Summer is crucial time for Rooney regime
RESULTS shape opinion on football managers and, more often than not, dictate whether they continue in a job. That is how the game works. The cold facts first.
There were 10 wins, eight draws and 15 defeats in the 33 League games Wayne Rooney was in sole charge of Derby County this season, first as interim boss before he was appointed permanently in January. A 30% win ratio.
Derby collected 38 points from a possible 99 in those matches, scored 31 goals and conceded 38. They won one of 15 games during the run-in and lost six and drew one of their final seven fixtures.
They managed to cling on to their Championship status by drawing 3-3 with Sheffield Wednesday but had others to thank for escaping relegation, notably Cardiff City’s Marlon Pack who drilled in a late equaliser to deny Rotherham United a victory that would have kept the Millers up and sent the Rams down.
Such a record would probably have seen off most managers and split opinion over whether or not Rooney is the right man to take the team and club forward is understandable.
Results coupled with Derby’s painful struggle in the final two months or so of the season are hard to argue against, so too is the managament and coaching inexperience at this level of Rooney and his coaching team.
However, as is often the case in football, there are counter arguments and reasons behind what we have seen in Rooney’s six months at the helm of a ship that was in danger of capsizing when he took over and remains in choppy waters.
Phillip Cocu’s departure by mutual agreement in November came with Derby rock bottom of the table, having won only one of 11 matches. The situation pointed to the need for an experienced manager with Championship knowhow. That was the opinion of many fans at the time and of myself because it seemed the obvious move.
Derby placed a four-man coaching team in temporary charge, which was a strange decision and one never likely to work. Two games and two defeats later, Rooney was handed the role on an interim basis with a remit of keeping the club in the division.
The Rams won three, drew four and lost two of nine matches to climb out of the bottom three for the first time in two months and Rooney was appointed manager on a two-andhalf-year deal to run to the summer of 2023.
Whether you agreed with the decision or not, once Derby decided to go with Rooney he deserved to be given a chance and a proper run at the job – and still does, just like any new manager.
Derby lost at home to Rotherham in mid-janaury, but a sequence of six wins in eight games before a draw with Nottingham Forest lifted the Rams to their highest position of the season, 15th, and seemingly eased relegation worries – only for results to fall away alarmingly.
Rooney, his staff and the players failed to arrest the slide, which was a concern, but the manager has not been dealt a good hand in what is his first job in management.
The squad lacks balance, is woefully short of goals, has creaked defensively of late, needs more players in the 26 to 29 age bracket and suffered injuries to key figures, including Krystian Bielik, Curtis Davies and Tom Lawrence. Two of the five loan signings Rooney made on deadline day in the January transfer window had their seasons ended early by injuries - Lee Gregory and Teden Mengi. Dealing with injuries is part and parcel of football management, but those did not help. Derby would have been a stronger side in the second half of the campaign had Bielik and Davies been available. Should results have been better despite the hurdles? Yes.
Should Rooney and his coaches been able to deliver more than seven points from 45 during the run-in? Yes.
But a glance at the table shows the squad has not been good enough. A team does not finish 21st and one point above the drop zone over a 46-match season by chance.
Rooney has been criticised for chopping and changing the team, switching formations and for the side not having an identity. Valid criticisms, to a degree, but he has not been helped by the inconsistent form of individuals as well as injuries. Not enough players have demanded to be selected by form.
Nailing down an identity is not possible in such a situation when a manager is trying to find ways of gaining valuable points to stay out of the bottom three. The identity of a “Rooney team” is only likely to be seen next season when he has had a summer to reshape the squad, hopefully, bring in his players and have a full pre-season. He deserves that.
Next season is a new season and we should have more of an insight into Rooney the manager, although greater stability on and off the pitch would help him. It is a big job that would test an experienced manager. Time will tell, as it always does.
Rooney has said he is committed to the task and determined to guide the Rams up the table and into a healthier position. He will not forget his first six months as a manager.
Asked how much longer it feels than six months, Rooney smiled. “It feels a lot longer, I’m loving it,” he said.
“I remember when I took the job I had a few friends phone me and say ‘are you sure, do you know what you are getting yourself into?’ especially given the position we were in as a club, but I believe in myself, I have a lot of confidence in myself, I like challenges.
“It was a challenge and it still is a challenge, but I believe if you put the work in and put the effort in you get your rewards.”
Next season is a new season and we should have more of an insight into Rooney the manager.