Simon Jordan dismisses claim that Wayne Rooney has proven him wrong at Plymouth Argyle
Yesterday at 12:28 PM
talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan has emphatically cast aside the sentiment that Wayne Rooney proved him wrong as Plymouth Argyle manager.
England and Manchester United legend Rooney signed a three-year contract at the Championship club in May.
After a shaky start that saw Sheffield Wednesday thrash them 4-0 on the opening weekend of the season, the Pilgrims have recovered well.
They sit 14th in the Championship on 11 points and have entered the international break off the back of a crucial, late win over Blackburn.
Rooney’s form as Plymouth boss is so far showing stark improvement on that at previous clubs, most recently a tough spell at Birmingham City where he lasted less than three months in the role.
Some fans may also believe he’s doing better than expected, but talkSPORT’s Jordan insists he’s not one who needs to be impressed.
“There will be people out there that are on a managerial treadmill, that can’t get jobs, that think they’ve earned the right to have a job, not an ex-footballer that’s just turned into a manager getting jobs that they think will probably be unfair,” he said on White and Jordan.
“There’s an element of fairness about that observation, but I don’t think that Wayne Rooney has to prove me wrong because I don’t want him to fail.
“I never started from that premise, he hasn’t got to prove me wrong, he’s just got to be focused on what he’s trying to achieve, which is be a decent manager. If you give me something to criticise, I’ll criticise. If you give me something to praise, I’ll praise it.
“And Wayne has to be praised for some of the results he’s got this season because he’s beaten some of the bigger sides. Sunderland were beaten by Plymouth and they were going great guns at the time, they got a good result against Blackburn.
“I don’t row back from the fact that I think it’s ridiculous what his owners [referencing his previous debate with Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett] said to me and us on the show, that I don’t consider form as part of the credentials for employing a manager.
“I think that’s illogical, but that’s his prerogative. He’s the owner of Plymouth Argyle, he can make whatever appointments he wants.
“And at this moment in time what there is, is more scrutiny and Wayne must accept the upside of being shoehorned into jobs that perhaps his credentials haven’t merited, with the downside of having the scrutiny of being Wayne Rooney in a dugout at a football club that you wouldn’t expect Wayne Rooney to be part of.”
Host Jim White then revealed a message that was sent in by a Plymouth fan, which began: “Lord Jordan admitting he got it a bit wrong about Wayne…
“Just admit you’re wrong about Wayne,” Jordan said as he continued reading out the message, before replying: “What am I wrong about, what is it that I’m wrong about?
“It’s a 46-game season, your chairman said you’ve got to finish two spots above the relegation zone, wonderful ambition.
“You’ve got a low budget, lots of clubs have low budgets, err, Luton had a low budget. How about setting your stall out at Luton’s level then?”
Jordan jumped to the defence of Rooney just a day after Plymouth’s heavy defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, in which he said: “I think he's got balls.”
The Devon-based side responded by going on a run of three games unbeaten including a 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Cheltenham Town.
Plymouth’s first Championship win of the season came on September 14 when they beat promotion hopefuls Sunderland 3-2 thanks to Joe Edwards’ stoppage-time winner.
A 3-1 win over Luton Town followed two weeks later before another dramatic victory at home to Blackburn on Saturday, in which Rooney was sent off for his angry protest against Blackburn’s 86th minute equaliser as he seemingly believed there was a foul in the build-up.
He exclusively revealed to talkSPORT that he broke the glasses of club secretary Zac Newton when celebrating Morgan Whittaker’s stoppage-time winner with him in the Home Park tunnel.
Rooney has since been charged by the Football Association for his conduct at the weekend and could therefore face a sanction.
A statement read: “Wayne Rooney has been charged following Plymouth Argyle’s match against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, 5 October, in the EFL Championship.
“The manager’s conduct around the 87th minute was allegedly improper and/or he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official, which led to his dismissal.
“It’s further alleged that his conduct after being dismissed was improper and/or violent. It’s also alleged that by returning to the field of play after being dismissed his behaviour was improper.
“Wayne Rooney has until Tuesday, 15 October, to respond.”
