Wayne Rooney Threatens to Replace Plymouth Players with Youth Team After Heavy Norwich Defeat
Wayne Rooney has issued a stern warning to his Plymouth Argyle players after they were handed a humiliating 6-1 defeat by Norwich City on Tuesday night. The loss has left Argyle just two points above the relegation zone in the Championship, and the manager was clearly furious with his team's performance.
Plymouth, already struggling with injuries to key players, were overwhelmed by a clinical Norwich side at Carrow Road. The match began disastrously for Argyle, with Borja Sainz scoring a quick-fire hat-trick for the Canaries. Norwich were dominant from the start, with Sainz putting his side 1-0 up in the opening two minutes, and he doubled the lead after 17 minutes. Argyle’s only positive moment came just before halftime when Mustapha Bundu pulled one back, but the visitors' joy was short-lived as Norwich ran riot in the second half, scoring four more goals, including Sainz’s stunning third and a header from Shane Duffy.
After the match, a livid Rooney made no attempt to mask his frustration. He expressed his anger at the team's lack of fight and discipline, admitting that even Plymouth's Under-18s side would have put in a better shift. "We were nowhere near good enough – we are down to the bare bones with injuries but that is no excuse. If players want to come in the team and stay in the team, they need to perform better than that," Rooney fumed. "I could probably put the Under-18s team out there and they wouldn't concede six goals."
The defeat has amplified concerns at the club, as Plymouth are now hovering just above the relegation zone, with three of the four teams beneath them having games in hand. While key players such as captain Joe Edwards and forward Morgan Whittaker were absent, Rooney’s frustration was directed at the lack of commitment and quality displayed by his squad. "I'm very disappointed, angry, and frustrated. The next 24-48 hours are not going to be very nice for the players," he added.
Rooney also expressed empathy for the travelling fans who had come all the way to Norwich to support the team. "I feel for the fans who came here. I know the distance they’ve travelled to get behind the players, and when you see your team put in that performance, you're not going to be pleased about it."
Plymouth now face a tough test on Saturday against Bristol City, who have been formidable at home this season. With Argyle's survival in the Championship on the line, Rooney will be hoping for an immediate response from his players, or he may follow through on his threat to consider drastic changes to the squad.
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