Wayne Rooney's legacy

Buster15

Go on Didier
Joined
Aug 28, 2018
Messages
13,293
Location
Bristol
Supports
Bristol Rovers
One of the greatest players to ever play for United and England, a legend of the club. All time top goalscorer for club and country, scored some incredible goals, mixed with other great assists and contributions all over the pitch.

Rooney is one of my favourite players of all time. Adored watching him play for us, despite his inevitable decline at the end of his time here. His warrior mentality combined with his physicality and technique was incredible, certainly won't see another like him for a long time.

Amazed if anyone doesn't think he is a United legend. For me, he is the epitome of a United player.
Completely agree with your spot on summary.
 

RUCK4444

New Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
9,553
Location
$¥$¥$¥$¥$
His combative style of play matched with great technique is my favourite type of player, embodies everything you would want from a United player.

What I wouldn’t give for a young Rooney in this team now.

An absolute force of nature, so well rounded, aggressive, powerful, quick, passing, all types of finishing, headers, screamers, free kicks, you name it.

I don't think we will see his type for a long time.

If you could pick a past player to be in the side right now I would struggle to pick many players ahead of him in his pomp for us, aside from Bestie and Ronaldo.

That would be a good question, if I could start a thread I would, maybe somebody else would be willing?
‘If you could pick a past United player to be inserted into this current United squad who would it be?’

*Based on effectiveness within the current squad
 

Jake

Mine's too big and gay.
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
2,685
Location
Manchester
One of the greatest players to ever play for United and England, a legend of the club. All time top goalscorer for club and country, scored some incredible goals, mixed with other great assists and contributions all over the pitch.

Rooney is one of my favourite players of all time. Adored watching him play for us, despite his inevitable decline at the end of his time here. His warrior mentality combined with his physicality and technique was incredible, certainly won't see another like him for a long time.

Amazed if anyone doesn't think he is a United legend. For me, he is the epitome of a United player.
Just this. What a player for us.
 

stevoc

Full Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
19,836
That is the danger of jumping in mid conversation. You misinterpret the point. I never said any of those players contributed more than Rooney from a longevity perspective.

I said that one of the things that held Rooney back was that he didn't thrive as the talisman. When he was the main player United were less successful than when he was a main player. Cantona, Ronaldo, Yorke, Van Persie thrived as talismanic leaders of the team and fired United to major trophies. Rooney did not.

One of the biggest issues with Rooney was his portrayal as a world class superstar who would have been up there with the best in the world if only he hadn't been played out of position or selflessly sacrificed himself. Just to hammer it home, there you are bleating the same old nonsense.

He should be appreciated for what he was, not what the media decided he should have been (and would have been) if only the greatest manager of all time hadn't ruined him.
I think thats a bit harsh, his peak years when he was the main man around 09-12 unfortunately for him coincided with a decline in the team and losing Ronaldo. Still in those 3 years we got to a CL final, won a league cup, won the league in 2011 in no small part due to Rooney having the best few months of his career and only missed out on another 3 titles in a row when we came 2nd by 1 point in 2010 (because Rooney got injured) and 2012 on goal difference.
 
Joined
Nov 11, 2015
Messages
2,596
Location
Whalley Range
One of the greatest players to ever play for United and England, a legend of the club. All time top goalscorer for club and country, scored some incredible goals, mixed with other great assists and contributions all over the pitch.

Rooney is one of my favourite players of all time. Adored watching him play for us, despite his inevitable decline at the end of his time here. His warrior mentality combined with his physicality and technique was incredible, certainly won't see another like him for a long time.

Amazed if anyone doesn't think he is a United legend. For me, he is the epitome of a United player.
Your description of his playing career for United is spot on.

But the two times he caused a lot of shit mean most fans won't see him in the same light as other legends. Had Rooney behaved differently and some humility he could have retired at United.

I remember hearing him booed at Old Trafford and outside Old Trafford at the Trophy parade of Fergie's last season - he was hiding at the back of the bus and many fans shouting 'you scouse bastard'.

It's always going to be mixed feelings towards him in the fan base - but damn he is probably the most exciting player i've seen when he was in his first couple of years at the club
 

Pughnichi

Full Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2016
Messages
1,460
Just catching up with this thread and, good grief, this is one of the worst takes I've ever seen on the Caff. RVP was basically great for one season. Ronaldo was fun, then good, then great for one season. And Yorke and Cole had an amazing team behind them. I love all of them but none gave as much to the club as Rooney.

Rooney has longevity, selflessness, goals, workrate, the whole lot. Time and again he was sacrificed for the sake of the team precisely because he was good enough to play anywhere. Rooney is a legend up there with the Trinity and Cantona without any doubt at all.
he certainly has longevity...too much of it. About 4/5 years too much.

Alan Smith has workrate

I acknowledge your opinion, but for me he is a long way off being a legend. Likening him to Best, Law, Charlton is madness.

For me personally, there are many players that have come and gone that I hold in higher regard
 

Vault Dweller

Correctly predicted Italy to win Euro 2020
Joined
May 26, 2016
Messages
6,551
Location
Vault 88, The Commonwealth
Your description of his playing career for United is spot on.

But the two times he caused a lot of shit mean most fans won't see him in the same light as other legends. Had Rooney behaved differently and some humility he could have retired at United.

I remember hearing him booed at Old Trafford and outside Old Trafford at the Trophy parade of Fergie's last season - he was hiding at the back of the bus and many fans shouting 'you scouse bastard'.

It's always going to be mixed feelings towards him in the fan base - but damn he is probably the most exciting player i've seen when he was in his first couple of years at the club
Thanks.

I appreciate there will be mixed feelings towards him from the fan base. But I still think even fans who don't like him would surely still admit he's a United legend, he literally won everything he could with us and is the all time top scorer. That is an incredible legacy to leave at any club, let alone United.
 

RUCK4444

New Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
9,553
Location
$¥$¥$¥$¥$
he certainly has longevity...too much of it. About 4/5 years too much.

Alan Smith has workrate

I acknowledge your opinion, but for me he is a long way off being a legend. Likening him to Best, Law, Charlton is madness.

For me personally, there are many players that have come and gone that I hold in higher regard
Wow, I respect your opinion but I fail to see ‘many better players that have come and gone’ than Rooney.

You may have preferred those players but there aren’t many that are better.

He’s our highest goalscorer and won every possible trophy available to him and the club during his time here. I don’t care if somebody loathes the guy, that alone cements legend status.

I believe in his prime there’s an argument to be had that he gets into an all time United 11.
 

TRUERED89

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jan 23, 2019
Messages
2,366
Location
England
Wow, I respect your opinion but I fail to see ‘many better players that have come and gone’ than Rooney.

You may have preferred those players but there aren’t many that are better.

He’s our highest goalscorer and won every possible trophy available to him and the club during his time here. I don’t care if somebody loathes the guy, that alone cements legend status.

I believe in his prime there’s an argument to be had that he gets into an all time United 11.
No doubt, definitely gets in the conversation even if ultimately people wont put him in their all time XI
 

Bebestation

Im a doctor btw, my IQ destroys yours
Joined
Oct 9, 2019
Messages
11,862
The way people talk about Rooney these days you would think he packed up his bags and signed for City all those years ago.

Yet players like Tevez are still called humbly as the ones we shouldn't have let go.

From that great team C Ronaldo left as soon as he put a toe in to reaching his prime. Tevez left and Rooney continued to perform for us and be loyal to us even though his head may have turned for a summer transfer window purely for money. And yet the guy was good as all the other legends of that team that never get a bad word even if they went downhill just as much as him like Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick - it's not like they were starting a new era with their football either so it's unfair to talk about Rooney this way who was the one keeping us up where we belong as one or if not our Main Player.
 

chromepaxos

Full Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2015
Messages
192
I acknowledge your opinion, but for me he is a long way off being a legend. Likening him to Best, Law, Charlton is madness. For me personally, there are many players that have come and gone that I hold in higher regard
Just catching up to this and...holy crap. Rooney is "a long way" off being a legend and there are "many players" better than him?

I have ask, how many (after the obvious ones that we would all agree on)? And who? I'm genuinely curious.
 

Son

Full Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
1,688
Probably the best English player I’ve ever seen all-round. The things he could do with a ball. His vision, goal scoring ability from pretty much anywhere on the pitch was insanely good.

Sterling scores more goals in a higher scoring era and for a team that works better in tighter spaces but Rooney destroys him on the sheer quality of his goals. Rooney has probably the best variation of goals in Prem League history. He scored some absolutely insane efforts and would have made the first 11 of any team in the world for a period.
 

Andycoleno9

matchday malcontent
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Messages
28,576
Location
Croatia
Absolute legend and i am really sad seeing how he is underrated among some United fans. There is no bigger legend than him (to be clear, that doesn't mean that he is our greatest player/legend but he is in the same level with Giggs, Sir Bobby and Edwards).

Anyway, yeah, gave everything to this club, won everything, change positions to accommodate other players.....Wayne Rooney. Legend
 

Adisa

likes to take afvanadva wothowi doubt
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Messages
50,309
Location
Birmingham
Record goalscorer for both Man Utd and England.
I don't think people realise how boss that is. Those aren't some run of the mill club and NT. Top career. 99.9% of players can't dream of having that kind of career.
 

Stormrage101MUFC

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Messages
132
As great as he was, I think he would have had an even bigger impact if it wasn't for 2 factors: a) his selflessness and desire to be a team player and b) Ronaldo.

Without the above 2 factors, he would have been our main man for an entire decade, and assuming he was constantly played in his best position (because he usually wasn't), I'm thinking he could have maintained that insanely good form he showed in the 2009-10 season for many years, before and after that season.
 

Jeppers7

Pogfamily Mafia
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
7,287
As great as he was, I think he would have had an even bigger impact if it wasn't for 2 factors: a) his selflessness and desire to be a team player and b) Ronaldo.

Without the above 2 factors, he would have been our main man for an entire decade, and assuming he was constantly played in his best position (because he usually wasn't), I'm thinking he could have maintained that insanely good form he showed in the 2009-10 season for many years, before and after that season.
Ridiculous. He probably played second fiddle for two and a half seasons, and even then he mainly played up front, he was asked to play wide in some big games because Ronaldo became he ultimate match winner. He should’ve been able to produce that form anyway. This notion that Ronaldo held Rooney back from becoming something more is pure nonsense. He was a great player, but he was never going to be Ronaldo level.
 

Stormrage101MUFC

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Messages
132
Ridiculous. He probably played second fiddle for two and a half seasons, and even then he mainly played up front, he was asked to play wide in some big games because Ronaldo became he ultimate match winner. He should’ve been able to produce that form anyway. This notion that Ronaldo held Rooney back from becoming something more is pure nonsense. He was a great player, but he was never going to be Ronaldo level.
True, not Ronaldo level, as Ronaldo literally became the best ever on par with Messi (in my opinion). But my point is it wasn't just because of Ronaldo; even in the 2010-2011 season he was mostly played as a number 10 behind Hernandez. And then again in 2012-2013, behind RVP (though admittedly RVP was a god by that point).
 

Jeppers7

Pogfamily Mafia
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
7,287
True, not Ronaldo level, as Ronaldo literally became the best ever on par with Messi (in my opinion). But my point is it wasn't just because of Ronaldo; even in the 2010-2011 season he was mostly played as a number 10 behind Hernandez. And then again in 2012-2013, behind RVP (though admittedly RVP was a god by that point).
I actually think he always saw himself as a player who was all over the pitch. I’m not sure he’d have been disciplined enough to spend 80 minutes not seeing the ball in some big games like Ruud for eg. He needed to be involved in the game and that was his overall strength. Stats can be misleading. For me Wayne Rooney was the player he was. If he was honest he probably had to sacrifice himself more and kerb his natural tendencies when he had to play as a 9.
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,412
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
I actually think he always saw himself as a player who was all over the pitch. I’m not sure he’d have been disciplined enough to spend 80 minutes not seeing the ball in some big games like Ruud for eg. He needed to be involved in the game and that was his overall strength. Stats can be misleading. For me Wayne Rooney was the player he was. If he was honest he probably had to sacrifice himself more and kerb his natural tendencies when he had to play as a 9.
Bingo
 

thepolice123

Full Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
12,179
I actually think he always saw himself as a player who was all over the pitch. I’m not sure he’d have been disciplined enough to spend 80 minutes not seeing the ball in some big games like Ruud for eg. He needed to be involved in the game and that was his overall strength. Stats can be misleading. For me Wayne Rooney was the player he was. If he was honest he probably had to sacrifice himself more and kerb his natural tendencies when he had to play as a 9.
I think he didn't liked playing as the lone #9/false #9. That was probably one of the reasons for his contract dispute in 10/11. Its a shame because I really like that version of Rooney.
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,412
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
I think he didn't liked playing as the lone #9/false #9. That was probably one of the reasons for his contract dispute in 10/11. Its a shame because I really like that version of Rooney.
He wanted to be the 9 with a 10 feeding him. Specifically Ozil.
 

George the Cat

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 7, 2020
Messages
202
He’s also a United fan. Yes I know he supports Everton but United are his other team. After he left United he was a pundit on tv a while back and he kept referring to United as ‘We’
United legend and supporter.
 

Stormrage101MUFC

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Messages
132
I actually think he always saw himself as a player who was all over the pitch. I’m not sure he’d have been disciplined enough to spend 80 minutes not seeing the ball in some big games like Ruud for eg. He needed to be involved in the game and that was his overall strength. Stats can be misleading. For me Wayne Rooney was the player he was. If he was honest he probably had to sacrifice himself more and kerb his natural tendencies when he had to play as a 9.
Yup, pretty much!
 

AjaxCunian

vexingwijsneus
Joined
Mar 10, 2021
Messages
4,230
Supports
Ajax & United

Hope this is the right thread to post this in but every Unites fan should enjoy this.

Wow what a player, I love the boys we have up front now but he was something else. Other than Messi and maybe Neymar, I dont think any attacker now comes close to his wide skillset.

Watching Ruud in these videos makes me sad, he was such an amazing striker. His strength, speed, control and finishing, just wow. Where are these players nowadays?
 

Threesus

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 13, 2020
Messages
728
Wayne Rooney is my favorite football player ever. Wish we had a player like him in attack now.
Is he the best player to have ever come from Liverpool? Who are his competition(aside from Stevie Me)?
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,336
Location
india
Wayne Rooney is my favorite football player ever. Wish we had a player like him in attack now.
Is he the best player to have ever come from Liverpool? Who are his competition(aside from Stevie Me)?
Stevie Me isn't really competition for him. Rooney was much better. Surely Liverpool have had local lads in their glory days who were better than Gerrard?
 

Varun

Moderator
Staff
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
46,772
Location
Mumbai
One of the greatest players to ever play for United and England, a legend of the club. All time top goalscorer for club and country, scored some incredible goals, mixed with other great assists and contributions all over the pitch.

Rooney is one of my favourite players of all time. Adored watching him play for us, despite his inevitable decline at the end of his time here. His warrior mentality combined with his physicality and technique was incredible, certainly won't see another like him for a long time.

Amazed if anyone doesn't think he is a United legend. For me, he is the epitome of a United player.
Bang on!
 

Jeppers7

Pogfamily Mafia
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
7,287

Hope this is the right thread to post this in but every Unites fan should enjoy this.

Wow what a player, I love the boys we have up front now but he was something else. Other than Messi and maybe Neymar, I dont think any attacker now comes close to his wide skillset.

Watching Ruud in these videos makes me sad, he was such an amazing striker. His strength, speed, control and finishing, just wow. Where are these players nowadays?
Ronaldo is still playing now? He was better when they played together and Rooney looks like a darts player while Ronaldo was the top scorer at the Euro a couple of weeks ago….and still a better player than Neymar.
 

GueRed

Full Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Messages
2,849
Location
London
Legend.

The trash and disrespect he used to get on here towards the end of his time at the club was disgraceful. And typical.
 

NewGlory

United make me feel dirty. And not in a sexy way.
Joined
Jul 13, 2019
Messages
4,239
Absolutely breathtaking at his top, but it's a shame how relatively short that lasted. He was pretty much done at 30 (started decline at 28). That compared to how long the top form of Messi, Christiano, or even Cavani lasted... Hard to help the feeling that we didn't get enough from Wayne.
 

AjaxCunian

vexingwijsneus
Joined
Mar 10, 2021
Messages
4,230
Supports
Ajax & United
Ronaldo is still playing now? He was better when they played together and Rooney looks like a darts player while Ronaldo was the top scorer at the Euro a couple of weeks ago….and still a better player than Neymar.
Wasn't about how good the player is, or else name Benzema/Lewandowski as well. Rather the range of skillset.
 

Jeppers7

Pogfamily Mafia
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
7,287
Wasn't about how good the player is, or else name Benzema/Lewandowski as well. Rather the range of skillset.
I’m not sure why you’d name drop Messi or neymar then. Not similar to Rooney in terms of skill set either. Just better footballers. Like Ronaldo.
 

izec

Full Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Messages
27,164
Location
Lucilinburhuc
Absolutely breathtaking at his top, but it's a shame how relatively short that lasted. He was pretty much done at 30 (started decline at 28). That compared to how long the top form of Messi, Christiano, or even Cavani lasted... Hard to help the feeling that we didn't get enough from Wayne.
He didnt take care of himself. Started super early at the highest level, ran himself to the ground, bad diet and off the pitch stuff, played injured respectively rushed back after injuries etc.
 

Hammondo

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2015
Messages
6,663
Absolutely breathtaking at his top, but it's a shame how relatively short that lasted. He was pretty much done at 30 (started decline at 28). That compared to how long the top form of Messi, Christiano, or even Cavani lasted... Hard to help the feeling that we didn't get enough from Wayne.
Yea and it was sad. I wasn't as bothered about Ronaldo leaving because I thought Rooney was the man, it didn't last long though.

Lost his touch badly.
 

arnie_ni

Full Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
15,093
Is it that outlandish to say that he could have pushed Ronaldo and messi if he looked after himself better?

He was so so good.

What stands out in some of those videos is his assists.

The pass to park about 40 seconds in, the back heel to tevez and pass to rio around 4 mins.

Some great play from deeper.

He had it all, moreso than an any player I think I've ever watched.