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Allardyce insists Rooney has not asked to leave Everton

Wayne Rooney is the subject of reports linking him with a summer move to MLS club DC United
Allardyce said he would be comfortable with any player leaving Everton this summer if that is what they wanted but he was adamant that, as far as he knows, Rooney has not told the club he wants to move to Major League Soccer in the United States.
Ben Olsen, head coach at the MLS club, told TMZ: "The deal is not done but there is some interest from our end."
Rooney was seen leaving the Blues' Finch Farm training complex shortly after the conclusion of Allardyce's pre-match press conference amid reports he has not recovered from the knee problem that kept him out of last weekend's draw with Southampton.
Allardyce, for his part, had told the media that Rooney was fit and training so had a chance of being passed fit to play this weekend but it is now claimed he will undergo treatment on his knee and won't figure in Sunday's game at West Ham.
“My understanding is there have been some negotiation somewhere along the line but as to whether there is clarity in whether Wayne is leaving or staying, I'll find out more today,” Allardyce said in what was an increasingly testy exchange.
"I don't get involved in transfer negotiations in or out. All I know is that there appears to be interest from DC United but where that is and where that lies and where Wayne lies with it I can't tell you at the moment.
"Only after I've spoken to him today will I find out where the situation actually lies.
"If the player wants to go, if any player wants to leave I'm always comfortable with it. Or if any player doesn't want to leave.
"But let's get this right: Wayne Rooney has not asked to leave and. neither has he had a confrontation with me. And we've not been in any difficult situations since the time I've been here, because we're two adults and we talk."
Allardyce was probed further on the issue later in his presser, specifically about whether he would try and persuade Rooney to stay at Everton but refused to answer any further questions on the player's future.
"I've answered five, six questions on Wayne," he told his questioner, "and you've just asked it in a different way. I can't say anything more about Wayne than I've already said. I can't be tripped into saying something different to what I've already answered.
"I don't want to create the headline, 'Sams says Wayne can leave if he wants to go', It's 'Any player can leave if they want to leave', in my opinion. Whether they can or they can't is another matter.
Reader Comments (52)
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2 Posted 11/05/2018 at 15:11:10
3 Posted 11/05/2018 at 15:11:26
4 Posted 11/05/2018 at 15:19:20
5 Posted 11/05/2018 at 15:27:43
I know what I would do if I were calling the shots. There would be a first-class ticket in Wayne's locker if he wasn't taking the hint. It suits Rooney to be here, as no other club with ambition would have gone near him. When will we stop being a retirement home for Man Utd cast-offs? They've had our kecks down for the past 20 years. No more, please.
6 Posted 11/05/2018 at 15:37:31
That said, £150k a week could be better spent and £12m could go a long way to paying for a better player.
7 Posted 11/05/2018 at 16:16:36
That the manager would not be in on negotiations, Ok. That's not the manager's or business.
But Sam's comments since the Rooney-move rumours gathered steam, shows he knows no more than we do. Because the Club sees it as player comings and goings is no longer any business of his.
I'll guess we'll have the Brands/Silva combo announced.
8 Posted 11/05/2018 at 16:27:45
9 Posted 11/05/2018 at 16:47:34
10 Posted 11/05/2018 at 16:59:18
11 Posted 11/05/2018 at 17:03:35
12 Posted 11/05/2018 at 17:09:48
13 Posted 11/05/2018 at 17:18:23
Can someone please escort this buffoon out of our club?
14 Posted 11/05/2018 at 17:21:59
My preference is for Rooney to retire at another club. He's been a willing servant and was amazing whilst he was here (the first time) but his time has come.
The club needs to be moving forward and that's without Rooney plus others.
15 Posted 11/05/2018 at 17:44:15
16 Posted 11/05/2018 at 17:53:30
17 Posted 11/05/2018 at 18:00:06
18 Posted 11/05/2018 at 18:52:51
I've seen some reports (of unknown veracity) that Wayne doesn't want to play for Allardyce. A new manager might want to introduce a high tempo pressing game that Rooney wouldn't be capable of. So there are different scenarios in which he would leave, but also one where he would stay, namely that a new manager is appointed quickly and equally quickly makes it known that he wants Rooney involved.
19 Posted 11/05/2018 at 18:56:57
20 Posted 11/05/2018 at 19:13:00
"You have to address that one first, then across the board, probably a midfield player for me and then another defender. And if they were three high quality players for me that would be enough to make Everton challenge higher up next season."
So for £6M his plan is:
- A defender (no mention whether CB, RB, LB)
- A midfielder (regardless of type)
- A number 9
He might as well just start with an Englishman, a Scotsman and Irishman.
21 Posted 11/05/2018 at 19:24:31
Maybe if a new coach comes in he may identify that problem and, if he does, Rooney might still have a part to play. He's not going to alter his game or adapt while he's got Schneiderlin, Sigurrdson etc playing alongside him
Anyway, as someone earlier said, he looks like he's thrown the dummies out and won't play for him again.
22 Posted 11/05/2018 at 19:37:34
But y'know, I really do think he wants to try and make a fist of it but simply doesn't quite know how. He is good at what he does but not at what most clubs (fans) aspire to.
I think he realises this is his biggest (bar England) job to date and isn't deliberately being the cock he comes across as. He just doesn't know better.
I also think he would have been a good England manager but he seems to have a self destruct button which he presses too easily. I'm confident the waters will clear considerably in the next 7 days (for better or worse) and we will see what the future holds.
I'm seriously hoping not to waste another year of my life.
23 Posted 11/05/2018 at 19:57:37
This despicable lack of ownership and responsibility by the board, these past 30 years, surely must rank as the lowest point in the club's history.
We live in hope.
24 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:08:38
The bombast has gone, now he's coming across as a bitter man consigned to his fate.
Strap yourselves in folks, from Sunday evening it's going to be an interesting ride!
25 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:33:09
26 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:34:53
It came from a very good source, much better than the one who told me that Allardyce is getting a ٢ mill pay-off and taking over from poor Darren Moore at West Brom.
27 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:35:15
28 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:39:00
He had a dream to return to his first love and, as in real life, it hasn't quite been what all parties had hoped.
I like the guy, I believe in his desire to do well for us... but take the money and progress.
29 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:46:58
Silva in charge. Brands as Director of Football. Lookman back in the team. A younger, faster, fitter team who play decent football. Sounds good to me.
30 Posted 11/05/2018 at 20:47:30
You are right — he's played top-flight football for half his life but he has served only one club fantastically and the reason for his 37-year-old legs is his lifestyle, not football.
31 Posted 11/05/2018 at 21:02:03
In Waynes case I think it has dulled his thinking too. I sometimes think he is drunk on the pitch with some of the passes straight to the opposition
32 Posted 11/05/2018 at 21:47:19
He played in high-pressure games, in a club after multiple trophies every season, game after game, year after year. If Wayne stayed here, Fergy would have got another talented player. He always did.
He would NOT have gotten another Wayne Rooney A brilliant, all-action player, attacking and defending, who finally ran his legs out from under himself a couple years ago.
Gascoigne, Best? Two brilliant players whose lifestyle cut short their top-league careers. Rooney is a tee-teetotaler compared to them.
It's "his lifestyle, not football"? Nonsense.
33 Posted 11/05/2018 at 21:52:31
Ever Blue
Ever True
EVERTON
34 Posted 11/05/2018 at 21:58:35
It will take time to assemble a team capable of challenging top six, never mind top four, but we can only do it a couple of quality pieces at a time.
35 Posted 11/05/2018 at 22:14:52
I have to agree on one point that Rooney gave his all for one club but so did Giggs who played till he was 40.
But as a smoker, he was never going to play much past 30.... and as for getting caught drink driving in the early hours with another woman during an international break when he should have been resting... yeah, real teetotal. Drink driving is where the comparison with Best ends.
36 Posted 11/05/2018 at 22:20:31
Ah yes... that old chestnut 'a good source'. The city is full of rumour-mongers or people who claim to know him or him... The truth is none of us (us on here anyway) know what's going to happen.
Go down County Road after any home game and you'll get about 15 different conflicting stories within 2 hours after the game has finished. You could well be right but the likelihood is you're not.
I was actually told today Allardyce is seeing his contract out. Like I said, rumours... I Wouldn't believe anything that comes out from that club until I actually see it with my own eyes.
37 Posted 11/05/2018 at 22:37:37
I think it would be best for everyone involved if he moved on to the states or wherever. But, if we're are going to progress as a club, we need to stop these sentiment driven transfer policies.
38 Posted 11/05/2018 at 22:48:37
I desperately hope your man is right. Optimism and hope would be restored overnight. The new season would be one of opportunities.
More importantly it would be something to look forward to rather than dread.
Who knows what we could do with a couple of quality additions? Without the ball and chain of the Europa League, next season could see us top 6 and a cup.
39 Posted 11/05/2018 at 23:01:47
Hopefully, the powers that be (whoever that will be) can right the wrongs, and allow an apathetic fan base a glimmer of hope for a brighter future...but then again, the future's not what it used to be.
40 Posted 11/05/2018 at 23:10:36
Added to which, when Rooney was good enough to be a real player, he shafted us well and proper and couldn't get away form the club he loves so much quickly enough. He & his sicko mate Paul Stretford trying to fill their pockets with more easy dish whilst there's still a chance.
Loads of players contributed much more to this club after he left more than he will ever do - the only person on his list is his greedy self-centred self, with the morals of an alley-cat!
41 Posted 12/05/2018 at 01:11:55
The problem was our precarious league position. It did not allow the luxury of experiments. Despite his mistakes, it was non-stop hard work that earned Davies his place. The same cannot be said for the rest who tended to go missing for much of the time.
42 Posted 12/05/2018 at 01:48:12
I didn't call Eric's post "utter garbage" (whatever that is). He stated Rooney was washed up because of his lifestyle. Which I called "nonsense", which opinion correctly remains. Nonsense.
Completely away from Eric's post and my reply to his: You're still mad at Rooney because Kenwright was broke and dumped him for pocket money? All these years later, didn't realize there were still Evertonians dumb enough to blame Wayne for his departure?
43 Posted 12/05/2018 at 05:17:36
44 Posted 12/05/2018 at 06:07:52
Regardless of whether that means a new manager here for Rooney to consider the merits of, and hopefully to speak with, or another manager at his next club, still I'm sure Rooney's thinking 'Fuck Sam Allardyce'..
After all, who, hand on heart at Everton Football Club, isn't hoping for so much better of our coach?
45 Posted 12/05/2018 at 09:16:57
Get in the real world - the point is the reason for Rooney's demise over the last 4 years is HIS LIFESTYLE.
Totally unprofessional for a professional sportsman and a demonstration of self-inflicted body abuse.
Did you see David Silva's energy and movement against us recently? There's only 3 months difference in age between them. Compare also to the longevity of Gareth Barry and Giggs, guys, who whatever flaws they had, showed how to look after themselves to remain contributors at the top level of their sport for years longer than Rooney.
Also, compare to our Tim Cahill - a guy who really made the most of himself and served this club very well over several years. Compare his record, playing in an inferior team to England, in World Cup Finals to that of Rooney - Rooney's most memorable contribution was slagging off England fans when leaving the pitch after another poor performance!
46 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:54:26
I have heard the stories about Wayne, not possibly looking after himself as much has he could have done, but looking at all the examples you give, how many of those players were almost carrying their country to a major final at 17, almost singedly handed, before they got injured?
Rooney, has been a great, and has never shirked a challenge, he's always played on the front line, because he has got the heart of a lion. Maybe his lifestyle has contributed to his downfall, but not many players have been at the very, very top of the game, as much as Wayne Rooney.
47 Posted 12/05/2018 at 14:33:16
48 Posted 12/05/2018 at 17:26:40
Too many people on here bang on about the Sheedys and the like etc, reminder that the redshite are religious for it "history", it's the future ffs not the 80's . And some of you call the RS bitter lmfao, get a grip and go watch our games regularly like me and loads on here.
49 Posted 12/05/2018 at 17:33:01
50 Posted 13/05/2018 at 00:22:26
You're just fucking stupid. His "Lifestyle"? Here's his lifestyle: Wayne has played over 800 games for club and country. At 32-years old!
An all-out action, brilliant, TEAM player since he was a mid-teen. Didn't work his way up thru the lower leagues. Not him.
There's only one reason Wayne is where he is at 32-years old. He spent the entirety of his career, since a teen, playing 100s, 100s. and 100s of games giving every fiber of his being towards his team winning.
His legs simply gave out.
51 Posted 14/05/2018 at 00:37:35
52 Posted 14/05/2018 at 01:32:01
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1 Posted 11/05/2018 at 14:55:47