January Transfer Window 2026

[Kevsleftpeg]

Using Wayne Rooney as your argument, that Moyes gives kids a chance

How about Rodwell then? Or James Vaughan? Or Anichebe?

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Where did I say he left him out more ?? I just said he didn’t start his best player every week, we did Finish 17th in 04 and Utd won the league in 05, slightly different levels of quality.
He started 26 games in 04, that’s like Moyes leaving Ndiaye on the bench for 12 games this season or KDH etc

Except that Ndiaye isn't 17 years old

 

[blueboy72]

Except that Ndiaye isn't 17 years old

Was Rooney not our best player ??

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Was Rooney not our best player ??

Yes, but he was also 17 so not playing him every game is a completely valid approach. And he didn't play a single game the season after and we finished 4th so playing him less might actually have helped us when we finished 17th.

 

[Thesouthallarms]

Ok so Chelsea won it, but they were still a miles better team than us. Again find where I said He used him as a sub??? You won’t because that’s not what I said.

I said he didn’t start his best player every week and that’s a FACT. And all down to him being 18 imo

He was a kid and moyes was generally praised at the time for managing Rooneys game time correctly and not burning him out

 

[blueboy72]

Yes, but he was also 17 so not playing him every game is a completely valid approach. And he didn't play a single game the season after and we finished 4th so playing him less might actually have helped us when we finished 17th.

And we were out of Europe by the end of September
The following year we finished 11th. We weren’t better off without Rooney.

 

[blueboy72]

He was a kid and moyes was generally praised at the time for managing Rooneys game time correctly and not burning him out

Who praised him?? Bill kenwright and prentice at the echo

 

[Thesouthallarms]

Who praised him?? Bill kenwright and prentice at the echo

No mate most people including the match going fans

 

[MikeH72]

And we were out of Europe by the end of September
The following year we finished 11th. We weren’t better off without Rooney.

We definitely were a better team in all of the immediate 15 years after we sold Rooney like

 

[blueboy72]

No mate most people including the match going fans

That’s nonsense and you know it, every fan wanted to see this kid in a blue shirt.

 

[Thesouthallarms]

That’s nonsense and you know it, every fan wanted to see this kid .

Lived experience , if you think a 16 year old boy should of been starting every game yer either on the wind up or away with the fairy’s or both

 

[blueboy72]

We definitely were a better team in all of the immediate 15 years after we sold Rooney like

So we wouldn’t have been . Better off with one of the best players in the world in our team
Ok mate

 

[blueboy72]

Lived experience , if you think a 16 year old boy should of been starting every game yer either on the wind up or away with the fairy’s or both

Was 18 in his last season, every top club wanted him and was an England regular. But Everton were happy to see him on the bench some games , them chats over a pint about burn out, must have been something else

 

[Swartzy]

Only a few wks to go, and this thread is rocking..
Some great shouts in the last few pages..

 

[MikeH72]

So we wouldn’t have been . Better off with one of the best players in the world in our team
Ok mate

That’s not what you said, you said we weren’t better off without him, and we factually were, it’s just there in black and white on paper. We finished 17th with him playing every week and then didn’t finish that low again until 20 years later, your hypotheticals really don’t mean much in this scenario.