Wayne Rooney vs. Robin van Persie

Paxi

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I think it’s pretty clear that Wayne Rooney had a better career than Robin van Persie but where it gets muddled is — who was a better a better player? Who was more talented?

I absolutely adored both players back in the day, and them playing at the same period made it just much more exciting to go out on the green try wand one in like RvP or be as dogged as Rooney in your own box and then play a pass to set up a goal. As someone that appreciated both players, I’d love to hear whom you rate more.

I’ve got to say that Rooney had a better career and was a more prominent player but RvP was magical in last two seasons for Arsenal and of course he almost single-handedly won us the 20th.

If I was playing in a team for 10 years I’d pick Rooney but I’d pick RvP on Talent and one game imo.

What’s your thoughts, Caf?

p.s can’t believe we had the pleasure to see both of them in their pomp player in our red. We’re incredibly lucky bunch!
 
I’d take Rooney probably but I think RVP from 2012-2014 reached heights that Rooney never managed. He was pretty much flawless for those 2 seasons, where as, apart from 2010-2011, I can’t remember a season from Rooney where was unquestionably world class. Think Rooney was more consistent over their careers and contributed to more trophies.
 
Depends how you define 'talented'. RVP had was a more beautiful technician but Rooney had that rare kind of drive and fire that would lift the crowd and his side.
 
Peak RVP was better than peak Rooney imo, but Rooney was at his best for longer.
 
I'm someone who isn't really into physical football but I'd still take Rooney. Incredible player at his prime.
 
Rooney was a more unique player - the talent but the fight/leadership too
 
Rooney had a better overall career and also had a higher peak in my opinion.

They both had issues (RVP being made of glass and Rooney being a fat feck) but it's Wazza for me and not really that close.
 
RVP was terribly fragile, it's a bit like choosing Robben without his stint at Bayen, flashes of brilliance, but you couldn't count on him.

I would take Rooney all day, except his last few years.
 
OL29 said:
I’d take Rooney probably but I think RVP from 2012-2014 reached heights that Rooney never managed. He was pretty much flawless for those 2 seasons, where as, apart from 2010-2011, I can’t remember a season from Rooney where was unquestionably world class. Think Rooney was more consistent over their careers and contributed to more trophies.
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Just because rooney wasn't as good as ronaldo in 2006 to 2009 doesn'tmean he wasn't still world class.
 
I think Van Persie's peak was so short to that it would be hard to claim that he was better than Rooney. Framing 'better' in this context has to factor in longevity. If RVP was made of glass then its just too bad.
 
Taking a step back, it’s obviously Rooney.
 
Rooney in his early days was a force of nature, and had a better and longer peak period.
VP was a better finisher, and probably had more technique, but his top seasons were quite short, often due to injury.

Just be glad we had both. Still feels mad we brought Van Persie in. Just a shame he had only 1 season under a top manager here.
 
van Persie is one the most talented players I’ve ever seen. 20+ years of watching football and I’ve rarely seen such graceful yet devastating footballers. It’s usually one or the other.
 
Impossible to compare for talent, it's a subjective term, second only to *potential* on the uselessness scale. I'd rather have Rooney in my team though, based on what he did as a player. One-man army.
 
Putting this in a United forum was never going to get completely unbiased answers. Personally I'd pick Rooney myself as his determination and drive affects the entire team and was more valuable. A better comparison would be Torres vs Van Persie, both incredible in their peaks and stylistically more similar.
 
MaxiPaxi said:
You think that Rooney was just better in everything?
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Probably not everything, but he had more to his game, he could do pretty much everything RVP could do to a very high standard while possessing a range of other skills which RVP just didn’t really have at all.
 
Rooney and as others said, it's not even that close.

RVP had 2 consistently great seasons and maybe when we look at their peaks, he was slightly better than Wazza as a pure 9. However, Rooney was much much more than just a number 9 and I'd personally say he had different peaks in his career when considered what was asked of him.
 
2cents said:
Probably not everything, but he had more to his game, he could do pretty much everything RVP could do to a very high standard while possessing a range of other skills which RVP just didn’t really have at all.
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I really don’t see it that way. I saw Rooney as having many flaws in his game. He had his tenacity etc but it didn’t really make that much of a difference. Rooney was fantastic until 2011. But RvP hit higher levels than him, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that.
 
RVP was the more silky one but Rooney did an insane amount of things, to a point where he managed to support a midfield containing a 40 year old Giggs and be our main offensive threat simultaneously. He was pretty much the main reason our midfield managed to function throughout those years.
 
DoomSlayer said:
Rooney and as others said, it's not even that close.

RVP had 2 consistently great seasons and maybe when we look at their peaks, he was slightly better than Wazza as a pure 9. However, Rooney was much much more than just a number 9 and I'd personally say he had different peaks in his career when considered what was asked of him.
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How is it ‘It’s not even close’

That’s daft.
 
In terms of career, Rooney definitely had the better career and better longevity.

In terms of who had the higher peak level, for me it was RVP. Him at his best was a thing of beauty to watch.
 
MaxiPaxi said:
How is it not ‘It’s not even close’

That’s daft.
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Did you make this thread expecting people to bash one of our biggest legends? RVP had more finesse to his game but that doesn't mean he was a better player, now that would be daft if you believe in it.
 
Rooney. As Scholes said, if ever there was a player born to play for United, it was him.
 
MaxiPaxi said:
I really don’t see it that way. I saw Rooney as having many flaws in his game. He had his tenacity etc but it didn’t really make that much of a difference. Rooney was fantastic until 2011. But RvP hit higher levels than him, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that.
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Of course not, it’s just opinions isn’t it? And I love RVP, truly privileged to have seen him play for us. I think Rooney had long-range passing, the ability to split a defence, and an influential energy about him that RVP never had, all the while being a great goalscorer and scorer of great goals simultaneously, able to play up front on his own but also constantly forging great partnerships with others, and often a very selfless player for us. And I think we got a lot more out of him than Arsenal and us combined got out of RVP.
 
Snafu17 said:
RVP was the more silky one but Rooney did an insane amount of things, to a point where he managed to support a midfield containing a 40 year old Giggs and be our main offensive threat simultaneously. He was pretty much the main reason our midfield managed to function throughout those years.
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Really? That’s a new one. Just cause Rooney dropped deep at times, I don’t think Rooney was the catalyst in being a #9 #10 and random fecking midfield maestro because Giggs and Scholes are getting on a bit. Especially when you think that both of those former had infinitely more creativity than Rooney.
 
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