The End Of Rooney

[z-layrex]

I think he's brilliant personally. Not overrated in the slightest.

Great player. So much shit being talked here.

In the last 3 and a half seasons he's scored 71 goals in 108 Premier League games.

Not bad for somebody who's been shit since Euro 2004.

He may not have turned out to be the white Pele, but he's only 27 and has already had a fabulous, glittering career.

This.

[Jimothy]

Great player. So much shit being talked here.

In the last 3 and a half seasons he's scored 71 goals in 108 Premier League games.

Not bad for somebody who's been shit since Euro 2004.

He may not have turned out to be the white Pele, but he's only 27 and has already had a fabulous, glittering career.

But that's the problem, and my point, he should have become the white Pele. He had all the attributes.

Great he scores a lot of goals. Dzeko does that, Defoe does that, Bent (when he gets a game) does that, Fletcher does that. Ba does that. Doesn't make them great.

Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, RVP all do it too, and do so much more and that's the level Rooney looked at a young age like he would reach, and sadly he's not.

You can trot out you're 71 in 108 games stats all you like, stats mean nothing. I'll use what I see from watching the actual games and what I see is a 27 year old who has failed to reached the heights he could have and who at times fails to even control a ball properly.

He's good striker, he's not a great player.

[Fox92]

But that's the problem, and my point, he should have become the white Pele. He had all the attributes.

Great he scores a lot of goals. Dzeko does that, Defoe does that, Bent (when he gets a game) does that, Fletcher does that. Ba does that. Doesn't make them great.

Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, RVP all do it too, and do so much more and that's the level Rooney looked at a young age like he would reach, and sadly he's not.

You can trot out you're 71 in 108 games stats all you like, stats mean nothing. I'll use what I see from watching the actual games and what I see is a 27 year old who has failed to reached the heights he could have and who at times fails to even control a ball properly.

He's good striker, he's not a great player.

But they do? Surely they are the back up/evidence.

Great player. So much shit being talked here.

In the last 3 and a half seasons he's scored 71 goals in 108 Premier League games.

Not bad for somebody who's been shit since Euro 2004.

He may not have turned out to be the white Pele, but he's only 27 and has already had a fabulous, glittering career.

Agreed.

I'm not saying he is the best player in the World (he isn't), but he is a good player and his workrate is excellent. One of those players that you'd rather have on your side.

[Jimothy]

But they do? Surely they are the back up/evidence.

Agreed.

I'm not saying he is the best player in the World (he isn't), but he is a good player and his workrate is excellent. One of those players that you'd rather have on your side.

Not really, stats can be misleading. Would you say Demba Ba is a top class player? Would you have put Yakubu up with Thierry Henry back in their Prem days? Stat would prove Ba is great and Yakubu was almost as good as Henry because Ba scores a lot of goals and Yakubu was second behind Henry in terms of goals scored when they both played in the Prem. We all know that's not the case. Ba is a decent striker and Yakubu was miles off Henry.

Stats are just numbers, they can be used as an indication nothing else. Also that Rooney stat is one stat, goals scored. How about all the other stats that would make him a great player? Passing, dribbling, chance conversion, assists, yellow cards, ball retention. Add all them and you get a picture of what kind of player he is. I bet when you measure all those stats against other top players he's well down the list on most of them other than goals.

[Haydos]

He is so overrated. Considering a lot of people rate him as the best striker in the BPL, he's never once won the Golden Boot. Hell, even Anelka and Berbatov have won it.

Who? If you asked 100 people I doubt more than 1 or 2 would say that.

[THEBIGJOHNSTEADER;]

I heard he shagged and old bint and did a crap in her hangbag

[Guest ttfn]

He is so overrated. Considering a lot of people rate him as the best striker in the BPL, he's never once won the Golden Boot. Hell, even Anelka and Berbatov have won it.

So?! Goalscoring is not all of what Rooney's game is about, he just happens to be very, very good at that as well. Consistently good, unlike the others you name who have topped the charts with a freakishly low number of goals. In fact, since the Premier League started, Rooney is in an elite group of just 4 players (the others being Fowler, Shearer and Henry) to have scored over 25 league goals in a season twice.

His form can be pretty erratic, and when he's bad, he's awful. During the 2010 World Cup it looked like somebody had just sucked all of the talent out of him. But otherwise, he's been an absolutely fundamental part of a team which has, in his time at the club, reached 3 European Cup Finals. Further, his trophy cabinet is already packed to the rafters, with:

4 Premier Leagues

2 League Cups

1 Champions League

1 World Club Cup

In those teams he has at times been a functional cog in an intermittently spectacular machine. The likes of Ronaldo and now van Persie have often taken the plaudits for their performances in inspiring United to wins, but a lot of the time, it is Rooney putting in the hard yards - out of position at times - to help these players achieve their potential. And yet he has managed to find the time to display the individual brilliance and flair which has brought him:

1 Players' Player of the Year

1 Football Writers' Player of the Year

1 FifPro World XI selection

3 Goal of the Seasons

He is criminally under-appreciated by those who expected too much of him. He remains one of the best players in the world. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt.

[Guest ttfn]

Most over-rated player since Beckham. I'm not saying that either of them were bad players, they're both very good, but neither deserves the god-like reputation they carry.

Beckham's another who was so over-rated he has become under-rated with hindsight.

There was a good 3 or 4 year period around the turn of the century when he was one of the best 5 midfield players in world football, consistently.

[Bryn]

Two players have scored prodigiously with him in support; first Ronaldo and now van Persie. When neither of those players played for United, Rooney himself scored prodigiously.

[Ashley]

fat wasteman

Has a fat percentage below ten. You're more fat than him. Epic fail sir.

[Dan]

So?! Goalscoring is not all of what Rooney's game is about, he just happens to be very, very good at that as well. Consistently good, unlike the others you name who have topped the charts with a freakishly low number of goals. In fact, since the Premier League started, Rooney is in an elite group of just 4 players (the others being Fowler, Shearer and Henry) to have scored over 25 league goals in a season twice.

His form can be pretty erratic, and when he's bad, he's awful. During the 2010 World Cup it looked like somebody had just sucked all of the talent out of him. But otherwise, he's been an absolutely fundamental part of a team which has, in his time at the club, reached 3 European Cup Finals. Further, his trophy cabinet is already packed to the rafters, with:

4 Premier Leagues

2 League Cups

1 Champions League

1 World Club Cup

In those teams he has at times been a functional cog in an intermittently spectacular machine. The likes of Ronaldo and now van Persie have often taken the plaudits for their performances in inspiring United to wins, but a lot of the time, it is Rooney putting in the hard yards - out of position at times - to help these players achieve their potential. And yet he has managed to find the time to display the individual brilliance and flair which has brought him:

1 Players' Player of the Year

1 Football Writers' Player of the Year

1 FifPro World XI selection

3 Goal of the Seasons

He is criminally under-appreciated by those who expected too much of him. He remains one of the best players in the world. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt.

Solid argument in fairness, I think my main criticism of Rooney is his regular failure to deliver in the biggest games.

Against the poorer sides he takes the piss. On his day he's a fantastic player to watch but falls just short of world class for me.

[Guest ttfn]

Solid argument in fairness, I think my main criticism of Rooney is his regular failure to deliver in the biggest games.

Against the poorer sides he takes the piss. On his day he's a fantastic player to watch but falls just short of world class for me.

I disagree with your point about him not performing in the big games as well, sorry.

This is a quote from a post I made a year or so ago (so I haven't updated it since, but let's not forget he scored twice away at City just a month ago).

2010/11

• Scores in Champions League final
  
• Scored in Semi-final against Schalke
  
• Set up other goal in 1st leg of that semi with a magnificent reverse pass
  
• Scored only goal of match away at Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League
  
• Scores remarkable overhead kick with 10 minutes to go of biggest Manchester Derby in years
  
• Scores hat-trick away at West Ham with United looking down and out at 0-2, and possibly looking like surrendering the title to Chelsea
  

2009/10

• Scores last minute winner in Carling Cup Semi-Final against Manchester City
  
• Scores winner in Carling Cup final
  
• Scores in Munich against Bayern Munich. Later goes off injured and United's season fell apart thereafter
  
• Scores 4 goals over 2 games against AC Milan (including 2 at the San Siro) in 1st knockout round of Champions League
  
• Scores home and away against Arsenal
  

2008/9

• Scores winner in Club World Cup Final
  
• Scores winner in Manchester derby at City of Manchester
  

2007/8

• Scores in Champions League quarter final in Rome.
  

2006/7

• Scores crucial (arguably title-winning) goal to put United 3-2 up at Everton
  
• Scores home and away against Roma in Champions League quarter final
  
• Scores twice in FA Cup Semi-Final
  
• Scores twice against AC Milan in Champions League semi final
  

2005/6

• Scores twice in League Cup Final
  

2004/5

• Scores hat-trick on Manchester United debut
  
• Scores winner at Anfield
  

[Finnegan]

Of course Rooney's going to be well hyped in this country, he's FROM this country. I don't think it makes him over-rated it just makes him a more obvious figure for interest.

He only really divides opinion because he acts like a prize **** and the British generally tend to want their sporting heroes to be a good example of a decent person, as well.

I doubt you'd get people constantly calling him over-rated or questioning his ability if he had the ethics and temperament of, say, Lineker. There's just a lot of bias both ways when it comes to the lad because he's a bit controversial. Clearly a tidy footballer, Ferguson's no mug, he'd not have had the career at United that he has if he was shit.

[C-man]

Great player but his touch deserts him on too many occasions for him to be considered world class, in my opinion.

Obviously depends on your definition of 'world class' but to me it means someone who would make it into your 'world 23', which Rooney is well short of for me.

[AyewJoking]

Tales of Rooney's demise are premature.

Sure he has been overshadowed by Van Persie this season but RVP has been awesome.

Since Ronaldo and up until this season Rooney has been Man Utd's most valuable player.

I'll agree his international form has been disappointing.

Just because RVP is on fire and Welbeck and Chicarito are making big contributions, doesnt mean Rooneys time at Utd is over. Its good to have options when your top striker is out of form/unavailable.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I'm not saying it's down to Man Utd and Fergie, but he become a worse player since going there. Could have been so much more.

Didn't he get nigh on 30 league goals in the season before the WC in 2010? Terrible, aint it.

I agree with the point that he isn't showing what he can do right now, and watching him play for England over the last couple of years has been a chore - but I'd say had it not been for injuries he'd be some bloody player now. Never looked at his peak since he picked up that knock before the aforementioned WC when Yanited played Bayern Munich and he was rushed back too quickly. Had we gone to South Africa with him in his England qualification / Premier League form from that season he'd have been very dangerous in that tourny.

Becoming a victim of his own versatility too, unfortunately - but to say he's 'not good' is simply garbage.

[Leicesterpool]

Simply overrated, was okay when he first come onto the scene but i would say in the last four years he's been nothing special, time he was dropped from the England squad, don't think we need him!

[whoareyaaa]

Great player. So much shit being talked here.

In the last 3 and a half seasons he's scored 71 goals in 108 Premier League games.

Not bad for somebody who's been shit since Euro 2004.

He may not have turned out to be the white Pele, but he's only 27 and has already had a fabulous, glittering career.

have to agree with this, some of the comments are laughable... woeful passing? could have been better elsewhere? I suppose if you don't like someone then you're gonna bash him.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

After a check - he scored 27 league goals last season, 34 in all competitions (the same amount as in 09/10).

In other countries talent and records like his are cherished instead of disregarded. We're so backwards.

[Webbo]

After a check - he scored 27 league goals last season, 34 in all competitions (the same amount as in 09/10).

In other countries talent and records like his are cherished instead of disregarded. We're so backwards.

When you say we who are you talking about. When he's fit for England he's the first name on the team sheet.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

When you say we who are you talking about. When he's fit for England he's the first name on the team sheet.

I should rephrase that - the people spouting phrases like "the last four years he's been nothing special" are backwards.

[Webbo]

I should rephrase that - the people spouting phrases like "the last four years he's been nothing special" are backwards.

In that case I agree.

[Jimothy]

Didn't he get nigh on 30 league goals in the season before the WC in 2010? Terrible, aint it.

I agree with the point that he isn't showing what he can do right now, and watching him play for England over the last couple of years has been a chore - but I'd say had it not been for injuries he'd be some bloody player now. Never looked at his peak since he picked up that knock before the aforementioned WC when Yanited played Bayern Munich and he was rushed back too quickly. Had we gone to South Africa with him in his England qualification / Premier League form from that season he'd have been very dangerous in that tourny.

Becoming a victim of his own versatility too, unfortunately - but to say he's 'not good' is simply garbage.

If you took my whole post in, you'd see I'm not just talking about his goal record. That's pretty impressive and I'm not knocking that, he's a very good striker. I just feel he's not reached his potential and he could have been much more than a very good goal getter. He could have been the English Messi/Ronaldo. He's not. They are talismen, who are integral to their country, and clubs style of play. I'm sure Fergie is delighted with that goal return, at the end of the day Man Utd are winning trophies and titles most season and Rooney's effectiveness in front of goal play a huge part in that, but I'm not sure 9 years ago when he signed him he saw him as his next van Nistelrooy and more as his own Messi. It's not happened.

So in summary, not saying Rooney is shit, he's a good striker, but as an all round player he's not as good as he should be after those early promising years. So can people get that straight, not shit just a little disappointing.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

If you took my whole post in, you'd see I'm not just talking about his goal record. That's pretty impressive and I'm not knocking that, he's a very good striker. I just feel he's not reached his potential and he could have been much more than a very good goal getter. He could have been the English Messi/Ronaldo. He's not. They are talismen, who are integral to their country, and clubs style of play. I'm sure Fergie is delighted with that goal return, at the end of the day Man Utd are winning trophies and titles most season and Rooney's effectiveness in front of goal play a huge part in that, but I'm not sure 9 years ago when he signed him he saw him as his next van Nistelrooy and more as his own Messi. It's not happened.

So in summary, not saying Rooney is shit, he's a good striker, but as an all round player he's not as good as he should be after those early promising years. So can people get that straight, not shit just a little disappointing.

You said he'd become a worse player since joining Man United, yes? I don't get that at all.

Different strokes, I suppose.

[Jimothy]

You said he'd become a worse player since joining Man United, yes? I don't get that at all.

Different strokes, I suppose.

Well he has, as an all round player. As a goalscorer, no he's still very good at that, but as an all round player, yes he has tailed off. He has changed from being a deeplying forward who would really effect every part of his teams play, and score his fair share of goals, to a player who just scores his fair share of goals. That to me means he's got worse.