The first one was about Ambition. The second one was admitted by SAF, and I will side with him.
10
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 14
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Bad game against Liverpool, why don't we open the book of sins and bash Rooney some more, this isn't even about liking Rooney its about being reasonable, what is the point of digging up stuff from the past to criticise your captain when every single individual in the club has moved on ?
I'm still a firm believer that RVP is a superior no.9 to Rooney, unfortunately it's been well documented that Rooney was never a gym freak and relied on his natural talents too much, in the big games he looks sub-standard physically and never has dominated these games as we thought he would when he burst on the scene all those years ago, which is such a shame when he looked like a headless chicken Sunday.
Let's be honest if RVP shown hid title winning form or Falcao showing form of old, Wayne would still be in a deeper role and we wouldn't be having weekly debates that he is our best no.9 which he clearly is not, in fact I do not know what his best role is anymore, Jack of all trades master of none springs to mind.
Let's be honest if RVP shown hid title winning form or Falcao showing form of old, Wayne would still be in a deeper role and we wouldn't be having weekly debates that he is our best no.9 which he clearly is not, in fact I do not know what his best role is anymore, Jack of all trades master of none springs to mind.
But they aren't that's the point. RVP and Falcao were given countless chances up front and they didn't perform. In fact for a run of games Rooney was a bigger goal threat than either even though he was playing in midfield. If RVP was to show his best form again I'm sure no one would have a problem moving Rooney further back but RVP has no performed for close to 2 seasons now (Rooney was dragging us through certain games last year too).
Funny how this reaction comes off a bad game against Liverpool considering before this Rooney has shown form far far superior to what either RVP or Falcao have this year. If they want back in the team they need to earn it, but Rooney's performance against Spurs (in one of his 1st games as a striker in years) has earned him the right to be given a run up top. RVP can be a good option from the bench and if he starts performing again then I sure as hell will want him playing more. Until then Rooney is simply our best option.
Yep Rooney should really leave, and while we are at it, lets sell Carrick and De Gea too.
TBF I haven't been part of the Rooney no.9 crowd for a long time, like Ferguson I thought and still think he has lost the attributes to play that role,a club of our size and ambition could replace him with a superior player and give him time to make the transition to a midfield player. Granted with hindsight we never knew RVP form / injury woes and Falcao not being able to tie hid laces together, which in my eyes have raised Rooney stock as a no.9 and covered over his huge limitations as a no.9,again not his fault but there are far better options out there for next season which looks like a champions league season after Sunday.
I mean you even admit in your comment that if RVP was on form then Rooney should drop back, which surely kind of nullifies your whole point about Rooney as a 9?
I have always preferred him as a second striker too and I believe the quality of our midfield and the drop in quality of our wingers affected his performances too. I mean look at Ronaldo when Madrid aren't playing well, look at Messi when Barca are struggling: their levels drop. Now Rooney isn't at their level so it's obvious that our drop in qualities over the years would effect him. I agree we should be looking for a striker this summer, possibly with the view to allow Rooney to play Fellaini's current role. However right now he is the best option up top. I also disagree he looked like a headless chicken against Liverpool, his movement and pressing were pretty good and if not for Di Maria's bad pass he would have scored. For me the main thing is that he currently looks more likely to get us a goal than the other 2 do. The fact is because of the form of our other strikers he is the best one we currently have so we have to stick with him for the rest of the season unless one of the others miraculously find form.
To make it clear I'm taking about the here and now and not what we should be doing in the summer transfer window. It's the same sentiment as saying that Fellaini and Mata should stay in the team over Di Maria and Janujaz etc because they are currently playing better than the others. Also it pains me to say it but the longer this version of RVP continues the more hope I lose, Rooney has been called finished for showing a few months of bad form before but RVP has been out of form for 2 years. I really hope he can find it again but currently it'd him I'd sell if I had to choose between him or Rooney.
Edit; I should reiterate that I think RVP should be given chances before the end of the season as it finally looks like our team is beginning to function so maybe this can lift his form.
Wayne Rooney ready to enter record books and overtake Bobby Charlton at Wembley
Wayne Rooney leads England out at Wembley on Friday night, knowing that he strides towards the record books. He needs four goals to become England’s all-time leading scorer with 50 and will expect to step closer against Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier before heading out to Italy for a tricky Turin friendly.
Rooney was in a very good mood at England’s hotel on Thursday, even revealing that his famous boxing celebration had been re-enacted in the school playground by his son Kai. Rooney’s own focus is more on joining the heavyweights of his trade, passing Gary Lineker’s 48 goals and Sir Bobby Charlton’s 49.
Rooney’s sojourn in midfield, a surprising decision by Louis van Gaal, was a compliment to his versatility.
Rooney dismissed the suggestion that he could have fallen badly, injuring his head.
Wayne Rooney leads England out at Wembley on Friday night, knowing that he strides towards the record books. He needs four goals to become England’s all-time leading scorer with 50 and will expect to step closer against Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier before heading out to Italy for a tricky Turin friendly.
Rooney was in a very good mood at England’s hotel on Thursday, even revealing that his famous boxing celebration had been re-enacted in the school playground by his son Kai. Rooney’s own focus is more on joining the heavyweights of his trade, passing Gary Lineker’s 48 goals and Sir Bobby Charlton’s 49.
Rooney’s sojourn in midfield, a surprising decision by Louis van Gaal, was a compliment to his versatility.
Rooney was so laid back that he even made a joke about film of his being laid out by Phil Bardsley’s punch.
Rooney dismissed the suggestion that he could have fallen badly, injuring his head.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...s-and-overtake-Bobby-Charlton-at-Wembley.html
Edging closer
How many goals does he need?
Two to equal Charlton
Clever header, shame it didn't go in.
Could have sealed the record then and there. Solid performance though, was glad to see him utilizing his speed on the chance that hit the post in a "pace race."
His ball for Sterling was really great too when they interchanged positions. Top assist.
His ball for Sterling was really great too when they interchanged positions. Top assist.
I thought he was motm for England tonight, not Welbeck. Scored, hit the woodwork twice and had a good assist for Sterling.
Glad that he's shaken off his Liverpool performance, regardless if it's for England or United.
He was always going to get over the Liverpool performance. Anfield and Goodison are write offs anyway.
Incredible how that's the case considering how he's performed in the big games throughout his career. Clearly a mental thing.
I did too. Both him and Sterling where better than Danny I thought.
Cant believe no player has ever scored 50 goals for England
He played well tonight, shows how suited he is to a fluid front 3 where the two wider forwards can interchange with him at will, if we get our business right in the summer we are going to rip teams up next season.
Great overall performance from Rooney yesterday, topped with a goal and an assist.
Our top scorer is not even a striker either...
It is a huge number, at the time there were not so much games, and for example Henry is the french top goalscorer with 51 goals.
Yeah, I agree. Just noting how our strikers haven't really been able to reach silly numbers, though I guess if Owen had been able to stay fit/in form he definitely would have.
Also a good pass for Delph which would have been another assist but for a good save. I really liked his cross for Sterlings goal though. Put it into the right position, but it was bizarre that Sterling made the run and not Welbeck given Welbeck is meant to be a striker.
Rooneys header though was smart and really unlucky. Really wanted to see that go in. Hell get the record within the next four games imo.
Rooneys header though was smart and really unlucky. Really wanted to see that go in. Hell get the record within the next four games imo.
1 goal and an assist against Lithuania is hardly 2 goals and an assist against Bahrain...
Hehe
Hehe
You would think England would have had strikers with a 100 goals with the way Wazza has been touted as a failure
Seems like Telegraph will print anything that sells...wait...of course they will..that's their entire business model...very amateur article.
I'm not sure what annoys me more. The continued and tiresome agenda of the still butt hurt fans, or that needless visual graph representation of United's top scorers.
Rooney won't leave until he gets the record. And like it or not, he is still unbelievably famous all over the world and on pure marketing the owners want him here no doubt.
I think he has 5 more years with us. Then he will have his swan song with Everton. Yes I know they hate him but like Lebron James, his former team would be so happy to have him back they would kiss and make up.
He will most likely end his career as a deep lying playmaker spraying passes all over the place.
I think he has 5 more years with us. Then he will have his swan song with Everton. Yes I know they hate him but like Lebron James, his former team would be so happy to have him back they would kiss and make up.
He will most likely end his career as a deep lying playmaker spraying passes all over the place.
I really think as he ages he should just stay as a specialised striker with his exceptional positioning and ability to score goals. Save the running around for others too, he's done enough of it for the past 12 odd years.
I never really watch him for england but its pretty impressive that hes available for every single game that comes both for them and us.
You see half the squad pulling out for the next match and he wouldn't be breaking any records if he didn't show up for every game, every week, for 90 mins, every time.
I think we're lucky to have him tbh. Hes not on ronaldo or messi's level but hes not that far off and hes been on that level for a decade.
Like hes been either our best or second best player every year for ages with one 'weak' season when he only scored 15 or so goals and a similar number of assists.
I don't get the hard time he gets, maybe he'll be looked on more fondly after hes gone.
You see half the squad pulling out for the next match and he wouldn't be breaking any records if he didn't show up for every game, every week, for 90 mins, every time.
I think we're lucky to have him tbh. Hes not on ronaldo or messi's level but hes not that far off and hes been on that level for a decade.
Like hes been either our best or second best player every year for ages with one 'weak' season when he only scored 15 or so goals and a similar number of assists.
I don't get the hard time he gets, maybe he'll be looked on more fondly after hes gone.
As weird as it may sound, for some, I have the utmost respect from the man, as a professional. The line that irritates me the most, from the article linked above is: "The numbers – 229 goals in 472 matches – tell only part of the story. Rooney should have been so much more this past decade – a peer for the, albeit peerless, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Rooney’s focus and lifestyle, one suspects, robbed United and England of a critical fraction of his talent", particularly the bold part. I feel, and many others probably do too, that we've done our best, although not consciously, to hinder the progression of his career. To name a few - being behind Ronaldo and then RvP in the pecking order, having to play in midfield among others. I don't think he'd have reached the insane heights set my Messi and Ronaldo, however, he's about 70-80 goals behind where he should be, and that's on United and, to some extent, Fergie (forgive me, your greatness). Regardless, in my eyes, he'll go down as a legend when he retires, and the most deserving to break Sir Bobby's goal scoring record. Wayne Rooney, oh what could have been...
He could still be knocking about in 5/6 years time playing for us. What could still be
Im not convinced he'd ever have been the kind of goalscorer that ronaldo or messi are. He has a lot to his game that isn't going to really show up on stats though.
I dont really want to get into the comparison tbh but whatever he could have been he HAS been great for a long time.
The versatility and managers making use of it is a bonus imo, even if it doesn't help much with breaking goal scoring records.
Over the last two seasons I have learned again to appreciate Rooney. I have been critical of him, and will continue to be when he plays badly, but I appreciate the way he has knuckled down and led the line over the last two seasons. Especially given the way others, at times, have been given that responsibility and failed.
Rooney has been the only striker to really 'show up' for United this season. Wilson's a youngster so can't be expected to be brilliant, but Falcao and Van Persie have both underperformed. Rooney is not even at his best, and in my opinion he hasn't been for years (although there were signs of a renaissance against Spurs e.g. the outside of the boot cross field pass to Fellaini). However, just Rooney's willingness to run the channels, play with his back to goal, and harry defenders have massively contributed to our recent turnaround.
To be the #9 in the Louis Van Gaal 4-3-3 requires a certain set of skills that few players have: You need to be able to occupy defenders, you need to be able to press from the front, you need to be able to bring others into the game, and occasionally win games single handedly. In world football few players fit that bill. Some strikers may be able to do two or three things but all four? You're talking an Aguero, Costa, Suarez, Tevez of a striker. Rooney has been that for us before, in 2009-10, and he can be that again if Van Gaal continues to trust him up front.
Rooney has been the only striker to really 'show up' for United this season. Wilson's a youngster so can't be expected to be brilliant, but Falcao and Van Persie have both underperformed. Rooney is not even at his best, and in my opinion he hasn't been for years (although there were signs of a renaissance against Spurs e.g. the outside of the boot cross field pass to Fellaini). However, just Rooney's willingness to run the channels, play with his back to goal, and harry defenders have massively contributed to our recent turnaround.
To be the #9 in the Louis Van Gaal 4-3-3 requires a certain set of skills that few players have: You need to be able to occupy defenders, you need to be able to press from the front, you need to be able to bring others into the game, and occasionally win games single handedly. In world football few players fit that bill. Some strikers may be able to do two or three things but all four? You're talking an Aguero, Costa, Suarez, Tevez of a striker. Rooney has been that for us before, in 2009-10, and he can be that again if Van Gaal continues to trust him up front.
HE started off as a striker didn't he?
Jimmy Greaves probably would have done if he kept focused on paying football.
44 goals in 57 games at international level. Greatest goal scorer to ever play the game.
Henry wrote in The Sun: 'You will only truly appreciate Rooney when he has retired. It's a shame but it's always like hat.
'I would absolutely urge all those youngsters in the squad, such as Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, to watch and learn off Rooney from this day onwards.
'They are extremely lucky to be on the same training pitch as this guy and they must make the most of it. It will be a real waste if they do not.
'They must try to copy him. In terms of his dedication and the way he plays. I would also say this to the young lads at Manchester United.
'To play well for six months or a season in football is nothing. To do so for over a decade like Rooney is extraordinary. I know what it takes and it isn't easy.
'Trust me, people talk about him outside of this country. In Spain and France, he is appreciated as a top, top player.'
It's a shame our own fans are incapable of doing the same.
'I would absolutely urge all those youngsters in the squad, such as Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, to watch and learn off Rooney from this day onwards.
'They are extremely lucky to be on the same training pitch as this guy and they must make the most of it. It will be a real waste if they do not.
'They must try to copy him. In terms of his dedication and the way he plays. I would also say this to the young lads at Manchester United.
'To play well for six months or a season in football is nothing. To do so for over a decade like Rooney is extraordinary. I know what it takes and it isn't easy.
'Trust me, people talk about him outside of this country. In Spain and France, he is appreciated as a top, top player.'
It's a shame our own fans are incapable of doing the same.
Yep this is true. I have lived in Spain and Greece and he is regarded as one of the best in the world.
- Status