Wayne Rooney: ‘Huge news amid troubled times at Plymouth Argyle’
Wayne Rooney has seemingly been given the “platform” to succeed as Plymouth Argyle manager but faces a “huge” period in January, Troy Deeney has said.
The former Man United and England is currently going through what Jim White called “troubled times” since taking over at Home Park in the summer.
His side currently sit 23rd in the Championship, and there were calls for him to be sacked by some supporters after a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City on Tuesday (10 December).
However, Rooney has been publicly backed by Plymouth owner Simon Hallett this month, and has just been given a new assistant in the form of his former Man United coach Mike Phelan.
The 39-year-old has himself stated he has held talks with the board about transfer targets for January, suggesting he is going to be backed heading into 2025.
That has generated a belief that Rooney will be given the support he needs to stay in his role and keep Plymouth in the Championship, and that he will now need to repay that faith.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on 12 December (12.11pm), White said: “Troubled times for Wayne to a degree but he’s still getting stuck into the job to be quite honest and he’s meeting everything head on.”
Crook then added: “Yeah I’ve got the utmost respect for him… clearly he doesn’t need the money. Plymouth is literally a million miles from anywhere, anyone that’s ever been to Home Park will testify to that. He wants to be a success, he wants to make it as a manager, and it’s a difficult gig that he’s taken.
“I think Mike Phelan is a good appointment, I think an experienced hand alongside him is probably what Wayne needs, and I hope, because there have been some rumblings that the owners are a bit concerned about the form, I hope he’s given time turn it around.”
Former Watford and Birmingham striker Deeney then responded to those comments by saying: “It’s the opposite though isn’t it? The owner’s come out and backed him, properly backed as well. And he’s also, again, given him Mike Phelan, so it seems he’s given him the platform to go and work these things.
“January’s gonna be huge for them, who they can get in. They play good stuff, it’s just that killer instinct.”
Wayne Rooney must take this chance to prove himself at Plymouth
Football Insider Opinion
Many were understandably surprised when Rooney was given the opportunity to return to management at Home Park in the summer.
His last spell as a manager went badly wrong as he took a Birmingham side sat in a play-off place in the Championship table, and set them on a course for relegation.
It therefore seemed like a big gamble for Plymouth to make this appointment especially since it meant bringing him back to the second-tier.
Now with this public backing, appointment of an experienced coach he knows well in Phelan and talks over January transfers the club do seem to be going all in on this move.
That does seem to suggest that they are giving Rooney every chance he might need to deliver success during his time in charge of Plymouth.
His managerial career may therefore be riding on how he fares at Home Park, since other clubs will probably not take another risk on him again if things don’t work out here, particularly after the support he has now received.
In other news, Rangers are planning a fresh attempt to sign a Plymouth player in January but Premier League clubs are hesitant about a move.
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