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Manchester United's English forward Wayne Rooney (L) shoots past Queens Park Rangers English defender Nedum Onuoha during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on April 8, 2012. (AFP)
With Wayne Rooney on form, even two points look insurmountable.
When he is having the odd off day Manchester United look vulnerable.
When Wayne Rooney is so badly out of form that he misses five passes in a row – even five points do not look enough.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United’s talisman could not have picked a worse time to slide off the radar.
Against Wigan he was bad.
United lost 1-0, to let Manchester City back into the title race.
He was substituted
On Sunday against Aston Villa, Wayne Rooney was so bad, it was embarrassing.
What was worse was that he scored two goals. One, a gifted penalty. The second, thanks to a deflection.
He was still taken off.
Some might say he typifies the United style of play – winning and scoring when not in form.
That may be true against the likes of Villa, who have struggled this season.
But come up against a team in form – like Everton next, and then mighty Manchester City and Rooney’s mistakes will prove very costly.
The five points that separate United and City will certainly look like a fig leaf papering over Rooney’s bad play.
The likes of Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany are unlikely to give Rooney any space and time to even think, let alone have a second touch of the ball.
Which is why Sir Alex can only hope that his top marksman for the season turns it around and quickly?
Timing is everything in the title run-in. City know that. And so does Carlos Tevez.
Does Wayne Rooney?
Who Man Utd buying next
Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing for the real goal next year – Champions League glory.
The Scot will not rest easy till he has dethroned Barcelona at least once with Pep Guardiola still there.
And with increasing doubts over Pep’s future, next year may be Sir Alex’s last chance to beat Barcelona (and Real Madrid if need be).
Which is why Paul Scholes, who has come out of retirement, is likely, along with the other senior citizen Ryan Giggs, to still be there next year.
Parts of Sir Alex’s grand scheme to have a squad deep and wide enough to take on the Premier League and chase Champions League glory are now falling in to place.
Fabio to go
Among those who will be shipped out is Brazilian defender Fabio, who will go out on loan next season.
“Fabio will go on loan next season to give him concentrated first-team experience,” Ferguson told United Review.
However, to boost the midfield, Manchester United will battle Manchester City for £16million Athletic Bilbao playmaker Ander Herrera - dubbed the 'Spanish Steven Gerrard'.
Herrera also made an impression on United when Bilbao outplayed the Premier League champions in eliminating them from the Europa League last month.
What’s more United will also battle AC Milan for the right to sign Kevin Strootman.
Strootman is seen as a midfield enforced in the Roy Keane mould and though he will cost £15million, he will beef up United’s mid-field to last the long haul.
Especially when one is competing with Manchester City at home and Barcelona in Spain.
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