Rooney in midfield-worth a try?

With time, people have to change and adapt. And footballers are no different. Ever since that stunning goal against Arsenal that left David Seaman clueless, Wayne Rooney has been one of the most destructive forwards in modern football.  Over the last 10 years, he has terrorized defenders all over the world. Within the next few years, barring injury or a Torres like fall from grace, Wayne Rooney will end up as the highest goal scorer for both Manchester United as well as England. But statistics have never been a good substitute for judgement.  In spite of his goalscoring prowess, I think Wayne Rooney, at this stage of his career, would be a better footballer for both club and country if he plays in central midfield.

First things first, Wayne Rooney is still a great goalscorer. Although he is nowhere compared to Ronaldo or Messi as a goalscorer, but if he plays as a forward for the entire season, he will end up with a reasonable return. And the fact that a forward of his caliber is being thought of being played in central midfield bears ample testimony to his versatility. There are three very strong reasons on why a switch to midfield makes perfect sense for all stakeholders.

Firstly, Rooney has lost the extra yard of pace that had made him so lethal in his early years. Yes, pace was only one of his many qualities. The fact that he is a complete footballer has enabled him to consistently keep scoring goals even after losing the pace. If you are still underestimating the importance of pace and acceleration for a striker, just remember what happened to Shevchenko and Torres once they lost it. Plus, Rooney was never a very good dribbler. And as his reflexes slow down, and the energy level comes down with age, these deficiencies will suddenly turn him into a 15 goal a season striker. As a footballer, Wayne Rooney deserves better.

Secondly, what makes him a perfect choice for a central midfielder is his vision. His pin-point passing, both long range and short range is a delight to watch. He is a player who can control the tempo of a football match. It is almost unheard of a lethal forward making a mid career switch to a central midfielder. But, if anyone can do this, it has to be Rooney. Yes, it will take him some time to get to the league of Scholes or Pirlo. In the football field, Rooney is a workhorse. No one works as much for the team as he does. Whenever he plays as a forward, he tracks back every time his team loses possession. These work ethics will definitely come in handy if he plays in central midfield. Plus, he possesses ample physical strength to succeed as a central midfielder in the premier league. Although Rooney will need to improve defensively and will need to tackle and intercept a lot of opposition passes, it is certainly not beyond him.

And finally, it is in the best interest of both Manchester United and England that he plays in the midfield. With the arrival of Falcao, United now have two forwards who are better than Rooney. Even if Van Gaal decides to play a number 10 behind the two strikers, Juan Mata seems most suited for that role. Coupled with the fact that United are still struggling for a midfield general like Roy Keane, or a maestro in the mould of Paul Scholes, moving Rooney to midfield seems like the best move. Even in England colours, with the emergence of Daniel Sturridge as a striker and Raheem Sterling as a genuine number 10, it makes sense for the captain to drop down to midfield.

Ultimately, it all boils down to what he thinks is best for him. In the past, he has always been very vocal  regarding his desire to play through the centre and as a forward. But, if he wants to be remembered as the greatest Englishman to have ever played the game, he should give this a food for thought.