United's Behaviour

Here is Man United's very cold announcement of Wayne Rooney's fitness:

"Manchester United can confirm that Wayne Rooney has rejoined the England squad in Germany following his scan in Manchester. He is now in the care of the England medical team. The expert independent medical view is that Wayne has a good chance of being fit after the group stage. At that point, the expert independent medical view is that his participation in the tournament will require very careful assessment in order to address his suitability, as he will not have had the opportunity to play in less demanding games. Communications Department, Manchester United, 7 June"

I have found United's behaviour during the "will he or won't he" Wayne Rooney injury saga to be very strange from the beginning and it has nothing to do with their "investment" in Rooney as some are saying, but their dependence on him.

They have as much money tied up in Ferdinand who could also come back injured from the World Cup--but they would not miss him nearly as much. (In fact their defense would be better off without him.)

For me, United's personnel situation is a shambles. Without Rooney last season, during which they often played some poor football, United would have done nothing. For the coming season they will still be without a replacement for the heroic Keane and may be without one of the best poachers in World football in Van Nistelrooy. Add to that the possibility of having Rooney on the shelf for a few months and you have a team nervous about staying in the top four of the Premiership...