If you tuned into Manchester United's 3-1 defeat to Watford last weekend, you'll know that Wayne Rooney's below-par performance was scrutinised profusely as Jose Mourinho used left-back Luke Shaw as the scapegoat in the club's third consecutive loss.
To put his performance into perspective, Rooney didn't create a single chance from open play, he didn't have a shot on target and only passed the ball forwards on six occasions throughout his 90-minute performance at Vicarage Road.
There's no doubt that Rooney has played a key role in Manchester United's success in years gone by but his stature at Old Trafford is like a piece of glass at present - a solid exterior but people can see through his flaws.
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Wayne Rooney may be club captain but his future at Old Trafford is certainly fragile. The question remains, will Jose drop him?
Against Watford in particular, he looked totally out of his depth.
The Wayne Rooney of old would have used his drive and aggression to slide past opponents but in 90 minutes of play against a mid-table side, he never made one take-on - not to mention his lack of pace and contribution to attack and defense.
Mourinho, among others, have argued that Wayne Rooney is used in the squad to create and score goals but even though I often disagree with the importance of statistics, the following cannot go unnoticed.
The extent of his decline since suffering a knee injury back in 2012 shows how much his goal to game ratio has been knocked since the set-back. Yes, he has been pushed back to playing behind the lead striker but his decline in form has been more than evident, as well.
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With the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and even Jesse Lingard on the bench at Old Trafford, his future in the starting XI should be under threat but don't expect him to be dropped in the neat future.
Back in August, when Jose Mourinho joined the club, he was full of praise for Rooney:
"He is a player I always wanted to have in my side. Finally, I have him and I have him in the club he loves, the club where he has spent the best years of his career. And, I think, the best is yet to come from him.
"He's my man too. I can say, at this moment, he is my man. I am really happy."
The fact that Mourinho states the above should fill Manchester United fans with concern.
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The former Chelsea boss is known to stick by the more 'experienced' players in the past, and after saying that he 'always wanted to have him in his side' leaves the feeling that Rooney will be a stalwart in the future, whatever his form.
But WHAT IF Mourinho decided to drop Rooney in the coming weeks?
4-1-2-1-2
Mourinho occasionally employed a midfield diamond during his time at Porto but has since steered away from the classic formation.
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Despite this, the pace of Rashford and Mkhitaryan would cause havoc, and with Schneiderlin sitting in that defensive midfield position, it would allow Paul Pogba the freedom to move forward while Herrera controls central areas.
4-2-3-1
It may be a risky move but if Mourinho goes back to a 4-2-3-1 without Rooney, it would give the world's most expensive player the create freedom he needs to flourish.
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Ander Herrera has looked impressive in the brief amount of time he has featured under Mourinho but give him that chance to partner Carrick and it could work wonders.
In an online poll by the United fanzine Red Issue, over 99 percent of respondents called for him to be axed but when we asked you guys to vote, it was only a 60/40 split:
Do you think Wayne Rooney should be dropped by Jose Mourinho or should he be allowed to prove his worth under the new boss?
Let us know your thoughts on his current situation at Old Trafford.
Words by Jack Kenmare
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