After being mocked by some supporters after two losses in his first two matches, Wayne Rooney has sent a message to frustrated Birmingham City fans.
what Happened? While acknowledging that he understood the fans’ worries, Rooney asked those who were dissatisfied with his early game management to “be patient” as he worked to move the squad towards a more possession-based style of play. The remarks follow Birmingham’s new manager’s jeers during Wednesday’s 2-0 home loss to Hull City.
WHAT THEY SAID: “For us to move forward, we need to obviously think bigger and think for the longer term of the club, and in the short term, obviously that might be a frustration for fans,” Rooney stated. “All you want is results, but we know where we’re trying to go and how we’re trying to get there.” When asked what advice he would give his fans, Rooney said, “Exert patience. I know that you have parted ways with a highly regarded manager who has stabilized the team effectively. However, we must recognize our goals rather than where we are at this moment.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Many were surprised when previous manager John Eustace was fired because of a “misalignment with the leadership of the club,” especially considering his achievements. Birmingham had 18 points from 11 games at the time and was in the play-off spots. Furthermore, this early-season success has raised expectations and caused a great deal of anger with Rooney among some sections of the fan base, so his successor has inherited a difficult situation.
WHAT NEXT FOR ROONEY? Despite his early calls for patience, the former Manchester United and England striker will be eager to turn things around soon in the West Midlands. The next game for Rooney’s Blues is a trip to the south coast to play Southampton, who are now in fifth place after strengthening their defence and finding some consistency.
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