Wayne Rooney must have thought his goal against Everton – his first league goal away from Old Trafford in over a year – might have bought him some breathing room.
Instead, United have stuttered in recent weeks and have failed to find the net in three of their last five games. As the club’s main striker, and one experiencing a dip in form, Rooney is taking the brunt of fans’ ire.
Pundits – many of them former teammates of his – have lined up to defend Rooney.
Michael Owen, interviewed on BT Sport’s Fletch & Sav, was the latest to blame United’s style of play for Rooney’s woes.
“You do feel sorry for him,” remarked Owen, who was a League Cup specialist for the Red Devils during his time there.
“You do feel sorry for @WayneRooney!” @themichaelowen sympathises with the #MUFC captain’s struggles. #FletchAndSav https://t.co/Jxaji7waAK
— Fletch And Sav (@FletchAndSav) October 31, 2015
Meanwhile, former United (and City) midfielder Owen Hargreaves was also a guest of the BT show, showing little sympathy for Louis van Gaal after he shelled out £200-odd million in the last two seasons.
“It’s hard to have sympathy when you spend £200m!” Hargreaves on a lack of pace at Van Gaal’s @ManUtd. #FletchAndSav https://t.co/1DFKO7qh0M — Fletch And Sav (@FletchAndSav) October 31, 2015