Wayne Rooney

[Baines]

I agree with Ian fwiw

You know you don't mean it.

[papereyes]

His pass that lead to the first? United goal against City - cross field pass right into the path of the runner from midfield - was actually fantastic.

Anyway, I think playing elsewhere probably ended up giving him a few other attributes and strengths to his game in the long term. But he's far better through the middle.

And 20 goals, 23 games. That's phenomenal.

Add in the assists and passes like the one I describe above.

[Hoop Blah]

...but he's still overrated isn't he Ian!?!

I think playing him around the park might well have helped, but not sure it's helped him more than playing him more consistently through the middle. I think he's got that much of a natural instinct and ability that he didn't really need it.

I am undecided on it though!

[papereyes]

There's 'instinct' and there's 'intelligence' and I think having to play in other positions, to take the secondary role from time to time is the sort of thing that can hone an instinct into something sharper and more controlled.

One of the truly impressive things about Rooney is that the rough, raw but undeniably talented youngster has really developed over the seasons.

Given he's still so young, a couple of slower seasons where he learnt his game are not necessarily a bad thing.

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed, I just can't decide if I think Fergie did it too much at times to fit in with how he needed Utd to line up and it possibly held Rooney back for a bit (even accounting for the couple of slower seasons you rightly say he was bound to have).