The ‘Wazza’ effect at Derby County

A THREAD

January 2020. The young prodigy of @Everton, the gladiator of @ManUtd, and the pride of @England Wayne Mark Rooney decided to spend the twilight days of his career as a player-coach at the EFL Championship club Derby County after doing two years at the MLS side DC United.

Before discussing Rooney’s influence at the Pride Park Stadium, let’s talk about Derby’s performance before his debut.

The Derbyshire club was sitting ducks at the 17th position of the EFL points table. No ray of hope for Rams to qualify for the Premier League next season. (1/3)

Having lost the playoff final the year previous, their manager Frank Lampard and key players like Mason Mount, Harry Wilson, and Fikayo Tomori, Derby struggled, winning just one of their first eight league games under new boss Phillip Cocu. (2/3)

For a team full of young talents, they needed someone who could boost up the dressing room before an important game, in short, they needed a leader at the pitch. (3/3)

Then the magic happened!

On January 2020, Wayne Rooney joined Derby County on an 18-month contract as a player-coach. The redemption of the Rams began from that day.

In the first 16 games since Wazza’s debut, the club has picked up nine wins and 31 points, one more than they had managed in the 25 before that. (1/2)

No other team has won more points during that time, a run which has seen Cocu’s side go from as low as 18th in the table, to level on points with Cardiff in sixth. They have also averaged more points per game (2) and more goals per game (2.1) in those games. (2/2)

Currently, Wayne Rooney is operating as a central midfielder in their squad. He adjusted himself to a much deeper role at Derby as a holder, doing defensive duties, supporting his teammates during counters, and providing crucial assists.

Matches player: 18(18 starts)
Playing Time: 1580
Goals: 5(0.28 per 90 mins)
Assists: 3(0.17 per 90 mins)
Goals+ Assists (per 90 mins): 0.46

[Source – @fbref Fbref and @SofaScoreINT]

Season heatmap of Wayne Rooney at Derby County.

[Source - @SofaScoreINT]

It’s also important to remember that Rooney is also in a semi-coaching role at the club and has had a brilliant effect on some of Derby County’s promising youngsters both on and off the pitch.

Given below are some of the comments Rooney’s new teammates shared about him.

Asked what it was like to play alongside Rooney, Max Bird admitted: "I have to pinch myself sometimes.
"Being a Manchester United fan and stuff like that, it is just a bonus for me. (1/3)

"We have had some great players come in. Last season it was Ash (Ashley Cole), and Frank (Frank Lampard) was the manager, so we are very fortunate we have these players in and around us.
"We learn from Wayne a lot in training and games. He is a good leader on the pitch. (2/3)

"Off the pitch, he talks to us a lot. He chats about football, and not about football. He is a very good guy to have around the place.
"We are training with Wayne Rooney, and players like this, and it is something we can't take for granted." (3/3)

Fellow midfielder Jason Knight said: "It's not something I thought I'd be doing as a young kid - lining up with Wayne. It's a special thing.
"It's been great having Wayne around, not only as a player but as a character. (1/2)

"He's been great, especially with us young lads - coaching us on the pitch, because he's playing - and that's been instrumental in how us young lads are doing at the moment.
"It's always nice to have an experienced pro like Wayne say nice things about you. (2/2)

Currently, Derby County is sitting at 10th position in the EFL points table with 17 points off the playoffs spot. Qualifying for the playoffs is a far cry for this team but with Wayne Rooney at their side, they may be able to accomplish this Herculean task.

To conclude, all we want to say is that Wayne Rooney is such a kind of player who will never go off the books. A warrior who never had a second thought before sacrificing his solace for the sake of the club.

End of the thread.