressive debut FPL points haul (184) in 2006/7, after scoring 14 goals and 12 assists. They remember how he filled the hole left by Cristiano Ronaldo to hammer in 26 goals in 2009. They also remember how he bettered that in 2011, when he racked up 27 goals and his highest ever FPL tally of 230. Over the seasons, in which he’s been moved back to midfield and fallen out frequently with Sir Alex Ferguson, he has never dipped below a 132-point haul. In short, the lad has one of the best Premier League records in history.
This season he looks set to take a central striker role again, so it is highly likely, on past experience, that he will excel once more. Even last season, where at times he was practically a centre-back, he still accrued 12 goals. Up front, he will do well this year and he is one of the first names on my team sheet.
With Memphis Depay, Juan Mata, Ashley Young and possibly Pedro in support, drafting in the heavy-hitter Rooney straight away looks a no-brainer.
Andy says…
I hate Wayne Rooney. I loathe Wayne Rooney. In the seasons of yore I’ve made transfer decisions with the distinct intention of avoiding putting the miscreant in my team at all costs. But this season I’m all set to place him in my Fantasy team, for the first week of the season at least.
Why am I putting my faith back in Wazza? The reasons are plentiful. He’s the club and team captain, the only registered striker on the Manchester United payroll and if Juan Mata misses a penalty, he could find himself once again handed spot-kicks.
Most importantly, he’s a relative ‘bargain’ at 10.5 and at the forefront of one of England’s biggest teams. Just compare him to similar rival Sergio Aguero (someone I happen to adore) and that extra 2.5 can make a real difference elsewhere in your team.
If United have serious designs on challenging for the Premier League title then Wayne Rooney is and will be an absolutely heavy-hitter. As much as it may make my heart falter.
Applebonkers says…
Rooney’s resemblance to a potato feels very apt. You know where you stand with a potato. More fashionable vegetables will come and go but the potato will always be a reliable staple. Rooney + attacking position = goals and assists.
Rooney in the number nine position has meant over 25 goals and over 220 points on a couple of occasions – numbers you’d happily pay 10.5m for. He’s Man United’s captain and he’s still 29. If there is a catch it’s very well hidden this season. Even if Young and Mata continue to wrestle set-pieces off him, he looks destined for a return to the heavy-hitter table. As chips make their first appearance in the game it’s only right if Rooney does make this return, like a proud father.
D1sable says…
I certainly hope so and I see no reason – barring injury – why he can’t.
Aside from last season, Wayne Rooney has always been a viable option. It’s well documented that he was pushed back into a holding role for much of the season and this, without doubt, dented his output.
The last time he played as the main central striker he bagged 27 goals in 34 matches and Van Gaal has assured us he will be taking up that role again this season.
Given this information alone, I can’t see how he won’t be in the heavy hitter bracket come the end of the season. Sure, he’s not getting any younger and Van Gaal has been known to tell the odd porky, but with nailed-on front men from the top teams being a rarity these days, I’ll certainly be flying his flag.
Demi says…
I think to answer this question, one has to give their definition of what a heavy-hitter is. For me, it’s a player who you’d be happy to captain home or away against all sides outside the top 6. It’s also someone who can provide both goals and assists. I think Rooney is that player; he has been in the past, and can be again this season. With the hiigh-quality additions United have made to strengthen their midfield, I don’t see there being any way that Rooney gets deployed in a deeper midfield role like he was for several matches last season. This clearly stunted his attacking output and also the team’s at times.
You know what you will be getting from Rooney this season, in terms of his role in the starting XI, he’s completely nailed on and he’ll have strong support from midfield and out wide. Rooney can be fully focused on being the main goal-getter in this side, playing as the lone striker (assuming no other forward is signed), with more responsibility to score the goals than last season, following the sales of Robin van Persie and, to a lesser extent, Radamel Falcao.
He will still have some set-pieces, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back on penalties at some point in the season, either. I would need to see more signs before putting him up there with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Eden Hazard as stand-out captaincy option most weeks, but the foundations certainly seem to be in place for him to have a fruitful season in front of goal, thereby hopefully making him a great captain option most weeks and reaffirming his status as a heavy-hitter.
Evs says…
For me Rooney has always seemed to be a bit of a ‘meh’ or ‘so what’ Fantasy option.
We never seem to have the explosiveness or purple scoring patches of an Aguero, Suarez, or my beloved Robin van Persie (I miss my duvet).
Points seem to come here and there with the odd goal, and the odd assist sandwiched between a couple of two-pointers just thrown in the mix for good measure.
He has always had a lot of attacking talent in and around him such as Robin, Carlos Tevez and even Cristiano Ronaldo but to me he always seems to be a B- on the school report. ‘Plenty of potential but could do better’
Will he do better this year? Well…. He’s now the captain, main focal point of attack (unless someone else signs) and again has plenty of attacking talent around him so the odds are in his favour but will he be week in week out FPL (c) material?
Only time with tell, but I still have this gut ‘meh’ feeling which tells me we’re in for more hit and miss.
