By Richard Parks
Everton fans took to Twitter to lay into Wayne Rooney for his performance in their side’s 3-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Saturday night.
The champions-elect continued on their march to the title with another masterclass as the Merseysiders were swept away at Goodison Park.
Rooney was selected in a deeper role in central midfield alongside Morgan Schneiderlin as Sam Allardyce tweaked his team in the absence of injured mainstay Idrissa Gueye.
It did not work to plan as Everton were completely over-run and could not cope with the slick interplay of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and company.
Rooney played 57 minutes of the clash before he was replaced by youngster Tom Davies.
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Everton supporters were very critical of Rooney, who they insisted was not up to the task of playing in midfield against such demanding opponents, with one insisting they would have been better off playing Mohamed Besic, who has been loaned out to Middlesbrough.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
Much as I love Wayne Rooney he was a complete passenger tonight. You had him and Schneiderlin both not doing the same job. Schneiderlin imporoved once Wayne went off. #evemci
— Stuart Brandwood 🇪🇺 (A2688554) (@RoyalBlueStuey) March 31, 2018
Just getting home from the game absolutely woeful didn’t lay a glove on city awful team selection awful tactics Rooney and Schneiderlin utterly woeful today, Calvert-Lewin is a centre forward not a winger and certainly not a CAM. Missed Gana and Sigurdsson massively today
— Simon Joseph Villiers (@simonjv91) March 31, 2018
He actually wasn't though. Shcheiderlin put a fair few last ditch tackles. Rooney trotted round the pitch offering nothing. Shambolic. Dream is over. I'm not saying keep schneiderlin but Rooney was a shadow yesterday!
— Usmanov1878 (@usmanov1878) April 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/JLando31/status/980269185283645440
https://twitter.com/ianefc1878/status/980317338032590848
Shoddy set-up and tactics from Sam Allardyce.
Double pivot of Schneiderlin and Rooney was suicide.
I’m not Tom Davies’ biggest fan but he would’ve done a job for #EFC today and they looked better once he came on.
— Jordan Elgott (@JElgott) March 31, 2018
The manager got it wrong from the start. Rooney doesnt have the legs to play so far up the pitch in a 2. But no matter who he picked, City would have battered us today. The management and squad needs an overhaul. #EVERTON #efc
— The Street End 1878 (@TheStreetEnd) March 31, 2018
Besic would have been better than Rooney and Schneiderlin today, don’t even @ me #EFC
— Liam (@James47Liam) March 31, 2018
Rooney after 2 minutes of the game. #EFC pic.twitter.com/JU1oJzmX8Q
— Jay Howard (@thejayhowardd) March 31, 2018
In other Everton transfer news, Madrid giants want to sign Toffees player this summer and are willing to pay an astonishing £40million to get him.
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