Remind me?
He's definitely score about 0.1% of attempts at them if so. Hope he keeps trying in that league.
Wayne Rooney - DC United player
- Thread starter peridigm
- Start date
He's definitely score about 0.1% of attempts at them if so. Hope he keeps trying in that league.
I’m glad I got to watch prime Wayne Rooney, probably the most exciting player I’ve watched in my time in games like his debut , Euro 04. I guess it’s how some people say they were glad they saw Gazza at his best.
They don't all find it easy. Gerrard was trash for example. Pirlo too even though he wasn't a PL player. And even when the league was weaker the likes of Ljunberg and Kleberson were poor too. Then there are guys like Ashley Cole or van der Wiel who are doing pretty well but not exactly making it look like a walk in the park. I don't know how that is odd anyway, world class players find a weaker league easy? Makes logical sense. Just like Kuyt or van Persie find it easier in Eredevisie or Iniesta finds it easier in the J-League. Top class players find it easier at a lower level. Not weird at all.
The big difference in the MLS to the UK is the disparity level within teams. In the Championship everyone in a team is Championship level, maybe a star or two who could be PL level and a weak link who is League One level but team are similar level throughout. MLS sides wildly range in talent. There are several players in the MLS who could play in the PL or a top European league. But there are players too who would probably be lucky to be League Two. A general idea would be the attackers are some PL level and Championship level and the defenders are mainly League One/Two with the odd one who could be around Championship. That would be for the better teams too, some of the lower teams wouldn't have the PL or good Championship level attackers.
That's like saying the PL is shit because Kante was a Ligue 2 player. Or Vardy was a non-league player so obviously the PL is shit.
What’s odd is people like Bradley-Wright Phillips and Robbie Keane looking on another planet to their peers in the MLS, when they can’t even sustain a career in the PL. You might be onto something about the attackers being generally at a higher level than the defenders, though. It was the quality of Keane’s goals that astonished me and his attacking team-mates had to take some credit for that too. Maybe it’s just very imbalanced in favour of goal-scorers? Hence CMs don’t find it quite such a walk in the park.
Twice. IIRC. One against David James (Portsmouth?) The other was in a cup game. Maybe Middlesbro?
The Boro one doesn't count, was further out and the keeper was miles off his line
Only the Portsmouth one counts
Kante stepped up levels gradually as a young player.
Wright-Phillips was an average to poor Championship player who dropped a level to League One where he was a good player, he then failed to make the step back up to the Championship and returned to League One before leaving for America in the prime of his career aged 27/28.
I don't think the two are comparable.
I agree that it is a mix of standards in the MLS. I don't think there are many that are good enough for the Premier League though. I don't think the likes of Pirlo or Gerarrd mean much either as they both joined the league when they were finished. Either lacking the physical capability, motivation, or both.
Vardy peaked late then. Wright-Phillips was a highly rated young player who broke into a PL side but fell down the leagues due to his lack of professionalism and attitude. He has said himself, his diet was terrible and he put in no effort in England. It wasn't until training with Henry and becoming friends with him that he realized what it took to be his best. You can even look at someone like Nick Powell, didn't make it at a top club because of his attitude and lack of appetite to really work hard and went down the table smashed league one and is being linked with multiple PL clubs now. Different players develop at different rates and have different work ethics and have different personal hurdles to over come at different ages. Saying BWP was a League One player so MLS is lower than League One is one of the most simplistic, idiotic and eurosnob things possible to say and just show people up for not having a clue about the MLS.
There are several who could play in the PL or another top European league. David Villa could have stayed in a top league for longer. Giovinco could have stayed at a mid-table Serie A side easily. Josef Martinez will return to a top European league. Nemanja Nikolic has destroyed lower level leagues and could have played at a Europa level league easily like Ligue 1 or something. Miguel Almiron will move to Europe soon and already been linked to the likes of West Ham and Newcastle for £10m. Alphonso Davies already signed for Bayern. Barco will go to Europe. Tyler Adams will go to Europe and heavily linked to RB Leipzig. And I'm sure there are a few others too.
There's nothing simplistic or idiotic about it. The MLS is a retirement league for top players. Its not a high level. Obviously some good young players will pass through there onto better things but by and large the standard is poor compared to top level European football.
The thing about Rooney is... no matter what stage of his career... whether he was in his amazing form or absolute tumescent/dog shit moments, he was still always capable of pulling out something absolutely extraordinary.
Well first of all, Robbie Keane can't sustain a career in the PL? What does that even mean? Over 10 years in the PL with over 100 goals, 7 10+ goal seasons, multiple Tottenham player of years, multiple PL player of the months and one of the best international records in the world so I'm not exactly sure how he didn't sustain a career in the PL. Even on his loans back he was very good.
Is Salah or Kane on another planet to PL players?
I still don't understand how it is odd. Keane was a top player with a long successful career at the highest level. He also went to Scotland and smashed it. Of course he is going to be on another planet to League One/Two level defenders. And even 6 years ago the MLS was even much worse. His intelligence and movement will be beyond comprehension for low level defenders. If was stuck in League one or Germany or Spain's second or third division he would have absolutely smashed it too. I don't understand how that is odd.
BWP is different because he has admitted to having a terrible attitude and professionalism in England and only took it serious once he moved to NY and started training with Henry. It was only then he was able to realise his potential so no surprise he stepped it up a level or two. His feats are quite remarkable non the less but so are Vardy's in the PL. It is only one player at the end of the day though who done this and he was quite highly rated as a youngster anyway.
Well yes the whole league is imbalanced towards attackers. When you got a front 3 who are Championship or possibly low PL level up against a League two back-line there is only one outcome. Teams also don't just hunker down and park busses playing physical hoof ball like a League Two side so it is much easier to break down too.
So you're an idiot. Fine, should have just said so from the start.
Feck me you get weirdly defensive/angry about the MLS. His last sentence is 100% correct. You’ve completely misunderstood my point about Keane too but I’ll leave you to it as we seem to have touched a nerve.
I know you get triggered easily but you should try to debate in a more civil way. I don't see what is controversial about the stating that the MLS is not a high level of football compared to top European Leagues. Perhaps you could (civilly) enlighten me?
So what did you mean by Keane? You seem to be baffled at older top level players moving to weaker leagues and being better than everyone. I'm still failing to see how this is such a strange concept to you.
His last sentence is correct but who has stated otherwise? I've already stated its a league with a mix between Championship down to League Two players. So what is the point of saying it's poor compared to the top leagues? Well yes, no shit. No one has ever claimed it is even close to the EPL.
Using examples of one player and labelling shit a retirement league when he clearly has no clue what he is talking about is idiotic. Yes we will leave it as there is no point having a conversation with an idiot who hasn't a clue.
Who has ever stated it is? I've categorically said it isn't even close in my earlier posts so what's even the point of posting such garbage? Head over to the Eredevisie thread while you're at it. It's not close to the top European leagues either.
You clearly know literally jack shit about the MLS so there is no point to having any conversation.
So you're complaining about me saying that the level is poor because a good League One player can be a big time star there but then you intimate that the level is somewhere between Championship and League Two?
I reckon even some of the Irish teams would win that league easily. Cork City or Dundalk.
He does not have the pressure on him now like he had at United or Everton later on. Of course the level is below that of the PL and so he finds it easy. Look at the first goal he scored against Portland. He took it first time. If he was at United during the later part, he would have taken an extra touch. Now he can enjoy his football. He was always a great player and only his first touch let him down at the later part.
Glad he's hit the ground running, seems to be enjoying football again.
Hope he doesn't take his foot off the gas though and take it easy now he's scored a couple.
Defending for that first goal though
look at the LCB, he's literally day dreaming and just watches Rooney jog passed him I swear I could do a better job.
Hope he doesn't take his foot off the gas though and take it easy now he's scored a couple.
Defending for that first goal though
look at the LCB, he's literally day dreaming and just watches Rooney jog passed him I swear I could do a better job.He is playing in the MLS, so hardly surprising. Retirement home for footballers from main leagues in Europe.
Good to see Rooney settle in well, looks like he's enjoying his game again. Same with Ibra as well. The retirement league thing is what it is. A lot of teams are starting to promote their youth and scout central and south america for players. You'll still see some big names on their last contract come here. MLS in its current format is still relatively young and is still improving in terms of quality year in and year out. Attendance getting better also every year which is good to see. Clubs like Atlanta getting 50,000 plus for home games, Seattle and Toronto too getting great crowds, most others above the 20k mark. Obviously football isn't as well followed as the big sports and the signing of big names helps attract the casual fan. Atlanta is a relatively newcomer and right now top their division. Their designated players are Almiron, a paraguian international at 24. Barco at 19 an argentinian and Josef Martinez , a 25 year old Venezuelan international. The clubs are learning, there is still certainly a market for players who want to be here, players like Ibra and Rooney. The likes of Gerrard didn't really want to be here, same with Lampard.
Nice to see Rooney playing with a smile on his face and doing well.
It was clear that when he left Everton and moved to DC, it was something he was always wanted to take seriously, which can't be said for every player who has moved to the MLS.
I guess it's testament to Rooney and the type of player he has been over the years, and will continue to be until he retires.
Glad he's doing well and I look forward to watching more of his goals/assists on SSN.
It was clear that when he left Everton and moved to DC, it was something he was always wanted to take seriously, which can't be said for every player who has moved to the MLS.
I guess it's testament to Rooney and the type of player he has been over the years, and will continue to be until he retires.
Glad he's doing well and I look forward to watching more of his goals/assists on SSN.
It looks like he's really enjoying his American Adventure.
Earning a mint, playing in a great country like America experiencing a different way of life.. nobody knowing who he is etc. Must be nice. You can't put a price on privacy.
I knew what I would've preferred if I was Ronaldo and had the choice between being the reason MLS become one of the World's top leagues or become "another star" at Juventus.
Earning a mint, playing in a great country like America experiencing a different way of life.. nobody knowing who he is etc. Must be nice. You can't put a price on privacy.
I knew what I would've preferred if I was Ronaldo and had the choice between being the reason MLS become one of the World's top leagues or become "another star" at Juventus.
MLS is one of the worlds best leagues?
After what is happening with Martial, I never want to hear anybody trot out the "waaahhh Rooney held the club to ransom!!!" drivel ever again. 197 goals at this club before signing the new deal in 2013/14.
Did you read what was written?
You're surely joking right ? Right ?
In DC? Very doubtful. Definitely not like in Europe at least
Man United remain to be the biggest club in the world. Followed by fans all over the world, one of those countries being the US. Actually we're massive in the US, hence why we always tour there.
To add to that, Rooney was not only here for 14 years, he is our all time top goalscorer.
He would be very well known all over the world like Messi, Ronaldo, Ibra, Neymar, etc.
Of course he's popular but he'd be nowhere near the public figure he is in Europe. I lived in North America for 18 years and while there's lots of football fans, the majority of the population is much more familiar with faces in Basketball and Hockey
Players themselves say the same thing. There's a reason why Zlatan can ride a bycicle down Venice Beach without anyone bothering him
I live in DC and unless you’re a DC United or football fan people here don’t know who he is. At least that’s been my experience since he joined
Rooney not that well known outside Europe. Certainly not in America. Even in Asia its depends. You are just kidding yourself if you think he is in Ronaldo or Messi's like famous.
I can't say about America but I grew up in India and believe me even people who aren't into football sure as hell knew who Rooney was. He was much more popular than the likes of Ibra or Pogba. I've met quite a few people from South East Asian countries and pretty much everyone knows who Rooney is. He's of the tier of names like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo( both Brazilian and Portuguese), Messi, Zidane, Beckham etc where even people who aren't into football recognize the name.
Well that’s nonsense about America. Everyone who is into football here knows who Rooney is.
That is definitely true. For all football stars. Ronaldo can walk down the street here and not be mobbed. But anyone into football knows who he is.
Of course the football fans in DC will recognize him just like they would recognize any other top footballer, but surely the difference between him walking down the street in Washington compared to what he experienced in England is going to be night and day.