How to deal with a problem like Wayne Rooney: a three point plan

1. Drop him from the team. Immediately.

The fact that Wayne Rooney, one of United's consistently poorest performing players, is still securing a spot in the side - week in, week out - is simply ludicrous. Rooney is a player judged on two very clear metrics - his goal scoring ability (as a striker) and his leadership qualities (as the captain) - and it's fair to say on current form he is dramatically failing to deliver on both fronts.

If there is one thing Sir Alex was famous for during his successful tenure at the helm of United it was that he was a man who was not afraid to make controversial decisions if he felt it was for the greater good of the team. And that meant dropping big players: players he felt, regardless of reputation, were either a negative influence on the side, ill of discipline or simply in need of some time out of the spotlight due to a loss in form. At the moment, Rooney ticks at least two of these boxes – potentially all three if you attribute his “discipline” not to his temperament but to his inability to stick to his role on the pitch and follow instructions. Just look at this heat-map from last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park…not really the sort of movement you’d expect from a striker!

There is no doubt that Louis van Gaal was brought on as a more natural successor to Sir Alex Ferguson than the apparently weak, timid David Moyes. Here is a man, we thought, that would bring a level of order and discipline to the side, something so dramatically absent since Sir Alex left in 2013. Yet by continuously insisting on keeping faith with Wayne Rooney and mishandling him he is damaging both the player’s reputation and his own, while suffocating the team in the process.

Van Gaal is renowned across the footballing world as a stubborn, no nonsense manager, however in this instance he is going against the same values that have made him a great. He needs to stick to his principles and treat the whole squad in the same way. In the same way Ferguson didn’t overthink or worry about dropping Beckham or Keane, or selling Hughes, Ince and Kanchelskis when all three were key players, van Gaal needs to do the right thing and give Rooney a rest.

2. Restore Martial as no.9 and Herrera to the withdrawn striker role.

Ok, this one is not really a suggestion to directly improve Rooney, but more to help a team that is struggling to create chances.

Prior to Rooney’s goal against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League United had failed to score in 404 minutes. Not entirely the striker’s fault, however if something is not quit working in United’s attack why would the manager not start doing the logical thing and make changes to the system and personnel? Martial is clearly United’s best option in attack, however in order to accommodate (yes, you guessed it) Wayne Rooney, the 19-year old has been forced to play out wide. And where does that leave the ambitious, dynamic Ander Herrera, United’s best attacking midfielder? Out of the side. As for the left wing, I would play Ashley Young as long Memphis continues to underperform, giving Martial improved service.

3. Emulate Paul Scholes.

Back to Rooney, then: following Paul Scholes’ development at United is, for me, an obvious one.

The career trajectory of Paul Scholes, one again determined by Sir Alex and his impeccable man-management skills, is quite fascinating. Starting life at United as a striker, competing for a place in the side with Cantona, Cole and Hughes, Scholes eventually found his home in midfield once Cole and Yorke became United’s regular attacking pair; and after the introduction of van Nistelrooy and Veron in 2001, Scholes found himself in the no.10 role in order to accommodate Veron in CM, where in 2003 he experienced his highest scoring season at United. Fast forward a few years later to 2006/07, van Nistelrooy leaves United, Ronaldo stars in a more attacking role, and Scholes (at the age of 33) plays arguably his best season in a United shirt. Recognising his strengths as an incredible passer and midfield general with outstanding vision, as well as his weaknesses as a player with diminishing pace heading towards the end of his career, Sir Alex began playing Scholes as a holding midfielder. It was during this period – not where he was banging in 20 goals a season - that he was recognised as the greatest midfielder of his generation.

I’m not saying it is something that will instantly work, but given that there are a number of obvious similarities between the two players - from their vision and excellent reading of the game, to their passing range - van Gaal needs to consider repositioning Rooney alongside Schneiderlin/Schweinsteiger/Carrick ASAP in order to help get the best out of the misfiring and once-great striker. This potential genius move will not only help prolong his career it will, more importantly, work to his strengths in order to get the best out of him and resurrect his reputation during the remaining few years he has left in professional football.